CHAPTER Seven

What he didn't expect was for her to be that mind-blowingly gorgeous. 

He was seated at Marni's pasta palace, a five-star restaurant checking his watch every five minutes, curious as to whether she would be punctual and keep to the set time. He had already ordered Valencian Cannelloni and Lasagna, steaming hot. It was her best pasta dish. He wasn't the one to let his women choose, plus he wanted the date to be snappy. There were other duties he had to run. 

She came into the restaurant dressed to kill, her body finely wrapped in an almond Armani. He slightly smiled as she walked in, her dominating aura captivating as she roved her eyes round looking for him. The almond colored dress was not a coincidence, she had also searched him out. She had to know that Almond was his favorite color.

Her eyes smiled when it landed on him, taking in his peach suit, his striking jaw-line and the steaming dish on the table she decided that this had to be the famed Major Knight Bacuzzi. Major took in the gentle sway of her hips as she elegantly walked to his table. If this was his prize for annoying the hell out of Ricci, then he'll be damned. 'Hello, Major' she sweetly purred and his heart nearly leapt from his chest. He rose up to meet her handshake and found her hand softer than the spongiest cheesecake. 

It was only when they sat down and started talking that he found out that even though she looked soft on the outside she was very far from it on the inside. Sienna Ricci, the first born of the notorious drug-lord was proud, arrogant, and domineering. At first Major was thrilled of the idea of marrying this pompous woman and having to humble her, but then he decided that he liked his women shy, sweet and submissive. Like Aria. That woman is always invading my thoughts.

For the past 1 month, he hadn't talked to her but has been subtly monitoring her on social media. Her good looks was helping her climb the ladder to being Bordini's top model. She was even getting closer to Pietro Bordini himself, and a recent pic on her Instagram had his beefy hands wrapped around her delicate waist. He gripped his phone in anger. Damn Pietro. He sent a message on her IG page, daring her to forget about him, about that night. 

'Major Knight' Sienna sharply called. He whipped his head from his phone to see her frowning face. 'This is a no phone's lunch. Is whatever you are doing there more important than this? 

He muttered his apologies, inwardly shocked. No one would ever dream of talking to him in such an impolite tone. 'Alright, I'm done here', he abruptly stood to her chagrin. He had enough of listening to her talk about her affluence, her field, her father's influence, blah, blah, blah. Besides, his 4 o' clock appointment was due. He couldn't believe this woman spent the past three hours talking about herself alone. She looked up at him aghast as he paid the bill and made his way out. 

As Major stepped out of the restaurant, he breathed in deeply. Everything about Sienna Ricci, except her looks, was irritating. He was happy that she would be trapped in an arranged marriage with him. Punish her father and his spoilt brat of a daughter too. He was also happy that he finally put a face to his 'betrothed'. 

Aria gave herself 365 days. 365 days to banish all the thoughts of the sexy body and stunning face of Major Knight Bacuzzi from her head and the ravishing episode of that night which made her core ache with need whenever her mind wandered to it. Contrary to what all Bettina told her, Aria managed to convince herself that she made a lasting impression on Major. That he would come back from his trip and find her even though he left abruptly without saying good bye. That he would try and keep in touch on IG since he first followed her, was the first person to even DM.

She wasn't being delusional, the memories of his huge member deep in her skin, his hot kisses peppering her body refused to fade. It was as bright and sensually vivid as the night it happened. 364 days she kept waiting, like she waited for Giorgio, but for what she didn't know. She couldn't tell Bettina about her inner wrestle, her friend wouldn't honestly understand why she just didn't see it as a random one night-stand. The ultimatum was a year to get him out of her mind for good.

 Today is the 365th day. Aria couldn't be more happier. His presence has been living rent-free in her head constantly weighing her down. It was time to evict him. 

Today was also the launch of Knight's new clothesline called Laves. Elicit had prepared their fashion runway for the launch event and she was enlisted among the models that would wear the new wardrobe for showcase. She got involved because Pietro Bordini heavily invested into the new clothesline and as a top-model of the Bordini brand, she got hired.

She was extremely thrilled because the runway show would be a focal point of Italians fashion industry, and she hasn't walked a runway before, not to mention a red carpet event that this one was going to be. Top-notch buyers, influencers and the media where going to be at attendance, so this was going to propel her modeling career to the sky. 

She had already prepped up for the event; her skin was glowing, her hair was glowing, her nails were perfect. Bordini sent their team of estheticians, nail technicians and hair stylists down to her apartment. As she stared at her breath-taking face in the mirror, she couldn't believe that a year ago she was the unwanted, broke, dumped girl wallowing in self-misery and comparing herself to the stunning fiancé of Giorgio. She had grown to be her own self-made, independent woman. She couldn't be more proud. 

15 minutes later, an Uber black SUV rung at her front door and she was driven down to Elicit. Elicit, the place she met the Major Knight for the first time. 

The atmosphere at the backstage was high-spirited and everyone was in a frenzy as people rushed up and about trying to put things in order. Make-up artists touched her flawlessly made up face for the 100th time. Modeling coaches helped her along other models with their posture and overall presence before putting them out on the runway. Her heart beat wildly as she heard the cheers beyond the curtain. Soon, she'll be out there, in front of the people, the lights,

the flashes.