"So, you were sent here to be my wife?" Raffaeli Marchesi narrowed his eyes, and crossed arms, searching for answers in Caterina's face, unsure whether to take this seriously.
"I-I know this is surprising news for you but yes, Mr. Marchesi I was sent here, in your manor, because your father and my father had arranged for us to get married. And as soon as possible." Caterina Valli wore her thick-rimmed eyeglasses to hide her anxious eyes as she spoke to the man she was about to marry. She slightly tipped her chin upward hoping she would not look terrified. But deep inside, it felt like she was jelly.
Despite her facade, the man saw through her act. "Look, Ms. Valli..."
"C-caterina.. just call me Caterina."
"Caterina, I know you and I were both forced into this. I also know our fathers arranged this because your company is now drifting into sinking sand. I remember my father mentioning a debt he could not pay with money. And maybe, this is why we're into this mess."
Caterina felt guilty about the man he was supposed to get married with. She understood he was torn between duty and personal freedom. But as for her, she had no problem getting hitched with this man forever. She was infatuated with him. Or rather, she was in love with him.
She knew this man would be terrified to know she's been harboring this feeling for him since she was 16 and now she's 26. It's been 10 long years. But she had a reputation in university that she could not erase or have even a chance to defend herself with. She just wished this man would never know. But...
"Don't worry Ms. Valli..., he called her last name to be formal with her. "I know..you.. you have a quite different orientation and..."
Oh please! Not again. Caterina rolled her eyes mentally.
"Mr. Marchesi, this has nothing to do with my sexual orientation. I have nothing against this marriage. But if you are really against this, then I don't have a choice. I just need to build my own company from scratch and pay what my dad owes to your family." Caterina tried as much as she could to calm herself. She's just irritated that this man would misunderstand her.
"Now, please excuse me and I will talk my father out of this damn thing," she added.
"Certainly Ms. Valli," he nodded his head to dismiss her quite surprised by her reaction. And then he added before she could leave, "But, I never knew you were this beautiful even behind those thick glasses. It's just a pity. No offense."