Chapter One The Beginning:
Olivia sighs, I can't believe I'm getting married. Even though I didn't know the man I was marrying. My family comes from Sicily where arrange marriage is normal unlike in America. We've been living in the USA for almost 10 years now. Little small detail many don't know is I come from a Mafia background. My father relocated us to America to leave that lifestyle behind. Mariano wasn't excited about marrying me I could tell. The way he would glare at me. I got so caught up in the dresses and wedding plans. There I never thought he would hate me.
Neglected to think about how my groom felt about the wedding? Well, I should tell you how this wedding came about. You see, my father wanted to join his company with Ricardo Di Vaio, who is my groom's father, agreed to join our company if I married his son. Even though he could have gone through my uncle in Sicily.
In the beginning, I'm not gonna lie. I was very upset. Imagine you have to marry a guy you've never met. I've never dated and have always been so busy trying to obtain my degree in double major law and business. Then he didn't want to meet me until the day of the wedding. I wasn't too comfortable marrying a guy without seeing him. You see I'm biracial, my mother is black and my father is Sicilian. English is my second language and Italian is my first language. Now I always knew my marriage would be arranged. Usually, before you married in Sicily you had the chance to get to know the groom.
I was born and raised in Sicily for most of my life. Then we relocated to America so my father could branch out his business. We've been in America for 10 years now. I can't believe I'm finally turning 21. Can you believe it's finally legal? Many people don't understand why I say yes. Well, the family is very traditional and believes in old customs. I'm also a daddy's girl to my core. My sister Olive is already married to a great man. Papa set up her marriage, and they are happy. They did have a rocky start at first. She married Santos when she was 18 and now they have a son.
I'm hoping that my pairing with Mariano is the same. Not sure because Santos met my sister prior to the wedding. Santos is a great man, he is like a brother to me. We have a very close-knit family. I still live at home with my parents. It's a Sicilian tradition to live at home until you marry.
Father is worried about this match. I can't back out of it though. Well, at least I get to move out of my own home finally.
Olives keep telling me not to worry but it's hard. Santos met him last night at the bachelor party. He told me that he is excited about the marriage. I don't know whether to believe Santos or not. I believe he would lie to protect my feelings.
The Wedding
It's finally time to tie the not. I keep looking at my reflection in the mirror. Many say my sister and I favor Tia and Tamara Mowry. Well, it's time I'm in the back with my mother and twin sister Olive. Trying to calm my nerves. I'm scared that I will not be able to make my husband happy. So I try to paste on a smile for my sister and mother. I've always learned at an early age that appearances are everything in public. You should put on a smile no matter the situation.
Now it's time to meet my future husband. I grab my father's arm and he kisses my forehead. Telling me how proud he is for joining our company. Business and Marriage is the best way to join companies.
My nerves are getting the best of me, right? Suddenly I stop in the middle of the aisle. I began to have second thoughts and then I looked at my father. Then I continue down the aisle. If my daddy wasn't smiling like the proud he is I would have run.
Finally, make it to my groom. My father hands me over to him. Mariano glares at me but tries to cover it with a fake smile. Suddenly I felt like I just wanted to run. For some reason, he holds me tighter. Like he knows that I want to get the hell out of there.
Mariano
I've known about this arranged marriage for an entire year. It was established to join two families in a business Company. I knew that Franco Giordano wanted me to marry one of his twin daughters. He has wanted to join my father's partnership for the past two years. He reached out to my father for help. That is how my father came up with this idea of marriage.
I was nervous when she stopped in the middle of the aisle. First, I thought she would run. Then she looked at her father and smiled, but kept walking. Then when I glare at her she tries to remove her arm.
I knew if I loosen my grip on my arm she would have run. I have to say she is very beautiful. Tough for her though, because I'm in love with someone else. I purchased a honeymoon for me and my lover. Eva is waiting for me at our private airstrip.
Just have to marry Olivia to satisfy my father. Then I can go be with my beautiful Eva. My father would never approve of Eva. Eva is a beautiful black model from New York. I don't understand his obsession with me marrying a Sicilian-born bride.
Apparently, Olivia Giordano is Sicilian born. She also has a Ph.D. in Law and Business. From what I understand she is very smart. She attended college at the tender age of 15. Olivia is the pure Sicilian bride that any man but me would dream of having.
I even invited Eva to the wedding. She didn't want to disrespect Olivia by ruining her day. The plan is to take Olivia to our new home and drop her off. I purchased her a Bahamas trip without me. I couldn't be too cruel.
Everything is set up so that I can have my life with Eva. I will visit my new wife once a month. My assistant will give gifts on holidays and her birthday.
Sicilian marry for life so I will be stuck with her. Eva doesn't care about marriage, she just wants me in her life.
After the Wedding
Olivia sighs the wedding is finally over. Our pearl white Rolls Royce pull-up. I was excited to be going on a trip. He hasn't said much during our entire wedding. When it was time for the kiss. He just pecked my lips. I was slightly disappointed it was my first kiss. At least he held my hand when it was time to get in the car. Then he looks at me and sighs. I was waiting to see what he would say. Olivia just you know we are not spending our honeymoon together, Mariano replied. I had to ask why aren't going on the same honeymoon. I was so confused and didn't know what was going on.
Then he started, to be honest, we don't know each other so why waste my honeymoon when I can spend it with the woman I love? To say I was shocked was an understatement.
Let's get some things straight. First of this marriage in name only, said Mariano. Second, I will come home once a month to visit you. I will attend three events a year with you. That is Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. Honestly, I wanted to cry from what he was saying. Marriage in my culture is everlasting. You only marry once in your lifetime. This is hard for me to comprehend what he is saying. I was trying to keep it together. Then Mariano spoke again. This is how this is going to go. I got you a Caribbean trip for our honeymoon. You will spend two weeks in the Caribbean I will come in the last couple of days so we can take pictures.
That way you have honeymoon pictures to show the family. When we get back we will live together for a month until I locate a condo. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
I understand you're finishing your Ph.D. Well, you will have plenty of time for that now. I have also opened up an account with 30 million for your spending needs.
Travel to do whatever your heart desires. Since we need to have children. We will think of something when the time is right, said Mariano.
I was so shocked I couldn't say a word. Simply put I was in a daze until I got on the private jet by myself. This couldn't be my life. I was in complete shock
I watch him get on another plane with a beautiful black woman. She was short and really skinny. I think I have seen her in magazines.
The first thing I did was get out of my dress. I purchased a nice short set to travel in. Well, I'm going to make the best of this trip. I plan to rent a home on the beach. Forget staying in a honeymoon suite. He is not controlling my trip. While he is off with another woman.
So I'm married but single life begins.
In the Caribbean
I rented a nice home on the beach. Instead of staying at the resort. I refuse to have stayed in the honeymoon suite. I've come to the conclusion to begin my life with my husband. Plan to get a job working and live my life without my husband. Even looking into purchasing a small starter home.
Since he wants to play house with another woman. I plan to live my life away from his home. The money has already been deposited in my account. My plan is to start a few businesses. Pretty soon I will have two Ph.D. in law and business. I can become a professor if that is my desire.
Contact a real estate agent to locate some properties. Don't plan to sit by and do nothing while my husband plays house with another woman.
Let the games begin>>>>>>>>>>>>>>