"What?" She queried him. "What are you trying to say here?"
Viktor heaved a soft sigh and leaned forward.
"Don't get me wrong, please. You wrote quite a handful of things here. I mean, you are making it so obvious that you don't have any emotions for someone like me. That's the reason for building such a high wall, right?"
Adeline said nothing. She knew it was true. The Constantine family were known for the bad things they had done. While she was grateful that he was looking out for her, it was equally the only reason she would agree to tie the knot with him.
"Adeline, if you fall in love with me, what will happen to all the rules?"
Adeline scoffed mildly, but said nothing. Her reaction already said it all. She could tell nothing would make her go head over heels for someone like him.
Viktor got up with a cunning smile on his face. He loved challenges. Adeline had proven to be a challenge. This game? He was in love with it.
"Let me make it simple for you," he said.
Adeline watched him with keen interest. What was he thinking?
"Keeping you in this marriage without your love would be torture for both of us. So, I have made up my mind. I will do everything I said I would for you. In exchange for that, I want you to be the lovely wife of Viktor Constantino out there."
There was a slight pause as he processed his next choice of words.
"And if after one year, Adeline, I still can't find the key to unlock your heart, then, I will let you go."
A grimace crossed the face of Adeline. Was he joking?
"You don't mean it, do you?" She asked him.
Viktor nodded. "I obviously do mean it. One year is more than enough. If I can't make you mine within one year, then, you are free."
Adeline laughed. She was shocked by his level of confidence.
"You have some guts, you know. You seem quite too certain of the outcome of this arrangement."
Viktor grinned knowingly. He took some steps towards her and stopped, his manly figure towering before her as she's seated.
"You will be mine by the end of this whole thing. I can assure you that."
Adeline got up from where she sat and looked straight into his deep eyes. Then, she said, "When this is all over, I will pack up my things and walk out of your life for good."
Viktor didn't know which one he loved more— her beauty or her audacity— he had no idea. Adeline was one person who could stand up to him as if she had a death wish. But somehow, he found all of it completely charming.
"Shall we get started, then?" He asked her with a knowing grin. "By the way, I wanted you here for a reason. Let me treat you to breakfast."
Adeline smiled and shook her head. She wanted to control the cards here. No rush.
"Why?" Viktor asked.
"I already had breakfast," she replied. "Besides, you never said I would be meeting you here. Sooner than later, we will have breakfast. Just not today."
Viktor was disappointed a bit. But he obliged. They needed to deal with the matter on ground first.
"Perhaps, we should be going to the city hall to get this union properly registered. Don't you think so?"
Adeline nodded.
"Give me a second," he said and disappeared.
When he returned, he had changed into plain pants and a striped shirt neatly tucked in. His shoes thumped down the stairs in a rhythmic manner.
"Shall we?" He said, gesturing that they could leave.
Adeline followed him outside. The air around them felt suddenly crispy as the door slammed shut. They got into the car and hit the tarmac.
Moments later, they arrived at the venue — the city hall. The ride was a quiet one. Viktor didn't say much. He casually got out and opened the door for her. Then, he started walking. Every stride was rhythmically calculated with a hand in his pocket. He walked with so much grace and purpose — not too fast. Not too slow— just the perfect pace to not leave Adeline lagging far behind.
Is this the safe thing to do? Adeline's thoughts could not find rest. Julian had proven to be a mistake. But she wouldn't want to repeat a whole new cycle of that mistake.
The rusty doors of the City hall were opened by the security and they walked in. The inside of the structure smelled entirely of old papers.
"This way, Sir," someone said to Viktor.
Viktor had made their coming known before time. They were ushered into a small, sterile office where a clerk with tired eyes sat behind a mahogany desk. He looked too tired of life.
He slid a stack of documents across the desk and pointed at where Adeline was supposed to sign. As she took the pen, her heart raced. However, the expression on her face remained completely neutral. She scribbled her signature and dropped the pen.
It was Viktor's turn. He took the pen and signed so boldly that it exceeded the provided space.
When he was done, he looked at Adeline, their gazes matching for a fleeting moment. Then, the clerk spoke.
"Done," he said as he stamped the paper heavily. "Congratulations Mr and Mrs Constantino. You are now husband and wife."
Adeline looked down at the paper. The ink was still fresh. It was still damp on the page. The documents were official. At this point, there was no going back. The choice was made.
But she was still anxious. She tucked her hands into her coat pockets to hide the lingering chill in her palms.
"We can go now," Viktor said.
Adeline followed out of the building, her heart still thumping hard. She looked so confident earlier on. But right now, she doesn't know if she can deal with the Mafia.