There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct or more uncertain in its success than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.

- Niccolo Machiavelli

Two days more had passed since the day of Tatiana's makeover. Every time we dined together at night, as we talked about each other's day, I couldn't help to but notice how stunningly beautiful she was, and I still couldn't get used to her new transformation. I almost pitied her ex-fiancé for throwing away such a jewel. If Paolo Ranaldi sees the new Tatiana now, I am pretty sure he would curse the day he'd chosen her stepsister.

I heard footsteps from high heels shoes on the marble hallways outside. My lips twitched in a smile knowing that Tatiana was coming.

A light tap sounded on my door and Tatiana entered without waiting for my response. "Did you want to talk to me, Lucca?"

"Yes, if I may?"

"It is fine," she said, closing the door behind her. "Francesca hasn't arrived yet."

Tatiana moved closer to my study table and sat on one of the chairs facing my table. I fought back my smile. She was starting to get comfortable wearing high-heeled shoes. It had become our daily routine that I massaged her feet every evening after Francesca had left before dinner.

"What did you want to talk about?" She asked expectantly, crossing her legs.

I sat back in my chair, trying to memorize her face. "I need to go to Rome today. My driver is waiting for me outside right at this moment."

"Oh..." The spark suddenly died in her lively eyes. "When do you plan to get back here?"

I couldn't help the grimace on my face. "Since I took a vacation for our wedding, my work lagged behind and I have to be in the city to keep up-to-date with my business." I took a deep breath. "I probably won't be able get back until the end of the week."

"Oh, that long?"

"I know," Dio, who would have thought staying away from Tatiana, was going to be this hard? "Believe me, I want to stay here with you but..."

Tatiana shook her newly styled dark hair. "You don't have to explain yourself to me, Lucca. You're forgetting that this isn't a real marriage. I know you have commitments in the city, and I will not let you forget your duty just because you suddenly got a wife."

Bloody hell! How did our conversation lead here? One moment I was planning on saying goodbye to her and then suddenly I found myself staring at the cold woman in front of me. We were building our marriage with unsteady steps, but still there was friendship and so far, everything seemed to have been working quite well.

And now, she sits here, all her friendliness gone, reminding me that our marriage isn't real...only an alliance. In truth, I had already forgotten about it. I was now starting to enjoy my married life.

Why was she behaving like this?

"What's the matter with you, Tatiana?"

Violet eyes looked at me with coldness as she stared at me through her lashes. "Not a thing, Lucca. I just want you to know that you could go to the city without worrying about me here. I will be fine here with your servants and Francesca."

"Our servants." I corrected her. "This villa is now yours, too."

She nodded. But her eyes remained cold and distant. "Is that all you wanted to say? Francesca is probably here by now."

"Yes."

She stood from her chair and walked towards the door and went out without giving me a backward glance.

Once she was in the hallway, I breathed deeply, wondering to myself what the hell had just happened.

"Earth calling to Lucca..."

The dry comment came from my good friend, Marco Orsini. I had asked him to come over to my office in Rome as soon as I arrived earlier this morning from Amalfi Coast. Knowing how busy he was with his billion-dollar empire, I was grateful that he had come to meet me at once.

"What the hell is wrong with you, man?" Marco demanded in Italian. His dark eyes filled with impatience.

"Sorry, man." I apologized, massaging my temple to sooth away the growing headache. I swore softly. "I have so much on my mind right now."

"Sì. I can tell..." My friend replied sarcastically before exclaiming, "...holy crap! Is that a wedding ring on your finger, Lucca?"

"Oh..." I glanced at the platinum wedding band on my left hand. I had forgotten that I hadn't told Marco about my wedding. "Marco..."

"Who is she?" My friend fired at me. "Is she one of your previous mistresses? Did she tell you that she's pregnant with your child? You're more stupid than I thought, marrying her without asking for a DNA test."

Despite my headache about my bad parting with Tatiana, I couldn't help but to smile at my old friend's outburst. Did he really think that I was that kind of a fool, marrying the first woman who told me that she was pregnant with my child? Hell, there were instances when one of my previous mistresses had tried to trap me with the lie of her being pregnant, but I knew better than just to accept it on the face. I would always ask for a DNA test.

"Lucca? Did you hear me?"

I held up my hands in surrender. "Can we slow down a damn minute here? Yes, I am married. But not to one of my previous mistresses."

Marco's strong eyebrows furrowed as he sat in the chair in front of me making himself comfortable beneath his expensive handmade Italian suit. "Then. Who. Is. She?"

I sighed, knowing my friend would not give up until he squeezed the information from me. "I am going to ask a favor from you, amico. In return I will tell you about my wife."

"What favor?" Marco asked suspiciously.

"I need an introduction to Paolo Ranaldi. Do you think you can do that?"

"Paolo Ranaldi?" He repeated, rubbing his chiseled jaw. "I know that man. I have had some business dealings with him in the past. He's an Italian who has successful business in America. I recently heard that his fiancé drowned in the sea about a week ago."

"Yes. That's him."

"So why do you want an introduction to the man?"

I avoided my gaze from his knowing eyes. "I promised my wife that I'll help her..."

"Your wife?" Marco asked, his dark eyes fixed on me. "Just who is your wife, Lucca?"

"You have to promise me that you'll keep this a secret, my friend."

My friend whistled softly. "Sounds interesting, let's hear it."

"My wife is Tatiana Rostova..."

"Wait a damn minute!" Marco shot to his feet. "Did you just say...Tatiana Rostova? Paolo Ranaldi's betrothed? The same Tatiana Rostova who is supposed to have died in the sea last week? Are you crazy? How the hell did you happen to be married to her when the whole world is looking for her?"

"If you just cool down, I will explain."

"Fine." My friend bit out and claimed his chair. "Explain. From the start, mi amico."

I told him how I saved and met Tatiana. How her fiancé and stepsister concocted her death so they could get her money and how we decided to get married so that she could avenge the betrayal.

"That's a pretty coldblooded attempt to murder." Marco commented once I finished my tale. "I have met her stepsister once. She's very beautiful. She is considered the darling of New York society. It's a bit hard to imagine her as a killer but..."

"I know," I agreed, my heart still lurching every time I remember the night Tatiana had nearly died. "Can you help me with the introduction I need?"

Even though I parted with Tatiana in less than amicable feelings early this morning, I wanted to start on our plan as soon as possible. My mind was filled with her thoughts now and I wanted to keep it off her.

Marco snorted. "As if you really need my help, you are a duke, after all."

"Marco..." I warned.

He held up his hands. "Fine. There is a charity ball tonight. I believe Paolo Ranaldi will be attending."

That's all I needed to meet Tatiana's ex-fiancé. I could hardly wait.

The grand ballroom glittered with lights. Women dressed up in finest gowns and adorned with priceless jewelries, glided through the hall in the arms of their dates. The crème de la crème of Italian society was present at the Bambini Orfani Charity Ball.

I am one of them, I thought smugly, wearing my newly purchased black strapless gown and the Rostov jewelries owned by Tati. I had just arrived with my Paolo. He was a strong supporter of the charity and I came as his date.

I noticed that people were whispering behind our back and wondering why Paolo showed up with his missing fiancée's stepsister. But I don't care.

Suddenly, I became aware that people inside the ballroom buzzed about some newcomer, and Paolo was instantly by my side.

"Rina." He said, gesturing the handsome man with him. "I would like you to meet my business associates, Marco Orsini. Signore, this is Sabrina Hunter, my date."

Oh my God! This Roman God was the famous Marco Orsini? He comes from the one of the most powerful and wealthiest families in Italy. With his dark brooding looks he was known as a heartless playboy all over Europe.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Orsini." I said holding my hand out for him to shake.

"How do you do, Signorina?" Instead of shaking my hand, he kissed the back of it.

The man was a charmer, all right. No wonder many women fell for his looks and ended up in his bed.

"Marco." At the deep reverberating husky voice, I turned to look and could hardly contain the gasp out of my lips.

The newcomer, about who the whole hall was abuzz, was far more handsome than any man in the room. He looked sinfully and devilishly gorgeous with his breathtaking gray eyes.

"Ah, finally you have arrived." Marco Orsini said to the stranger. "I would like you to meet my good friend." He said to us. "This is Don Lucca Domenico Cavelli, Duke of Caprielle. Lucca, this is Paolo Ranaldi and his date, Sabrina."

"Glad to meet you." The duke said regally.

Goodness! How could a woman get so lucky in one night? If I didn't have my Paolo in my life, I for sure would be flirting with the duke right now. A duke. Imagine the prestige and title to go with that sinfully handsome man.

I could notice that every woman in the ballroom was eyeing him. Every one of them wanted a chance to talk to him and hopefully hold his attention for the whole night.

Too bad since he took no notice of them.

"I want to expand my business in America," The duke was saying to Paolo. "Maybe we could do business in the future together."

"Of course, Your Excellency." Paolo answered enthusiastically.

"Have I told you that His Excellency got just recently married?" Marco inserted smoothly.

Dismay crept in my spine. I couldn't help but to feel envious of the lucky woman who had managed to capture this handsome duke. The wedding ring on his finger flashed in the light. He was really married.

"Where's your bride, Your Excellency?" Paolo asked.

Smile lurked in his silver eyes. "She's out of town."

"I hope we'll meet your bride in the future, sir." I suggested. I so badly want to meet the woman who has snagged this wealthy duke into marriage.

"You'll meet her very soon." The duke said with a secretive smile on his face.