Author's Note:

Happy Hump Day!

Hope all of y'all are having a great day, staying safe out there and making good choices.

Enjoy!

A moment later, I realized he was waiting for my response as I stared at him like a dumb ass.

I quickly took a deep breath and closed my eyes before looking back towards him, and swallowing.

"A-and — H-how do you suppose we— we do that?" I asked, raising a brow at him.

Did he really think I was going to make it easy for him? I was raised to question everyone and everything that doesn't make sense to me. So, why should he have it any easier?

He smiled at me, before sighing, "Well, I suppose, we could start as friends as you suggested earlier…. get to know each other slowly before trying anything else." He replied, looking at me for approval.

"I guess we can do that… Not that it'll matter… with the way it all started... within the next few days…" I muttered, sighing.

"What do you mean?" He asked, frowning.

"Well, you did say you wanted to attend the wedding along with all the events that were occuring with me, right?" I replied.

"Right." He mumbled, nodding in response.

"Well, you also told me that our marriage couldn't be fake, meaning that we have to get hitched within the next few days." I replied, leaning back onto my arms as I did.

He nodded, gesturing for me to continue.

Seriously, how was he not understanding what I was getting at? I know for a fact that he's not as stupid as he's acting.

Dumb it down further, Isabella.

"Well, I'm referring to the wedding you said we have to attend sometime within the next few weeks… Meaning we need to be married before then. So, what do you suggest? A shotgun wedding? Drinks in Cabo? Oh! we can go to Montecarlo and check if there are chapels available there, and then once we're married we can gamble." I suggested it excitedly.

"As fun as that sounds, principessa, why don't we just stick to going to Vegas or Los Cabos?" He asked, smirking.

I shrugged, before groaning "It's more travel, though…" I replied, biting back a groan at just the thought of traveling again. "I think our best bet is to stay within the country." I chirped, smiling.

"While I want to agree with you on going to Montecarlo, and that isn't a bad place to get married… It's more like Las Vegas, except with fewer rules. And no drive through chapels… so we can't get married there on such short notice." He replied amused.

"Aw… spoil sport." I murmured, as I deflated in disappointment, before I hatched an idea.

Putting on the best puppy dog expression, I slowly looked up at him, "Can we spend time there after we get married?" I asked him, jutting out my lip.

He looked at me surprised for a few moments before he looked away and sighed, "You know, for being such a tiny little thing you're a pretty big pain in the ass." He grumbled pulling out his phone.

I laughed, smiling widely, "Thank you, it's a gift." I sweetly replied, giving him an innocent smile.

"Perché è così fottutamente caldo e fastidioso allo stesso tempo?" He grumbled. (Why is that so fucking hot and annoying at the same time?)

"It's a gift," I repeated sweetly as I kicked my feet back and forth.

He scoffed, shaking his head and rolling his eyes at me. "Alright, you big pain in the ass, pack some clothes, enough for a few days. I've got to go talk to a friend of mine. Dress to impress. Hurry." He instructed, as he left the room in a rush.

I sighed as he left before hopping off the bed, and walking over to my luggage bag to access the minuscule wardrobe I brought with me.

A wardrobe that Alice had helped me acquire.

Well, she made me most of the clothes and bought me most of the shoes.

The entire wardrobe consisted of a lot of heels, and boots alike, skirts, perfectly fitted jeans, slacks, blouses, t-shirts, coats, blazers, dresses, and underwear, of course… In short, a lot of clothes, which I organized to fit in one large luggage bag.

So, I quickly pulled out a few outfits, which I considered to be casual, yet looked nice enough to dress up if I needed to. Before adding in the belts, shoes, and accessories.

When I was done, I slowly folded them and pulled my small duffle bag towards me, before putting everything in. Along with my makeup bag, curling iron before zipping it closed, just as Edward walked in.

"Are you ready, gattina?" He asked, stopping to look at the bag with a raised brow.

My eye twitched a little as he called me the stupid nickname. But I decided to try to be mature and ignore it.

"Yes, I am actually." I replied, rubbing my hands together, as I looked at my bag.

"There is no way you fit everything you need into that little bag." He said amused.

"I did, actually. It's all about organization. Besides, you said to hurry. Add the fact I didn't bring much with me either… Don't worry, the clothes work with most functions." I replied with a shrug.

He eyed me amazed before nodding. "Alright, well I'm sure we can get you something if you need it, where we're headed." He replied before heading into the closet.

I heard a series of clicks, whooshes and zips before he walked out with a bag, setting it on the bed, before he went to grab a few bottles set by the vanity mirror.

"Before we leave, I have someone I want you to meet…" He said, as he turned to look at me.

I frowned at him, tilting my head before nodding. "Oh yeah? And who is it? One of your colleagues? A friend, maybe?" I questioned, popping out my hip, and crossing my arms over my chest.

He sighed, as he crossed his arms over his broad chest, making him look somehow more intimidating than ever before.

It was at that moment that I briefly regretted sassing him. But only for a moment.

The gleam in his eye caused a shiver to go through me. Throwing my already whirling mind in a loop.

"Look I'm only going to tell you this once. I hardly care how you act when it's just me and you, or when were with my family. But there is a huge difference between how you act with me, and how you act in front of my associates. Stop acting like a bratty child or I will start treating you like one." He said, firmly.

Bratty child? Oh hell no. This isn't even the beginning, I can totally get worse...

"What do you mean? I'm not acting like a bratty child! I'm simply telling you how I feel." I replied, offended.

He looked at me amused before sighing and dropping his arms.

"If you're actually going to get married to me then I highly suggest you think of a different way to tell me how you feel because while I can be nice and listen. My father? He isn't as lenient." He replied as he made his way over to me.

I stared at him for a moment, before sighing and nodding in response, suddenly feeling drained.

Without another word, he smiled at me, and leaned down to press his lips on my forehead.

"We'll work on it. I promise." He whispered before grabbing his bag and mine and pulling me out of the room.

His hand engulfed mine comically, as we walked.

I felt the need to pull my hand away from his, but got distracted when I felt how warm his hand was.

I was so distracted by this that I hardly noticed when we walked into the elevator.

But the sudden ding of the door brought me out of my thoughts.

"Isabella, I'd like to introduce you to a few associates and family members. This is Demitri, and his younger brother—" Edward said as we walked into the foyer.

Standing there before me was the last person I expected to see.

"Felix?" I gasped, in surprise as all three men turned to look at me.