Completing Beauty: Books 1-3

by Stella Andrews

  “Anastasia.”

  His voice is deep and slightly husky, and the man that stands in my doorway fills it with an authority that is hard to ignore. My breath hitches as I take my first look at the man I have only seen on the screen, and I almost take a step back as I feel the full force of him. It’s as if he fills the room with energy, power and so much danger I can taste it from here. He must be six feet tall, with black, sleek hair and the darkest eyes I have ever seen. He’s clean shaven and his aftershave wafts toward me like a potion designed to trap a woman’s soul.

  He is staring at me with an expression I can’t quite read, and I feel like a moth caught in a flame because something about this man burns me up inside. What is this feeling; I’ve never felt it before?

  Just for a moment, we stand, neither one of us saying a word as we adjust to the situation. Then he takes me by surprise and moves across to my bed and pats the space beside him.

  “Sit.”

  He nods and from the tone of his voice, he expects me to obey and yet the way he said it was different to how I imagined. It was almost—kind.

  So, I do as he says because from the look in his eyes, he has something to say that I am intrigued to hear.

  I sit on the edge of the bed as far away from him as possible and stare at my hands like a naughty child. I can’t look at him because this situation is the strangest I’ve ever been in.

  Then he speaks. “You’re angry, why?”

  For a moment I don’t answer him because now he’s said it, I feel a little foolish. This man isn’t used to childish games, and in that one sentence has reduced my demands to those of a petulant child.

  I say in a low voice. “Is it too much to ask that you come to my door like a gentleman and call for me properly? I’m not a delivery. I’m a person with feelings and deserve a little respect.”

  He is silent, and I wait with a morbid curiosity to see what he says.

  Then he says wearily, “Anastasia, we have a business deal. You know that. This is not a relationship like any normal one. We are not lovers, we are strangers. The fact I’m here at all is all the respect you need. We both know what this is and I’m curious to know why you think otherwise?”

  The anger starts building as I measure my response. What an asshole.

  Standing, I move across to the window and once again look down on the circus that’s arrived outside my door. The sadness overcomes me as I see what this is. He’s right, of course, it is a business arrangement, after all and I knew that.

  “Ok.”

  “Ok what?”

  I can sense the irritation in the room and sigh.

  “Ok, I’ll come. You’re right, Mr. Moretti, this is a business arrangement. I have something you want and you are my way out of this god forsaken place but I do have a few conditions first.”

  I turn around and stare at him with a bravery I don’t feel inside as I see the storm in his eyes. “Name them.”

  “I want my freedom.”

  “No.”

  “What do you mean, no?”

  “A simple word, Anastasia, that I know you understand the meaning of. You ask for freedom, but that will never happen. Let me explain. My world is a dangerous place to be. In agreeing to live in it, you leave any hope of freedom at the door. I have many enemies and you will be an attractive target for them. You have the freedom of my home, but outside you will never be alone. I have assigned a guard to protect you when you leave my walls and so, any freedom you enjoy now will be left inside this room. Any more demands—Anastasia?”

  I just stare at him in disbelief as he taps his foot, indicting his impatience to get this over with. It just angers me more and I snap, “I want my own room.”

  “Agreed.”

  “I want my own car.”

  “Agreed.”

  “I want to start my own business.”

  “This is not Christmas, Anastasia and I’m not Santa. These demands are nothing short of stalling for time, so let me lay it on the line. I have no interest in what you do with your time when I don’t demand it. You will have an allowance outside of your own income from Johnson’s plastics that you can give away for all I care. The only thing I want from you is to be my wife in public. That is your job, Anastasia, be the perfect wife in company and in private you can do what the hell you like, however, let me warn you that does not include other men, do I make myself clear?”

  “What?”

  I stare at him in total disbelief as he stands and heads toward me, and from the look in his eyes, he is serious. Standing just centimeters away from me, I can feel his breath fan my face as he says in a whisper, “I have a reputation to protect and if word got out that my wife was screwing around behind my back, I would be extremely angry, darling. So, take this as a warning, you have your freedom but for one thing. You are mine, even if I don’t take advantage of that. I chose you for a reason, Anastasia. I have watched you with interest over the years as you played the loyal fiancée to Sebastian Stone. We both know it was exactly the relationship I am asking from you now. In public, the happy couple and strangers in private. You have trained well for this and that is what I want most from you.”

  He lifts my face to his and his touch is like electricity shooting through my entire body. It shocks it into life, and every nerve I possess is standing on edge. His lips hover over mine as he whispers, “I have watched you for a long time and I like what I see. You are perfect for me and I know you will be the wife I deserve. Don’t let me down and I will give you everything but that one thing. Love. Can you live without love in exchange for everything else Anastasia because I know I can?”

  It’s too much, too intense, and I take a step back to get some air between us. Can I live without love?

  He doesn’t move and something grows between us as he invades my mind and personal space. There is nothing in this room but him and with a slight edge to my voice, I say huskily, “I have lived without love my entire life, Mr. Moretti, how can I miss what I never had in the first place?”

  I dare to look up, and the storm in his eyes causes my breath to hitch as I sense something shift between us. Then he steps away and says in his sexy, deep voice, “Come, I’ll send someone for your cases. Say goodbye to your old life, you will not be returning.”

  I follow him from my childhood room and don’t look back.

  I pass the framed photos in the hallway as we walk past them down the stairs.

  I pass Martha looking so desperate and as if she’s about to cry and I stop, pulling her to me and clinging onto the one person I will miss. Fighting back the tears, I say in a small voice, “I love you, Martha. I’ll be in touch.”

  Just for a second, she clings to me and I feel my heart breaking. She has always been in my life, and this is the hardest thing I have to do.

  She whispers, “I love you, darling. I’m always here for you, don’t be a stranger.”

  Nodding, I don’t trust myself to speak and my mom says in a fake sincere voice, “Come darling, we need to leave.”

  With a heavy heart, I follow them outside, my long ivory gown trailing behind me. The diamonds sparkle as the sun catches them as I step into the light. My satin shoes crunch on the gravel, as I walk behind the man who will be my husband in a few hours from now and I walk away from my home to an uncertain future and the wedding that’s been arranged at a nearby church in just thirty minutes time.

  Yes, today is Anastasia Johnson’s wedding day and yet I am no ordinary bride. I am a sacrificial lamb to the slaughter and so, any humanity I possess, I leave firmly behind me as the door to the third car is held open for me and I’m helped inside. My mom takes the seat beside me and the door slams, sealing my fate.

  Tobias Moretti climbs into the car in front and I watch my cases loaded into the first car. I don’t look at Martha as we ease out of the driveway. In fact, I don’t look back. I can’t because it would break my heart.

  Chapter 3

  Tobias

  “What happened?

/>   “It doesn’t matter, she’s here now.”

  Sophia sighs and says irritably, “You’re a fool, Tobias.”

  “Enough!”

  “No, you don’t get to tell me shit. I’m the only person left who tells you how it is, and this marriage is dangerous for both of you. Call it off now and let the poor girl go. I can’t believe you’re doing this.”

  “I said ENOUGH!” I raise my voice and she falls silent and I settle back in the seat and stare out of the window. Maybe traveling with my sister was a bad move. She always calls me out on things she disapproves of and this is the biggest one to date—my marriage.

  I close my eyes and lean back and think about her—Anastasia Johnson, the woman I’ve chosen to marry. There is something about her that’s called to me for a long time now. They all think this marriage is from a chance meeting with her mother—they are wrong. Long before her father died, I was watching Anastasia Johnson.

  Back then she was playing the perfect fiancée for Sebastian Stone, her sister’s boyfriend from childhood.

  He never wanted her because it was always Angelica. They played a convincing role in public but never met in private. I was impressed. She was everything I was looking for. Beautiful, loyal, with impeccable manners and breeding. The fact she comes with a share of a billion-dollar company sweetens the deal, but that was just the icing on the cake. It was always her I wanted; they just don’t need to know that.

  “They wouldn’t want this.”

  “I said enough, Sophia, don’t make me stop this car and make you ride up front.”

  She laughs bitterly. “I’d like to see you try.”

  “Don’t test me because you are seriously getting on my nerves right now. Is it too much to ask for five minutes peace before my fucking wedding?”

  She huffs and looks out of the window and I sigh inside. Sisters, think they know it all and in this case she may be right. They wouldn’t want me to do this, but they aren’t here to stop me.

  I push all thoughts of my parents away because I can’t deal with them now. Not today. Not after what I just saw; what I felt when I saw my bride for the first time.

  When Matteo told me she asked for me, I was mildly curious. I watched her through the window and even from a distance she was beautiful. Time didn’t matter as she kept me waiting because I was mesmerized. As soon as I saw her in the flesh, she dazzled me. Standing before the window with the sunlight behind her, she looked like a goddess. Her long, silk, ivory gown hugged a body that would be the ruin of any man. Her golden hair piled on top of her head, secured in place with a diamond tiara, made her look like my Queen in waiting. The diamonds that sparkled from her throat highlighted a skin of the purest porcelain and those flashing blue eyes that held so much anger in them, awoke the beast in me. Yes, Anastasia Johnson is mine and never knew it and if Sophia thinks I’m giving her up, then she’s badly mistaken.

  Sophia sighs heavily and I tune her out. My sister only has my best interests at heart, and I know she thinks I’m making a big mistake. She’ll learn I never make mistakes, just calculated risks that usually pay off.

  As expected, we reach the church five minutes before the service is due to start. The crowd that has gathered is not unexpected. I’ve made it no secret that I’m to be married, but only invited guests are allowed inside.

  The photographers from the press are here in force, and I expect our picture will be on every news channel within the hour. Yes, this city’s most eligible bachelor is about to go out of business, which was my plan all along. Marry Anastasia and take the heat off me at the same time.

  I’ve grown tired of fending off the advances of the desperate women who throw themselves at me every day. I’m tired of pretending to be interested in their banal chatter, and I’m tired of turning up to events with another faceless woman. I want there to be just one. Her.

  Yes, I’m feeling rather pleased with myself right now, and as the car draws to the curb, I congratulate myself on a well-executed plan.

  Security is tight—it has to be, and I note the shaded figures of my own men keeping watch over the crowd. They will have swept the church and the surrounding area and left nothing to chance. Every guest inside will have been searched and their phones confiscated for the duration of the service. When I marry Anastasia Johnson, there will be no distractions.

  Sophia sighs, “Have it your way, let the farce commence.”

  Matteo holds open the door and I exit into a sea of suited guards. I take my sister’s hand and help her from the car and we walk together up the red-carpeted steps to the church of Saint Andrew. Flowers decorate the entire approach and I am pleased to see my favorite red roses and white lilies are in abundance.

  The priest greets us at the top of the steps and if he’s nervous, he’s doing a good job hiding it as he beams and offers me his hand in congratulation. “Mr. Moretti, we are honored to host your wedding.”

  I nod and sweep past him with no words spoken. I want to get this over with because as soon as my ring is on Anastasia’s finger, she belongs to me and I’m not prepared to wait a moment more to own such a beauty.

  The music starts as soon as we step foot inside the church and I note the crowded congregation looking at us approach with a mixture of awe, reverence and fear. Business associates, social contacts and people who are of some use to me but no family. There’s not an empty seat in sight, and I wonder what these people make of this.

  Making no eye contact, I stride to the front, followed closely by Sophia and Matteo.

  Then I take my seat alongside them in the front row and wait for her to arrive.

  Chapter 4

  Anastasia

  There are crowds of people everywhere I look. Mom gasps as she sees the press and says with excitement, “This is it, darling. You’ve made it. I knew this marriage was the best idea ever.”

  I say nothing because I don’t have words. The fact I’m shaking with fear next to her has obviously escaped her attention. The fact I’ve not said two words since we left is obviously of no consequence and the terror in my heart is apparently disguised because she is behaving like any excited mother of the bride and I couldn’t hate her any more than I do now.

  The noise overwhelms me as the door is opened and one of Tobias’s guards offers me his hand. Immediately, a tight circle is formed around me as I step into the sunlight and I am shielded from anyone who wishes for one glimpse of the bride.

  I am ushered up the red-carpeted steps of the amazing church and can only glimpse the stunning flowers that line my journey toward my fate.

  All around me people are screaming my name and helicopters buzz overhead. It’s almost as if I’m a celebrity and it’s a lot to deal with.

  By the time we reach the entrance to the church, my heart is threatening to give out on me because all of this—it’s overpowering.

  Then I see a familiar face looking anxious and concerned, and my heart twists into a painful knot. “Angel.”

  I whisper her name and the tears burn behind my eyes as I see my sister standing waiting, clutching an enormous bouquet and looking like the angel she is named after.

  The door closes behind me and mom says loudly, “Well, that was something else.”

  She starts fussing with my dress and saying with concern, “Look at the state of you, I hope they never got a picture of the creases in this train.”

  Angel steps forward and looks at me with concern. “Are you ok, honey?”

  Am I ok? An innocent question and if I give the right answer, I know she will whisk me away and hide me forever, so I lie. “I’m fine.”

  Grabbing my arm, she steers me to the side and whispers, “You know you don’t have to go through with this. Sebastian and I have contacts and can get you away from here before they even discover you’ve gone. Just say the word and I’ll make the call.”

  I smile shakily. “I said I’m fine, but thanks, it means a lot.”

  Angel’s eyes fill with tears and she whispers, “Pleas
e don’t do this, Anastasia. I’m begging you; you need to fall in love and marry a man that will make you happy. Not him. Not that criminal.”

  I shrug and try to muster a bravery I certainly don’t feel and smile as reassuringly as I can under the circumstances. “It’s fine, I want this, really I do.”

  She nods in defeat and hands me the exquisite bouquet that I’m seeing for the first time. I’ve had no input in this wedding at all. Tobias Moretti organized everything, and my only task was to show up on the day. The dress was delivered from the finest designer and the jewels arrived a little over an hour ago. My hair and make-up were professionally done by women he arranged to come to my house and even my underwear was delivered in a tissue filled box, tied with a satin bow. He has left nothing to chance and I should be grateful, shouldn’t I?

  Mom stands beside me and beams proudly, and it sickens me. She is loving this—the attention and the fact it’s the celebrity wedding of the year. I wish Martha were here instead of her but mom said she had to stay home. I hate her for that.

  Turning to Angel, I whisper, “I wish Martha was here.”

  She squeezes my hand and nods. “I know. She would want to see her little girl on her wedding day, but mom overruled us as always.”

  The music starts, canceling out any further conversation, and my stomach flutters as I sense my time is up. This is it, there’s no going back now because the men that stand guarding the exit will make sure I see this through. There is no escape and now I’ll just have to suck it up and live with my decision.

  I’m already regretting it.

  Mom walks by my side and Angel follows behind. As sisters we are alike to look at, but our personalities are poles apart. She was always the adventurous one. The fearless one of the family and way smarter than me. She now runs Johnson’s Plastics because my father wanted it that way. In fact, anyone but me. He was disappointed in me and that hurts the most. I was never given a chance.