THE BRIDE - By Shaxee

Chapter 23 

A good breeder or experienced rescue agency wants you to prove that you’ll be a capable caretaker. The interrogation and screening can be annoying, but it’s also a sign that you’re on the right track. -Jon Katz
Francesca Marcolini’s POV 
I stared at Marco’s father who was looking at me expectantly. You are the only woman Marco has ever introduced to me. So I am sure you are pretty special to my son, he had said.
What was I supposed to say to that kind of thing? I know that I am a teacher of etiquette but it was entirely different when the person who asked you was part of the Orsini clan. So I don the most serene smile I could summon.

“I think you got it wrong, sir.”
“Wrong?” He repeated with a quiet smile in his eyes. He was the mirror image of Marco. “I think I got it right, Signorina Francesca—may I call you Francesca?”
“Of course, sir.”
“Drink, Francesca.” Alessandro Orsini invited pushing the glass of wine towards me. “It’s one of the best from the Orsini wine.”

I smiled at the elderly man.
“I hope you don’t find it rude but I want to stay sane for this interrogation, sir.”
“Interrogation?” He said with a roar of laughter. “This is not an interrogation, my dear. I want to get to know the first woman my son bothered to introduce to his father.”
I could feel the heat spreading through my face. I don’t know what insane idea possessed Marco to bring me here to meet his father without warning. “So tell me about yourself, Francesca.” I shrugged, looking away from his intense gaze. “There’s nothing interesting about me, sir.”
“I disagree.” Marco’s father said cheerfully, sipping his red wine. “You must have guessed by now that I am quite curious about you. I have never seen my son cook for a woman before let alone bring her here to my place this is the first time.”

“Just coincidence, sir.” I murmured drinking the offered wine to calm my nerves. Marco where are you? Help me here with your father. “We were just nearby when he told me that he’s hungry.”
“Is that so?” The elderly man said casually, filling my glass again. But I could see in his eyes that he did not believe what I was telling him. “Forgive me for my misconception, Francesca. It’s just I’ve never seen my son so happy like this before. He looks… contended.”
“Are you saying that—we, Marco and I…?” I inquired, looking at his father. “…oh, we are not…if that’s what you are implying, sir.”
“No? Forgive me then, I just assumed.” Alessandro Orsini’s tone was pleasant but I could feel something that I could not pinpoint yet.
“Nothing to forgive, sir.” I heard Marco’s father sigh and broke into a dazzling smile.
“Shall we start again, Francesca? Tell me about yourself. Please, consider you just met a new friend.” “Francesca Marcolini, sir.” I gave in to the interrogation of Marco’s father. “Twenty-eight. Widow. I am a private teacher for etiquette currently working for Marco Orsini.”

Alessandro Orsini laughed heartily, raising his glass of red wine in salute. “You are a clever woman. No wonder my son likes you.”
“I’ll take that as a complement, sir.”
With sparks still alight in his dark eyes, Alessandro Orsini asked me offhandedly. “Have you by any chance met Marco’s grandparents?”
I couldn’t help but smile when I remember the charming grandparents of Marco.
“Yes, sir. I have met them before. Marco took me to the Orsini vineyard twice.”
The elderly man looked at me with a guarded stare. “How would you describe them?”
I frowned and thought for a moment before answering him. How can I describe the formidable Alfonso Orsini and his wife Claudia Orsini?
“They are delightful people, sir.”

Alessandro nodded, sipping his wine slowly. “You must be very careful with them. Francesca.” He warned cheerfully. “Those two are renowned for being sly and manipulative. Before you know it you would be playing into their matchmaking plan.”
I smiled awkwardly. “I don’t think I understand you, sir.”
“Oh, don’t mind me.” He announced, waving his hand as if that wasn’t important.
“Marco has your humor, sir.” I told him with a smile.
“Are you trying to charm the lady with me, father?” Marco said coming out of the kitchen door with plates on both of his hands.
“Are you jealous, figlio?” His father retorted gamely, winking in my direction. “I have had a nice chat with this lovely lady.”

Marco grimaced as he placed the plates on the table in front of me. “May I remind you that you are too old for Francesca? Besides, you are now happily married with little Brianna in your life.”
“He’s jealous, isn’t he?” Alessandro asked me with a grin. “I didn’t think this day will come when he would be jealous over a woman.”
I blushed and looked away. If I didn’t know better I would assume I am shy.
“I am not jealous, father.” Marco replied hotly.
“Papa!” The little girl strode into the garden happily and climbed to their father’s lap. “Papa, you promised to have tea party with me. Leave Marco to eat with his girlfriend mama said.”
“Si,” Alessandro laughed scooping his daughter in his arms. “We will leave your brother and his guest.” He stared at me. “Please take good care of my son. I know he’s too much to manage.”
“I will, sir.”

They are about to enter the kitchen again when the little girl looked back at me.
“You are pretty!”
“Thanks.” I smiled back at her. She’s such a cute little girl. “But you are prettier.”
Once we are alone in the garden, Marco took the chair his father had vacated and asked. “What did you and father talk about?”
I shrugged resuming my seat. “Among other things.”
“Such as?”
I grinned at his frowning gaze. I am right he looks like his father. When he grows old he will still be a handsome man.
“Why do you care?” I asked with a grin on my face.
“Because it concerns me.”

I laughed, looking at the dish he prepared. I have to admit that he’s quite a good cook a trait he must have inherited from his father.
“Wow, it looks delicious.”
“Don’t change the subject, Francesca.” I raised an eyebrow in his direction as I picked my fork to sample the pasta. “I am not changing the subject—that’s your specialty not mine. And rest assured it wasn’t about you.”
He looked at me for what felt like an eternity. I thought for a moment he would argue with me more about his father’s interrogation. He just sighed and picked up his fork. “Eat.”
I merrily sample the pasty in front of me. I nearly melt with the taste. Oh my God, it’s so good.
“Did you really cook this?” I asked, I want to be sure.
 “Of course,” He said somewhat crossly about my question, digging into his food harshly.

“Don’t you like it?” I asked eyeing how he dug into his food. “If you don’t want it, I will eat that too, Marco.”
“I’m glad you like it.” Marco gave one of those infamous heart-stopping smiles.
I shook my head in resignation. Really, no wonder women jumped into his bed easily.
“It’s hard to believe that you can cook. I didn’t see you as the type of man who cooks.”
He grimaced in my direction as he sat back in his chair and studied me intently.
“Are you belittling me, darling?”
I tried to look serious but a twitch of a smile escaped my lips.
“No way. I will never mock the great Marco Orsini.” His eyes darkened. I shivered. “Now you are mocking me, Your Highness.” I laughed at this easy banter we had.
Before, we couldn’t wait to sling arrows at each other on every occasion we met in the society. I like this uncomplicated relationship between us. “I guess you inherited this skill to your father.”
“Yes, that must be it.” Marco reflected sipping his wine.
I glared at him. “At least you could have told me that we were about to meet your father so a woman can be prepared.” When he remained silent I commented. “I wonder why your father is not the chairman of the Orsini Industries.”
Marco smiled at me which made my heart to jolt. “He doesn’t want it. All he wants is to build a restaurant of his own. Since I was in college he’d been very vocal that he doesn’t want to manage the Orsini Industries.”
“What did your grandfather say about it?”
Marco shrugged while he sipped his wine. He gave me a piercing stare. “At first, he was furious but then he gave way. He knew about my father’s true passion.”
“That must have been hard for your grandfather, to have your heir refuse your legacy.” I remarked, eating my delicious pasta. “How old were you when you took over the company?”

He gave a self-mocking grin. “Just after college, the huge responsibility passed on to my shoulder. Thousands of employees depend on me.”
Such a huge duty for him at that young age, I never thought that he had this kind of story. I always thought that he’s just a womanizing devil who took for granted everything life has to offer.
“You must really love your father.”
“I do.” He replied without missing a heartbeat. “That’s why I am so happy that he remarried after his divorce with my mother.”
I unconsciously touched his hand that was resting on the table. “Your father wants you to be happy. You should get married and start a family of your own.”
“Yes.” He breathed, looking deeply straight into my eyes. “I will marry…” He said with such conviction. And my heart gave a painful thud at his words. “… soon. When the woman is finally ready to share her life with me.”

Does he already have his potential bride and he’s going to marry her soon? When that day arrived I don’t think I can continue this friendship with him. I don’t think I can bear to see him happily married with someone else. I’d rather have died than see that day.
“Enough of this serious subject.” Marco said happily. He was back with his laid-back attitude. “Let’s talk about something else.”
And that’s how we spend our afternoon at his father’s restaurant.

When he finally pulled up in front of my penthouse, we were both standing in front of the building.
“Aren’t you going to invite me in?” He asked playfully, an evil grin flashed in his dark eyes.
“No.” I replied with a smile.
“Like I thought.” He said, sliding his arms to my waist and drew me closer to his hard body. “Just give me a kiss to compensate for the promising adventure in your bedroom, my love.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “You are incorrigible…”
Before I could finish my sentence his lips dipped to mine and kissed me heatedly. He kissed like he was trying to own my mouth. I melted in his embrace.
“Goodbye for now, my Francesca.” He said a little breathlessly once he was finished kissing me in the middle of the street. I only managed to nod as he slid to his car.
He waved at me before he left. After his car vanished from the lane, I touched my thoroughly kissed mouth. Then I realized that I am in danger of losing far more valuable than my virginity to Marco Orsini.
Do I have the strength to stop myself from falling in love with him?

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