Seven days! Seven days of knocking on doors and making telephone calls and Alina could not secure additional funding for her restaurant. Neither could she find suitable alternative premises at such short notice. She had tried everything, short of selling herself. All that was left was to sell her soul to the devil... so he was going to win after all.

With a heavy heart Alina braced herself to fill Caroline and Emily in on her impending marriage, but before she went home she made the dreaded call.

‘I will marry you,’ Alina replied without preamble when Tomas answered the phone. ‘But I just want you to know that I hate you,’ she cut the call before he could speak.

If Alina thought that she could be that dismissive to Tomas Casiraghi and get away with it, she had another thing coming. Her phone rang instantly.

‘Be ready at ten tomorrow. We are meeting my mamma and then we are going house hunting.’

‘I am busy tomorrow and the rest of my life,’ Alina yelled.

Tomas laughed. ‘Change your plans cara,’ he instructed.

Even whilst hating him and being angry with him, when he called her “cara,’ it was music to her ears. ‘About the house hunting,’ Alina breathed heavily. ‘I ---have an obligation to my sister and my niece.’

‘Your obligations are my obligations now cara. We shall find a home that suits all our needs si?’

No, you are not supposed to care. You are supposed to be insensitive and rude and obnoxious and cold hearted.

‘Okay,’ Alina shut her eyes. She cut the call before she broke into tears again. It was all she seemed to be doing in the last two weeks, now to go fill her family in on her forthcoming marriage to an Italian billionaire.

     ‘I can’t believe it!’ Caroline was at the door the second Alina walked in.

‘What happened?’ Alina looked around frantically. ‘Where’s Emily?’ she choked.

‘Emily is fine. She’s in bed. It’s you—You’re getting married to Tomas Casiraghi!’

‘How did you know?’

‘It’s all over the news... Italian billionaire set to marry little known English restaurateur.

‘How do they know?’ Alina demanded.

‘It seems his people issued a statement to the press. But when the hell did all this happen? Did I miss the engagement? I did not even know he kissed you yet.’

That was bloody fast work. Did he have the press release on his table for the last week?

Alina dropped her bag on the dining room table and wheeled Caroline into the lounge. She sat down facing Caroline and looked her in the eye. ‘I’ve done more than just kiss him,’ Alina murmured.

‘OMG,’ Caroline laughed, ‘my baby sister is no longer a virgin.’

‘Would you be quiet?’ Alina looked over her shoulder towards her bedroom, hoping Emily had not heard.

‘Good lord, when did all this happen?’ I knew there was more to it when he came banging on our door, and he is sexy as sin.’

I agree.

‘Please---don’t ask for details.’

‘You always were so private and secretive,’ Caroline accused.

‘I’m not---secretive,’ Alina denied.

‘So you’re not going to tell me anything?’ Caroline respected her baby sister’s privacy.

Alina did not want to tell Caroline the reason she was marrying Tomas. How the hell could she? She herself did not know the reason he wanted to marry her. All she knew was it was the most bizarre, preposterous thing that a sexy billionaire, was holding her to ransom, demanding she marry him. The fact that he was so, so easy on the eye and a damn good lover made it all the more tolerable. Who was she kidding, Alina knew as long as she was going to be married to him, she was going to enjoy every delectable second in Tomas Casiraghi’s arms. And did he not say he would never consent to a divorce. She could not explain the quickening in her heart when she contemplated a lifetime of red hot sultry nights in the billionaire’s arms.

‘We’re going house hunting tomorrow,’ Alina smiled, ‘and Tomas is going to ensure it can accommodate you and Emily.’

‘Oh no,’ Caroline shook her head. ‘We shall stay here. You will be newlyweds, it’s hardly proper for us to be hovering around.’

‘I insist Caroline,’ tears rolled down Alina’s eyes. ‘I will live as a spinster for the rest of my life then, if you won’t live with me if or when I marry.’

‘You mean when,’ Caroline grinned. Alina rolled her eyes.

‘Are you sure Mr. Casiraghi is comfortable with the idea?’

‘We just spoke about it over the phone,’ Alina nodded.

‘All this time, you’ve been keeping him a secret,’ Caroline charged.

‘Please don’t judge me Caroline,’ Alina pleaded.

‘Never mind, you have chosen well,’ Caroline smiled.

‘You’ve only met him once.’ Her track record was not all that much more either.

‘My daughter thinks he’s the best thing next to candy, I trust her judgement.’

‘So I have your blessing?’ Alina dropped to her knees in front of Caroline’s wheelchair.

‘You don’t need it,’ Caroline laughed as she hugged Alina, ‘but I do approve.’

Well I don’t approve. I was bullied. I would have preferred a more conventional way to the altar, but it ain’t going to happen that way for me.

Caroline pulled back to look into Alina’s face, ‘you’re very quiet.’

‘Just thinking,’ Alina smiled.

     Alina was a nervous wreck whilst she waited for Tomas to arrive. She sent Rocco to the grocery store with a non-essential list, just so Tomas and Rocco won’t see each other. Rocco could not understand the need for those groceries, none were required as far as he was concerned, but she was the boss, so he obeyed. At precisely ten, the charged atmosphere announced Tomas’ arrival before Alina even laid eyes on him. Every one of her staff stood to attention, like he was the monarch or something. Alina walked to the entrance of her office and joined the ogling brigade.

She inhaled sharply at how good looking he was, immaculately swathed in a finely cut suit, no doubt Italian, handmade. His eyes were trained on her, not looking to the left or right.

‘Cara,’ he smiled, not taking his eyes off her face. Slowly, she released the breath she was holding.

‘Good morning,’ Alina murmured.

‘You can do better than that,’ he pulled her into his arms and proceeded in front of all her staff, to kiss her rather thoroughly.

She didn’t want to kiss him, not in front of her employees, but when his tongue darted into her mouth, she only realized she was whole heartedly participating when Tomas pulled away and she had to untangle her arms from around his neck. Tomas must have gotten distracted by the clapping that was going on behind his broad shoulders. Alina looked at her staff shyly and lowered her head.

‘You ready to go?’ Tomas’ eyes were mocking, as if he thought she needed some time to recover.

‘Yes,’ she murmured. She picked up her hand bag and slid it over her shoulder.

Tomas liked the slim, white cotton, over the knee dress she had on today. She was not in her signature chef’s jacket and black trousers. Her burgundy hair was all opened and cascading over her shoulders. How he wished to run his fingers through her velvety hair, but he did not trust himself, for if he touched her again, he would ravish her right there in her office.

     Alina discovered Keres Casiraghi lived in Belgravia, the rather luxurious suburb of London, favoured by the immensely wealthy upper class. It was breathtaking and exceedingly large lf Keres Casiraghi lived alone.

‘Mamma, may I introduce my fiancée, Alina Brooke,’ Tomas spoke in Italian.

His mother responded in Italian. ‘The restaurant chef, Tomasa. You couldn’t do better?’

Tomasa...how endearing.

Tomas’ his eyes narrowed, but only briefly. ‘Be careful mamma,’ Tomas curved his arm around Alina’s waist supportively, ‘Alina speaks Italian fluently,’ he warned. ‘Alina, you remember my mamma, Keres Casiraghi.’

‘Good morning, Mrs. Casiraghi,’ Alina thought to speak in English.

‘Ms. Brooke,’ she dragged out and then directed a flurry of words to Tomas in Greek.

‘Tomasa,’ she began. ‘Why did you choose this waitress? You know your uncle Kostas has promised Gabriella Ancelotti’s father that you will marry his daughter.’

‘Are we back to that again mamma?’ Tomas answered fluently in Greek.

Alina did not understand the language, but she knew it was Greek, she also perceived from Tomas’ grave tone that he was barely controlling his anger. She’d been on the receiving end of it once or twice. His mother continued to goad Tomas in more Greek. It seemed he was not interested in responding. He reverted to English.

‘Are you going to order tea to be served mamma, or shall I?’

Keres scowled angrily and stormed away, leaving Tomas and Alina alone. Alina looked up into Tomas’ face hoping to read something there, but his eyelids were lowered.

‘Your mother does not like me.’

‘She is not marrying you cara, I am,’ he asserted. ‘Now have a seat.’ He guided her to an expensive settee in Keres’ very fancy home. Alina had not thought Keres lived in London. She assumed she lived in Italy.

‘It’s not too late to change your mind,’ Alina offered and wondered why she felt a heaviness, when she made that offer.

‘I do not change my mind, once I’ve made a decision cara,’ he cautioned. ‘That is something you need to know about me. So get used to the idea that you will become my wife a week from now.’

‘One week! What’s the rush?’ Alina exclaimed.

He turned around to face her, draping his arm behind her head, ‘I don’t see the need to wait, do you?’ They were gazing into each other’s eyes when Keres cleared her throat. Alina wanted to look away, but Tomas had other plans. Ignoring his mother, he leaned forward and gently pressed his lips to Alina’s before he smiled at his mamma, as if they had not argued previously.

‘Thank you mamma, that smells lovely.’ He nodded politely at the servant next to his mamma.

Instead of acknowledging her son, Keres addressed Alina. ‘My son loves his food. He is always hungry. I hope you cook well for him,’ she warned.

‘That is unnecessary mamma,’ Tomas laughed. ‘You told me the pasta you had at The Emily was so good, the chef had to be Italian,’ Tomas reminded his mother.

‘The pasta was good,’ Keres reluctantly conceded.

One brownie point...yay!

‘But pasta is not difficult to put together,’ came the rebuttal.

Brownie point withdrawn.

‘My son loves seafood.’

‘I know,’ Alina blushed, remembering other irrelevant details about that night. Tomas Casiraghi conceded very little about himself, but that one seemingly significant detail regarding his gourmet preferences, he had freely divulged.

‘Shall we take our leave?’ Tomas enquired after some considerable time, where Alina hardly spoke much, except to say, yes please, or no thank you.

‘May I use your bathroom please?’ Alina politely asked in English.

‘This way,’ Keres sneered and did not wait to see if Alina was following her. Before she allowed Alina to enter her bathroom, she issued a stern warning. ‘You better make my Tomasa happy.’

Alina’s eyes widened at the warning. She regretted requesting the use of her bathroom.

‘I don’t know what means you used to trap him,’ Keres glared meaningfully at Alina’s flat board stomach.

Heat fused her cheeks. ‘I am not pregnant,’ Alina murmured, slightly embarrassed at the insinuation.

‘You don’t have the ring on your finger yet, so tread carefully,’ Keres cautioned and stormed out.

Alina was seething. What had she ever done to this heartless woman? Clearly the apple did not fall too far from the tree.
Why the hell does he want to marry me?

When Alina returned, Tomas immediately noticed the heated flush on her cheeks and the angry glint in his fiancée’s eyes. She was fine, before she went to the bathroom. He was convinced his mother had something to do with the change in Alina’s body language. His encouraging smile was not returned. She must be really mad. Generally, he only saw her fiery side when they were alone, and then only when he really provoked her and had her backed up against the proverbial wall. Tomas directed a cursory glance at his mother.  There was a triumphant smirk in her eyes. Without wasting another second, he ushered Alina to his car outside.

‘I want to live as far away from your mother as possible,’ Alina demanded, the second Tomas slid into the driver’s seat.

‘Certainly, cara mia,’ he answered in Italian. Alina laced him with a glacial stare before she turned and looked out the window.

‘I had one property in mind just two streets away,’ Tomas spoke quietly. ‘I guess we’ll skip that one.’

‘You guessed right,’ she hissed.

They saw a beautiful property in Notting Hill. It took Alina’s breath away. Tomas told her not to even think about prices. He wanted her to choose whatever pleased her. It had beautiful, spacious bedrooms, a huge kitchen, spectacular garden, Alina declined, just out of irritation at Tomas’ patronizing tone, and more so because of his annoying mother. Two more equally exquisite and insanely expensive properties in Knightsbridge and Hyde Park and still she stubbornly rejected both of them, as well. What alarmed Alina was, he’d said house-hunting. They were mansion hunting, and Tomas was unfazed by the prices or her indifferent attitude. It irked her to no end, that he was patiently biding his time. Didn’t he have meetings to attend or something?

‘I saved the best for last cara mia,’ he pulled her into his arms. ‘If you don’t like this one,’ his eyes locked with hers, ‘then we will have to continue searching tomorrow.’ Alina sighed softly at his seductive tone. His nearness was driving her mad. The scent of his body was interfering with her determination to keep him at arm’s length. His lips were so close. Her eyes lowered to them involuntarily, she couldn’t control the whimper that escaped her throat. Tomas swore huskily and closed his mouth over hers. So hungry was she for his kisses, her arms were around his neck pulling him down to have her fill of him. When Tomas started to murmur erotic sounding endearments in his mother tongue, she knew she’d better stop, before he made love to her right there in his car. When she tried to pull away, he held her tighter.

‘Come back to my penthouse with me,’ he urged against her lips.

‘I have to go back to work,’ she shifted back to her seat. She had texted her other manager to come in and assist Rocco, but still, she could not just abandon them. It was not her day off.

‘How about I pick you up after work and you spend the night with me?’ It was a long shot, but then he did not get where he was without attempting the long shots.

A whole night in his arms...

‘I think you know what my answer is,’ Alina snapped her safety belt on.

‘Can’t blame a man for trying now can you?’ Tomas chuckled. He drove off and Alina thought he looked irresistibly gorgeous.

She was quiet as Tomas drove, reflecting on the few hours they’d spent together. He can be charismatic and alluring when he’s not being arrogant. She wished she knew more about him. He was so secretive. And where is his father? She knew his father was still alive. Why was his mother living alone? If she asked him questions about himself or his family would he answer or tell her to mind her own business.

‘Here we are,’ Tomas announced as he pulled into a rather beautiful looking cobblestone driveway in St. Johns Wood, a very short distance from central London.

Alina gasped as she got out of the car. It was gorgeous. The extensive ornamental gardens looked like something from a postcard. It was just fantastic. She walked further into the garden. The home, correction mansion had not one but two grand terraces; a secluded wooden one leading to an Olympic size swimming pool. The other overlooked the lake. A pedestrian path led to the lakeside. It even had a picnic site.
Perfect for Emily.
Finally she dragged her eyes to the house itself. It was the most romantic looking stucco house. It looked like it was about a ten bedroom mansion.

‘I think ---I love it,’ she breathed. ‘Yes, we have to get this one,’ Alina smiled happily.

Tomas held his breath. She actually looked beautiful when she smiled. He felt a constriction in his heart. ‘You have not even looked inside the house,’ he spoke quickly.

‘I think you know quite well Tomas,’ she looked into his face, ‘that every other house you chose was equally perfect.’

Each had been wheel chair friendly. Each one had perfect playground potential for Emily. Every other home she walked through had a huge kitchen and well equipped as her restaurant. Why would this one be different? It seemed he’d stipulated his criteria to the agent.
What about his preferences? What would he want in a home?

‘I guess you were determined that the son should be punished for the mother’s sins,’ he hit the nail right on the head, interrupting her reverie.

She lowered her head guiltily. ‘I’m sorry.’

Tomas lifted her chin with his index finger. ‘What did she say to you?’ He demanded.

‘She was just being a typical, protective mother.’

Tomas smiled, sensing she was not going to say more. ‘I was hoping you would agree to this one,’ he murmured. ‘I like it best of all we viewed. Infact if you did not choose this one, I was going to put an offer on it, just as an investment.’

‘I like it best too,’ she murmured, gazing into his eyes.

Tomas inhaled rather sharply again. ‘Let’s have a look inside,’ he laced his hands through hers and gave Alina the grand tour.

A warm tingling feeling rushed through her from her toes all the way up her body. They were holding hands ...like lovers. She had to confess, even if just to herself, it felt pretty darn good, her hand entwined with that of Tomas Casiraghi’s.

Whilst every room was plush, with the most modern fittings, she was not really surprised. The kitchen was even more appealing than she anticipated.  She loved it. When Tomas was guiding her to the master bedroom, she was reluctant.

‘I said it’s fine, we don’t need---to go there,’ she looked away nervously.

Tomas laughed. ‘Afraid, Alina?’

‘No.’
She did not fear Tomas. She found him arrogant and rather bossy, she did not understand it, but she trusted him implicitly. Tomas searched her emerald eyes. He was in agreement. There was desire and definitely passion, but no fear. He was pleased about that.

‘I have to do this,’ he murmured in a husky tone, pulling her into his arms and ravishing her with an earth shattering kiss. It was not aggressive, but it could not be described as gentle. His hand raked over her body. His hold tightened around her, as he moulded her body to his pelvis. She was shocked at how easily this man got aroused.

‘Tomas--- I need to get back to the restaurant.’

                                                                       -         end chapter eight-