Hacking Into My Heart

“Why do I have to marry him first? I thought you and him were friends, papa?” Ariel fumed, with a tear dropping down her soaked eyes on her cheeks and downwards.

“Ariel,” her father held her shoulders and pulled her into a hug. “I love you, mi Amor, but you need to make this sacrifice for your step-mom.” Squishing his daughter in his arms, he closed his eyes tightly while Ariel sobbed in his blue well-polished suit.

“I don't wanna do this, papa. We h…have enough money for my stepmom's surgery, why… why do I have to be a scapegoat to a woman who has never been kind to me?”

Ariel pushed away from her father's arms, her make-up already ruined from her tears.

“No, we don't.” Mr. Leonard snapped at Ariel, making her stilt in her position.

“We lost our biggest client to our rivals and Alessandro has promised to pay for not just your stepmom's surgery, but also help us get back on our feet, making our product worth 50 times more than it currently does.”

Now his eyes pierced into Ariel's light brown pupils, his jaw firm as he walked closer to Ariel, took out his handkerchief and gently cleaned her face.

When he was done, he kissed her on her forehead. “I promise you will not regret making this sacrifice for our family,” he put her hands in his and walked her out of her makeup room, and into the wedding reception.

— — —

When Ariel's eyes met Alessandro, all she felt was irritation and frustration. But it was already too late for her to turn back.

“Smile, Ariel.” Her dad's low but firm order pierced her like a knife, and she faked a plastic smile as she walked down the aisle.

And just like that, they said their vows and the ceremony was over.

Alessandro carried a dominant essence throughout the ceremony, making it far too difficult for Ariel to read his mind, which made her irritation for him spike.

Even when they were asked to kiss, Ariel only closed her eyes and remained in the same position while Alessandro kissed her on her forehead, which was the most awkward moment of all.

After throwing her flowers and her best friend caught them, Ariel and Alessandro rode in his Lamborghini straight to the airport, another weird scenario.

“Where are we going?” Ariel managed to ask, still flaring her nose.

“Calm down, baby, I'm taking you home,” Alessandro replied, his eyes fixed on the road.

Ariel was mixed with a shiver to his pet name and yet confused about everything. Why wasn't a driver taking them instead? she wondered. Yet she composed herself not to express her discomfort and irritation towards him.

“I know you don't like me,” Alessandro's low and authoritative voice came through her right ear alongside the cold breeze that came in through the window.

Alessandro's car tyres screeched as he drifted and halted abruptly. Holding Ariel's head that was looking away from him, lost in thoughts, he turned her to face him.

“But you and I were made for each other,” he smirked. Closing the gap between them, he held her neck as if wanting to place kisses on it but instead whispered in her ears: “We will be husband and wife for a lifetime,” breathing deeply and heavily on her fragile neck as she shivered beneath him.

He sighted her chest heaving up and down, and he became tempted by her small boobs reverberating under her tight corset. He eventually rolled his eyes upward, not wanting to proceed.

“Just do as you are told, am I clear?” His deep voice went through her ears this time, making her body curl up. He immediately pushed her away. “I don't know what you possess, but I don't want you 5 inches near me. You understand?”

Ariel's eyes became damp as she looked into Alessandro's eyes with heartbreak and resentment.

She nodded and hastily wiped her eyes, adjusting her frame and fixing her eyes on the road. Just then, Ariel watched a black plane that looked like it was about to get in the air.

“Let's go, that's for us,” Alessandro ordered, stepping out in his Louis Vuitton well-polished suit.

— — —

Alessandro was the first tech billionaire and the most accomplished IT Tycoon, owning ninety percent of all tech schools around the world, making him the richest man after his father ‘Lucius’.

He was a cold-hearted player, known for his brilliant investment and tech skills, stealing information and disposing of, or selling to the government.

He never loved any woman until Valentina, who was now his most threatening enemy.

The couple walked towards the plane and just when Ariel was about to climb the staircase, she slipped but surprisingly fell in the arms of a stranger, while Alessandro watched through the window, since he was already inside.

Ariel's eyes flipped open and when she realized she was in the arms of a man who wasn't Alessandro, she struggled to release herself.

The stranger let her stand on her own. After she gained her balance, he took her hands.

“They are so soft,” his charming bass melodious voice gave Ariel calmness.

“Forgive me,” he smiled charmingly and kissed Ariel's hand. “I'm Simon, Alessandro's cousin.”

Ariel smiled warmly at him. “Thank you, Simon, you saved me.”

The wind became stronger, making Ariel's hair cover her face. Then Simon lifted her and climbed the staircase into the airplane.

“Put her down,” Alessandro growled from behind Simon, making him let go of Ariel at once.

“Hello, big brother, I came in time,” Simon said, smiling and offering Alessandro a handshake.

But Alessandro gave his hand a stern look before pulling Ariel to his side.

“This is Ariel, my wife, and you will treat her with respect. Am I clear?” His deep husky voice echoed.

“Yes, big brother.” Simon walked to the other side, far from Alessandro and Ariel.

“And what were you doing in the arms of another man?” Alessandro questioned, his voice low but thunderous.

Ariel took a deep breath before turning to Alessandro. “The man saved my life when I almost fell from getting into your expensive plane,” she blinked and turned around.

Also walking away from Alessandro to the other end of the plane, she sat alone in her white slimy yet classy wedding dress.

She looked like a flower in its bloom.

— — —

Soon the plane landed in Miami. Ariel was asleep but awakened by Alessandro. When she stepped out she understood why Alessandro was called the richest man.

He had his own hanger where he parked his planes, he even had three different luxurious planes.

Her eyes popped at the glamour she sighted — it was beyond everything she had ever seen.

“Don't leave my side,” Alessandro ordered, grabbing Ariel's wrist and pulling her into the just parked Rolls-Royce in front of them.

After getting in, Alessandro never let go of Ariel’s wrist.

“It hurts.” She struggled to loosen herself from his grip, but he tightened it.

“Stay put, Ariel. Let me take you home.” He smiled cunningly and let go of her, relaxing in his seat.

The drive was quiet and awkward, but it was as though they never passed through the city, and soon they were in front of Alessandro’s mansion.

--------

It was more vogue than Ariel had heard. She was dazzled as her eyes rolled to every inch of the compound — from the luxurious and gigantic gates to the well-tiled roads, flowers, and trees.

For a man who was seen as not just enigmatic but very tough in his dealings, his home was more welcoming and homely on the inside.

He had the most captivating statues situated at different angles of the compound. One of them was a beautiful maiden dressed in African attire, adorned with beads on her waist, her neckline, and around her ankles.

Her hands wer