Chapter 47: CHAPTER 43: DAMN TOO EMBARRASSED

Neti

I wanted to disappear. Vanish. Cease to exist.

After that horrific conversation with the wedding planner—and Adolph’s relentless teasing—I couldn’t face him. Or Pranav. Or anyone.

So when dinner time rolled around, I locked myself in my room and refused to come out.

Eliza, bless her heart, knocked on my door. "Miss Neti?"

I groaned into my pillow. "Go away."

A pause. Then, a sigh. "Are you sure? Mr. Alessandro specifically asked me to—"

"No." I shot up. "Nope. I’m not going downstairs. I don't want to see him or that idiot Pranav."

Eliza stifled a laugh. "They have been talking about you."

I groaned louder. "Exactly why I’m staying here!"

She hummed thoughtfully before stepping inside, carrying a silver tray with my dinner. "Well, Mr. Alessandro also told me if you don’t eat, he’ll personally come up here and feed you."

I froze.

The imagery alone sent heat rushing to my face. Adolph, with that insufferable smirk, holding a spoon to my lips, whispering something utterly humiliating just to watch me squirm—

"Nope!" I snatched the tray from Eliza’s hands. "Absolutely not!"

She laughed. "I thought so."

I sighed, plopping onto my bed and picking at my food. "I hate him."

"Of course," she said, far too amused.

I glared at her. "Don’t start."

Eliza just grinned and walked out, leaving me alone with my dignity—what little of it was left.

I tried to pick at my food, but my appetite had long abandoned me. The embarrassment still burned in my chest, and I swore if I heard one more wedding-related question, I was going to jump out the nearest window.

Eliza, however, had other plans.

“Eat.” She crossed her arms, standing over me like a strict mother.

I sighed dramatically. “I’m not hungry.”

Eliza’s brow arched. “Oh, really? Because if you don’t eat, I’ll have to tell Mr. Alessandro—”

I immediately shoved a spoonful into my mouth.

She smirked. “That’s what I thought.”

I muttered something under my breath, but she only hummed, watching me like a hawk until my plate was clean.

“Happy now?” I grumbled.

“Very.” She patted my head like I was a child. “Good girl.”

I scowled. “You sound like him.”

Eliza just laughed and walked out.

Finally, peace.

Or so I thought.

Because exactly three minutes later, there was a knock at my door.

I frowned. “Eliza, I already ate—”

“Not Eliza, Neti,” came the most annoying voice in existence.

Pranav.

I groaned loudly. “Go away.”

“Can’t do that, bhabhi.” I could hear his smirk. “Came to check if you’re still alive. You’ve been hiding all night—”

I threw the door open, grabbed the idiot by his collar, and shoved him out.

“Out!”

Pranav stumbled back, blinking. “Whoa, feisty.”

Before he could say anything else, I slammed the door in his face and locked it.

From outside, I heard him snicker. “Adolph’s so doomed.”

I grabbed a pillow and screamed into it.

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Adolph

I was in my office, a glass of whiskey in my hand, when I heard the commotion down the hall.

Pranav.

Of course.

I didn’t need to see what happened to know that Neti had probably thrown him out of her room. The idiot had been poking at her all day, and I knew it was only a matter of time before she snapped.

Sure enough, I heard his footsteps approaching, followed by the lazy push of my office door opening.

Pranav strolled in like he owned the place, rubbing his neck with a smirk. “Well, she’s alive.”

I leaned back in my chair, raising a brow. “She threw you out, didn’t she?”

He dropped onto the couch, sighing dramatically. “Aggressively.”

A chuckle left me. “Can’t say you didn’t deserve it.”

Pranav sat up, pointing at me. “You did way worse to her today, but I’m the one getting kicked out?”

I smirked. “That’s because I don’t get thrown out, Pranav. I get to stay.”

His face twisted like he’d eaten something sour. “Ugh. You make me sick.”

I just swirled the whiskey in my glass, unbothered.

Pranav shook his head. “You really enjoy torturing her, huh?”

I met his gaze. “Oh, immensely.”

His lips twitched. “You’re such a red flag, man.”

I took a slow sip. “Says the guy who installed a hidden camera in a girl’s dressing table.”

Then I went to her room

Let's see what my dear Pet is doing

I stood outside her door, knocking lightly. “Neti.”

No answer.

I leaned against the doorframe, smirking. “Are you seriously ignoring me?”

Silence.

I exhaled, my fingers tapping against the door. “Come on, dolcezza… you’re not still embarrassed, are you?”

Still nothing.

I chuckled under my breath. “You do realize I could just pick the lock, right?”

A thud sounded from inside. Probably a pillow thrown at the door. I smirked.

“Alright, alright,” I murmured, backing away. “Sleep tight, tesoro.”

But the moment I turned around, my night took a turn for the worse.

Pranav.

Leaning against the wall. Arms crossed. Smirk wide. Eyes glowing with mischief.

I sighed. “Not now.”

“Oh, definitely now,” he said, pushing off the wall and strolling toward me. “I just witnessed something spectacular.”

I ignored him and kept walking.

He followed. “Wait, let me put it into words. You—Adolph Alessandro—got locked out of your own fiancée’s room.”

I said nothing.

Pranav placed a hand over his chest, dramatically gasping. “I mean, what a twist! Didn’t see that coming.”

I rolled my eyes and walked into my room, but of course, he invited himself in, flopping onto the armchair like he owned the place.

“I have to say,” he continued, grinning, “this is so satisfying.”

I unbuttoned the top of my shirt and shot him a dry look. “Enjoying yourself?”

“Oh, immensely.” He propped his chin on his palm. “You’ve been teasing her endlessly since she got here, and now? Boom. The tables have turned.”

I exhaled through my nose. “Go away, Pranav.”

“But why?” he whined. “This is entertainment.”

I leaned back, smirking slightly. “I’ll be back in her bed by tomorrow.”

“Oh? That confident?”

I shrugged. “I know my ways.”

Pranav whistled, shaking his head. “Man, you are so down bad.”

I quirked a brow. “Says the guy who gets cursed out daily by Aliya and still texts her.”

His smirk dropped. “That’s different.”

“Is it?” I teased. “I mean, she literally threatened to throw you off a cliff.”

“Yeah, but like… playfully.”

I raised a brow.

“Okay, maybe not playfully,” he admitted. “But still. You’re deflecting.”

I smirked. “Maybe.”

Pranav groaned dramatically, throwing his head back. “Ugh. Just admit it.”

“Admit what?”

He sat up, pointing at me. “That you, Adolph Ricci, the man who swore he doesn’t do love, are hopelessly—tragically—stupidly whipped.”

I just smirked, unbothered. “And yet, she’s still mine.”

Pranav fake gagged. “Gross.”

I chuckled, running a hand through my hair. “Go to sleep, Pranav.”

“Fine, fine.” He stood up, heading for the door. But just before leaving, he turned back with a shit-eating grin.

“Tomorrow,” he said, “when she still doesn’t let you in, I’m never letting you live it down.”

I just smiled lazily. “We’ll see.”

And deep down, I already knew—I never lost a game I started.

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Neti

I buried myself deeper under the covers, face burning.

I refused to face him.

Not after that humiliating disaster earlier.

That woman—the wedding planner—had practically interrogated me about things I didn’t even want to think about. And the worst part? Adolph had been right there, watching with his smug smirk and those teasing eyes.

I groaned into my pillow, my hands clutching the sheets.

And now, he was outside my door.

Knocking.

Talking in that deep, infuriatingly smooth voice.

“Dolcezza… are you seriously ignoring me?”

Sweety

Yes. Yes, I was.

“Come on, tesoro… you’re not still embarrassed, are you?”

I hated that stupid pet name. Hated how easily it made my stomach flutter.

I grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at the door, as if that could somehow shut him up.

Silence.

Good.

Then, after a long pause, I heard his voice again, softer this time.

“Alright, alright… sleep tight, tesoro.”

The sound of his footsteps fading down the hall should have made me feel relieved. Instead, it left a strange, empty feeling in my chest.

I turned onto my side, staring at the moonlight filtering through the curtains.

What is happening to me?

This was the same man who had bought me. The same man who teased and tormented me every second. The same man I should hate.

But then there were moments—annoying little moments—where I saw something else beneath the arrogance.

Like the way his eyes softened when he thought I wasn’t looking.

Or the way he always made sure I ate, even if I was too stubborn to admit I was hungry.

Or the way he had practically murdered that woman earlier with just his presence when she got too personal.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

No.

No, I wouldn’t think about him like that.

I couldn’t.

Because the moment I started seeing him as anything other than my captor… was the moment I lost.

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