Page 109 of A Diamond Deal
‘For our family name to be honourable once more. For him to know that his legacy was not destroyed for ever.’
‘But, how…?’
‘By marrying you, Amelia Rossi. With you as my wife, no one in Italy would think of shunning him. I came here to bring you home—as my bride.’
Chapter Two
AMELIA LAUGHED. She couldn’t help it. Though it was nothing like her normal laugh—she’d forgotten what that even sounded like. This was a noise of derision and derangement, a sound that was torn from her against her will.
But seconds passed and the sound died in her throat.
She stared at him, her brain sluggish and slow to cooperate. ‘Did you—are you actually serious?’
A muscle throbbed at the base of his jaw, but he simply stared at her, as though that were an answer.
‘Why on earth do you think I’d marry you? We literally just met.’
His eyes bored into hers. ‘This would not be a normal marriage.’
‘Obviously,’ she said, rolling her eyes a little. And even though she had no intention of marrying him, her mind began to spin with the idea, picturing herself in this man’s orbit, belonging to his world.
It was absurd.
They were chalk and cheese. She was a waitress at a cheap east London diner. He was Massimiliano Moretti. She didn’t know how much he was worth, only that he lived in a world of expensive cars and never-ending luxury. She couldn’t even cover the interest payments on her credit card. ‘And there’ll be no marriage.’
He moved infinitesimally closer, so his large frame loomed over hers. ‘Even if I could click my fingers and make all of your money problems disappear? If I could do the same for your grandparents?’
Her heart twisted. ‘I don’t even know them.’
‘But you don’t want to see them destroyed.’
‘Do you?’
‘I gave up on feeling loyalty to anyone a long time ago, besides my own grandfather.’
‘You said they’re friends. Surely he would want you to do something on their behalf.’
His lips shifted in a sneer. ‘He would not ask it of me.’
‘But—’
‘No, Amelia. The only reason I would have for helping your grandparents from financial ruin is if they were family. With you as my wife, I would not feel I had a choice but to intervene.’
Her jaw dropped. ‘Are you seriously trying to blackmail me into marriage?’
His eyes narrowed. ‘I prefer incentivise.’
‘Tomay-to, tomah-to,’ she muttered.
‘There is your own considerable debt to consider, as well. Not to mention your living circumstances.’
She pulled herself up to her full height. She was not short, and yet he still towered inches over her. ‘What’s wrong with my living circumstances?’
He ignored the question. ‘Is this truly what you want from life, Amelia?’ he asked, the words breathing over her, pulling at old wounds, reminding her of the hopes and dreams she’d cherished before her father had become ill and her entire focus had shifted to him.
‘Not everyone has the luxury of living their dreams,’ she said, the thought one she’d had often. Whenever she caught her mind wandering into ‘this isn’t fair’ territory, and needed to have a stern talking to herself. Because lifewasn’tfair and bemoaning the fact achieved nothing. Far better, in Amelia’s opinion, to duck your head and get on with it.
‘But you could,’ he said. ‘Marry me, and you can do and be whatever you want.’
