Please do not read if :

- You didn't like the ONE bullying scene in the beginning of 'Her secret'. This book is a dark

Romance so it has that kind of stuff.

-You didn't like slow burns. This book is a slow burn, enemies to lovers trope. It is the longest of all books I have ever written so far.

-This book contains sex scenes, some inappropriate language, physical and verbal abuse which may be triggering for some readers. Please read at one's own risk as a trigger warning will not be designated at eack chapter.

There are some reference from 'His Secret' but this book CAN BE READ AS A STAND-ALONE!

Also, this book took a lot of my time to write and edit the lovely photos you will see at the top so please vote and hold off on hate comments.

Apart from that, happy reading!

All the best for all the readers.

Be careful before reading this book.

......................

Elianna's POV

six months has passed since i left America to come to the great Italy with papa.

It was horrible. Papa trained me to fight everyday but it was all worth it.

Haze was happy in college with EveEve, thriving in football world just like he promised me.

He was doing good and being free. As for me, things were a bit different.

I knew the day was coming but didn't expect it to be so soon.

Papa had arranged a marriage for me.

I didn't want to get married. I didn't even want to be in a relationship.

After Jace cheated, I was heartbroken. I don't want to be close to any man especially some random blad, old man with a stomach that is twice his head.

Whether or not I wanted it to happen, it was happening.

That was the deal I made with papa. I would go to Italy and i knew what that entailed.

So here we were, setting papa's office waiting for the old man, who obviously couldn't tell time, to meet me.

Papa checked his watch for the sixth time.

Sixty minutes, that man was an hour late!

"Papa, may he is not coming. Even if he does, tell him he has wasted your time so the deal is off. "

Over the past few months while I was down here, i have come to realized how scary papa was.

I thought he was bad enough whenever he dealt with Haze but here? He is a monster.

These people here are dangerous. Most of them carry guns and papa has armed security at our house.

It is very different from back home.

"Princess, this man we are dealing with is no joke. I know you are upset from his tardiness but you must be well behave when he comes. He is dangerous and will kill you or me without a thought."

"So why must I marry him".I shouted. "Is that the fate you want for me? Some phsyco killing me because I didn't cook his egg didn't enough? "

"Princess"-

"Mariano, is coming".

Papa was cut off by a guard.

Papa instantly look up and fixed himself.

I have never seen him try so hard for anybody.

I turned to the door and waited to see the man I cursed myself to spend the rest of my life with.

From the way how papa speaks to him, my life with him probably wouldn't be the long anyway.

Its better than making my baby brother come and work for such a man. If anything would've ever happened to Haze, i would never forgive myself.

I pray he is close to death's age so i wouldn't suffer for too long.

Five for minutes passed before heavy footsteps couple be heared approaching the office.

I closed my eyes until I heared the door open.

My eyes widened at the sight.

There he walked in confidently, sharply dressed in an all black suit with his black, silky hair nearly brushed to the back.

He was fifty years younger than I expected. He couldn't have been any older than twenty eight.

Who knows, some people age like fine wine.

He was sexy, I'd give you that.

His sculpture body allowed me to see his muscle bulging from that undershirt.

His facial expression was serious. Not even a slight smile.

When he reached near us, I stretched out my hand with a polite smile.

"You must be Enzo, I'm Elianna".

He assessed me from head to toe before turning to papa.

"Do you have it"?

I couldn't help but feel like i was stabbed in the chest.

He totally just ignored me.

Papa faked a laugh. " Yes sir, it is right here. "

He stretched his hand to take the document but papa moved it away.

"With all due respect Mr. Mariano, I cannot just give you my title deeds without you ensuring you will marry my daughter. "

He took a look at me once again before sighing. "I will take her. "

Rage overtook me.

Was I something in the store he could just take?

"No! I don't want to marry this man papa. He couldn't even show up on time," I glared at his back which he turned to me.

My father's eyes widened as he shook his head. "Don't listen to herher. She likes to make jokes. "

"I am not marrying to him."

He finally turned to me and showed his face.

He took two steps forward before his tall, lean figure towered over mine.

"Look woman, have no say in this. whether you like it or not, I will marry you if what it takes to get your father's title deeds, " he harshly asked to me.

My hands turned into fists and looked over to

papa.

"Are you just going to make him talk to me like that"? I asked papa but he looked down.

I turned to glared at him but he didn't seemed to impressed.

He turned back to papa, " Give it".

Papa held on to the document with shaky hands. "Please, She is my only daughter. "

Enzo stretched out his hands for the deeds, "Once we are wed, I will protect her. "

Papa loosened his grip and gave the paper to Enzo.

Once the paper were in his hand, he turned around and gave me one last glance before walking to the door.

"Wait"! papa shouted and he halted but didn't look back. "What about"-

" Everything will be handled. just me sure the girl complies," he said.

Without another word he left.

I glared at papa. "What was that"?

He looked down. "Look, princess, Enzo is a very powerful man. He and another man run these streets of Itlay. You will be well protected if you are his wife. No one would want to mess with his property".

"I am no one's property!" I argued. "I am only Twenty six papa"!

He sighed , "princess I told already that you don't have to marry if you don't want to. Your brother will come down and work with Enzo. "

Flashbacks of Haze calling me selfish appeared.

I can't do this to him. He wanted to play football and live in America. Who am I to stop him?

"No, I want to marry but why can't it to be someone else? You taught me how to fight. I can handle myself. I don't need his protection".

Papa rubbed his forhead."Princess, you don't understand. This man is not asking me for my title deeds, it is more like an order. I cannot just give it to him without getting some form of benifits. "

"Papa, please, " I begged.

"He is single and you are single. You will be both wed and that is it. He is the most eligible groom for you. it is either you marry or Haze comes to work for him. I will not give up my property without getting some form of benifits".

" Why did he needs your deeds? I'm sure he is rich enough to buy his own things. "

Papa rubbed his beared. "it looks like he is trying to gain power. he is planning something and what it is, it's no good. "

I dropped to my knees. "Papa, please don't do this . He is already mean to me . Did you see how he ignored me when I introduced myself? "

Papa slammed his hands on table which made me flinch a little.

"You are to be wed to him, end of discussion".

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

How was the first chapter? Please give a vote if you like it!

...****************...

six weeks later

Things were happening fast.

The wedding was set for next week.

Here I was in-front of a bridal shop with a simple note from him saying to try on my dress because the wedding is next week.

He makes me sick. He couldn't even take the time to just talk to me.

Hey, maybe I still salty from him leaving me hanging the other day.

He didn't even give me a chance to help plan our wedding.

I checked the back of the note to see if he said anything else. Maybe he left his number, email or something so I can contact him but there was nothing.

Just blankness.

I sighed before opening the door with a smile on my face.

I'm Elianna De Luca. I can't let my fiance bring me down.

A smile is always in face expect when I'm really pissed.

I haven't even told Haze or anyone from my dance crew that I was engaged.

"May I help you? " one of the worker said politely.

"Uh yes, I'm here to try on a dress. I'm Eliaana De Luca. "

She raised an eyebrow, probably confused by my minimal information.

" I don't know what to tell you. Enzo sent me. "

Her eyes widened and all the workers stopped what they were doing to watch me.

She instantly bowed her hear to me. "Sorry we don't recognized earlier madam, please forgive us. "

All the other workers bowed their heads as well.

I looked around confused. What are they doing?

" It's okay get up", i simply said feeling a bit uncomfortable.

" Please madam follow me", she said before leading me to a specious room with a couch and a changing room.

" Is there anything can i get you, madam? "

" Please call me Elianna Or Elle ". I smiled. I hated formalities.

" I cannot do that man", she said not daring to look me in the eye. " Please is there something I can get yo to drink? "

I shook my head.

" Could you bring me the best mermaid dresses you have? "

She looked up at me before quickly looking back down.

" Sir said you are only allowed to try on the dress he has prepared for you. We only need to see what adjustment need to be made, madam. "

I scoffed. He wants to control what wedding dress I wear too?

He is really getting me.

" Well, It is a mermaid dress at least. "

I always wants a mermaid dress. Mom wore a mermaid dress to her and papa's wedding.

She was absolutely stunning in it and everytime I look at theri photos, I promised myself self I would get a mermaid dress.

"No madam, it is a ball room dress. "

I walked up closer to her with a smile.

"You are going to get me a mermaid dress. I don't care what Enzo says. I can handle him. "

She stepped back. "I can't do that Madam. Mr. Mariana made his instructions very clear. "

I picked up my bag and shrugged. "Okay I guess, I will be leaving now. "

I started to walk to the door but she ran out in front of me and slammed the door behind her.

I heard a clicking noise and when I checked , the door was locked.

I started hitting the door again but no one answered.

I rushed to pick up my phone and call for help but there was no service.

Panic started to attack me and I started banging the door again.

I did this for the next 30 minute until I lost hope and just sat on the couch.

They are going to pay for this.

I'm going to write a shit-ton of bad reviews on their page.

Like if thats gonna scare them.

I have to do something. I can't let them lock me up and just foreget about it.

I sat and stared at the four walls until I heard the door click and open.

I immediately stood up. "You guys are going to pay for this! I'm going to report you to-"

I paused when I saw him there with his hands resting in his pant's pocket.

He wore a navy blue suit. Does this man only wear suits?

I grew even more upset. "You told them to do this, didn't you? "

He walked lazily to me. "Elena, do you know I'm a buzy man? Why should I leave work just because you want to throw a tantrum. Am I marrying a child? "

"It's Elianna."

"What? "

"My name is Eianna, you bastrad! " I shouted.

He sighted. " I don't care. Now go, be a good girl and try on dress. "

" No. "

He turned to the worker. " Bring the dress.

She nodded, "Yes sir. "

He turned back to me . He started walking towards me and each steps he took forward, I took backward.

We did this until my back finally pressed against the wall.

"I know you're used to doing anything you wanted when you were living with your father but let me make myself clear, this will not happen when you are with me. You will do everything I say without a question? "

"No," I said as I pulled myself away from the wall.

He used one of his hands to push me back to the wall.

"Ow, " I groaned in pain.

"Stop wasting my time and do as I say!" He aggressively ordered.

The worker handed him the dress and he shoved it in my chest. " Try it on, now".

I glared into his unconcerned eye for a few more seconds. He was not going to change his mind.

I grabbed the dress from him and marched into the changing room.

I don't like him. He upsets me.

He is disrespectful and mean. He thinks just because he has power he can treat people like shit?

Whatever he does is no good. Even papa seems afraid of this man but I'm not buying it.

it's all an act.

All these people are afraid of some man giving orders.

I pulled off my clothes and stepped into the dress. I pulled it up and walked out.

" I can't lace this up, " I said a bit dirly because I still upset.

The worker led me back into the changing room and started to lace back of my dress.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

I hated it.

The dress was beautiful. It was a big, white, puffy ball room dress with jems on it. It was perfect.

However, this is not what I want. It's too much.

I just want a simple, mermaid white dress.

Just like mom's.

"You are all set, madam " she said. "This dress fits you perfectly. "

I frowned as she walked out.

"Come out", his voice ordered.

"No", I said. "you can't see me in the dress before the wedding day. "

There was silence for a while before the curtains suddenly pulled across.

My heart pounder faster as i became frightened. his expressionless face had now shown annoyance.

" Did you not hear a word I said earlier? "

"Its a tradition "-

" Be quite ", he ordered as he thoroughly assessed my dress.

He pointed to a spot on my dress. " Fix that".

The worker nodded. "yes sir. "

"Tighten that", he ordered as he pointed to my waist.

"yes sir".

" No, it's already tight"! I expressed because I knew I would fell uncomfortable if it were any tighter.

He paused and looked at meme. "Did I asked for your opinion? "

I glared at him. "i will not take the disrespect. "

He turned to the worker. "call Sebastian when the dress is ready".

" Yes sir. "

With that, he walked out.