Bargain Bride: The Billionaire’s Forced Wife

“MERCENARIES? WHAT MERCENARIES?” Lucio exclaimed while looking at the digital billboard with wide eyes.

A scandal about his company just emerged out of nowhere, and a new business partner of him saw it right in front of his eyes. In Lucio’s mind, Ezio would back out now that the image of Romano Enterprises has a dirt in it.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Panicking, Lucio looked back at Ezio. The latter has no emotion on his face as he watched the news playing on the billboard. He looked like nothing is going on in his mind, but in reality, he is rejoicing as the news can be a key to strengthen Lucio’s doubts on his own granddaughter.

“Two mercenaries who were suspected on killing the late businessman Marco Leon were arrested this afternoon. Upon investigation, the latest payments for these mercenaries came from the Romano Enterprises, amounting 300, 000 euros,” the male news reporter spoke on the screen before a photo of bank transaction records appeared on the screen.

Some of the information on the record were blurred, aside from the transaction made by the Romano Enterprises, as well as the amount they sent.

“One of the arrested mercenaries confessed that the money that came from the Romano Enterprises was the payment for killing Mr. Leon. More updates will be posted in our official website and pages,” the reporter added before another news came by.

Lucio’s palms were sweating. He is sure as hell that he wasn’t the one who sent those money. He wasn’t the one who ordered those mercenaries to kill that businessman. However, since he is the president of the company, all of the blame will pointed towards him.

“Is it true?” Ezio asked, his cold voice brought chills to Lucio’s body.

Lucio hurriedly denied the news. “Of course, not!” his voice breaking and shaking in every word. “This might be a propaganda against us. The Romano Enterprises won’t do such thing!”

Ezio was silent for a moment, thinking on how to push the old man to the edge. Suddenly, he stood up and fixed his suit. His movement made Lucio gulped and he panicked more, thinking that Ezio might end their deal.

“I’ll give you a week to fix that,” Ezio spoke. “Within a week, you must prove that your company isn’t included in that crime. If not, then our deal is off,” he added. “You’re a businessman, too, Signor Lucio. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to be connected to people with dirty image.”

With that, Ezio, together with his two assistants, left the restaurant. Inside, the three were rejoicing as they can foresee the success of their plan in the future.

On the other hand, Lucio’s mind was im chaos. He just got a good deal, yet a single use in on the way to steal it from his grasps. He called for his staffs while walking towards the parking lot.

“Explain to me what the fuck is happening!” Lucio screamed at his higher staffs.

Thea, the secretary, stepped forward while hugging a folder on her chest. “Signor, the finance department went through the records, but they didn’t find those transactions,” she said as her voice shool because of nervousness.

“That transaction must be edited, Signor,” Rick, his assistant, replied. “They must have used the company’s name to ruin us!”

Lucio cocked his head to his assistant. “Do you take me for a fool?” he gritted his teeth. “The money came from the same bank we used! The account number is the same! And you dare to say that it’s edited?!”

“We cannot remove that possibility, signor,” Thea responded, almost crying because this is the first time their president became this angry. “The photo must also be edited. It must be the rivals who-”

Thea wasn’t able to finish her words when a strong slap hit her left cheek, giving it a red mark. The force was so strong that her small body stumble to the side, almost falling to the ground.

“Find proofs that those money didn’t came to the company!” Lucio shouted. “I don’t need your words! I don’t need your hunches! I want evidences!”

His ears turned red and his nostrils flared with anger. He pointed firmly on each of the people around him. “If you can’t give me positive result within two days, I will fire all of you and I’ll make sure that no company will hire you again! Do you understand?!”

The staffs lose their strengths because of the president’s words. Two days, or even a week is not enough for them to clean the Romano Enterprises’ name.

Suddenly, one of the male staffs named Adrian, the head of finance department, went down on his knees. He bowed down to the point that he is kissing the ground.

“I’m sorry, signor! I’m sorry!” he exclaimed, as his hands trembled while touching the ground. “Forgive me, please! Signorina Isadora asked me to do it!”

Lucio’s blood boiled upon hearing the staff’s words. He mercilessly kicked the man’s head, threwing him towards the side of the parking lot.

The other staffs gasped as they witnessed the scene. Other even looked away, as they cannot bear to see what’s happening.

“What did you say?” Lucio asked with a cold voice.

Adrian touched the side of his forehead that is starting to bleed. “Signorina Isadora ordered me to send those money, signor. She also ordered me to delete it from our transaction record, in exchange for money,” the man cried before grabbing the president’s leg.

“Forgive me, signor! I’m sorry! I don’t have the strength to disobey Signorina!” he pleaded repeatedly.

Lucio looked down at him. “You can’t disobey her, so you betrayed me? Do you really think I’m stupid to believe your reasons?!”

He looked at his guards while pointing at Adrian. “Get this man and throw him to prison! From this day, this man doesn’t have any connection to the Romano Enterprises!”

Adrian looked puzzled. He just confessed the truth, thinking that it is the right thing to do and that Lucio will let it pass, considering that he already had a lot of contributions within the decades of staying in his company.

“No! Signor!” he screamed as two bulky guards dragged him out. “Forgive me! Signor!”

His screams fell on deaf ears. Adrian screamed again and again, until his voice faded from the background. Then, Lucio looked at the remaining bodyguards on the scene.

“Find Isadora and give her to me. I’ll teach that woman a lesson she won’t forget,” Lucio ordered them before driving back to their mansion.

AFTER ALMOST TWO HOURS, screams from a woman was heard inside the living room of the Romano mansion.

Isadora, who’s hair and face was messy, was being dragged by the guards of his grandfather. She was just standing inside a telephone booth, trying to call the man to help them, when those men came rushing to bring her home.

“How dare you to touch me!” she screamed at the guards who was restraining her movements. “My grandfather will fire all of you!”

When she heard footsteps that came from the stairs connecting to the second floor, Isadora looked to that direction. Her eyes were filled with hope, that her grandfather will help her, and arrogance, because she thought that those guards will be punished.

“Nonno,” Isadora used her soft and innocent voice as she dared to complain. “Look at these guards, they were hurting m-”

A crisp sound of slap echoed inside the living room. The guards and the maids of the mansion were shocked to see Lucio hurt his own granddaughter: the one he treasured the most.

Since Isadora was born, she was pampered by her grandfather. He gave everything she wanted, from material to non material things. She never lacked love, money, attention, and gifts growing up.

Lucio was very protective of his one and only granddaughter. He never even let a single fly lay on her skin, and will even go through lengths of merciless actions to punish those who tried to wrong his granddaughter.

“Nonno? Why?” Isadora asked, with teary eyes as the pain of the slap shook her body.

“Why? You’re really asking me why?” Lucio stopped himself from slapping her again as he clenched his fists, making his knuckled turn white.

He showed him a copy of the bank transaction record. He shoved it at Isadora’s face. “This is why!” he shouted. “How dare you use the company I built for decades for your illegal schemes!”

Isadora’s eyes widened as she saw the record. She was sure that it was deleted from the company’s database. How come his grandfather found out?

“No, that’s not true, nonno,” she shook her head and lied. “I didn’t do that.”

“Don’t lie to me, Isadora,” Lucio replied. “Adrian already confessed to me. Now, if you want me to lessen your punishment, tell me who told you go pay those mercenaries. I know you wouldn’t do that in your own accord.”

Isadora stayed firm on her lies. “I don’t know anything about that, nonno. I didn’t do it!”

“Is it that Giovanni?” he asked, making Isadora stunned. Isadora was quick to compose herseld again, but it didn’t escape Lucio’s eyes. He knew that he hit the bull’s eye.

Isadora couldn’t find the right words to say. She didn’t expect that her grandfather would know what’s going on between her and Giovanni. She was careful for their relationship not to reach her grandfather’s ears.

“I… I don’t know him, nonno,” she lied even though Lucio already saw through her.

Lucio became silent as he realized that forcing her to confess now would be a waste of time. Ezio only gave him a week, and he has to make Isadora confess while cleaning the company’s name. Or else, his efforts for the past decades will be thrown to waste.

He looked at the guards holding his granddaughter before ordering them. “Put her in her room and locked her inside. Lock the door, even the windows. Remove everything she can use to contact people,” he spoke before turning his head back to Isadora. “You’re grounded, and I won’t let you out until you confess everything to me.”