‘Why do you need to get married so badly?’ I asked in a shaky voice.
‘Because my grandfather requires it before I take control of his company—which is something I very much wish to do.’
The words were terse, but I saw the way his jaw clenched and his hands briefly curled into fists, and I knew there was a great deal more to that complicated relationship than I could ever know or guess.
Still, I wondered, why me?
‘Surely you have someone more suitable to ask.’
‘I don’t want someone “suitable”.’
He smiled at me rather grimly before draining his espresso.
‘I want someone unremarkable who will be glad for what I give her, not ask any awkward questions, and most of all stay out of my life, as well as out of the public eye.’
‘So you want a wife who doesn’t act like a wife?’
His smile gleamed white as he nodded his approval. ‘Exactly.’
‘I’m sure there are plenty of women who would accept the money you’re offering. You hardly needed to approach a stranger like me.’
I shook my head, still sensing a catch. Matteo was way out of my league. Why not ask some grasping socialite? Someone with status and privilege and beauty? Most people, I’d found, would do a lot for money.
Matteo leaned back in his chair, crossing one long, powerful leg over the other as he eyed me in consideration.
‘Possibly, but I’m in a rush, and I don’t want any complications with someone who might not view my offer with the gratitude I’d prefer.’ He gave me a quick, cool smile. ‘I’d like to keep my marriage quiet. I don’t want it to...hamper...any of my activities.’
It took a few seconds for his meaning to sink in. ‘You mean you don’t want it to affect your other relationships?’
‘I wouldn’t call them relationships,’ he answered with a quick, hard smile. ‘But, yes, you have grasped the essentials.’
In a flash I understood why he’d asked me—because I was clearly desperate and would be pathetically grateful for what he was offering. And I wouldn’t mind if he slept around while I stayed silent in the shadows.
I felt too tired to be stung, because of course he was right. I was desperate, as well as pathetic enough to be considering his offer seriously for the first time since he’d broached it. At least Matteo, unlike other people I’d met since moving to the city, was honest about his intentions.
‘So,’ I began slowly, ‘we get married and you go on your merry way? That’s it?’
‘Not quite. I need you to move to the island of Amanos, off the coast of Greece, where I have a villa. It’s a very pleasant place, and my home is exceedingly comfortable. You would want for nothing.’
That was quite a big addendum to this deal of his, and yet I had no ties to this city, much as I’d tried to make some. No ties anywhere. Still, I was cautious—and definitely cynical. I’d learned to be.
‘Why there?’ I asked.
He gave me the glimmer of a smile, but there was a warning in his eyes. ‘You are currently not meeting my second requirement.’
I raised my eyebrows. ‘Do you actually expect me to accept an offer such as yours, and move to a foreign country at that, without asking a few questions?’
Not that I was actually thinking of accepting it. At least not very much.
‘Very well, I will explain it in detail,’ he replied, leaning forward. ‘But in actuality it is really very simple.’
His silvery gaze pinned me to where I sat.
‘This will be a convenient marriage in name only—nothing more than a document to sign. No expectation of any relationship—physical, emotional, or otherwise. You will stay on Amanos so I know where you are, and can call on you if needed, but you will be out of the public eye. In a year—no more than two—the marriage will be annulled and you can go—how did you put it?—on your merry way, quite a bit richer.’
‘Call on me “if needed”? What does that mean?’
He shrugged impatiently, barely more than a twitch of his powerful shoulders. ‘I doubt it will be necessary.’