THE CEO'S FAKE WIFE

The Surprise

Still on the same day,

"Hurry up, we're going to see our wedding venue!" said Luke, slinging a Rolex watch on his wrist. Beatrice, who was still busy looking at her Vera Wang Wedding Dress and her Alexander Mcqueen Bridal Shoes, immediately got up and put on her coat. She walked briskly beside him.

"So, we didn't invite anyone to our wedding?" she asked casually.

"It's your idea to get married in this place, it's not my fault that we didn't have any invited guests," Luke said while frowning dazzlingly, at that time they were climbing to the top of the rooftop villa which will be their wedding venue. The temperature that day was quite cold, but not too cold, only around sixteen degrees Celsius.

Annoyed, Beatrice pursed her lips, "I know, but you have a lot of money, why don't you let me take my family and my friends here," she grumbled in disbelief.

Luke grunts,

"Yeah, I do have a lot of money, but you have no right to control me," he said in an annoying tone, making Beatrice fall silent. She cursed Luke's arrogant attitude quietly and promised to repay him when she became a real rich woman one day.

"Buongiorno signora and signorina, Matilda, and I will take care of all the affairs regarding your wedding," an Italian woman introduced herself to them when they arrived at the villa's rooftop and were greeted with strong winds.

After making small talk with Matilda, Luke and Beatrice looked around. The rooftop villa was quite spacious, with outdoor and indoor sections that directly face the Mediterranean sea. The indoor part was covered by glass walls so people could see all the beautiful scenery outside.

"Do you really have to rent a place this big? We won't have guests either," Beatrice grumbled, unable to understand what Luke was thinking.

"It's my money, not yours, why are you bothering?" said Luke as annoyingly as ever, causing Beatrice who couldn't stand it to stomp on her feet in annoyance.

Satisfied with their conversation with Matilda, Luke and Beatrice decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. They descended dozens of stairs and found a gelato shop that remained open in the winter like that.

"I need some gelato! I'm dying" said Beatrice, she could never stand the sight of various gelato lined up in colorful lines to tempt her appetite.

Luke didn't answer, but he kept walking to open the door of the shop and go inside, Beatrice smiled happily and followed him.

"Which one?" he asked flatly.

Beatrice scanned the rows of gelato one by one then decided to order,

"Pistacio, Greentea, and Chocolate!" she said excitedly. Luke just shook his head hearing Beatrice order that much.

After getting their orders, they sat face to face to enjoy the gelato which turned out to be very delicious.

"Can't you eat like a normal person! Just don't act like a cute teenager, it doesn't fit you! You're too old to act like that," scolded Luke when he saw Beatrice's lips which were covered in Gelato.

Beatrice scowled, took a tissue, and wiped her mouth.

"What the fuck! Are you always commenting on every people's moves like that? So annoying and childish!" she muttered, shaking her head. She took a big mouthful of her gelato while looking at Luke's eyes curtly.

After they were done eating their gelato, they took another walk through Positano, because in winter many shops were closed, they decided to stop by a restaurant that was still open.

"So, tell me about your mother? Does she look like you? I mean annoying and arrogant," asked Beatrice as they waited for their pizza to arrive.

Luke stared at the window while propping his chin,

"Well kind of, especially when she met with someone like you, she'll eat you up!" said Luke, deliberately pranking her.

Beatrice's face immediately changed, panicked,

"You're lying! Well, whatever I don't want to meet your mother anyway, I'll avoid her as best as I can," she said nervously, she could imagine that Luke's Mom was the type of cruel mother-in-law who would constantly scold her.

Luke snorted laughing,

"You can't, you have to meet my parents! You're going to be my wife for God's sake! Keep it in mind that your profession is a credible Ghost Writer, okay! Don't forget about that!" he reminded her seriously.

"I usually write autobiographies of famous people, but you know I can't mention them one by one, it's confidential, nobody should know about it," Beatrice practiced speaking with a flower vase, as if the flower vase was Luke's mother, making Luke snort with laughter.

"So apart from your father, grandmother, and aunt, you don't have any other family?" asked Luke curiously.

Beatrice squinted, suspicious.

"I never told you about my family. How do you know about them? As far as I remember, I only told stories about my dad, right?" said her curiously.

Luke immediately looked away, embarrassed.

"Well, I did a little research, do you think I'm willing to get married to some stranger without knowing her background? I'm not a stupid person," said Luke casually.

Then he took a deep breath,

"Well whatever, my mother died when I was in high school and she happened to be the only child, my grandparents from my mom have also died. So it's only my dad's mom, my dad, and my aunt, that's all," said Beatrice at last, choosing to tell the story instead of letting Luke find out about her behind her back.

Luke just nodded his head,

"What about friends? Any close friends?" asked Luke again that making Beatrice smile broadly.

"I have a good one, her name is Leah! She's like a sister to me, but unfortunately, she got married last year, so I couldn't hang out with her that often anymore. Even traveling to Positano is also her dream trip," said Beatrice while propping her chin and looking out the window.

Suddenly Nancy Sinatra sang Beatrice's favorite song from the music player

If I had a million dollars or ten

I'd give to you, world, and then

You'd go away and let me spend

My life in sugar town!

When she finished her song she seemed to hear Leah's voice singing with her. She shook her head, perhaps her longing for her friend made her hallucinate.

But instead of disappearing, the sound of her laughter sounded very clear. A laugh that only Leah had, a laugh like someone who lost their breath.

Beatrice thought she was crazy because at that time she saw Leah who was standing not far from her, side by side with Beatrice's grandmother.

"Luke, I think I'm schizophrenic," she muttered frantically.

"Bea! It's me, Leah! You're not hallucinating!" shrieked Leah right before her face. She paused for a moment before finally, she realized that wasn't a dream at all.

"Surprise!!!!!"

Suddenly everyone showed up, her dad and her family. She covered her mouth with her hand, surprised. "Oh, God!" she looked around and her eyes met Luke's, that's when she whispered 'thank you to him, sincerely.

*****