One Little Moment

"Marriage? Get married?" Valentino repeats in disbelief at his father's words. "Don't make jokes like that; it's not funny."

His father sighs, impatiently pinching the bridge of his nose. He then looks at his son, who remains with a furrowed brow, waiting for his answer.

"It's not a joke," he clarifies. "The marriage proposal was sent in writing to the Volkovas in Russia today. You are getting married."

"Are you crazy?" His brow furrows even more. "Did you call me here for this nonsense? Don't waste my damn time."

"Understand, Valentino, it's necessary for you to marry a Volkova!" he bursts out, causing his son to stand up, bringing a hand to his chin, and then looking at him with reproach.

"Don't you realize what you're saying? We're talking about a wedding, Dad; don't be ridiculous," he retorts.

"It will only be for a year; this will be a contractual marriage." His father also stands up, approaching his son to place a hand on his shoulder. "Could you do this?"

"No." He roughly pushes his father's hand away. "I don't want to get married. And much less to a woman I don't know and don't love. Forget it."

"Is it because of that woman?" he questions. "She's not at our social level! She can't help us!"

"Don't bring Lirio into this," he becomes enraged. "She has nothing to do with it. But you know what? I'd rather marry her. Even if she doesn't have what you're looking for, I love her. Instead of trying to sell me off to some crazy woman I don't even know, find another solution."

"But our factory is about to collapse!" he laments. "That woman you're with is of no use to us right now. Instead, if you marry the youngest Volkova daughter, we can get out of this crisis. It will only be for a year, and then you'll divorce. That's the agreement. In that time, we'll be back on our feet."

"You want me to put up with that woman for a year? I don't think so. I don't want a woman I'm going to despise by my side. Besides, Lirio will be devastated by this."

"The girl is very beautiful, son," he ignores his words. "You can even see her in magazines to see that I'm not lying. She's perfect for you; you can handle this. Her parents are good friends of mine, and they're willing to help me. Besides, they're interested in our factory's trade. It's a great opportunity!"

Valentino closes his eyes for a few seconds, rubbing his temples. His headache increases more and more from his father's pressure, who still won't back down from his absurd, but very advantageous, decision.

"No," he retorts.

"Too late; the marriage proposal has already been sent," his father declares firmly. "I just wanted to help you come to your senses so you could see the good side of all this. We're going to get out of our debts, and our factory will start to flourish again."

"You've been doing that without my consent?" He glares at him with fury. "You'd better call it off."

"Too late for that," he mutters. "The youngest Volkova daughter will be here in two days. You'd better behave with her; she is an important figure, more so than that bland woman you have by your side."

With that, he finishes, leaving his son in the entryway with his hands clenched into fists from the fury he was feeling inside.

The last thing he intended to do was "behave" with that woman as his father had instructed. He didn't want to get married, and if he was forced to do so, he wouldn't hesitate to make the rich girl's life a living hell.

In Russia. Volkova Mansion

"Are you listening to us, Athena?" her mother questions in a severe voice, while the girl looks at her nails with a bored expression.

"Not a chance," she finally responds. "Now can I go up to my room? I'm very sleepy."

"Athena Volkova!" her mother becomes enraged. "Behave for the first time in your life! This is something serious!"

Her mother's shouting only causes the young woman to feel... annoyance and laziness? Yes, exactly that. She rolls her eyes and pretends to listen to her mother again, while her father remains uneasy.

"Calm down, honey," the man encourages her, while the woman is red with fury.

"Don't you see your daughter?! She's still being a brat!" she complains. "That's because you spoil her too much!"

"Oh, Mom, please, stop with the paranoia." She makes a face. "Why don't you just continue with your sermon so I can finally leave?"

"Fine." She takes a breath, regaining her composure. "In two days, you'll be in Italy. You are going to marry Clodan Rizzo's son. It's just a one-year contract, and after that, you'll get divorced."

"Uh-huh." She sighs. "You've already told me the joke; now get on with the important thing you have to tell me."

"Athena!" she bursts out again, making the girl blink. She suppresses a playful smile, but then seeing her father, who becomes serious, she retracts it.

"Daughter, your mother is serious," her father adds, in a calmer and sweeter tone. "We just received Valentino Rizzo's marriage proposal in writing. It's a political marriage, where both families will benefit. We will help them recover their factory that is on the verge of collapsing, and they will provide us with commercial support to be able to distribute our products from Italy."

"You mean I have to be the bridge for the Rizzos and at the same time for you guys for economic benefits?" She raises an eyebrow, obviously in total disagreement. "I don't want to be married to some bastard I don't know!"

"It will only be for a specific time," her father continues. "It's also an opportunity for you, so you can finally settle down. Besides, I owe the Rizzos a lot; they also gave me their support at one point."

"Athena," her mother also speaks to her. "Do you plan to spend your whole life going from party to party and spending money?"

"We're swimming in it," she shrugs.

"That's not the point. You have to behave like a proper young lady. You just go from scandal to scandal and cause mischief."

"Me?" She opens her eyes wide in offense.

"And the fire at the president's house?"

"That old man wanted to touch me."

"And the video you uploaded to social media of your ex with three married women in his bed?"

"Because he's a jerk."

"And the beating you gave your best friend's boyfriend?"

"He cheated on her."