THE BRIDE - By Shaxee

Chapter 21 

A blond in a red dress can do without introductions – but not without a bodyguard. -Rona Jaffe
Francesca Marcolini’s POV
“Boun giorno, Signora.”
“What the—” I stopped dead in my place. Then I blinked in case I am just hallucinating. My initial shock was instantly replaced by an accusing glare towards him. “What are you doing here?” But the proper question I should have asked him was how the hell did he learn about my trip today?
“Are you surprised?” He asked sanguinely while leaning casually in the hood of his black sedan. He wore an open neck crisp white shirt that he rolled the sleeves up to his arms and paired it with dark jeans and Italian loafers. As usual, his eyes were concealed by a pair of aviator sunglasses. It’s hard for me to decipher what he was thinking.

“What are you doing here?” I repeated my question, ignoring the flutter of my heart at his gorgeous sight this morning. He seems like he just stepped out of the runway early this morning with this casual outfit.
“I'm here to help you.” Marco answered nonchalantly.
“Help me?” I repeated, glancing at my wristwatch. “Look. I don’t have time—”

“Miss Francesca.” An American accented voice sounded behind us. We both turned around to see the new comer who just slid out of the taxi. I tried to put smile in my face while Marco gave him his darkest look. “Matteo!”
“Is everything okay?” He asked as he approached me, eyeing Marco guardedly.
“Oh, yes. Everything is perfectly fine.” I tried to sound pleasant about the whole situation when my mind raced for a potential solution to my predicament.
“Who is he?” Matteo asked warily glancing at the thundering beast beside us. He started to raise my hand for a kiss.
“He is—” I started.
“I am her bodyguard and personal chauffeur.” Marco stated loud and clear. He rudely snatched my hand from his Nonna’s guest. “I am Marc… her personal bodyguard.”

All I could do was stare at him in bewilderment. What the hell are you doing? My eyes snapped at his obscure tone.

“Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t know.” Matteo apologized to this monstrous devil. He nodded like a king who granted his slave freedom. Seriously, this man is unbelievable.
“I believe that the Signora said she will tour you around the city, shall we start so you can get going with your other plans for the rest of the day?”
I stared at him in disbelief. Clearly, Marco Orsini didn’t know how a bodyguard should act. This profession was not for him.
“Shall we?” He said opening the door for Matteo, the poor man could only oblige at the military general command. “Signora…”

Very well, if he wants to play this bodyguard thing, so be it. I threw him a dark look before sliding in the passenger’s seat beside the American.
I nearly shrieked when Marco’s large hand touched my bottom briefly. Damn this devil, I thought while fighting the blush that threatened to creep in my cheeks. He slid in the driver’s seat and started the engine, before he moved forward to the road; he threw me an evil grin through the rearview mirror. I shook my head in disbelief. This is going to be a long day for all of us.

“So Marc, how long have you worked for, Miss Francesca?” Matteo asked innocently at the stony silence in the luxury car.
Marco glanced briefly in my direction through the rearview mirror. I could see that his lips twitched with a mocking smile.
“Not that long.” He lied smoothly. “Maybe a year now.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell Matteo: Can’t you see he’s not my bodyguard? He’s Marco Orsini the conceited CEO of the Orsini Empire! But I didn’t want him to question my relationship with Marco. Even I don’t know our relationship status yet.
Our association becomes stickier as each day passes. God, he was playing his grandmother’s visitor.

“It must be hard to protect a woman, isn’t it?” The American asked conversationally.
“Oh yes.” Marco answered smoothly, looking at me through the mirror with cryptic smile on his Roman face. “I need to protect the Signora from nuisance time to time.”
I frowned at him through the rearview mirror. Is that the subtle way of him saying that Matteo Constanzo is a nuisance to him?
“Even from suitors?” Matteo inquired harmlessly.
“Oh, most definitely from them.” He answered with a grave face. “Some were hardheaded fellows who couldn’t just stay away from the Signora. I have had to resort to use some drastic measures to make them keep their distance.”
I plastered a smile on my face and said sweetly in Italian. “Why don’t you just shut up and drive?”
“As you wish, my beautiful lady.” He answered back in the same language.
Thankfully, Matteo couldn’t understand Italian and that gave me an edge to reprimand this devil about his snarky comebacks to the innocent half-Italian.
“Where are we going first?” Matteo glanced at me with a smile on his handsome face.
“The Colosseum.” I answered with a smile.
Marco whistled softly and muttered in Italian. “I like that place. It’s where foreign people were being killed during the ancient Rome.”
“What did he say?” Matteo asked me innocently.
I glared at the man who introduced himself as my bodyguard.
“Nothing.” I said kindly. “He is just commenting on the traffic.”
I heard him scoff in the driver’s seat. For a moment I thought he was going to contradict my explanation but then he just let it pass. I breathe deeply. Thank goodness.

“We’re here.” Marco said cheerfully, pulling the car in the curb.
“Beautiful.” Matteo breathed as he slid out of the luxury car. “What a magnificent structure.”

I stepped into my role as the tour guide as soon as I got out of the car.
“ The Colosseum is an elliptical amphitheater in the center of the city of Rome, Italy. Built of concrete and stone, it was the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire, and is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering. It is the largest amphitheater in the world.”
Matteo smiled in my direction before looking back at the ancient structure. “You have a vast knowledge of the Roman history.”
I smiled back at him. Ignoring the thunderous glare from Marco who just stood silently with his arms folded on his chest.

“The Colosseum is situated just east of the Roman Forum. Construction began under the emperor Vespasian in 70 AD, and was completed in 80 AD under his successor and heir Titus. Further modifications were made during the reign of Domitian. These three emperors are known as the Flavian dynasty, and the amphitheatre was named in Latin for its association with their family’s name Flavius. The Colosseum could hold, it is estimated, between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators—”
“Okay,” Matteo held up his arms like a silent surrender and laughed. “I think that’s enough of the tour.”
He looked me straight in the eyes, taking my hands in his. “The reason I agreed to this trip is to get to know you more, Francesca.”
“The bastard!” Marco snarled in Italian. He looked murderous, like he intended to kill this American on the spot.

I gave him a silent warning. But I could see the raging fury vibrate in his body.
“Oh, look.” I said cheerfully. “They are selling the best gelato over there.”
“Do you want some?” Matteo asked me, looking perplexed at my bodyguard’s attitude. “Do you want too, Marc?”
“No.” He growled darkly. “I don’t want gelato.”

The poor American nodded and went to buy me gelato over there.
“What is your problem?” I asked as soon as I am left alone with this devil.
“I knew it,” Marco said furiously, stalking towards me like an angry beast. “He’s all over you. That vermin.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “You are impossible. I have no idea what are you talking about, Marco.”
He continued to stalk me until I was trapped between the railing and him. “You don’t?” He asked dangerously in a low voice. “As far as I can tell, you have been flirting with him since he stepped out of the cab.”
“I wasn’t flirting with him!” I denied hotly, I glared at his eyes that were hidden from my view. He’s devastatingly handsome this close.

“No?” He repeated mockingly, placing both of his hands on the railing so I couldn’t escape him.
I looked around to see the wistful glances women threw in his direction. I couldn’t blame them. He’s like a Roman god who came down to earth.
“Marco…” I pleaded softly. I don’t know what I am pleading with him for.
“Si, my darling.” He dipped his head towards me and gave me an ardent kiss in the middle of the tourist destination.
“Francesca…” Matteo inquired.
I pushed Marco away. I could have sworn that my face would burn this moment. “I—I…”
“She had something in her eyes.” Marco said smoothly.
“Are you okay?” The half-Italian asked coming closer with the gelato I’d requested.
“Uh…yes.” I replied awkwardly.
“Are you done with the Colosseum?” Marco asked rudely. “I’m famished, let’s eat first.”

“Don’t you think this is awkward?” Matteo asked when we were seated at one of the best table in the famous restaurant in town.
“I always eat with the Signora when she goes out. She likes it that way.” Marco answered dryly while busy flipping the menu. “Waiter…”
I sighed.
He was hopeless. The arrogance runs through his veins. When the waiter approached us we gave our orders.
I nearly squirmed when Marco’s hand started to travel up my legs. I bit my lips when it continued to go upward.
“How do you like the city so far?” He asked the American casually while his hand does some exploration on my legs.
“It’s a great city.” Matteo replied taking a sip of his water. “With a great people.” He gave me a meaningful glance.
“Ah, yes…” Marco agreed, caressing my legs seductively. I want to moan as I tried to remove his hand. “W-when…” I groaned quietly when the hand reached my feminine core. Oh God, my brain is not working anymore. “…huh… when do you plan to return to the States?”
“Can’t wait to get rid of me?” Matteo kidded with a playful smile.
“It’s not like that…” I couldn’t help but sigh at the pleasure. I glared at him but he just merely smirked. “I intend to stay for awhile more.”
“Oh, here comes our food.” I am beyond grateful that the food arrived because I am now free from his hands. But my joy was short-lived for his feet now started to play with mine.
Oh, Sweet Mother of God!.

For the rest of the day Marco annoyed and exasperated me, with his sardonic comment from time to time about everything Matteo tried to discuss with me.
By the end of the trip I am thoroughly exhausted. We dropped the American at the hotel where he was staying and Marco deposited me in the passenger’s seat in the front of the car.
“You are unbelievable.” I told him as soon as we are alone inside the car.
“I thought I was charming.” He answered suavely, joining the road easily, his hand started to travel again up my legs.
I swatted his hand. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Ouch!” He glowered at me. “That hurt.”
Silence filled the car until we were in front of my penthouse building. I am about to go out when he stopped me.
 
“Wait.” He said. I look at him expectantly. “About the date that you owe me.”
“Date that I owe you?” I asked insolently.
“Yes. Remember that you owe me a date from the charity event of Tatiana Cavelli.”
I raised my eyebrow in his direction. “As far as I am concerned, I am long done paying for that date, Marco.”
He gave me a disarming grin. “No. You didn’t.”
“I did.” I told him opening the car’s door.
“Fine.” He said glibly. “I will just tell Tatiana to reimburse my money because you refused to have a dinner date with me.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Try me.” He pulled out his mobile phone and dialed someone.
“Okay fine.” I said snatching his phone. I glared at the insolent devil. “Tomorrow night 7 p.m.”
Marco smiled mirthlessly. “Make it, 8a.m.”

My eyes widened at his declaration. “I can’t, I have a meeting.”
“Cancel it.” He said arrogantly, placing a light kiss on my lips. “Go now. Until tomorrow, my dearest.”
I am gobsmacked as I slid out the sedan and stared at taillight of his car as he fled away.
Silently thinking I have a date tomorrow with Marco Orsini.

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