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“Trust me, I don’t have to pretend,” I grumble.

Her eyes widen in surprise as I pull her flush with my body. I know she can feel just how hard I am.

I lean down until my mouth is by her ear. “This is all your fault, Theresa. You and this stupid little lace outfit.”

Suddenly, her nails dig into the back of my neck, and I let the smallest bit of a moan slip out. “You’ll be bleeding out on the floor before I let you touch me beyond this. You’re not entitled to any part of my body, no matter how much you think you are now that we’re married.”

I pull back and furrow my brows. I'm met with a death glare, and suddenly, I know why she feels this way. “Kylian told you what I said.”

She doesn’t answer me, but her silence says enough.

“Your father threatened someone very important to me. I couldn’t let that go without him knowing just how equal the playing field is. I would never touch you without your consent, Theresa.”

“Theá,” she corrects.

“Theresa,” I respond.

“The playing field will never be equal, and just when you think it is, you’ve already lost,” she says softly, just as the song is coming to an end and transitions into another.

I blink rapidly as I look around and notice how many of the guests have joined us. I was too caught up in Theá-land to even notice.

This is a problem. She is a problem.

“Mind if I cut in?” her father asks from next to us. I step back so quickly you’d swear I just got caught humping my girlfriend by her father.

I mean, that is sort of what I was doing.

I step back, assuming he wants to do the traditional father-daughter dance, but when his arm drapes around my shoulder, I realise he’s here for me and not her.

“Antonio, there are a few friends of mine I want you to meet.” He guides me over to a table where a group of men are sitting, chatting, and giggling like teenage girls. A familiar face meets my gaze, and I nearly freeze in my spot.

Horatio.

It’s easy to forget the reason I find myself in this situation. That or it’s just easy to get distracted by my new wife, so much so that I forgot that Mattheo is her uncle and Horatio probably works very closely with her father.

I can’t believe we almost let this man become a permanent part of our business.

“Gentlemen, this is Antonio Vitale. My daughter’s new husband.” Gabriel beams like an excited father is expected to.

It doesn’t take too much for me to turn on my usual golden boy persona as I smile at all the men and thank them for joining me on the happiest day of my life.

“Antonio here has some amazing connections in the art and finance scene, and he’s so eager to help out and build some new connections with you all.”

I am?

I don’t let my mask slip, but I do observe Gabriel with care. He’s working at something here, something more than just a simple arranged marriage.

“We look forward to it, Antonio,” Horatio says, and I can hear an air of cockiness in his tone. The motherfucker is lucky he was in the bathroom that afternoon, or he probably would’ve met a fate similar to Mattheo.

“Maybe we should set up a meeting sometime soon?” I offer, hoping my tone doesn’t sound too awkward.

“Yes.” Gabriel smiles. “Maybe dinner next week? I’ll have my assistant check everyone’s schedules.”

The men all agree, and it’s not long before Gabriel is ushering me back towards the main crowd.

“You catch on quickly. Good. I knew I liked you more than that arrogant brother of yours.”

“Hmm, anything to be of service,” I say sarcastically. “If you’re done parading me around like a trophy, I need a drink,” I snap and step out of his grasp.