Relationships are negotiated and if you deal with ultimatums and authority all the time, then you're not going to get anywhere.

-Phil McGraw

"You want me to find what?!" I nearly leaped out of my chair as I asked my grandfather again in case I just misheard him.

"A bride." My Nonno, Alfonso Orsini, repeated calmly. "I want you to find yourself a bride before my birthday. Your birthday present to me."

I snorted, laughing at the idea of finding myself a bride. "What makes you think I need a bride, nonno? I'm still young to think about settling down."

"You're already thirty-one, figlio." Grandfather pointed out flatly. "I married your Nonna when I'm in my late twenties. I should say it's past time for you to settle down, Marco."

Right now, I am debating if my impromptu decision had been correct in deciding to visit my grandparents in their vineyard just outside Rome. Maybe I should have just stayed in the city instead of visiting their fortress.

Now, I am stuck here inside my grandfather's study room—or throne room as I privately called it, babbling things I am not interested to hear with.

"I'm not interested in marriage," I told my grandfather arrogantly. "Marriage is not for me."

"How do you know?"

"I just do."

My grandfather just laughed heartily, fishing out an expensive cigar from the inside pocket of his suit. He savored the smell of it. "I won't be arrogant if I were you, my boy. Look at your good friend—the duke, he also once swore he will never walk down the aisle of matrimony. Now look at him, he's already happily married to his duchess and expecting their first child. The dowager duchess couldn't shake off the smug on her aristocratic face about the news that she will be a grandmother at last."

I knew that we would come to this conclusion once this conversation started. Of course, my nonno already heard the news about the pregnancy of Lucca's new bride and as a proud Italian that he was, Alfonso Orsini wants his dynasty to continue through the next generations. This enormous vineyard had been passed to the next male heir of the Orsini for centuries. Since I am my father's only child, grandfather might fear that the Orsini dynasty will stop if I do not take a wife soon.

He probably thinks that I'm on my dotage age already that in a few more years, I won't be able to father even a single child.

"Aren't you envious of your friend?" My grandfather prodded, dragging me out of my reverie. "That he finally settled down with a good woman?"

"No."

Grandfather held a private smile that made me frown, as he placed his cigar between his teeth. "What a heartless answer."

If he just knew the length Lucca had suffered because of his wife. He'd fallen like a hapless chap. Watching him suffered jealousy on many occasions because men paid attention to his beautiful bride. I couldn't watch him surrender to the thing they called 'love'. The great duke had fallen. I can't let myself be like that. Not in this lifetime.

Falling in love? Surrendering your heart to a woman?

What a laugh.

"Nonna will skin you alive if she caught you with that cigar," I warned him as he lit the cigar and puffed the smoke.

"I don't think so." My grandfather said smugly, as he continued to puff his cigar.

I frowned. "Why? Is she in town?"

"Nope. She's here, actually." Deviousness showed in my grandfather's dark eyes. "She's in the library entertaining her visitors."

I didn't like the way my grandfather said the word 'visitors' uneasiness crept inside me. "Who are her visitors precisely?"

"Oh, an old friend of hers..." Grandfather replied smoothly. "...with the pretty granddaughter in tow, I might add."

I knew it.

"I believe there will be an introduction later between you and the pretty granddaughter," Grandfather added.

I scowled at my grandfather as his snow-white hair gleamed in the sunlight. "I am not interested."

"Tell that to your grandmother."

Suddenly, I feel uncomfortable with my chair. I sorely regret my decision in coming here. I should have seen it coming.

"Just tell her I'm not interested in her matchmaking, nonno."

"I will." My grandfather answered swiftly, which made me more nervous than ever. He's about to bargain something of his own. "But I have my condition of my own."

I rolled my eyes. "What is your favor?"

Nonno grinned evilly. Have I somehow let myself be trapped? "I want you to find a bride of your own."

I sighed heavily, looking at my grandfather exasperatingly. "Are we back to that thing again?"

"We never left this subject, figlio." My grandfather contradicted, he permitted himself to smile slightly. "We just merely sidetrack."

"For the last time," I told my nonno with annoyance as I stood from my chair preparing to take my leave. "I. Will. Not. Marry."

I nearly reached the door when my grandfather spoke again. "You have to present your bride-to-be on my eighty-second birthday, Marco..."

"I told you..."

"Hear me out, boy." The seriousness of my grandfather's voice gave me pause. "If you fail to introduce your bride-to-be by the time of my birthday, I will disinherit you. I will make your cousin my heir."

"Are you crazy?" I asked my grandfather indecorously. "You hated Fabio. You never even want him to set foot in Orsini Industries and you will name him as your sole heir?"

"Call it a drastic measure, then." My devious grandfather had said. "If I have to use that ultimatum so you will finally take a wife, so be it. And it will stop your grandmother from shoving girls under your nose if you find yourself a wife. She will be delighted if you will give her great-grandchildren to fret."

It seems that I have been finally cornered by my sly grandfather using my dear grandmother to nudge my conscience. I guess I have to take a wife or I will lose my control over the Orsini Industries and I cannot let it happen.

"Is there a criterion for my intended bride, nonno?" I knew when I was defeated.

Triumph. Satisfaction. Glee. All flashed in my grandfather's dark eyes before he blinked them away. "Not much." He said. "Except she must come to a good family with fine elegance."

"I'll see what I can do about that." I breathed deeply, opening the heavy wooden door.

"Where are you going?" My grandfather asked. "Your nonna is expecting you to see her in the library once we finish this discussion."

I looked back at the man they considered as one of the most powerful men in Italy. I gave him a rakish grin. "Tell her that my presence was needed in Rome immediately. I have to go. I think I know who can help me to find my bride. Goodbye, nonno."

I didn't wait for his reply and walked out of the Orsini mansion. I slid to my Ferrari and sprang the engine to life immediately. My grandmother might see me and force me to introduce to another girl she thought would be a suitable bride for me. If they desperately want to see me married like my friend Lucca Cavelli, I might as well choose my own bride. There is one person I can think of who could help me with my dilemma.

I don't know how she will react to my business proposal to her but it was worth the try. A grimed smile slipped off my face. It's been a while since I saw the ice queen. Since we helped Lucca in rescuing his wife who had been abducted by her ex-fiancé in Las Vegas a few months ago. I also need some good adrenaline rush after the blackmail grandfather gave me.

When I woke up this morning, this was not what I expected when I visited my grandparents. Hell! It was the last thing I expected.

After an hour or so, I finally arrived at the building where the ice queen's office was located. I rode the elevator and punched the number of floors. Once I arrived at her office I strode directly to her office.

"Sir! Sir..." Her loyal secretary blocked my way. "You can't just barge in Mrs. Marcolini's office without an appointment."

I just ignore her and continue to walk. My sole purpose was to see the ice queen so I opened her office door and shut it firmly on the secretary's stunned face.

"What the..." The ice queen started as the door closed rattling the frames on the wall.

"I need you to find me a bride," I stated without preamble looking directly at her beautiful hazel eyes.