His Two Hidden Masks: Steamy International Billionaire Romance

Chapter 24

The day of the ball at Doge”s Palace, Roberto and I agreed to stay in contact via text. He and Lissa made sure the license and paperwork were ready to file to block the acquisition.

At my request, Roberto sent me screenshots of all the documents. I reviewed our marriage license and the stop-sale order. We needed to sign one document before the ceremony and one after, and it was done. Lissa was on-point to scan and send everything to the legal team.

Roberto was also on the hook for wining and dining the Street team before the secret wedding. Paolo and the staff set up the ballroom as an acquisition war room. The team was on the property and ready to celebrate at one minute past midnight.

As the four of us texted throughout the day, I never once asked Roberto about Dylan, although I was dying to. Every time Leo and I walked through the hotel, I searched for Dylan in the sitting room, on the stairs.

Curiosity finally got the better of me. I went to the front desk and looked up his room. My heart stopped, as the cursor blinked next to his room number.

Vacant. Dylan checked out of the Mia Sorella the day we argued.

As I walked back to my bedroom, preparing to dress for the ball, I told myself that it was for the best. My face must have said otherwise. Already inside, Leo was finishing some updates to my gown.

“What’s wrong with you? Who died?” he said, clutching his throat when he saw me.

“Nobody died. Nothing is wrong.” I sighed and lay on my bed. Overhead, those persistently cheerful cherubs danced. After tonight, I would be moving into Roberto’s palazzo. He confirmed his offer to give me an entire floor. Today was my last day in my childhood home.

“Bella, if you are going to fool everyone into thinking you are just a happy-go-lucky party girl on your way to the ball, you are going to have to do better.” Leo stood with pins in his teeth.

“When did you get so good at sewing?” I said, sitting up.

“I am a man of many talents,” he said. “I transform things, left over pieces of glass become my art. Half-off designer gowns need a little bling. I am almost done.” He blocked the view of my work-in-progress dress, forbidding me to look at it until he finished.

“Can I just see it, already?”

“It’s bad luck for the bride to see the dress.”

“That’s not a thing. Nobody says that.”

“Well, nobody marries someone to stop a corporate takeover either.” Not missing a beat, he took a step back from the dress form. “She’s ready, close your eyes.”

I stripped down to my lacy underwear and bra. Leo guided me with my eyes closed through the process of stepping into my dress.

“Turn away from the mirror,” he said, his hands fastening the back. “I’m going to fix it, so instead of tiny buttons, you can just pull on a ribbon to undo the whole thing.”

“Like a present?”

“Exactly.”

I wished Dylan was the one unwrapping me tonight.

“All right, another flower here,” Leo said. His fingers moved across the bodice of my dress. “Open your eyes.”

I gasped. This was no cream puff pastry explosion of tule and lace. Leo gave me the wedding dress of my dreams.

The dress was ivory and made of the most beautiful French silk. The skirt billowed just enough to make me feel grand, and a long slit stretched all the way to my upper thigh. I loved the way the dress hugged my curves.

White lace flowers covered the bodice and flowed into an illusion neckline of blooms and vines that climbed over my breasts, my back, and my arms. Leo hand stitched on gorgeous, lacy gardenias, adding the right level of sparkle to this glittering garden of a dress. It was a masterpiece of ivory and gold.

“I couldn’t dream this.”

Leo smiled and bit his lip. “You like?”

“I love,” I said.

“Check out the skirt,” Leo said, guiding my hands down the sides of my hips. “It’s got pockets.”

“If you were not gay, I would marry you right now,” I said. “Pockets. This is officially the best dress in the world.”

While I admired his creation, Leo changed into a white suit with a wide gold tie. We’d coordinated on purpose to make our lie about being dance partners totally believable.

I made final touches to my makeup. My face would be covered with a mask, but still, I added a cat’s eye liner, sparkling white eye shadow, and a deep red lipstick.

Outside the window, I watched the crowds of costumed partygoers cross the campo. People migrated toward San Marco in a steady line, like ants marching. It was Carnival rush hour.

“Bella, it’s time,” Leo said, holding out his hand. His white suit was cut perfectly. His sparkling gold shoes elevated the whole look.

I lifted my skirt and walked toward the door. Glancing back at my dresser, I saw Sara’s blue Murano heart. “Something borrowed, something blue,” I whispered, rushing back to slip the necklace into my pocket.

“Your mask, Bella,” Leo said. Both Roberto and I would wear masks that covered three-fourths of our faces. Mine was gold with ivory vines and flowers around the eyes, while Roberto’s was all gold.

Leo stood behind me and tied the mask onto my face.

“One last thing,” I said, pulling the necklace out of my pocket.

“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,” Leo said fastening the silver chain around my neck. The blue heart glimmered, the pop of color magical against my dress of ivory and gold.

I took one last look in the mirror and smiled. It was time for the masquerade to begin.