Taming Theo

TARA

Waking up next to Theo had been my dream as a teenager. Now, things were very different.

The man who was packing alongside me was not the man who had cared about my needs last night. Instead, it was the meticulous Theodore, who had all his dice lined up and had already moved on from our night to his perfectly organized life.

I didn’t mind it. I really didn’t.

I’d wanted it to be just like that. We had both enjoyed it, and we had agreed that it wouldn’t lead to anything. The chemistry between us was undeniable, but our personalities were just too different.

He was not the kind of guy you could snuggle with on the sofa, watching a movie and sharing popcorn, and I was the kind of girl who wanted just that.

Theo was quiet as we were having breakfast. I caught him looking at me several times, but he never said anything.

Even though it had been a one-time thing, my heart sank in my chest. I had hoped that things would be just like they always were—with banter and arguments—except they weren’t.

Theo’s silence was a clear sign of regret.

The car ride to the lawyer’s office took another two hours and I hated every minute of it. Theo had sunk deep into thought. Whenever I tried to strike up a conversation to ease the tension, he hummed absent-mindedly. After a few tries, I gave up.

It didn’t matter. We would be together until we reached the lawyer’s office, and I would ask Sesi or Mike to drive me back. I would probably never see Theo again.

I licked my lips, surprised that now, knowing how Theodore Morelli tasted and what he could do to my body, I felt like a different woman. I shifted in my seat and studied the landscape, trying to take my mind off last night.

***

The office of my grandfather’s lawyers was located in one of Rome’s fancy neighborhoods. The mansion was at the end of a long driveway, flanked by an endless row of cypresses.

Theodore parked the car right in front of the steps leading to the front door, stepped out, and led the way.

“You’re coming with me?” I asked, confused, as I got out of the car.

Theo said nothing and ushered me forward.

I felt uneasy. Something was off about him today, and he watched me as if he were seeing me for the first time.

As Theo and I walked inside the mansion, the rich scent of polished mahogany and aged leather hit me. It was a luxurious place that seemed to have remained in the same state as two centuries ago, with deep-colored rugs and dark hardwood panels lining the walls.

A nice older woman greeted us and walked us to the office, where we would meet my grandfather’s lawyers and the other two heirs—my parents.

I first saw Sesi sitting on the plush sofa in a gown adorned with small turquoise peacocks, the same color as her eyes—so different from mine. In her late forties, she was still a beauty, with striking doll-like features. The constant tension rolling off her narrow shoulders and her thin figure only added to her fragility.

“There you are!” She got up from the couch and opened her arms to pull me into a weak embrace. As she walked toward me, her eyes became slits, catching every change in my looks.

“You’ve lost weight, and your hair is shorter and brittle. If you don’t take care of it, you will look old before your time.”

“Hi, Mom,” I said as her lips barely touched my cheek, reminding me of how much I hated air kisses.

My father, dressed in an old gray suit, stood from his chair. Mike was an imposing man, but unlike Sesi, time had not been as kind to him. His weathered face bore more lines than the last time we had seen each other.

The smile he directed at me was wiped off his face as his eyes fell on the man standing behind me.

“Theodore,” Sesi cooed in her throaty, velvet voice. “You are even more handsome than I remembered.” It was the tone she used when she wanted to impress someone.

While Theodore kissed her hand, I looked at Mike’s eyes and shivered with instinctive fear. I moved forward, putting myself between the two men, and my father gripped my upper arms, sinking his fingers into my flesh.

“What is he doing here?” he hissed. “This is a family thing, and he is not family.”

Ignoring my father, Theodore stepped back and shook the hands of the lawyers who I assumed would conduct the will reading—two older men who had been my grandfather’s friends for years.

“Mr. Morelli,” one of them greeted Theo.

I looked at their greeting in confusion, but then again, the lawyers probably knew Theo from back in the day, when he became CEO of Ricci Enterprises. But still he made no move to leave the room.

My father was right. Even though he’d always had a close connection with my grandfather, he shouldn’t be at the will reading. Unless he was also an heir.

I wanted to sink through the floor when Theo sat down and raised his eyes to mine. There was something close to pity or regret in his gaze, and it scared me.

My tongue lay lifeless in my mouth while Mike was still holding my arms in a death grip.

“Since we are all here, let’s begin,” one of the lawyers said. He held out his hand, gesturing for my parents and me to sit at the large table.

My father released his iron grip and led me to my chair, while my mother took her seat next to Theo.

The lawyers started reading, and I shivered.

“I, Giovanni Ricci, of sound mind and body, declare this to be my Last Will and Testament, revoking all prior wills and codicils.

“Upon my passing, I bequeath the entirety of my estate, including but not limited to my real estate properties, financial assets, personal valuables, and full ownership of Ricci Enterprises, to my granddaughter, Tara Ricci.”

I looked around the table. The lawyers sat there with their papers in front of them. My father looked at me like he was both angry and hopeful—I’m sure he’d hoped to get at least something out of the inheritance. Now, I was his only hope.

What a headache. This was exactly why I hadn’t wanted to come.

My mother was beaming and nodded at me in reassurance.

“However, these assets shall be held in trust under the following condition: Tara shall be granted a position within the Ricci family business to gain experience and insight into the company’s operations.

“She shall be expected to fulfill a probationary period of one year. If Tara fails to complete her probationary period within the company, the Board of Directors shall retain oversight of the business until she is deemed fit to assume full leadership.”

My mouth fell open as I listened to the lawyer reading the will. I had assumed the inheritance would involve business, but I wasn’t suited for corporate life. I wanted to work on my own, for myself, not to lead a business of that size.

Besides, Theo was the CEO. If the estate went to me, where would that leave him?

Theo sat there with his chin resting in his palm, refusing to look at anyone but the lawyer.

Like he was waiting for something.

I realized the lawyer hadn’t stopped talking when he suddenly mentioned Theo’s name.

“…Theodore Morelli, the company’s executive officer. Until Tara reaches the age of twenty-five, all executive decision-making authority over the Ricci family business, including Tara’s full inheritance, shall rest with Theodore.”

Theo? In charge of my inheritance until I was twenty-five?

I sat there, frozen stiff, as all faces turned toward the man I had slept with yesterday. The man snuck a glimpse at me without moving his head.

Oh, Nono, what did you do?