Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
“If the property was already Valentino’s, why were all the other bosses trying to get it?”
“Because your father tried to sell what wasn’t his. He started negotiations with the other bosses and put you in danger. That is why Valentino hated him so much.”
I exhale slowly. “I’m returning to New York today.”
“Good. It’s time to get your husband back.”
My bravado deserts me when the taxi pulls up at the house. I’ve been pumped from the parlor of Nonna Isadora down to the airport in New York. But now that I’m in front of Valentino's house, my courage has deserted me.
I sent a text to Roberto and he told me Valentino was in his home office, so I took the steps up to the office, my heart beating so loud I could hear it in my chest.
What if he rejects me again?
Will I be able to recover from a second rejection?
Vance is standing before Valentino’s door, and his eyes narrow when he sees me coming. “Hello, Vance. Is Valentino in there?”
“Yes, La Signorina Barbieri, but I cannot let you in.”
It doesn’t skip my notice that he called me La Signorina Barbieri instead of La Signora Barone.
“Why not?”
“I’ll have to confirm it with him.”
“Fine.” I swallow my hurt and cross my arms. “Go and confirm it.”
Vance disappears into the room and is gone for no more than a moment before he reappears.
“So?”
“He doesn’t want to see you,” he says. “He advises you to leave before he orders me to escort you out.”
I suck in a breath. I had been so full of hope the rejection hurt like crazy. For one moment, I consider leaving and never coming back, but in my mind, the transfer of property is fluttering out of my hand onto the floor. He loved me once so much he was willing to go to all that trouble and secrecy for years. No, he deserves better. He deserves a woman who will fight for him. I duck quickly and run past Vance. I catch him by surprise, so I sweep into the office before he can stop me.
Valentino looks up from some papers on his desk and our eyes meet. There’s nothing in his eyes as he looks at me. No sparkle. No warmth. No affection. Just dead gray eyes. I shiver with fear. I’ve lost him.
“I’m so sorry, Boss. She barged in and I didn’t want to hurt her.” Vance appears beside me.
“It’s okay.” Valentino nods. “You can leave.”
When Vance shuts the door, Valentino looks at me. “This is my place of work. You can’t simply barge into my office after I’ve given clear orders to your family and my staff that you are not to step inside here.”
My throat closes up at the harsh tone with which he scolds me. This is not the Valentino I know.
“The only reason I didn’t let Vance throw you out is because you used to be my wife and his boss. Now you’re neither. I want you to leave with your respect intact. And you should go now before I change my mind.”
I take a step back, scared and confused. I don’t recognize this man sitting in front of me, so I don’t know how to deal with him. My mouth falls open.
“For how long will you punish me?”
“Excuse me?” He frowns.
“For how long will you punish me?” I ask, my voice is trembling with pain. “I’m hurting. I need you.”
He looks away from me for a moment, and when his gaze returns to mine again, it’s even harsher than before.
He laughs darkly.
“If you think appealing to my emotions will get you anywhere, you’ve failed. That man is gone. The man who fell over himself at the sight of you is gone. He’s never coming back. I don’t care if you’re hurting; get your comfort elsewhere. We’re done. How many times do I have to say it before it clicks, hmm?”
“I lost my baby—”
“Because you disobeyed your husband and went to see your boyfriend!” he cuts in. “Don’t forget that part.”
“I was going to tell him to leave me alone. I never loved Thomas. I never did!” I cry. “Valentino, I love you.”
There’s no reaction to my words. Not even a flicker. He shakes his head.
“Empty words,” he scoffs. “That ship sailed weeks ago, Francesca. Move on. I have. This is what you wanted, and I’ve given it to you, make the most of it. Now, you don’t have to sneak around to see Thomas. You can marry him if you like. As a goodwill gesture, I’ll send a financial gift, a college fund for your children, seeing that he will be poor for the rest of his life.”
His words cut through my chest, and I have to look down to the floor so he does not see how much he has hurt me. Valentino is not playing around, and his unforgiving, inflexible expression tells me he means everything he says. He doesn’t even hate me. He feels nothing. Before he couldn’t bring himself to call Thomas by name. He would always call him the freckled maggot or the maggot. Even that is gone.