Chapter 2. His Faceless Fiancée

Roman’s POV

I reclined against the swivel chair with an exasperated sigh as I closed my eyes.

It was not easy being the president of the GV Group of Companies.

At the rate I was going, I knew I was likely to end up with a face full of wrinkles and stress lines before I turned thirty.

I groaned inwardly when I heard a knock on the door, but I said, “Come in.”

My secretary and assistant, Nathan Gonzalez, walked in with an iPad clutched to his chest. He bowed slightly before saying, “You sent for me, sir.”

I frowned as I rubbed my temple. “I did?”

“Yes, sir.”

Great. So I was now experiencing memory loss, too.

Could life get any better?

Don’t get me wrong, I really loved my job, but sometimes the pressure got so heavy that I ended up missing out on other things I should be doing at my age.

My last relationship had even ended because of my hectic schedule, but strangely, after it ended, I felt immense relief instead of despair.

I shrugged the thought off as I sat upright. “Do I have any more appointments for the day?”

Nathan scrolled through the iPad and shook his head. “No, sir. You are done for the day.”

I nodded. “That’s great. By the way, I’m heading to Nana’s place after work, so you are free to leave. I will drive myself,” I said, rising to take my coat from the rack and put it on.

“Okay, sir. I will see you tomorrow then,” Nathan said, bowing to me before he left.

I retrieved my car keys from the drawer and grabbed my phone and briefcase.

I darted one final glance at my reflection in the glass walls that surrounded my office and raked my fingers through my rapidly growing, jet-black hair.

I was due for a haircut, I thought as I headed out to the parking lot.

I thumbed my Ferrari Monza open and, with a sharp exhale, slid behind the steering wheel. I inhaled deeply before I revved up the engine and set out for Nana’s place.

Nana was a fond term I used for my grandmother.

I was a man who couldn’t be easily shaken, but if there was someone or something I feared most in the world, it was Nana and her nagging for me to find a wife and give her a great-grandchild.

Honestly, I didn’t think that was ever going to happen because I just couldn’t find it in myself to fall in love with anyone after my ex-girlfriend—whom I didn’t think I ever loved either.

Frankly speaking, I didn’t think I could ever fall in love, and I wanted things to remain that way.

I couldn’t handle the pressure of dating anyone at the moment.

I had my never-ending workload to think about.

Barely thirty minutes later, I arrived at my grandparents’ mansion and got out of my car.

My eyes scanned the surroundings of the sprawling three-story mansion as I walked into the humongous building.

As usual, Nana’s butler of many decades, Daniel Perez, was at the door to welcome me, along with the household staff. “Welcome back, young master. It’s been a while,” the older man said as he sidled up beside me.

I nodded, patting the man’s back. “I came here two weeks ago, Daniel. It hasn’t been that long,” I muttered.

“The chairwoman doesn’t seem to think so. She claims you haven’t been picking up her calls.”

I just huffed and shook my head. “She’s not asleep, is she?”

“She just woke up from her evening nap, sir.”

“Alright then.” I gave the man a final pat on the back before I strolled down the hallway to Nana’s bedroom.

I knocked lightly on the door and waited calmly for her to answer.

“Romano, is that you, mio caro?” Her soft voice came from inside, making my lips curve up into a smile.

I had missed Nana, but not her nagging.

“Yes, Ma. Can I come in, or are you busy with something?” I replied.

“Come in, my darling,” she said.

I gently pushed the door open and was greeted by Nana lying on the bed with a book pressed to her chest, her expression soft and her cheeks sunken.

She had lost some weight.

“You remembered me today,” she scoffed as she put the book away, though a doting smile played on her face.

I sat down on the space beside her on the bed. “I’m sorry, Nana. I was busy with work. What happened to you? You look pale and thin. Is everything alright? Do you need to go to the hospital? Should I take you there right now?”

“Calm down with your questions, Romano. I’m fine; nothing is wrong with me. At my age, it’s normal to gain and lose weight in short periods,” she said, placing a warm, wrinkled hand over mine.

“Are you sure, Nana?”

“I’m not sure; I’m Benedicta,” she said, stifling a laugh that made me chuckle.

Grandma was such a character at times.

After losing both of my parents in a car crash when I was just three years old, Nana had affectionately nurtured me into adulthood and made sure I never felt the loss of my parents.

Having lost her own husband after giving birth to my dad, she strove hard to build the GV Corporation and turned it into the billion-dollar company it is today.

She had retired five years ago after her doctor advised her to cut down on any stressful activity, so I became the president of the company when I was just twenty-four.

I couldn’t be prouder of her.

“How about that matter?” Nana started after a moment had passed, drawing me out of my reverie.

“What matters?” I asked, feigning ignorance even though I very well knew what she was talking about.

“When will you get a wife, Romano? I’m worried about you, honestly. I know you must think of me as a nagging grandmother, but I just want the best for you,” she said in a cracked voice, tears pooling in her eyes.

I sighed, exasperated.

I really didn’t want to do this today.

“I know. I’m just taking my time, Nana,” I lied.

“Nonsense, figlio. That is what you have been saying for the past three years. I’m getting older, and I want to see my great-grandchild before I die. You know I’ve been getting weaker and weaker as the days go by.” She wept quietly as she clutched my hands.

I remained quiet for a while, trying to process the words in my head before I inhaled deeply. “Actually, Grandma. I—uh—” I trailed off, and Nana gazed expectantly at me.

“I have someone that I’ve been seeing for a while now, and we just got engaged two days ago.” The first set of lies slipped out of my mouth, and as soon as they did, regret enveloped me.

Fuck. What the hell did I just say?

Nana’s eyes lit up. “Oh my goodness! This is great news! Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier, Roman? You are not lying to me, vero?”

I swallowed hard before feigning a smile. “Of course not, Nana. I would never lie to you. I just wanted to give you a surprise.”

“So, when can I meet her? I want to meet her as soon as possible. Can we do it tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow?” she rambled.

“No, that’s too fast. I will have to ask her first and get back to you. Maybe next week,” I fibbed again.

“Okay, that’s fine by me. Oh my God, Romano, I’m so elated! I can’t wait to meet her. I love her already,” Nana Constancy declared excitedly.

I could only force a grin, even though I knew I was in deep shit because of my stupid lie.

I had no idea where I was even going to find a fiancée before the week ended.

“Fuck my stupid, big mouth that couldn’t stay shut when it needed to,” I thought on my way to the bar half an hour later.

I needed to clear my head with some alcohol first.