Neglected Limits

9| Russian rushing dollars

Matteo

"20,000!" Frenzo screamed waving his hand in the air.

"Stop it." I said.

He turned his head to the side to look at me and shrugged. "I'm doing what we're literally supposed to do."

I gave him a warning glare then went back to taking a sip of my wine. The wine that explosive woman had poured over my brother.

I groaned at the image of her again in my brain. It had been less than a day of meeting her and she was stuck in my brain like someone had drawn a picture of her in my head with a permanent  marker.

I took another sip then looked to my right. 

Sweet, polite, and innocent.

Exactly the type of wife every made man needed. She was sweet enough to take off my coat when I came back from work. Polite enough to get along with the wives of the men I had to make deals with. And innocent enough not to ask too many questions or bother me.

We sat separately from the rest of our families, on a table. It was far enough for Papa not to hear us talk if we did, and close enough for me to kick Frenzo every time he decided to waste money of some girl with too much makeup on and half his age.

I let out a sigh then  rubbed my temple twice, preparing myself for the small talk. 

"So what are your hobbies?" I asked.

We'd only spoken twice until now, and every time I could see her get less and less anxious. Apparently meeting your future husband was a lot of pressure, especially when you knew this day would come from the beginning of your lives.

"I like to paint." She said.

"That's wonderful. We can have an art gallery made for you in the mansion then." Anything to keep her busy after marriage.

She gave me a smile. "Would you like to see a few?" She asked. I could see how excited she was, and so I gave a nod of my head.

She opened up her phone and scrolled up and down before she found one and showed it to me. 

It was of a a dog. Big, black with a few streaks of brown, and presumably a Doberman. His dark eyes reflected a person's hand, and his neck faded away into the canvas.

To my surprise she was actually good. The dog looked to real I could've thought it were a picture if not for the blank background, and the portrait focus. 

I could tell Gabriella sat straighter with pride as every second of silence passed us. 

"Is this your dog?" I asked.

She shook her head, retracting her arm. "You could say, but he's more attached with my sister." She placed her phone on the table and asked me. "What's your hobby?"

I let out a laugh. "I don't have the luxury to find one." 

She nodded. "I know, but if you were to, what would it be?" She insisted.

I picked up my wine glass and took another long swig, before putting it back on the table. "Like I said, I don't have the luxury."

After that, she was wise enough not to push about it, and switched to another topic.

"What's your favorite dish, I should know when I'm your wife." She said.

"That's not necessary, we have cooks and maids, all you need to know is what I mentioned earlier." I said.

She opened her mouth to speak again, but then closed it immediately knowing it was the better option to stay quiet.

Earlier on the terrace I had been very clear about how her life will be after marriage. And one of the top things was not to ask many questions, and not to come in my personal space. I'm glad she's a quick learner, or things would be very hard.