A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

Alena

The four days went by unnoticeable, and it was already Saturday I spent my free time packing my belongings into boxes and every single time I was sitting in my living room, I kept glancing at my front door-what was I expecting, anyway? For Matteo to show up and ask me to quickly finish packing? Maybe, I was expecting him to call or text me, but he didn't. There was a single call or text that came from him.

The days passed on as if he never existed because he kept his distance. Maybe, work was too much and kept him away from his personal life. Then again, why did I have to worry on whether he should call or text me? We weren't a real couple. We were faking things as we go. This had i I nothing to o do with our feelings. Or more exactly, mine. Alexei did text me, asking if I was if I was doing alright. That responded to him in short texts because I really didn't feel the need to have a conversation with him. Papa hadn't said a word. Maybe, he was busy planning my wedding to Viktor but unlucky for him, it was never going to take place.

I wasn't working this weekend, felt like I needed the rest or more precisely, I didn't want Matteo to come over at the hospital anymore. He didn't have to.

ume

!

probably didn't sou sound too serious when

After he made his presence known the other day, Lily kept asking question about him. Apparently, Zach told her-about someone kissing me. Lily said I was keeping secrets from her all along and that I had a boyfriend. I kept saying he was a nobody and that I never had the time to date but she didn't believe me. I spoke. could've told them Matteo was my boyfriend so they wouldn't suspect anything when we got married soon but I couldn't find the words. I wasn't ready to let them know about that. It was better to leave them in the dark f for now. Before Saturday came, I grew res restless. I had trouble sleeping at night and I kept looking at my phone whenever the screen lit up. It was a lie to fool myself if I said I wasn't waiting for him to call or text me? Then again, what was I even waiting for? Angelo hadn't made his presence known but I did feel someone following behind me when I was going home. Whenever I turned around, I saw no one he was probably doing a good job hiding in the shadows. Now,

I was sitting in my living room with my phone in hand as I spared a few glances towards the packed boxes on the floor. My apartment was empty because I had packed everything I needed. The furniture weren't mine to begin with, so they'll be left behind. I was never going back to this apartment. I needed to remember my lifelong promise to Matteo.

Besides, if Papa ever found out about our marriage being fake, he was going to go into war with the Italians. I wasn't going to risk my life or Matteo's life on the line. He was being somehow nice enough to help me out even though he had his own benefits to this. The doorbell rang and I quickly stood up, making my way to open the front door.

An unknown man in a suit and tie looked around, "Alena Orlov

15

"Yes...who are you?" 1 asked.

"Angelo. The movers have arrived and will be up to take your things. You'll be coming with me." He replied, continuing to 20:31 Wed, Oct

look around. 8.77% 8.77%

It was my first-time seeing Angelo. He couldn't be more than lify. Despite his age, he was big and muscular, he could easily knock down someone if he wanted to. He wasn't very scary looking, but he had a frown on his face, and he didn't bother to smile when he spoke my name. A very serious person. Got it.

"Do you have everything you need?" He asked. "Yeah,

eah, that's everything." I nodded before clearing my throat, "Let me just get my bag and I'll be down."

ASI

As I made my way to my bedroom, I did a second check-up on my belongings in case I forgot something. I grabbed my handbag which had the necessary items before quickly going down the elevator-Angelo was already waiting for me beside a black SUV.

He kept checking the surroundings to ensure we were safe.

I stepped inside at the backseat, and he began to start the engine,

We drove off down the street, leaving the movers to head up to my apartment and grab my belongings. The car ride was quiet.

and didn't bother to utter a single word, too. Apparently, Matteo seemed to know a lot about my schedule, as well. He didn't bother to go to the hospital, he knew I was at home. Maybe, Angelo did I a good job at Investigating things. Angelo's

's phone rang and he picked it up immediately. However, I couldn't hear anything coming from the other line due to his volume. He spoke something in Italian as he kept driving down the road, taking different turns and I decided it was best to mind my own business. It could be Matteo or anyone else. We came to a stop in front t of a fa large, guarded gate. The gates spread open at the click of a button and Angelo proceeded to drive in, passing trees until we finally stopped in front of an estate.

-The estate was modern and breathtaking. It wasn't anything old and the building looked as if it was well taken care of. In simple words, the estate wasn't anything I expected it to be. For someone like Matteo, I had expected him to live in a dark and broody place-probably a penthouse where he spent most of his time alone, but this estate was different. It was

bright and there were beautiful landscapes, too.

Angelo And there he was. The beautiful monster in disguise.

came beside me to open the door and I stepped out, my eyes wandering around the property.

I was going to live here for as long as I remained married to Matteo which was a long time. I had grown up in a beautiful estate just like this one, but I couldn't quite grasp the fact that Matteo lived on his own in a house this big.

Matteo was walking down the steps as he approached me-he was wearing a button-down-shirt, but he left the couple of buttons undone. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and his shirt was tucked into perfection. He looked as if he had left a business meeting, minus the suit and tie.

When he reached closer, I noticed the dark circles underneath his eyes.

He looked tired. Did he not get enough rest?

of mine

to look down at Papa and

I tried to look down at his hands, but they were in his slacks' pockets. It was a habit of m Alexei's hands whenever I met them because I could see if they beat someone. It was an easy answer without having to ask them

Just in time, he ran his fingers through his hair as the wind blew to make them messy and I saw the red bruises and cuts on his knuckles. He really did beat someone. They seemed new but they weren't bleeding or anything. They must've hurt, too but if those were the only injuries he suffered, I was pretty sure the victim ended up in a worst situation. Probably even six feet under.

"Thank you, Angelo." Matteo said, as he placed a hand behind my waist to gesture me inside.

We stepped inside and I immediately looked around at the decorations. Everything was modern and well-organized. He must've had a few people to clean up the house on a daily or weekly basis because it was squeaky clean. No dusts to be found. The floor was shining and reflected my own reflection.

"How was the car ride?" He asked, turning to look at ine.

It felt weird after his hand left my waist, I expected it to linger there longer. It was a nice feeling after his absence. There wasn't anything different with him, he was still the same, but he seemed to be looking a bit stressed today: Maybe, things didn't go well in Berlin. "It was fine. How was Berlin?" He nodded, "It was the usual."

The usual. As As if I knew what it meant-it was as if we had this conversation before. It was as if we were already a real couple. I didn't bother to say another word as I stood still at my spot. He took the silence as if there was something wrong, so he made his way towards me, somehow inspecting my every feature, trying to find if there was anything different than the last time, he saw me. there ere something wrong? Did Mikhail bother you?" He asked.

"Is

I frowned at the name. Of course, he called Papa by his name. And of course, he would've assumed Papa said something the whole time he was gone but that wasn't the deal. It was strange to be standing here in the same room as him, in the same house that I was going to live starting from today. He didn't have to know that.

"No, Papa hasn't said a word."

"Good. Let Let me know if he bothers you,"

1 cleared my throat, "You know he's not all that bad."

I followed him like a lost puppy, afraid if I was going to get lost in this mansion. It was big and there were many different rooms. I'd rather just follow him around for now as we reached the kitchen.

He opened the fridge, taking two bottles of water. "Are you hungry?"

I didn't have breakfast nor lunch yet, but I didn't feel hungry, either. Just as I was about to say no, my stomach grumbled. It was loud enough for him to hear.

My cheeks heat up in embarrassment as I saw the side of his lips slightly curved up into a smirk. "I take that as a yes. You didn't eat anything?"

"I forgot" I responded.

"Are you allergic to anything?

"No

No

"Anything particular you want to eat?"

"French toasts," I grinned, remembering the last time Mama prepared them for me. She was amazing in the kitchen, and she was always making sure our stomachs were full. However, the moment I moved out, I stopped having her delicious meals

It was one of the things I missed the most.

Matteo took out the ingredients needed to prepare a French toast.

"Wait, are you going to make one for me?" I asked, taking a seat at one of the stools near the kitchen island. "You can cook?"

"Mm. speaking about your father... what did you mean when you said he was not all that bad?" He completely ignored my question as he continued to prepare the French toast. My eyes followed his every movement because I couldn't believe them. The man in front of me was preparing a meal for me.

I didn't expect he was capable of cooking.

I mean, I didn't

didn't expect he was going to cook for me.

"Well he was a great dad. He taught me a lot growing up. He was there for me, too. Things got different when I said I didn't want anything to do with the Bratva." I replied, catching a glimpse of him occasionally meeting my eyes

"What did he expect of

t of you?"

"I don't know. He didn't want me to become a doctor,"

Probably expected you to marry when the time comes."

I nodded, "That was probably it. I had enough of him trying to take control of my life, so I needed to do something to prove him that I can't let him have everything."

He kept quiet as he listened, and I appreciated that. Besides, he needed to know about Papa, too if he wanted to continue with the agreement. Papa was great, he was loving, and he understood his children but even that couldn't stop him from putting his Bratva as a priority. As soon as he finished cooking the French toasts, he served them to me. It smelled great and even the French toasts looked amazing. Just as I was about to thank him for his cooking, Angelo appeared near the doorway.

"The movers are here." He spoke.

Matteo nodded and started to follow Angelo out, leaving me behind on my own. I took a bite of the toast, and it didn't take me long to finish them. They tasted delicious and when it was finished, I was already wanting more. It kind of reminded me of Mama's cooking. It reminded me of home. Well, used to be home.

Noises were heard from the living room as well as footsteps. I began to make my way towards the noises and saw Matteo. pointing for the boxes to be moved upstairs. After the movers were done, he signed a form, and they began to leave. Angelo had left, too.

It was just Matteo and I in this house.

"Thank you for the toasts" I said, breaking the silence.

He nodded. "Let me show you to your room."

I followed him up the stairs and down the hallway before stopping in front of a closed door. He opened the door and gestured for me to go inside. The boxes were placed on the floor I thought I had a lot of belongings with me, but it wasn't G

much, now that they were being placed in a spacious bedroom.

There was a king-sized bed in the middle of the room with a varity near the window. A built-in wardrobe on the other side of the room, which was big enough, it could fit at least three peoples' clothes. The room was neutral in color. Most of the furniture were white. "This will be your room. You can decorate it however you like," he said as he stood near the window.

i

"I like it the way it is." I replied, standing in the middle. "Where your room?"

"Down the hall. This estate has six rooms. One is being used as my office. Yours and mine are occupied. So, the other three are empty and locked." He cleared his throat, "My room and office are off-limits. I expect you to respect my space but the library near my office is yours,"

"There is a library?" My eyes widened. Even though I wasn't going to spend much time here because of my busy schedule. I might put the library into good use whenever I was free.

His bedroom and office were off-limits. Of course, we weren't really going to be husband and wife. I needed to respect his privacy. He could set limits and I had to follow them.

"Yes, you can go in there whenever you like."

I kept quiet, only nodding as a response.

Matteo glanced down at his wristwatch, "I must leave soon. I'll be late,"

just want to let you know that I won't be around much, either. I said, as he was about to leave the room.

have

He needed to know that I was not a charity case, either. We were both adults and we had our own lives. He may provided me for a place to stay because we were going to get married, but I had no problem moving out and choosing to live someplace else. Money wasn't an issue f for me. I was only doing this for the sake of putting up a perfect show. Three years. Three forsaken years to make sure Papa stayed off my back.

that,

we would remain married, but we didn't need to pretend as much. We could always tell other people that our -marriage was always capable of fixing. There were many excuses to be used when people started to question.

Most importantly, Papa had to believe the act.

I had to tie the knot as soon as possible.

"That's good. It'd be nice to not see each other often," he replied. "I don't think we have any problem with that, do we?"

"No, we don't.

We do have to discuss about the proposal and the wedding soon."

He nodded, agreeing. "Tell me whenever you want to discuss, and I'll free my time."

"How about tomorrow? It's my day off."

"Okay. We'll talk about it tomorrow."

The sooner, the better."

"Right."

We stayed quiet for a few seconds as we tried to avoid eye contact. How could things turn awkward this quickly? Maybe, it was just the two of us left and we didn't have

Pretend. We didn't have to show our affection in front of anyone.

This was going to be our new reality for the next few years. Maybe, even a lifetime.

Was I ready to live in a loveless marriage? Was I comfortable with never finding true love?

"Matteo," I called out.

He didn't turn around, but he stopped walking, waiting for me to continue.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

"I'm not going to bother you. We don't even have to pretend we care about each other behind closed doors. You can do what you want and I the same. The act stops when we're alone. Besides, you won't even notice me around. I'll make sure of it." 1 expected him to say something, but he didn't. He kept quiet and chose his silence. He only decided it was best to nod as a

response.

He walked out of the room and closed the door behind him, leaving me to stand on the same spot. It was starting to on how lonely I was going to feel-luckily, I had my busy career. There was not enough time for me to feel bored.

I sat on the edge of the bed, accepting my new reality.

hit me