Bab 10: The Fancy Drama
Maria's POV
My eyes landed on Vincenzo, and my heart skipped a beat. He was a thousand times better looking than any image my treacherous mind conjured. Not only did he tower above every other person in the room, but his body build was also something hard to miss. His aura screamed, proud and cocky.
I watched him stare at me in shock as he whispered my name. Good, this was precisely the spot I needed him to be. I needed to have the advantage of appearing nonchalant. I noticed conversations had resumed in the crowd shortly after the silence of awe that followed my appearance.
However, it wasn't difficult to conclude that I was the center of said conversations. My eyes traveled from Vincenzo to the guy standing next to him. He was unnerved while taking shots after shots. He was the only person immune to my entrance.
'Matteo!' Sidekick to the mighty Vincenzo. Aside from the fact I had looked him up, seeing him in person confirmed my research. He was a ride or die to Vincenzo. He looked genuinely honest and loyal to a fault.
I ruled him out of my plans. He definitely could not be used. My eyes traveled again, landing on the man with a boyish look. He stood inches below Vincenzo and Matteo but still stood out regardless. It was hard to brush him aside, maybe because of his typical American heartthrob features or gorgeous blonde hair. His eyes were dirty brown, and his nose pencil-like.
Roy HudsonSteel.
Simeon told me he would be in attendance at the event. When I asked him who that was and how he fit into my plan, he downloaded the juicy details—born in a stormy night to the gorgeous Brenda and Hudson Steel, promising hope and good fortune.
It grew to be a colossal disappointment time and time again. It was poetry indeed. He did manage to turn it around, though. Recently, he found a way to convince his old man that he indeed was a new man. His reward?
The inheritance of the largest ship part export organization in at least four world continents. He still did not cover up for his inability to think before acting. He was recklessly impulsive, and that was exactly what I needed.
I heard he had some severe friction with Vincenzo. It was all I needed to listen to enforce this idea. Every enemy to the Santoro's is my friend orally if you prefer. Signaling to my bodyguards to stay put, I wore the prettiest smile on my flawless face and proceeded to the presence of the three hot men.
I watched Roy closely as I approached. It wasn't difficult to spot the exact moment he held his breath.
"My lady," he said as I finally got to their presence. He drew me closer and kissed me on my cheek. Forward, I guess.
"Roy Hudson," I replied with the best-impressed look.
"Ah! The beautiful lady knows me," he said, surprised.
"Everyone knows you," I replied, massaging his ego. I watched him smile in appreciation.
My beauty set the motion. My tongue was going to clinch the prize. Looking at how smitten he looked, it wouldn't be such a difficult task to handle. I heard someone clear his throat. I didn't need anyone to tell me who that voice could belong to.
I turned around to face him. "Maria," my name rolled out of Vincenzo's tongue like I was some old lover, and this was some romantic reunion. It irritated me beyond words.
"Huh? How do you know my name?" I asked, making sure my displeasure was apparent.
"Everyone knows you," he mimicked with a smirk on his devilishly handsome face. His eyes looked like they were piercing into my soul, searching for any slight hint of familiarity. I was not going to give him the pleasure.
"Oh, is that so? Too bad I have no memory of you?" I purposely retorted.
Every other man would have been embarrassed but not Vincenzo. He laughed it off like it was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. If I weren't on a mission, my disappointment would have shown.
"I see you haven't changed," he casually said.
"And what exactly would that mean? Do we know each other?" I asked, laying the groundwork for the unfolding of my plans.
"Common Maria. Let's cut the drama. It's me, Vincenzo Santoro" I stared blankly at him and watched as his smile went from cocky to furious.
He was not used to being reduced to a crazy person, especially not by a woman. I knew men like Vincenzo. I closed deals with them. They loved their egos being massaged.
A deviation from the norm stressed them to the brink of madness. "You can't say you don't remember me, Maria Caruso," he finally said.
Aha, just what I expected. At least now I know he knew who I was. What I found weird was why he was hell-bent on me remembering him. If he had any suspicion that I took his prototype, surely he would be more hostile.
"Who is that you speak of? I am Maria C. Delvey," I replied defiantly.
"Then explain why you're walking around a carbon copy of Gisela Caruso," he asked skeptically.
"I've never heard that name, neither do I know you. You're either delusional or on the brink of madness. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have important things to discuss with Mr. Roy" I turned to Roy, who looked stupid. If it weren't for the plan, I would never be in the presence of such a man.
"Maria, please wai—"
"You heard the lady," Roy interrupted as he stepped in between Vincenzo and me.
"Step aside, it's Maria I have business with," Vincenzo said, his voice icy cold; it sent shivers down my spine.
"But the lady does not want to be in your business," Roy insisted, playing the hero of the day. I laughed as they both played into my scene without any coercion.
It was poetic justice that I didn't even need to lift a finger. People's attention was beginning to be drawn to the scene unfolding. They wondered why Vincenzo and Roy were in a staredown contest.
I, for one, could not wait for what the gossip blogs come up with tomorrow. Vincenzo moved to shove Roy aside but stopped dead on his track when he felt a hand on his. Matteo had come out from his shell and clocked the situation.
He whispered, "it's not worth it," and surprisingly, Vincenzo listened.
So Matteo was also his voice of reason, I noted. I learned something new today. Roy smiled, probably thinking this was some war he had emerged victorious in. I was bored at how the altercation ended abruptly. I hoped for an action scene with blood and a few missing buttons—Damn Matteo for being so mature.
"This is not the end," Vincenzo warned as he walked away with Matteo.
I watched him walk away silently, hoping he would turn back even if it were just for a moment. I wanted to catch a glimpse of his face again. Even in my anger, there was no denying how hot the man was. And good God, when he raged the way he had done, it exuded a sexy furry.
I scolded my mind at the foolishness it was signaling to my brain. I couldn't believe I let myself be weak, even for a moment. I was not supposed to care about the physical appearance of my sworn enemy. I decided to focus on my plan now. In other words, Roy Hudson.
"Excuse Vincenzo's unruly attitude. It's on-brand with him," Roy said.
"It's no problem. You were a gentleman and by far the better man. Thanks for stepping in," I replied.
"It's nothing really—anything for the beautiful lady. I have heard so much about you, Maria," he said, his eyes roaming around my body.
I heard Roy was not just unwise but also a chronic gigolo.
"I'm flattered" I laughed and sighed in appreciation when a beautiful lady joined us. Roy turned to greet the man she walked with, leaving me alone with her.
"Hello Maria, I am Morena Alberto" the beautiful girl stretched out her hands, and I took them. I never knew Madame Marcela had a daughter. I wondered if she knew about the duchess.
"It's nice meeting you. Your mother was such a blessing to both my mother and me. I am very certain she would be proud of how you've preserved her legacy," I said, appreciating the similarities I had with the woman.
We had both lost our parents and had to see that their legacies thrived. "Thanks, that means a lot coming from you."
"Morena!" A voice interrupted, and she turned to answer.
"You made it, Priscilla," she jumped happily.
'Priscilla!' I repeated in my mind. Wasn't she the spy Simeon briefly mentioned?
I shook my head, dismissing that thought. She turned to me and reached for a hug. I was reluctant, but she was insistent, so I stepped into her arms.
Then she whispered in my ears, "I know who you are, and I also know how to help you."
"And who will buy that crap?" I whispered back with a smile.
Hadiah
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