A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.

–Lao Tzu

I was dressing in my room when the door met the wall with a loud bang. My gaze was met by a very pissed Italian duke. Thankfully, I already finished dressing, or he found me half-naked in my room which for my opinion was not a good idea.

"What is it that I heard that you asked Allegra to call you a taxi?" Lucca snapped at me without preamble.

I ignored his outburst and resumed arranging my clothes and hair through the mirror. "That is right. Now that you're here, perhaps you can do it for me."

"Where precisely are you going?"

I met his very angry stare through the reflection of the mirror. "Rome."

I could tell that he was struggling for his temper which I don't understand why he was maddeningly angry.

"Why?" He asked.

Really? Does he really need to ask? "I need to go to my penthouse to get some clothes and personal things."

"Such as?"

I took a deep breath. "My passport, credit cards and some cash."

"Why do you need those, by the way?" he asked me as if he was talking to a child. "In case you didn't notice, I can support my wife financially."

"You don't understand—"

"It's dangerous, Tatiana." He interrupted me.

"For all we know, your fiancé and stepsister are there now."

"Ex-fiancé." I told him fiercely. "Thank you very much for remembering. And don't take me for a fool, Lucca." I smiled slyly "For all I know, you have people watching their every move."

He looked stunned and lost for words at the moment. "Besides, I am tired of borrowing clothes from Allegra. I miss my own."

His silver-eyes clouded. "Need I remind you that you agree to have a make-over after our wedding? You don't need your drab clothes anymore."

"But—"

"Backing-up, tesoro mio?" He smiled evilly.

"No!"

Triumph was shown in the depth of his eyes. "Good. Now, forget this trip to Rome of yours."

"No way!" I answered, glaring at him. "I need to go."

His eyes darkened. "Now, Tatiana. Do not defy your husband's command."

"You're not my husband yet."

Lucca glared at me but I glared back at him. A normal person would probably look away by his thundering gaze he'd given me but I will not let anyone rile me again.

By some sort of miracle, he was the first one to look away and muttered a curse. "Very well. But I will drive you in Rome myself."

I bit back the victory smile on my lips. I knew he was not backing away from this, so I'd settle for him to drive me in the city. "Fine."

A rueful smile escaped him. "This might be the perfect moment to create buzz."

Before I could ask what he meant by that comment, he already left my room.

He was back in a while with a designer paper bag in hand. "Here. Wear this."

I reluctantly get the offered bags and look at the content inside. "No way! I will not wear these."

He gave me a resigned look. "Do you want everyone to know that you're entering your penthouse building dress like Tatiana Rostova?"

I stared at the designer jeans and blouses on the paper bag. "But..."

"Wear them." Lucca said arrogantly. "They'll be fitting for what I am thinking of doing in Rome."

I searched his face and brought my gazed back at the expensive garments inside the paper bags.

Seeing my confusion, he said, "get dressed. I'll be waiting for you outside. Fifteen minutes."

Anyone who has ever thought that Tatiana Rostova was a wallflower, they were all mistaken for one thing, the woman doesn't really fade in the background. She wasn't obedient and kind as the report to me had said. In fact, she was very stubborn and liked to fight me in everything.

Now, we are driving to Rome for her idiotic plan to get some of her things in her apartment in the city.

She hasn't said a word to me since we left my villa in Amalfi. I bet she was still smarting because I ruined her plan. In the days that I knew her, I learned that she hated the most when her plan was altered even to the smallest details.

"Have you talked to your people and asked if Paolo or Sabrina were at my penthouse now?"

I felt my lips twitching with a smile. "So, you remember how to talk?"

"Don't worry," She said frostily. "This conversation will be very short."

I couldn't help but laughed. The woman was prickly. "Yes, Tatiana mia. The two of them have left your penthouse a while ago."

"Good."

She was back staring at the endless scenery on her window. I couldn't help but to gloat at her. "You know, it's not polite to treat the man you're marrying tomorrow the way you're treating me."

"And it's not pleasant to control the woman you're marrying tomorrow."

My eyebrows snapped together. "I am controlling you?"

"You know, you do."

"It seems that we have a different definition of the word 'control', amore mio." I told her dryly "Because if I am controlling you, you will find yourself in my bed naked right this moment begging for my possession."

The pretty blush that I liked creeped on her pale cheeks.

If I was expecting a hot retort or a fierce denial on her part, I was mistaken for she continued to ignore me for the rest of our long drive to Rome.

I pulled the cap lowered to my eye even more as I entered the building where my penthouse is located. Lucca had forced me to wear it for my protection in case others might recognize me.

The concierge murmured in Italian while I kept my head lowered for the security camera around the lobby.

Thankfully, Lucca had agreed to wait for me at the restaurant nearby for me. I was half expecting him to insist that he should come with me.

The elevator was empty when I rode it. I pressed the number of floors blocking my face for the camera on the elevator. After a minute or so, I finally arrived at my home. I breathed the familiar smell of it and looked at the furniture that I personally selected myself...

No, I chide myself. This is not the right moment to reminisce, for all I know Sabrina and Paolo are on their way back here now.

I walked to my room where nothing had changed since the last time I've seen it. I fished out the key where I've been hiding and cursed when the tight jeans Lucca had forced me to wear it got in my way. I couldn't believe it! I cursed again this time a little rough when the sexy jacket I wore also got in the way. Why do women like to wear tight clothes and they can't do anything?

After a few tries, I finally reached the key and opened my drawer where I keep everything important. I pulled out my bag and put my passport, wallet and some of my jewelry inside my bag. I felt like a common thief on my own things!

My operation was nearly complete when I heard the elevator opened.

Crap! Someone is entering. I peeked over my room's door for the newcomer ignoring the thundering of my heart. I sighed in relief when I saw a familiar middle-aged woman making her way to the kitchen.

Signora Beltardi.

Taking a deep breath, I made myself to be known. My trusted housekeeper twirled around at the sound of footsteps.

"Signorina!"

I clamped her mouth with my hand while I placed my forefinger to my lips. "Shh..."

Her dark eyes widened briefly before I removed my hand from her mouth. "Signorina! Everyone is going crazy looking for you. We even think you're probably dead." She frowned "You're not a ghost, are you?"

I laughed silently. "No..."

"But, how are you?" Signora Beltardi asked in her accented English. "What happened to you these past days? Signorina Sabrina had said that you accidentally fell on the yacht. Are you okay now?"

Leave it to my housekeeper to fire several questions to me. Unfortunately, I don't have time to answer her.

"Signora Beltardi." I said, taking her hands to mine. "I don't have time to explain to you. But no one must know that I've been here—or in this matter, I am still alive. Let everyone think that I am still missing on the sea. No one—" I repeated, "no one should know that you'd seen me here today, is that clear?"

I could see several questions on her face but then she nodded finally.

"Don't worry." I assured her with a slight smile. "Everyone will see me soon."

I hugged my motherly housekeeper tightly before leaving my apartment for good. Lucca was probably waiting for me in the restaurant by now.

Once I was in the lobby, I accidentally collided with the beautiful blonde who wore a sexy black dress.

"Ouch!" The woman snarled at me.

Sabrina.

"Sorry." I replied softly, securing my baseball cap to my head firmly.

"Let's go, Sabrina." A familiar male voice said beside my devious stepsister.

Paolo.

"Watch your step, girl." Sabrina reproached.

I bowed slightly for another apology when my every muscle on my body screamed for slapping them senseless until the rage in my heart lessened.

Paolo dragged the glaring Sabrina to the elevator. This is the last time you'll be pushing me around, I promised myself, as I watched the elevator door close behind them.

The very last time...