Italy

POV – Zayn

It has been almost a week since the Bella incident. She is still recovering. I have started giving her permission to walk, but only inside the room, as the doctor advised it because her foot can't go stiff. My dad didn't exactly take the news of postponing the wedding well, as our wedding is now in two days and it's in Italy, so we had to make the arrangements accordingly.

I am in my office, typing on my computer, looking through the interview list for today.

Yes, you guessed it right—I still don't have a PA. I don't even remember when the last time was that I had one.

I looked through the names, scrolling down, when a certain name came into view: Bella Rossi. I furrowed my brow as I clicked on her profile.

Surprisingly, it's my fiancée, and it looks like she has been trying to get an interview here as... a Cyber Security Manager.

I scroll down to her details and see she has done her graduate courses in Basic Computing and Bioelectronics.

I scroll further and see there's nothing written under her master's or experience.

I furrow my brow, trying to think of a possible explanation.

I could see my fiancée has been trying to get in here at least four times, but her attendance doesn't show.

"Brandon," I call through the intercom.

"I want you to grasp details on Bella Rossi. She was an attendee for the interview—I want to know the reason for her absence."

"Yes, sir," he replied, as I cut off the call.

I was busy going through my mail when I heard my door swing open.

And no one but Tiana barges in like that.

I look toward her, pausing my work.

"Zaynny, how are you?" she asks in her cheerful voice.

"Fine. I want to talk to you about something important," I state plainly.

"I heard you came to my mansion yesterday."

I look toward her as she nods while sitting on the chair.

I narrow my eyes as I ask her,
"Did you meet someone?"

She shakes her head.

I furrow my brow, when all of a sudden, a flicker of realization hits her face.

"Ooh yes!!
Your slut. She was on the bed, sitting there. I told her to leave, but I guess she didn't."

I clenched my fists as the word slut left her mouth, gritting my teeth.

"That slut is my wife," I spoke in a calm tone, barely constrained.

She momentarily processed what I said, then started laughing again.

"You are terrible with jokes, Zayn," she replies.

I keep a straight face to show her how serious I am about this situation.

After looking at my face, she stops laughing.

"I would like to make it clear to you:
My wife is not a slut and certainly not an award-winning trophy for me. She is my responsibility and will soon become my family. I will certainly not stand you disrespecting my wife in any way."

"Zayn, I—"

"You may leave," I cut her off.

She stood up and left my cabin as I resumed typing.

It was around 9:30 at night when I finally made my way inside the mansion.

I went straight to my room, took a shower, and changed into comfortable clothes before heading to Bella's room.

Would you look at that? I was leaning near the door as I saw the most amusing sight—my fiancée munching on a packet of chips while watching something on TV on the bed.

She was so engrossed she didn't even hear me come inside. I stood right beside her.

"What are you doing?" I whisper.

She jumps in fright, looking at me with wide eyes.

"Zayn!!
Why would you sneak up on me like that?
I almost had a heart attack!" she says, placing her hands on her heart.

I chuckle as I take her in my arms.

"I can walk now! You can put me down!"

"But I like carrying you," I whisper near her ear.

I could see how easily she gets shy—her cheeks were turning red like strawberries.

I took her down for dinner. Afterward, I was sipping my whiskey, standing on the balcony of Bella's room, when I heard her come toward me.

Her ankle was still a little unsteady, but she could walk.

She came near me. We gazed into each other's eyes until she finally looked away.

"Princess?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you still planning to get a job?"

There was a minute of silence as she slowly nods her head.

"Yeah," she replies.

"Did you by chance want to get into my company?" I ask playfully.

"No," she replies. I furrow my brows in confusion.

"You are on my list of people I have to interview, Princess."

Just as I completed my sentence, a hint of realization took over her face.

"Yes, Ash... I mean, my friend made me apply over there."

"Is this the only company you have applied to?"

"No, I've applied to many."

I nod my head in understanding. I want to ask her about her master's and experience, but I just couldn't. Brandon will follow me up on that.

Soon after, we both went to sleep in our rooms, as we had to leave for Italy tomorrow.

The sun was bathing my fiancée in its rays as she was still sprawled on the bed, the blanket half on the floor. She was still sound asleep, letting out soft little snores.

I came toward her.

"Bella...
Princess, we have a flight to catch," I whisper softly near her ear.

I could see her whole body shiver under my contact. I caught a little twitch of a smile on her lips.

She was awake.

I came impossibly close to her lips, leaving just inches between us. Her eyes opened in surprise as she anticipated my next move.

I was about to brush our lips when I whispered,

"We are getting married tomorrow."

Her eyes widened a fraction more as I stepped back, letting go of her waist.

I started leaving the room, and she screamed my name out.

"Zayn!"

I left the room chuckling.

We have finally reached Italy, and guess what—my fiancée is still sleeping in my arms. She is definitely a heavy sleeper; even the small turbulence didn't wake her up. I sat her inside the car carefully so as not to wake her, then rounded the car and sat beside her. It's a three-hour journey to my mansion from the airport.

I was quietly going through my emails when I sensed movement beside me.

It was Bella. She was leaning onto my side, trying to get a look at my phone.

"Good afternoon to you too," I spoke sarcastically, still going through my phone.

I felt Bella jump in surprise as she retreated back to her seat, almost touching the window.

"How did you sleep, Princess?"

She nods in response as I finally look toward her.

"Where are we?" she asks in her sleepy voice, still yawning.

"Italy."

"What? When? How?" She looks at me in surprise.

Now sleep seemed to be the last thing on her mind. All traces of it had vanished.

"We have a wedding to get to tomorrow," I replied.

"Wait... You're serious?"

"We are getting married in Italy?" she asks the last sentence in a whisper, almost not believing this is all happening for real.

I nod my head yes.

She was looking at me with an emotion I couldn't grasp. It was unknown to me.

She looks back out the window as the view of the Italian roads blurred past. The car wasn't speeding.

I saw how her eyes sparkled with happiness as she looked out the window. The soft rays of sun hit her face, making her look naturally beautiful. Her brown eyes got a shade lighter as the sunlight fell on her. She had her hair in a high ponytail.

After some time, I noticed it was almost lunchtime.

I asked the driver to take us to a restaurant as we came near the local areas.

Soon after, we got out of the car in front of an Italian restaurant. It had beautiful architecture—green and brown, giving it a natural aesthetic look.

I took Bella's hand in mine as we went inside.

"Good afternoon, sir."

"A table for two," I reply.

The waitress nods, "Yes, sir."

"Right this way," she motions for us to follow her as we go upstairs. I could see a beautiful view from up here.

I pull a chair out for Bella to sit on. She looks at me with narrowed eyes. I raise my brows in question, but she completely ignores me, looking through the menu.

I take my seat and observe her expression.

She looks concentrated, like she's solving a math problem.

"What do you want, Princess?"

She looks up at me, hiding half her face behind the menu.

"Y-you order first," she says, pushing the menu toward me.

I raise a brow as I take it.

"Hmm... How about
Cacio e pepe?" I ask, looking toward her.

She looks nervous, like she doesn't know what to do.

"Okay, maybe not that.
How about
Spaghetti Bolognese?"

She looks a little calmer than before as she nods yes.

I call the waitress as she takes our order.

"One plate of Spaghetti Bolognese and Cacio e pepe, and white wine."

The waitress nods, writing in her small notebook.

"Will that be all, sir?"

I look toward Bella, and she nods.

"That will be all."

Soon the waitress leaves.

"You don't understand Italian, do you?"

She looks caught off guard.

"What?"

"I... of course I do," she says, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

I raise my brows as she looks me dead in the eyes.

"Qual è il tuo cibo italiano preferito?" I ask.
(What is your favorite Italian food?)

She looks like she's trying to understand, then replies:

"Bella Rossi."

I let out a laugh—a genuine one this time.

"Quello sarebbe mio," I reply, looking straight at her. (That would be mine.)

She looks so confused right now but still has that defiance of "knowing" Italian.

Before I could say anything, the waitress approached with our food.

As I ate my pasta and she ate her spaghetti, I noticed her eyes on my pasta more than thrice. I took some pasta with my fork and placed it right in front of her mouth. She looked surprised.

"Open," I say.

She obeyed, and I slipped the pasta inside her mouth.

She chewed it delicately, as if it were the most amazing thing she had ever tasted.

"Good?" I ask.

She nods her head enthusiastically. I shoved my plate to the middle, feeding myself and her as we enjoyed the pasta together.

After lunch, we got back into the car. There was still at least an hour and a half before we'd reach the mansion.

I looked beside me to see Bella gazing out the window.

I lightly coughed to get her attention.

She turned back.

"The place we're staying at until the wedding is my parents' mansion." She looked stiff, as if still processing what I said.

She slowly nodded.

"They're nice people... unless you do something to hurt the Mafia or their status," I say in a serious voice.

"Okay," she mumbled.

I wanted to talk to her, but it's best not to scare her. She already looks like she's seen a ghost

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 Until Next time!

The wedding Is finally gonna happen guys!