Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
The doors were opened and he nodded at several of the soldiers. The moment they entered the main house, several people were already lingering, including Antonio, who came toward him.
He placed his back toward Alex so that he could whisper to him. “Denise, Scarlett, and Charlotte are all here, Roman.”
Gritting his teeth, he forced a smile to his lips so no one would suspect anything. “How the fuck did they get an invite?”
“I have no idea, and they’re not talking, but they don’t look good, Roman. Keep her to yourself.”
Antonio stepped away. “Alex, we meet again.”
He held her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
“A pleasure, Mr. Testa,” Alex said.
Antonio winked at her.
“It’s a full house,” Antonio said.
“Then let’s not fuck this up,” Roman said.
Instead of holding her hand, he let her go and wrapped his arm around her waist, keeping her by his side.
Alex glanced up at him with a smile and a twinkle in her eye. How had he not seen this before?
They headed into the main hall, and he saw his father had gone all out in the decorations. Three large, crystal chandeliers welcomed them, all of them aglow. Pieces of priceless art hung on the walls. A classical band played on the main stage, and he clocked a mic as well, which suggested there would be a performer later.
Keeping Alex to his side, he was aware of the stares coming their way. He didn’t look or observe them, at least not openly. Glancing through the room, he spotted Marlo and Cash doing the rounds, watching.
Alex patted his chest, and he leaned down as she was a little shorter. “What are we supposed to be doing?”
“Just mingling, enjoying ourselves. The usual,” he said.
“Ah, I get it.”
“I want you to laugh as if I had just made a funny joke.”
She gave a soft giggle as he pulled away, and to help along with the charade, which was no longer the case for him, he gripped the back of her neck and locked their lips together.
Alex didn’t tense. She placed a hand on his cheek, and he knew people were staring. They would be the center of gossip in no time. All he had to do was keep this up and move around the room, watching people.
He had a feeling the one responsible for Alex’s life was in this very room. What he didn’t have was the proof. Just a damn hunch, and he hoped he wasn’t wrong about his father. That Lucas Greco himself wouldn’t take the only woman Roman loved—no, cared about. He didn’t believe in love.
“Alex. You can see her. She is real. She loves a lot, and you can see it. When she hugs me and kisses my cheek, I feel it. Alex is full of love.”
Stuart’s words quickly came back to him, and he tried hard to ignore them.
He didn’t believe in love. Love was for the weak.
Standing up, he kept his hand at her waist.
A waiter came toward them, holding glasses of champagne.
“Can my wife please have some water?” he asked.
The waiter nodded, leaving the room.
Alex gasped. “You do realize that people are going to suspect I’m pregnant, don’t you?”
“Wouldn’t you rather it be that than the fact you can’t handle your liquor?” he asked.
She rolled her eyes, and it was the first one of the evening.
“I’m going to count that as a one, and for me, it’s a zero.”
“Oh, please, you will have an angry glare on your face by the end of the night, I guarantee it.” She winked at him, and he couldn’t help but chuckle.
However, the laughter soon died on his lips as he caught sight of Charlotte heading their way, and he wasn’t about to have his wife be confronted by an ex-lover, and all of the women in his life were exes. He had nothing to do with them.
Keeping a firm grip on Alex, he led her away from the potential chaos. She was going to enjoy the evening and not deal with any jealousy.
You want her to fall for you.
You want her to trust you.
It didn’t matter what he wanted, not anymore. He only cared about Alex and keeping her safe and happy.
****
Alex’s face hurt from all the smiling. She didn’t know how people did this. Her face ached so badly.
They were all strangers, and she had yet to see her father. Also, she got a sense that Roman kept on leading her around to avoid people. Every now and then, she’d clock a woman heading their way, and he’d somehow move them away.
He was an expert avoider, or so it would seem.
She already recognized the women though. They were his ex-lovers, and it made her curious as to who invited them to the party.
After they had been at the party for an hour, Lucas announced that there would be dancing. Men and women were coming together, and Roman moved her to a small, secluded alcove.