Chapter 13

“Of course..of course not.”Renee stammered. “Renee,if you’re attracted to him,I think you should get over your prudish attitude and start sleeping with him.It appears you don’t hate him so you need to create a bond with him.If you want your relationship to last,you must find ways to grab his heart.” “For what?Why doesn’t he try to grab mine?” “Stop being so silly.Do you think a man like him would easily like you.You’re not from his world.What’s more?Your family isn’t wealthy.You need to make him obsessed with you.You need to start dressing up in classy outfits and putting on more makeup.” “I don’t think I have to do anything extreme.If he ever gets to like me someday,I want him to like me for who I am.”Renee said,stubbornly. At the end of class that day,Dante came to pick Renee up himself which made Allegra think that the man might be in love with Renee already. ******** There was only one professional class the next morning and Allegra came to find Renee after the class. Allegra who was a senior had started considering internship. She had mailed her resume to a company.The staff there asked her to come for an interview at 11. She was feeling so nervous so she asked Renee to go with her for support. Soon,they found themselves in front of a skyscraper. “JK Group?This company is all over the news.”Renee commented. “Yeah, that’s why I’m freaking nervous.It’s very hard to work in this company.I heard the person in charge is very mysterious.He’s extremely rich and just in a space of one year,he had earned himself a place in this competitive environment which definitely shows his strong capability…” “Dante…” Just as Allegra kept on talking,Renee suddenly called out Dante’s name. Allegra followed Renee’s eyes and saw a car driving into the underground garage. All the plate numbers in Dante’s cars were customized with his initials and that was how she knew it was his. “That’s Dante’s car.Does he work here?” “You can go check it out.As his fiancée,you have the right to know what he does,right?” Allegra also wanted to see what the fabled Dante looked like up close. They went to the underground garage just as Dante’s car came to a stop. Max handed Dante a document and gave him a brief report on his work. “The land in the eastern suburbs has been successfully acquired and the construction is going to start.If security checks are all right,the building of a theme resort will begin by the end of this month.Also,there’s a video conference at 11 with the Mont Group,they…”Max paused when he caught sight of Renee through the rear view mirror. “Miss Gallo is here,sir.” Dante was surprised to see Renee here. As he got down from his car to ask what she was doing here,she asked first; “Why are you here?” Max tried to explain to her.”Mr Moretti is the…” Before he could finish,she cut in. “Do you work here?Ah,why am I asking?It appears you do.You must be the manager or something.” “Manager?”Dante smirked. Did he look like a manager? “You know I kinda thought that since your father had a lot of money,you might not be working.I’m proud you are working in this company.Don’t worry,when you get a promotion,I’ll treat you to a big meal.”She rattled out. Dante found her so adorable.She sure talks a lot. Renee patted him on the shoulder to encourage him.Compared to having a lot of money,she preferred peace and security. After all,she didn’t know him too well and even with her best guess,she couldn’t connect the president of the group to Dante. Everyone knew that his family business was being run by his eldest brother. As for him,everyone believes all he does was being grumpy and idle. So with all these,Renee was sure he was working under someone. She was happy that he wasn’t a lazy man.She felt glad that this company hired him,despite his appearance,which proved that her man must be very capable and outstanding. “Alright.When I get that position,I’ll let you treat me to a big meal.” He didn’t tell her about his real position because he was worried that might be too burdensome for her. If she only wanted a peaceful and comfortable life,he would give it to her as long as she was happy to stay by his side. He cupped her cheeks and stared at her, affectionately. Finally,Renee recalled that her friend was standing beside her. She quickly introduced her to Dante. “This is my friend and roommate,Allegra.She’s a senior.” “It’s nice to meet you.Thank you for taking care of Renee.”Dante said,politely but he didn’t reach out to shake her hand or anything. He didn’t like skin-to-skin contact with other women except his little wife. “It’s nice to meet you too.”Allegra replied,stiffly. Renee waved goodbye to Dante and told him to go to work. As Dante left with Max,Allegra quickly pulled Renee away from the underground garage at the fastest speed. When she got to the front of the company, she released a shaky breath. “What’s wrong with you?”Renee asked. “His face…” Renee shrugged.”It shouldn’t be a surprise.Everyone knows he’s disfigured.” “I’ve never seen him that up close and I never expected him to be that ugly and frightening!Renee, you can’t give up your whole life for your family.You’re only 19!You have your whole life ahead of you.Don’t tell me you intend to spend you life seeing that face!Renee,you’re beautiful and lovely,you can always find a better husband.You deserve a handsome and charming man,” Renee shook her head.”I’m quite okay with being Dante’s wife.” “Why?”Allegra was astonished. Anyone who saw Dante’s terrible face would be deterred. “I don’t want to go back to my family’s home.I already told you,my stepmother and Aurora do not like me.They might not hold back from hurting me if I go back to that house.Dante may not be perfect but he’s kind to me,most of the times.I believe he’ll treat me well and I’m okay with that.” Allegra’s heart ached slightly when she heard this. After finding out the true nature of her stepmother and half sister,all Renee wanted now was stability and protection. Allegra understood that Renee felt Dante would always keep her safe and unhurt. “Renee,aren’t you afraid you’ll end up regretting this?” “I won’t regret it.I intend to also grow stronger and braver on my own so that even if Dante and I get a divorce in the future,I’ll be able to take care of myself.”With clenched fist,she said,resolutely. ************** After school,she waited for Dante to pick her up at a crossroad. About ten minutes later,Max pulled up in front of her. “Miss Gallo,the young master has to meet a client tonight so he had no time to come get you but he told me to drive you home.“ “Oh…okay.You must be busy as well.Don’t worry,I can go back myself.I don’t need a special pick-up.” She was a little embarrassed but Max smiled and informed her that Dante had ordered him to pick her up so he couldn’t disobey that order. “Sir Dante wants to be nice to you and as such,he wants you to be always safe.” His words reminded Renee that if she didn’t behave like a princess,how could Dante treat her like one? On their way home,she couldn’t help asking Max. “The scar on Dante’s face.How did he get it?I don’t have the guts to ask him about it because I feel it’s a sensitive topic for him and it might hurt him.” “He…em…he…”Max was hesitant to answer. That wasn’t his story to tell. Renee sensed his uneasiness so she waved her hand. “It’s okay.If it’s hard for you to tell me the truth now.I’ll just wait for the right time.” “He probably won’t tell you about this but I feel you deserve to know,afterall,you’ll be his wife.When he was twelve,he got kidnapped by one of his father’s rivals.He and his immediate older brother were kidnapped.His older brother,the second one of his father was in high school then.They were both tortured and the building they were held hostage in was set ablaze.The second master died but Sir Dante survived and had to live with the scars.” Kidnapped? Set ablaze? The second master died?! Gustavo Moretti had four children.Dante was the third son and he had two elder brothers and an adopted younger sister. Only his immediate older brother who had died and himself were siblings from the same mother. She had heard that the second son of the Moretti family had died several years ago but it was rumored that he died as a result of an accident. Renee was filled with shock to know that Dante and his brother had gone through something so terrifying and now,Dante had to live with the physical,mental and emotional scars for life. While she was still processing what she had just heard,Max continued. “Sir Dante doesn’t like to talk about his brother.It appears that he can’t handle it.I had deducted that was his way of trying to live with the trauma.No one mentions the second master’s name so keep it in mind and don’t make such a mistake in front of him.The death of his brother was a severe blow to Sir Dante.I was told he refused to speak for three years.He was a shadow of himself.” Renee slowly nodded.”I see.I won’t do anything to hurt him.” She felt so devastated and sad for what Dante had gone through. She was sad to the point that she started fighting back tears.