Chapter 256 THE CRIMINAL.

Chapter 256 THE CRIMINAL.
\~~~RAINA.

The next morning, I arrived at work determined to prove a point.

I was not going on a honeymoon.

Not for two months, not for one month, and not even for two weeks.

A week was enough, wasn’t it?

I had work, responsibilities and even people depended on me.

Unlike my husband, some of us actually had real jobs.

I stepped out of the elevator and headed toward my office.

The receptionist greeted me and then smiled very weirdly.

I narrowed my eyes.

Why was everyone smiling at me today?

The answer revealed itself the second I pushed open my office door.

I froze, blinked, and then blinked again.

There were flowers everywhere.

On my desk, on the coffee table, on the shelves, and on the couch.

Even the damn window ledge had flowers.

For a terrifying moment, I thought someone had died.

Then I spotted the card.

I marched toward it and snatched it up.

‘Good morning, wife. Take the honeymoon.’

Luciano.

My eyes twitched.

"Oh, this man has lost his mind."
Because, if he hadn't, he wouldn’t have pulled this off when I had only left him alone at home about an hour ago.

A knock came from the door and my assistant poked her head inside.

"Good morning, ma'am."

I pointed at the flowers. "What is this?"

She immediately looked away which meant she was trying not to laugh.

"Those arrived about an hour ago."

"Take them away."

Her smile widened.

"No."

I blinked.

"What?"

"Sorry, ma'am. I mean... I can't."

"Why?"

"There are six more arrangements downstairs."

Silence fell in the room for a few seconds as I stared at her.

She stared back and then finally added,

"They wouldn't fit in here."

I nearly fainted. "You are joking."

"I wish I were."

I dropped into my chair.

God. I married a menace.

The worst part?

He wasn't even here yet somehow he was already ruining my day.

I tried ignoring the flowers.

I really did.

For almost twenty minutes, I focused on work, emails, and reports then my assistant returned.

"Ma'am."

I didn't look up.

"What?"

"You have a call."

Finally, something normal.

"Who is it?"

There was a pause, then, she answered, "Mr. Moretti."

My pen froze.

Slowly, I lifted my head.

"Which Mr. Moretti?"

"The one you married."

I closed my eyes.

Of course. Of course, it was him.

"Tell him I am busy."

"Are you sure?"

"Very."

She nodded and left.

Exactly thirty seconds later, my office phone rang.

I stared at it but the phone continued ringing and I continued staring.

The phone kept ringing and eventually I picked up.

"What?"

"Good morning, beautiful."

I hung up immediately.

The phone rang again.

I ignored it.

It rang again.

And again. And again.

God.

Finally I answered.

"What do you want?"

"That's a rude way to speak to your husband."

"What do you want?"

"I miss you."

I stared blankly at the wall.

"We had breakfast together."

"I still miss you."

"You are impossible."

"I prefer charming."

I hung up again.

This time he had the decency not to call back.

For nearly an hour.

Then lunchtime arrived and with it came disaster.

The door opened, my assistant entered and three other employees followed behind her carrying lots of trays.

I frowned. "What is this?"

"Lunch."

"I didn't order lunch."

"No."

My assistant smiled.

"Mr. Moretti did."

My eyes narrowed.

"Send it back."

Nobody moved. "Why is nobody moving?"

One of them cleared his throat.

"Because there are forty-seven meals."

"What?"

"Forty-seven."

I slowly stood. "Forty-seven?"

"Yes."

"For who?"

The man pointed outside. "The entire floor."

I stared so hard and then finally pressed my fingers against my forehead.

No. No.

This could not be happening.

My assistant handed me another card.

I already hated it but still, I opened it.

‘Support the honeymoon. Dessert will be provided.’ 
—Luciano.

The entire office erupted into cheers immediately.

Traitors.

Every single one of them.

"Oh my God."

"He is right, you know."

I looked up.

One of the department heads grinned.

"You should go."

"Absolutely."

Another nodded. "Take the vacation."

"We will survive. It’s just two months."

"Please leave."

I gasped dramatically.

"Against me too?"

"We love you, ma'am."

"Very much."

"That's why we are telling you to go."

I wanted new employees immediately.

The rest of lunch became unbearable because nobody discussed work anymore.

Not one person. Instead, everyone discussed beaches, resorts, cruises, and private islands, for me by the way.

I spent the entire meal regretting every life choice that had brought me here.

Then Alessia called.

Wonderful, another enemy.

I answered immediately. "What do you want?"

She laughed. "Oh, Viktor was right."

"About what?"

"You are angry."

"I am not angry."

"You sound angry."

"I am furious."

That only made her laugh harder.

"Wait till you get home."

My eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"

"Nothing."

"Alessia. Wait, where are you? You said you had business outside the city."

"Well..."

"Alessia."

She hung up and I just stared at my phone.

The rest of the day somehow became worse.

Everywhere I turned, somebody mentioned the honeymoon.

My assistant, the managers, my secretary, and even the security guard smiled and told me to enjoy my trip.

How did they know?

Who was telling these people?

Luciano.

Obviously my sweet husband!

By the time work finally ended, I was exhausted.

Not from work. From my husband.

I grabbed my bag and headed home.

The entire drive back, I rehearsed my speech.

A good speech and a powerful speech.

One that would finally make Luciano understand that I was a serious professional woman.

Not somebody he could bully into taking a two-month vacation.

I marched into the mansion determined, focused, and ready.

Several staff members smiled suspiciously as I passed.

Another bad sign but I ignored it anyway and headed upstairs, straight toward our bedroom.

The moment I pushed open the door, I stopped and my eye twitched.

There were suitcases everywhere

Large ones, small ones, designer ones.

Everything.

For a moment, I genuinely couldn't speak.

Then the closet door opened and Luciano walked out calm and reserved, looking completely unbothered.

The criminal.

He took one look at my face and immediately smiled.

"Welcome home, wifey."

I pointed at the suitcases. "What is that?"

"Our luggage."

"Our?"

"Ours."

I stared. "You packed my bags?"

"Most of them."

My mouth fell open.

"Most?"

He nodded proudly.

"Alessia and Viktor helped."

Traitors. Every single one of them.

I pointed toward the luggage again.

"I am not going. Two months is a lot. I’m a businesswoman.”

He burst into laughter and I frowned.

"You are."

"I am not."

"You are."

"Luciano."

"Raina."

I marched toward him.

He didn't even look concerned.

Instead, he wrapped an arm around my waist the second I got close enough which was very rude because it immediately weakened my argument.

"I have work."

"You have employees."

"I have responsibilities."

"So do they."

"I am serious."

"So am I."

I narrowed my eyes.

He kissed my forehead.

The shameless man and then he smiled. "We leave next week."

I gasped.

"Next week?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Luciano!"

His smile widened.

And somehow… I knew I had already lost.

God help me.

I had married an empire.

And apparently, the empire had decided I was going on a honeymoon.