Anna was shaking her head as she put her hands on her hips looking at the target and the two arrows " I can't believe this. How did you do that?"

Arturo put the bow and arrow down on the ground and walked to Anna " I achieved this through practice. Maybe I can give you some tutoring since we have so much time to spend with each other now."

Anna spoke " I want a rematch."

Arturo spoke " You lost a bet, darling. Accept it."

Anna spoke " It was very close. Even Antonio and Costanzo can testify,"

Antonio chuckled as he put his hand on Costanzo's shoulder " He won fair and square. Lets go cousin. We should give them some space. Don't be a sour loser Anna. Pay up." He then walked away.

Costanzo shook his head as he turned to Antonio and followed him " It was a close one though. But she lost." He then couldn't hold his chuckle. Antonio also laughed. Anna's face was priceless. They had lost so many times in archery to Anna and had no sympathy for her at all.

Anna crossed her arms over her chest " I want a rematch."

Arturo spoke flatly " No. I refuse. Now you have to do what I say for a whole week. If I had lost I would have had to do as you asked but I didn't lose. Did I?"

Anna gave him a disapproving look and walked away towards the target. " We will have a rematch. I will get the arrows."

Arturo didn't like that. He followed her " Don't walk away from me." He then grabbed her arm and turned her around to face him " You lost Anna. I won."

Anna spoke " Let go."

Arturo spoke " No."

Anna lifted her other hand and tried to untangle his hand from her arm but he didn't budge.

Arturo spoke " I promised you I am not going to stop chasing you until you are mine and here I am. When I came to visit New York this time, I vowed to myself to not leave without you. That's a promise I am not going to break. I am taking you with me to Italy. You will meet my parents. We will clear the air and you will be mine."

Anna struggled to get out of his grip " I will never be yours. I don't want to join your criminal family. Go find yourself another girl."

Arturo spoke " No other girl is you. My deadline is coming. My father has given me an ultimatum to marry a woman in the next three months or he will force me into an arranged marriage with Amaranta Voltolini. She is alright. But she is not you. My father doesn't care who's blood runs in the veins of my children. He couldn't care less if its Voltolini blood or Rosario blood mixed with mine. He just wants a bride. He has delayed my initiation  ceremony as the head of the Agostini family that should have taken place ages ago. This is it. I am not marrying anyone but you."

Anna narrowed her eyes " So you only want me so you can meet a lousy deadline. Go to hell."

Arturo looked hurt " What? How did you get that idea? I am just saying that my father would force me to marry Amaranta if I don't bring home a bride in the next three months. I would give you as much time as you need. But my father is not as patient as me. I only love you. I want you."

Anna spoke " Meet your deadline with someone else then." She then surprised Arturo by kicking him in the stomach making him groan as he let go of her arm. She then noticed the dark look in Arturo's eyes.

Anna then looked around and saw no sign of Antonio and Costanzo so she decided in a split second to run away. She ran to no where in particular as she shouted " Oops. I think I kicked you abit lower down than I should have. Sorry." She kept running until she reached the tress next to the compound lake that made her hidden from sight. She leaned against a tree and took deep breaths hoping Arturo didn't follow her. She needed to think clearly.

Anna screamed as she saw Arturo appear in front of her looking furious. He stepped close to Anna so they were inches apart as he spoke" Kick me again if you dare." His tone was playful but there was darkness in his eyes.

Anna sighed " What do you want from me?"

Arturo spoke as his lips were inches apart from hers " Firstly, I would like an apology. You hit me. No one has struck me and has lived. Believe me darling. You are lucky I am letting you off with just a kiss."

Anna frowned " What kiss?"

Arturo shrugged " An apology kiss so I forgive you."

She spoke " You deserved that kick for being so stubborn. I would not marry you. You are not my type."

Arturo spoke " What? Are you serious?"

Anna said " Of course I am serious. I want a man who doesn't have an ego as high as yours."

Arturo spoke firmly now and his tone turned more serious " You say I have a high ego. So what? I love you. Nobody is perfect darling."

Anna's heart was beating so fast as the little distance between their bodies was making her nervous and also the playfulness in Arturo's voice was disappearing. He was towering over her standing within inches of her. There was no escape for her and no one around  to help her. She could kick him and run but she wasn't going to get away this time. Arturo was surprised when she had attacked him. Maybe he had let her run so he could chase her to an isolated place. One thing she knew was, Arturo was most dangerous when he was angry. He was not to be messed with then.

Anna spoke " Leave me alone Arturo. You can have any woman you want and by the way that kick didn't do any harm to you."

Arturo leaned even closer his lips close to touching hers " Any woman is not you darling. You are right. You didn't do any harm. But still, I want an apology. A proper one or I make you pay more dearly for that kick."

The intimate position they were in was making Anna blush. She felt helpless. Arturo had said the last sentence in a husky tone. He could do anything to her in that moment. But he was choosing to play it that way. She had struck him. He had the right to punish her since their families were equals. She looked around for guards " Where are the Rosario guards?"

Arturo spoke " I think Francesco knows that no one in their right mind would hurt you on his compound grounds. But it doesn't include well earned punishments for assaulting an Agostini...."

Anna spoke " Step aside and let me go."

Arturo spoke " No. You assaulted me. I have the right to punish you for that. When a Rosario strikes an Agostini, it's war. We are not allies. You kiss me and all will be forgotten."

Anna trembled " I would rather be punished by Francesco than kiss you." She was bluffing of course. Francesco was going to go crazy on her if Arturo complained about her or if news went to him by the guards that she kicked Arturo. He was Francesco's equal from another family. There was a hierarchy and strict rules about treating people at each level in that hierarchy. Arturo had to express that he forgave her or she was in trouble.

Arturo spoke in an irritated tone " Hold it there. You don't mean that. Why are you so stubborn? Let it go, whatever grudge you have against me. You don't like me because I beat up some guys you were dating in college......"

Anna spoke " You mean every single guy who bought me a drink or dared look at me or even gave me their notes? You were worse than Francesco in being over protective. I swear. Even most girls didn't like being friends with me out of fear that your people or you would see them as a threat. I rejected you. You should have gotten over me and moved on the first time I said no to you. Instead, you tried to control my life when I wasn't even yours to protect."

Arturo spoke " Damn right, you were mine. You are all mine. I will have you......"

Anna spoke " I don't want to marry you. Just get over it."

Arturo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He then opened his eyes " I get your way of thinking. I know why you act this way. I intimidate you. You are afraid that I will control you. But it's just not me that you have a problem with. You don't want to bend to any man's authority. I know you wouldn't even get married if you had the choice. You are a feminist. An independent woman who hates powerful men who would dictate their life style but that's how the world operates darling. You have to marry some day. You are a Rosario. It's your duty. If you had to marry someone, wouldn't you want to marry me? What if I was the last man on earth? Wouldn't you want to marry me."

Anna spoke " No."

Arturo spoke " What do you mean no? I love you, damn it. You will learn to love me back. Don't be afraid to become mine. The Anna I know doesn't fear anything. Don't be afraid of me. Fight me, argue with me, challenge me but as my wife..... Now kiss me. That would be a good start. You lost a bet any ways."

Anna gritted her teeth " Fine." She then reluctantly leaned close and kissed him on the cheek."

Arturo sighed " Apology not accepted yet."

Anna rolled her eyes and moved her hands up. She grabbed a fistful of Arturo's hair and brought his head close. She then attached her lips to his.

Arturo snaked his arms around her waist and pushed her to the tree. He held her tightly as he returned her kisses passionately.

Anna moaned as she pulled away breathing heavily " Is this apology accepted?"

Arturo pretended to think " Half accepted."

Anna groaned " I hate you."

Arturo shrugged " You don't mean that. Its your fault for messing with me in the first place. You are the one who hit me."

Anna sighed " Francesco would punish me if you tell him you don't accept my apology for hitting you. It's not fair that I get punished and have to kiss you. Do you want Francesco to hurt me so badly?"

Arturo spoke " No. Of course not. You are mine to punish." He then leaned close and brushed his lips against hers. " Fine. I would tell Francesco that you apologised and we are all good but ..... we are not even. But like I said, we have so much time to get used to each other. You have to do as I say for a whole week. By the end of the week, I will win your heart and you will marry me."

Anna spoke " Dream on."

Arturo spoke " But you still have to honour the bet my cherry pie. I will change your mind in a week while you have to do as I say." He then winked and stepped away from Anna and walked towards the lake. He picked up a stone and threw it into the lake. He whispered "By the way, tell me about Angelo, Francesco's future brother in law. My men reported to me that you met him at the Hollywood ball and danced with him. So you meet this guy on a night and kiss them senseless. But you have known me for so long and I have to force a kiss out of you."

Anna was wary now. She walked away from the tree towards Arturo " Are you jealous now. He is a man that you can't just beat up since he is close to Francesco. Too close,"

Arturo turned around and looked at Anna with raised eyebrows " You want to bet, darling. Nobody is untouchable for me. I could strike him off if I wanted too. It would mean a mob war but you are worth a war, Anna. I know the guy may be around this thanksgiving and I warn you now, I won't hold back if I have to fight for you. I don't share. You are mine. Always were and always will be. My father has even backed off for so long extending his deadline for me to get a yes out of you. I tell you now, this time is different. I want you to stop this game and give into me this time round."

Anna gritted her teeth " Dont talk to me in a threatening manner. Are you threatening me?"

Arturo spoke " No threats. Just promises, darling. Every man must back off when it comes to you. No one deserves to have you but me. You know that too. Otherwise you wouldn't have kissed me. Not like that. I know you can feel it deep down that I am the right one to marry you. You just push down your true feelings. This one week that we have together, would be my chance to bring out those feelings out. I want you and would stop at nothing until I have you." He then bent down on one knee and pulled out a box from his pocket and opened it.

Anna lifted her hand up and covered her face as she heard his sincere voice " Will you marry me."

Anna sighed and shook her head as she put her hands down " Ask me after one week."

Arturo smiled as he didn't hear a " No" this time round. That was an improvement.