Seven hours and fifty minutes in total was how long it take for us to arrive in Paris. As soon as we got out of the private jet, we swarmed by a group of security guards and more than a dozen of French policemen.

We didn't even need to get inside the airport and everything was already done for us. All that we needed to do was to hop in the back of a white Rolls-Royce and Liam directed him that we were ready to go. Through the transparent glass wall of the airport, overlooking the view of the runway, I could see people starting to take notice and some of them  were openly holding up their phones to record us. I was pretty sure all the passengers inside the airport thought we were criminals.

Powerful rich ass criminals.

Among many other things, like the beautiful view of Paris outside our windows and the jazz music playing in the background inside the car, I couldn't help but felt a little out of place. When Liam offered me a free trip to Paris, all that was in my head was croissant and Eiffel tower but now, it was like we were living out of the Great Gatsby book.

Everything was fancy. Everything was extra. It had only been just about ten minutes since we landed and clearly, the treatment we received couldn't be anymore normal. Sarcasm noted.

Aftera brief moment of silence, Liam cleared his throat portentously causing me to look over at him.

"Are you alright there?" He asked, hoarsely.

"Yes, I am fine." I lied. I was in fact a little panicking but he didn't need to know that, "Anyways, where are we going?"

A small smile etched his lips and I gave him the look.

"You will see." Was exactly his respond before we spent the next thirty minutes not speaking to each other as Liam was occupied by multiple phone calls.

By the time we arrived at the destination, I was half asleep half-awake. With more than seven hours airplane flight on me, I kind of wished I was being tucked in bed but instead, I found myself gingerly walking down a dim hallway with double-ceiling, looked like an underground floor of some buildings.

Upon glancing above my head, I noticed something familiar about that clean light ecru ceiling and its decorative fluorescent light covers.

That couldn't be a coincidence

"Wait, where are we?" I turned to ask Liam and he exchanged another few words with the people who had been trailing just right behind us, he then dismissed them to approach me.

"My restaurant." He simply replied, putting his hand on my lower back caused my breath to hitch. The corner of his lips pulled upward as he lightly smirked.

"Of course." I scoffed, rolling my eyes so hard I could have seen the inside of my skull, "What's the name of the restaurant?"

Even I kind of already knew the answer, I didn't want to be too blunt and ended up making a complete fool of myself.

"Laserre, why?" His respond caused me to squeal.

Without even realize I was smiling like an idiot, another happy accidents, maybe? That he happened to want to come here for only God knew what reasons or could it he that he remembered our conversation from many nights ago.

"It's your favorite, isn't it?" Liam asked and I let his hand guiding me further down the dinning hall.

If I remembered it right, exactly those words he spoke to me that night.

So teasingly, I said to him, "So, is that why we are here?"

He shrugged in all that playfully way before adding a soft, "Maybe."

And I just hated how fast my heart was racing only because of that.

My eyebrows rose slightly as Liam stepped forward and pulls out one chair for me. I was merely confused at first but then gladly, sat down.

"You look tired." He murmured hoarsely into my right ear and I flinched.

"That's because I am." I taunted, "And also, you didn't let me know beforehand that we will be dinning out. I could have get dressed properly and put on some make up. Now, it's your own fault that you're sharing a table with a zombie girl."

Brushing his hands away from my shoulders, I gave him a death stare but his glance decisively narrowed as he spoke.

"That's not what I mean." He mumbled, trying to keep his voice low as if somebody was going to be listening to our conversation. He gave my shoulder a light pat, "I'm just going to go say hi to some of the guests and be right back."

"Guests?" I titled my head slightly so I could have a better look at his face, "Aren't we eating?"

"Yes, we are." He smiled warmly, "But not now as this is a wine tasting. The food will be served later." He informed.

Again, the thousand times that day probably, my eyebrows fell into a small knot and my lips curled.

"Then what am I doing here? I don't drink." I implied.

"I know." He grinned, "This event is for my clients. Not for you. I usually host something like this once in a while whenever I visit Paris. Unfortunately, socializing is mandatory when it comes to maintaining the business's growth. If you get what I mean."

I nodded in the act of acknowledgement while adding a boring, "Yeah..."

"A lot of important people are expecting to be here tonight. Some of them are good friends of mine as well. So, please act accordingly." Liam appealed and upon his petition, my eyes rolled dramatically in indignation, "Drop that attitude or I will make you drop to your knees once we get back to the hotel." He stated firmly and I caught his palm tightly gripping the arm rests of my chair.

"In your dream, Mr. Luciano." I snorted under my breath, "Even with a gun pointing directly to my head, I will never ever be begging on my knees for you." I joked and his lips twitched.

If it was even possible, Liam lowered himself to my level and his warm breath lightly brushed my cheek as he murmured.

"Oh, mon amour. You won't be begging." He smirked then left me sitting in a pool of my own thoughts as he went to join the group of the restaurant staff at the front.

This is going to be a long night.

______________

Liam disappeared for nearly thirty minutes to take his turn about the room. The whole place was packing up with more guests and even more waitresses as the night went by.

I, on the other hand had been uncomfortably glued to my seat while rocking myself back and forth in order to stay awake.

"Liam?" A soft voice called causing me to turn.

It seemed to me like Liam was on his way back to the table but before he could even take three steps away from the crowd, another woman stopped him.

Right. Another woman.

"Donna."

But this time, the way they friendly hugged and a small grin instantly plastered his face told me that girl was something different. They knew each other. Quite well, to say the least.

"Am I the last person in this room to say hi to you?" She scowled playfully at him and I tried to focus my attention on something else in front of me but my ears insisted on keep listening.

"Of course not." He said joyfully and then with her thick French accent, she rambled on and on about her summer to him and how much she missed them going out together. Doing fun things. At night.

I inhaled a deep breath and tried to keep myself in my seat even though all I wanted to do was to get up and walked away but I couldn't.

And honestly, I should have. Because that was when it all started to crumble.

"Donna, let me introduce to you—" At the rate she was speaking, I wasn't surprised at all that she didn't bother to let him finish first before assuming.

"Giovanna, yes?" She exclaimed as I got up from my chair to greet her, "My god, you have grown up so much since the last time I saw you."

I smiled dryly. Didn't know what to say.

"Donna, this is my wife." Liam said and the big smile on her face quickly fell.

"Oh." A stern frown became visible on her bold face as she spoke in this terribly low and deep voice to me, "Well, hello there. It's very nice to meet you."

Oh, I highly doubted it.

In a very, very much more pleasant way, I then replied to her, "It's very nice to meet you too."

"Donna." She spoke plainly, offering me her hand to shake and I accepted it while her eyes studying from head to toe, "You're right. She is still a child." She snorted before turned to Liam, "So, where am I sitting?"

Outside. Probably.

Once Donna figured out the seating arrangement and learned that Liam was sitting at the head of the table as per usual, she of course had moved herself to sit right next to him which made her sitting in front of me.

Liam and Donna continued to talk for a while and it looked like neither one of them was bothered by the fact that I was sitting there.

I sighed lowly and forced myself to bare the conversation about their adolescence years together and how Donna spent most of her time traveling back and forth between Italy and Paris just to visit Liam and his family.

When the male speaker finally stepped up the podium, I had to admit it that I felt a bit of a relief. However, that relief didn't last for long as the next minute I noticed some strange pattern surrounding me.

Upon looking around, my eyes landed on beautiful women. Numerous of them. One after another sitting around us. I could feel my confidence growing smaller and smaller compare to before which was already so less.

Everyone looked gorgeous. Breath-taking in those luxury-looking dresses, full on make up and professional hairdo. Not to mention, I didn't fail to notice that half of them seemed to know Liam very well while the rest of the other half wished they do.

Eyes were on him, even during the time the speaker was speaking at the podium. Nobody was listening. They all were listening to him and it made me wonder, why didn't he just go up there and speak on the mics himself rather than paying for some less attractive man to be speaking for him.

Did I just practically admit it that Liam was attractive?

Whatever. I was probably just annoyed.

The first round of wine tasting had started and I couldn't be any more bored. I just sat back in my spot and took a sip from my glass of water which Liam was kind enough to ask from waitress for me. I didn't want to look stupid and ask for a glass of water while there would be wine serving. Also, it would be impossible anyways for anyone to think Liam was retarded if he was to ask for a glass of water. So as my husband, that was evidently the best thing he could have done for me that night.

While the other girl was asking him questions, another one wanted him to taste a wine from her glass. Everyone was trying their hardest to get their hands on him and the feeling of irritation was getting too overwhelming for me.

Having said that, I decided to excuse myself to the bathroom.

Well, not really. I just got up because as if anybody else would care where had I gone off too— as long as I wasn't bringing Liam with me.

"Where're you going?" My heart skipped two beats when I heard his voice calling after me. I turned around slowly and everyone quickly returned to their previous composures.

"I just need to use a washroom." I lied. Not technically, I didn't need to pee but I needed somewhere to hide.

"I will come with you." Liam said and quickly, he stood up from his seat. Just like that, all the other ladies were all frowning and scowling as if he was leaving them for me when honestly, it had been the other way around the whole darn night until then.

Liam walked me outside the dinning hall and as soon as we were alone and away from strangers' eyes, my shoulders dropped tiredly and I threw my head back.

"This felt like the first day in high school." I groaned annoyingly before stopped walking and leaned myself against the wall.

"Why?" Joining me, Liam did the same thing but just on the opposite side so he could be facing toward me, "Are you annoyed by the way they treated me?" He smirked.

"No. I'm annoyed by the way they treated me." I corrected him, "For god's sake, I am a not a kid. Just that I am not wearing one of those fancy dresses like them and don't have a ton of make-up on doesn't mean I am any less successful or mature than the rest of them."

I didn't know where all the anger came from but once it was out, I actually felt completely relieved this time around.

"Don't give it a thought." Liam said honestly, "I think you look beautiful."

I shot him a glance, in a way to tell him to back off.

"Stop it." I sneered, eying him weirdly, "You have been acting very weird today. It's getting creepy." I joked and he laughed.

"Well, do you like me better or you prefer me as a controlling husband?"

"Neither." I bit my lips, pouting.

"Alright then. Suit yourself."

I crossed my arms, dropped my head defeatedly as we continued to walk down the hallway.

"I don't want to go back in there. It's exhausting." I slightly groaned and felt Liam casting his glance on me, "I want to leave."

Liam heavily sighed, "London, I am the host. I can't just leave whenever I want to."

"Can't one of your men just take me back to the hotel?" I offered, "You didn't even have to come with me. Just give me my room key or tell your assistance, or whatever—"

Liam shook his head lightly and his glance narrowed, "Don't you need to use the toilet?"

"Of course, not." I snickered, "It was just an excuse for me to get out of there."

He gave a throaty chuckle and stepped in front of me, causing me to stop walking.

"I know it can be disturbing but it's nothing more than a friendship between me and them."

His reassurance would have sounded more believable if I had not seen the way those women acted around him and how he just happily let them. It wasn't like they had to give me all the attentions there were in this world but as his wife but, they could have at least respect me a little more.

"Do you really believe that they want you to be their friends?" I didn't know why I did what I did or said what I said but I asked him that and he laughed even harder.

"Of course not." He said, "I am not stupid."

Of course. He freaking loved it.

"Why are you laughing? It's not even that funny." I hissed annoyingly.

"Is this how you're usually like?" He asked and I frowned then he repeated his question again. A bit clearer this time, "Is this how you're like when you get jealous?"

"I am not jealous!" I scowled.

"I am only asking because I think it's kind of cute." He mumbled, crossing his arms above his chest as he leaned against the wall.

"You're so full of yourself. I am not jealous." i snarled before sighing, "It is just humiliating..."

And honestly, I didn't expect much or hope he would do anything about that but when Liam said those words, I felt admittedly weak in the knees.

"How about this." He traced his lips slowly before said, "We will go back there and I will make sure my attention is only there for you. Not anybody else, not even the waitress or the other guys. Not even my friends. I will only just talk to you."

I stared back at him, searching for any hesitant in his eyes but found none. Seeing it as my opportunity to finally get a proper act of revenge on him, I decided it would be fun to accept his offer and saw him fail miserably so then from there, he would own me a favor.

Maybe, I would make him buy me a boat this time instead of taking me and Gi shopping. Who knows.

"Deal." I replied confidently, "But if you break the rule and talk to anyone else, you own me a favor."

"I am the one making the deal here, London." Liam snapped all of the sudden, his tone became serious.

"I am sorry, Mr. Luciano but I have to let you know that I am not longer afraid of you." I hummed playfully before turned around and walked back to the dinning hall.

_____________

When the two of us made our return back to the room, it was definitely a real head-turner. Everyone, especially the ladies were watching Liam closely and so was I.

Remembering our deals earlier, I didn't know what he was up to. But the smirk growing on his face as soon as we reached our seats told me I wouldn't like this so much.

"Liam, what are you doing?" I hissed under her breath when Liam went and moved my chair around before placing it right next to his at the the head of the table.

A sly smile etched his lips, "Sit next to me." He said loud and clear. I looked at him and then the chair hesitantly, "Sit next to me or sit on my lap. Your call."

I didn't dare to say anything. It was like my throat decided to close up and all of the sudden, my vocal chord stopped working.

So, this is how he plays.

I was about to open my mouth and replied to Liam but it was too late. The second he didn't get my answer verbally, he took his seat and the next thing I knew, I was sitting on his lap.

On. His. Lap.

"Liam!" I hissed quietly through my teeth. I didn't want people to look but hell, I was pissed.

"A man just wants to be close to his beautiful wife." Liam smirked, holding me down.

"Liam, this is too much." I glared at him and tried to wiggle out of his lap only to feel something growing firm and solid, rubbing against my butt.

"I am only a man, Mrs. Luciano. And I would suggest you to stop squirming if you don't want to get him all excited." He whispered into my ears and my cheeks burned in embarrassment. My whole body went completely rigid on his lap as I watched him taking a leisure sip from his glass before handing it to me.

"I don't drink." I objected and slightly pushed the glass away from my face.

"This one barely has any alcohol in it. Try." He urged and tightened his arm around my waist. I looked down at the glass, examining the red liquid worriedly and he said, "You are my responsibility now. Not your parents'. So, when I said you can drink, you will drink."

"Okay but just one sip." I caved, "I do really want to know how it tastes like."

He gave me a small nod approvingly and watched as I raised his glass to my lips. One small sip of the bright red liquid and I nearly vomited at its unpleasant bitter taste.

"Ew." I whined and quickly handed him back his glass only to have him offer me another one.

"Here, try this one."

"No, Liam. It tastes awful." I groaned, "Could you please ask the waitress to get me another glass of water? I am all out."

"London, this is a wine-tasting." Liam chuckled, his leg buckled underneath. His hand grabbed my shoulder and leaned me back.

"But I-"

He forced the glass up to my lips and carefully poured the liquid right into my mouth. I fisted my hand in his shirt but at the same time, my taste bud was beginning to get use to the aftertaste bitterness.

"Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Liam said as he slowly let go and I, was still holding a fistful of his shirt.

"I am going to kill you, Luciano." I said, coughing slightly from the grape juice he forced down my throat.

By the end of the evening, somehow Liam had managed to convince me to take a sip of almost every glasses of the wines the waitress had to offer. He would ask me to take one sip of each, explain to me how different it was from the one before and insisted that I must try it. All in all, there were ten different bottles in total, I had tried. That didn't really consider a smart move for the first time drinker like me.

"N-now, where're we going?" I slurred as a cold air hit my skins. I looked around and we were standing in the middle of a parking lot.

"Back home." Liam smiled, wrapping his jacket tight around her shivering body.

"Home?" I questioned, hiccuping.

"My hotel." He reworded.

"Oh. Sounds fun." I cheered, dropping my spinning head onto his shoulder and all of the sudden, my knees and legs refused to work.

"Let's get you in the car now, little one." I heard Liam chuckling and I peaked a look at his face.

"Little one?", I laughed. Not technically, a lot of it was just hiccup, "Little one now, am I?"

"Yes, you are." He grinned and I felt the corner of my lips being lifted upward too as he lowered his head and whispered against my lips, "...my little one."