Chapter 5: The Lunch

Laura Conti's POV

"Hello Mr. Giovanni, what can I help you with today?" said the sales manager of a prestige jewelry establishment. It was owned by a Denmark company that made high-end jewelry for royalty and apparently, for people who could afford it.

"Hello, Tim. I want to see all the new trends of engagement rings for this year and also the unlisted styles. Thank you," Lucca said as we were being shown to a private room and also we were being served with a bottle of bubbly champagne to accompany us as Timothy went to get the design. I was sitting at the far end of the couch as Lucca took his place at the other end.

"Dolcezza, why don't you sit beside me?" Lucca said as he was looking at me. I rolled my eyes at him. He took the liberty to scotch over to my side as his hand was behind my back, across my shoulder as he held me close to him.

"What are you doing?" I hissed at him.

"Dolcezza, people would not believe we are a couple unless we smooching down each other throat. Now, be a good girl and sit on my lap," he said as he patted on his laps. I hissed at him before Tim come in with a dozen of design that was impressive and lovely.

"A compliment from our company as a token of appreciation, sir," Tim said as he showed Lucca the unlisted designs.

"Thank you," Lucca said as he takes a look at it.

"Mr. Vork sends his regard, sir," Tim said before disappearing from a series of doors, leaving me and Lucca alone again. I need to get away from him as he holds me in place.

"Here, try this one," Lucca said as I looked at the ruby engagement ring. Those stones could kill a bird if I threw at it.

"What, no way! I would not wear that thing that can get me rob!" I exclaimed at him. I looked around at the other rings that did not have the big stone like it but unfortunately, all of them look the same.

"Come on, dolcezza, I like this one," Lucca whined. It was the first time that I heard him whined excluding our childhood memory.

"No! Are you crazy!!? I will not wear that will work at the excavation site, it can get lost in there," I said trying logical explanation as I hope he would yield.

"Okay fine, but you will wear this one then," he said while showing me a princess cut sapphire in a platinum band. It was gorgeous and suitable not to show off at my colleagues.

"Okay, that works out," I said before he slipped into my left finger, marking the day that I was trapped forever.

"Earth to Laura. Hello? Earth to Laura," Stella was yelling into my face as she was snapping her fingers in front of my face. I blinked some other time before realizing that I was daydreaming about my shopping spree with Lucca yesterday.

"Huh? Yeah, hey Stella. What's up?" I asked trying to be natural as ever. I did not wear my engagement ring today as I was still afraid to go to the University, wearing it as it might raise some questions from Stella. I was just not ready to answer it yet.

"What's up? You have been staring at that image of Viking's woman for almost half an hour now. Are you okay?" she asked concerned. Stella might be a busybody and a pain in the ass but one thing I admired her was that she's a real concern with her friends.

"Yeah, I just looking at the hair, how it still be intact after all these years of burial," I said trying to get back to work. I was typing something before our office door opened.

"My, my, look here," Stella said before she was elbowing me on the back. I was to concentrate to type sentences on my report.

"What? What? Stella, I'm busy," I said before someone cleared their throat.

"Mind if I take you out for lunch?" that velvety voice that haunted my dreams make my hair on the nape stand straight. I turned around to see Lucca was standing there beside me and was looking down at me. Well, one spot particularly. Uh-oh...

I looked down on my left hand and immediately cover it. I stood up from my chair, causing Stella to stagger back a few steps before I looked at Lucca who was made.

"Lunch? Yeah, sure. Let's go get lunch then. Okay, let's go. Stella, I see you in a bit," I said as I picked up my handbag before Lucca held my wrist and dragged me out of the office. Stella was looking at us strangely before she disappeared from my sight as Lucca dragged me fast.

"Hey, Lucca. It hurts. Where are we going?" I asked before Lucca pulled us into a unisex restroom. He released my hand before closing the door and locked it.

"I thought we're gonna get lunch?" I asked before Lucca turned toward me and stalked me over.

"Where's your ring?" he hissed.

"It's in my bag here," I said as I took it out and show it to him that it sat perfectly in the box. Lucca grabbed the box and pulled the ring out. He then threw the box into the trash can and harshly grabbed my hand. He slid the ring on my 4th finger of my left before he showed it to me.

"This stays on here, understood?" he hissed at me. I just nodded before he released my hand and back me up on the wall.

My back was touching the cold wall before he claimed my mouth as he owns it. I tried to resist him but when his lips touched mine, everything was forgotten. I was hitting his chest before I succumbed to his possessive kiss. I moaned before he roamed my body. I tried to pull him closer before he stopped the kiss.

"Not now, Laura. Soon," he said before looking into my eyes. My mind was a bit hazy as I just nodded to him. He then stepped back a little bit then took my hand and get out of the small WC.

We were now sitting in one of the famous restaurants in Verona. I was surprised to see that Lucca came from Milan, or maybe he had some business in town, that's why he's here.

"What do you want?" he asked me.

"Hmm... Let's see. I'll have the chicken saltimbocca and granita," I said before closing the menu. Lucca signed for the waiter and he told me what I was getting and he was getting. He ordered chicken cacciatore and cappuccino. The waiter took our menu and headed back to get our orders ready.

"So, why are you in Verona?" I asked him, crossing my hands in front of my chest. He leaned back and smirked at me. His eyes were covered by his sunglasses making it difficult for me to read his face.

"Why? Are you cheating on me?" he said casually. I gave out a dry chuckle.

"If I was, you will never know," I said before the waiter put our order on the table. We ate in silence but I noticed that he would stare at me as I was eating my food and looked outside the window.

"Can I get you guys anything for dessert?" a waitress came by and spoke in Italian with a hint of a Scottish accent in her voice.

"No, we're good. Thank you. Check, please," Lucca said before the waitress disappeared and bring the check back. After she dropped our check and Lucca was kind enough to pay for me, I saw that the waitress was being harassed by a big, bulky man. I tried to get up and stopped him before a man came by and punched that guy in the face. He shouted something in a foreign language before he took the waitress even though she was against it. I stood up and approached them as I looked at the guy before looking at the waitress that was trying to get out of his grip.

"Hey, is everything okay?" I said. The man was looking a little confused before he turned to the waitress.

"Yes, everything was fine, ma'am. Please, do not concern yourself," she said before telling me to sit as she was assured me she was fine. I nodded at her before looking at the man with a murderous glare. I went back to the table to see that Lucca was nowhere to be found. I looked around and saw no sign of him. I looked at the table that he left me a note saying that I have to come to his hotel tonight to discuss our prenup. He wrote the time and location. I rolled my eyes mentally before leaving the restaurant with a heavy heart.

What rules should I put to make this platonic marriage as possible?