Chapter 4: Constantine.

Constantine's Pov

The door slammed causing me to sit up quickly in bed, firstly mishearing and thinking it was a gunshot. "Constantine!" My father's voice pulled me back to the land of the living and angry, chasing the remnants of my sleep away.

My eyes squinted though the room wasn't bright-— that door slam sent shock waves to my head. I focused on him standing at the foot of my bed. He was dressed in a grey suit and looked more stressed than when he left.

He was home two days early.

"You're back," my words sounded like a groan.

He let out a sigh of disapproval and reached for the master remote on the dresser. He pressed a button and the thick black curtains slowly parted.

Bright sunlight bombarded the dimly lit room irritating my eyes.

"What is the meaning of this!" He demanded glancing at the two women in my bed. I balanced on my elbows, pushing myself up to look at him.

"I can explain it in a few words or a lot of words." I grinned. After a certain age, a man stopped fearing his father.

Fear was replaced with respect.

The ladies moaned waking up and scampering out of my room wearing nothing but their birthday suits.

Last night was definitely a memorable one.

I hoped.

I couldn't remember much after I got too enthusiastic and...

"Constantine!" My father yelled getting my head to snap back at him.

"What do you want me to say?" There was humour in my voice. It wasn't the first time he caught me in a situation like this and I was sure it wasn't the last. I never remembered to lock my door.

"You're getting married in a few months. What is wrong with you?" His nose flared.

"It's quite a long list," I said and his jaw tensed, "I'm a narcissist, egotistical, slightly demented-"

"Is this a joke to you?" His face showed no amusement.

"I don't know," I got out of bed pulling the sheet with me to cover up my bits and pieces. "Maybe I don't want to marry the most dimmest woman on the planet." I wrapped the sheet around my waist.

"We have a goal!" He has a goal and suddenly it became my goal.

"I told you I will marry her but don't expect me to fulfil my vows to her. I will tolerate her but I can't love her."

"You don't see how this marriage will benefit you and our business." He pointed out. "I don't care if you love her but if she catches you pulling this kind of stunt you can kiss your ambitions goodbye."

"You can kiss your ambitions goodbye you mean."

"You are the eldest son. My ambitions are your ambitions."

"Yes I know," I turned around to look at him, "and it is my curse for you to live through me?" I muttered. It was the truth. His goals were suddenly mine. It's like I was being controlled all the time to be him.

"You're acting like a child."

"I wouldn't know anything about acting like one. You never gave me much of a childhood," I pointed out.

"Ever since you were a boy you wanted what I wanted. You were thrilled to know you would be running things around here when I no longer could. What's changed, Constantine?" He demanded to know his eyes searching my face as if he didn't recognize me anymore.

"I became a man."

*****

There were only three times I reflected on my life and each time I reflected my perspective changed. The first was when my mother died, the second was when I was told I'd be taking over the company at the end of the year and the third was when I was told to marry a woman I didn't care for in the next four months.

"Constantine," her voice held demand like it always did. Spoilt and bratty with nothing but an exceptional face. The mask of obvious beauty, while something ugly crawled beneath was the Mayor's daughter, Lexi— my fiancé.

"Urgh, I don't know why I even asked you to come." She stood throwing her napkin on the plate. "We're getting married in a few months and I can't do this without you." She sipped on her champagne.

"It's just a cake," I yawned, "does it matter?" I never thought the cake was the hardest decision to make when it came to marriage.

Tears formed in her eyes as her bottom lip trembled. She dabbed at her eye and her contact lens fell off and I snorted.

How could I not when she was left with one blue eye and one brown eye.

She let out a disgruntled shriek of frustration holding her eye.

"I mean it's not the cake that's the most important part of the day," I clarified before she threw a bitch fit for the century. Even though I didn't care about her I had to act like I did.

If I married her it meant we had access to files on the city. Records on everything. I wouldn't have to worry about permits or cops.

She reached into her bag pulling out a small mirror. She pulled out her contact lens case and stuck her finger in her eye. Now I enjoyed torture tactics as much as the next man but I had never stuck my finger in a person's eye. I couldn't imagine touching my own eyeball.

"Every last detail is important," she enunciated each word clearly as if I were a moron. "Our wedding is going to be in magazines for months. It will be the talk of social media. Everything needs to be perfect. That's why I have a renowned poet writing," she paused, her cheeks flushing red, "I mean helping me with my vows. I want the world to see how much I love you."

My brows raised. Sometimes it was like she couldn't see how defective she was. She lived for the cameras and media. I had no idea who she was and she had no idea who I was and yet she thought we were in love.

She stood and pressed her lips against mine briefly. The entire notion always made my body stiffen as if a ghost had just past me. Maybe it's because I knew for the rest of my life I'd be tied to this woman.

"I'll see you for dinner later," she said.

"No, not tonight," After the argument I had with my father this morning I was hoping to enjoy the rest of my day and then she popped up an hour later with a box of cake samples. "I have a meeting. I'll call you when I'm free."

"Okay, I got to go. I'm going wedding car shopping. I need to decide what I want to drive as a married woman."

A cold shiver shot down my spine at those words— Mrs Leone. "Wear that baby blue t-shirt today." She placed a hand in my hair before leaving.

The thing I hated the most about this entire situation was the way she paraded me around like some kind of fancy poodle, telling me how to dress and act.

I was no fucking poodle and if it wasn't for my father and his wild dreams —I would show her that I was not the kind of creature that could be domesticated.

She left the kitchen and at the sound of the door clicking, I pulled the stupid tie from around my neck. The 'stupid tie' she got me. "Who the hell owns a fucking glittery tie."

I heard a low whistle and I saw Carlisle standing at the entrance of the kitchen. "Makes you like a high-class male prostitute," he said falling on the chair in front of me. "I almost feel sorry for you," he smirked.

I gave him a tight smile. "You're more than welcome to fill my shoes if that's the case."

He chuckled. "I did say almost." Silence passed between us and his mouth opened and closed a few times showing that he was harbouring words."Don't marry her," he finally broke the silence.

"Our father wants the city. The first step of achieving that is marrying the mayor's daughter."

We owned the biggest weapons cartel in the country.

Legally and illegally.

"He's just scared. Fear makes men mad." Carlisle was three years younger than me and yet he acted older than me at times. He was wise and he offered sound advice on most days but he offered advice I couldn't take.

Because he didn't have to live with a mallet over his head. So his advice was to always follow my heart. He meant well but I couldn't just walk away.

"Then I'm insane for following a madman's orders." I stood, pulling off the salmon coat malibu Barbie got me as well.

"You were always the favourite," Carlisle sighed deep in thought. "But at what cost."

"I bet you and Cavalon don't envy me now."

He smiled. "Not even a little, but you always put this family above yourself, Constantine, but now our father is asking for too much."

"Carlisle I'm marrying her but that's it."

He scoffed. "Don't you think she will be angry when she finds out that you don't love her?"

It was my turn to scoff. "That's where you're wrong. Lexi is living in Lexi's world where she thinks everyone loves her and is prepared to bend to her will. She thinks I love her and I'm not going to tell her otherwise."

"Then don't you think what you are doing is bad for her? She may be a shallow woman but you'll hurt her when she learns the truth."

The other thing about Carlisle was he liked to play devil's advocate. "I'm a bad man." I grabbed a spoon from the table and looked at my reflection. "It's as simple as that. Lexi doesn't know what love is. To her love is someone who is just as rich as her father and looks good enough to be on the cover of a magazine with her."

I pushed my hair back. "Hot date?" Carlisle asked.

"She wishes," I smirked.

"So there is a girl involved?" He sounded angsty about the idea.

"It's not like that and even if it was it's not your concern," I stated.

"Sir the car company called," my home executive rushed into the kitchen, "they asking if you're sure about selling."

"Tell them to hold that thought, Reggie." I moved to leave.

"I just hope you know what you're doing," Carlisle said, stopping me.

"I know what I'm doing. I always know what I'm doing. Now I'm late for an appointment with Miss Danielle."

"Miss Danielle?" Carlisle questioned but I was already halfway out the door to explain and also I didn't feel like explaining.