Chapter Thirty
MONIQUE
––––––––
Monique couldn't tear her gaze away from Mr. Frederico Miconi. Not because he was handsome, which he was. It was because she was wondering which of his features his daughter possessed.
Since Miconi was still attractive at his age, he had to have been drop-dead gorgeous when he was younger. His daughter possessed the same genetics. Was she stunningly beautiful? More importantly, did Raz find her attractive?
Those types of questions were stampeding through Monique's mind as she sat across the table from Mr. Miconi. She couldn't believe she was drinking wine with Raz's future father-in-law. She couldn't believe Raz had a future father-in-law.
Don't think about that, she chastised herself, lowering her gaze to her glass. Thinking about Raz's impending nuptials will only upset you, and you'll end up saying something crazy. She already felt guilty for having Mr. Miconi believe she was even remotely interested in him.
She didn't want to snap and say something that could possibly hurt his feelings. Not really in the mood for small talk, Monique glanced out the restaurant window, searching for her friends and Cas.
Though they were nowhere to be found, she was grateful for the window seat. Now, she could pretend she was staring at pedestrians who were shopping at the boutiques on this expensive ass strip.
She could hear Mr. Miconi talking, but her mind was too far away to process his words. Monique held in her sigh. This was all Toya's fault. Monique was going to kill her crazy friend for leaving her here with Miconi and pretending she'd seen another boutique a few stores down that she wanted to check out.
She wanted Monique to spend time alone with Mr. Miconi. Attending the gala with him was one thing. Sitting and having wine and desserts with him was out of her comfort zone.
But since he'd paid for their dresses, she'd sort of felt obligated to humor him. However, right now, she wished she'd paid for her own damn dress. Sure, it would've cut into her savings big time, but it would've been worth it.
"Something on your mind?" Mr. Miconi asked, bringing her gaze back to his.
Monique forced a smile. "No. Nothing."
Miconi smiled back. It was a charming smile that would melt the hearts of many women, yet it only made her feel guiltier.
"You know," he started, lowering his glass to the table. "Sometimes it's good to lay your burdens on the shoulders of a stranger. You don't have to worry about them being judgmental or telling your friends about it. Plus, they can give you their unbiased opinion."
Yeah, but you're not a stranger. You're the father of the bride.
Monique thought it but couldn't say it. Plus, it wasn't Mr. Miconi's fault she was feeling this way. He wasn't the one who'd hurt her. Neither was his daughter. Raz was. Therefore, Raz was the only one who should experience her wrath.
"There you go again," Mr. Miconi drawled. "Drifting away into your thoughts. What or who has such a beautiful woman as yourself feeling so lost?"
Monique's wide gaze met his. It was like he'd read her mind. Yes, she felt lost. Part of her was screaming for her to say forget this whole kidnapping plan and just let Raz go. She'd never been the type to chase after someone who didn't want her.
Clearly, Orazio Cattaneo didn't want her as much as she wanted him. He didn't want her enough to fight for her. Yet, another part of her wanted to fight for their love because she understood that Raz was hurting, too, and that he was doing this to protect her.
But damn, did he have to go this far? Monique waited for the urge to blink back tears to come over her. That urge never came. And that's what scared her the most. She was done crying. Did that mean her heart was done with Raz?
Ugh! Why couldn't she go one day without thinking about that man? Just one. Forget a day. She'd settle for a few hours. She'd settle for right now. She was here for wine, not to whine over Orazio's selfish ass.
"You must love him very much," Mr. Miconi whispered, bringing her thoughts back to him. Damn, she was really lost in her thoughts.
"I'm sorry. I never should've agreed to have a drink with you while my mind was all over the place. I apologize, Mr. Miconi..."
"There's no reason to apologize," he spoke up. "And please, call me Frederico."
Forget calling him Frederico. What she really wanted to do was call a ride to get her away from there. Monique reached for her purse, which was on the seat next to her. Now was the perfect time to call Meka and have them come back for her.
"Who is he?" Frederico asked. "And how long have you two been together? No, the better question is, how long have you two been apart?"
He was reading her like she was an open book.
"There isn't anyone," Monique lied, retrieving her phone from her purse.
Frederico chuckled. "There's definitely someone, la mia Belleza."
Monique paused, phone in her hand. Raz had said those exact words to her the last time he made love to her and promised never to leave her. La mia Belleza.
"It means..." Frederico started.
"My beauty," Monique finished for him.
"Very good," he complimented, seeming impressed. "You know a little Italian?"
Monique shook her head.
"Ahh..." A knowing grin appeared on his face. "Someone has said those words to you before."
"Do Italian men toss around words like that often?" Monique asked, feeling unnecessarily irritated.
"Boys do," Mr. Miconi told her, the grin leaving his face. "Men only use those words when they mean it."
"And I take it you mean it?" Monique asked, returning her phone to her purse.
Mr. Miconi clasped his hands together on the table. "I take it you don't think I mean it."
"It's hard to tell what's truly going on in the minds and hearts of mankind."
Mr. Miconi smiled, but it wasn't a charming smile this time. It was a genuine one.
"That is true, Ms. Rose. Some say the eyes are the gateway to the soul. But even the eyes can lie if the soul is corrupt."
"Are your eyes lying, Frederico Miconi?" Monique asked, curious.
Mr. Miconi hesitated briefly before saying, "Not entirely. You are very beautiful, Monique Rose."
"But..." she prompted, eager for him to continue. What lies are you telling me, Mr. Miconi?
"You're also very perceptive. You're right. There is a but."
"Let's hear it," Monique told him as she leaned back in her seat and folded her arms over her chest.
Mr. Miconi leaned forward, eyes peering into hers. She held his gaze, refusing to look away or be unnerved by the intensity of his dark eyes. A few seconds ticked by, with neither of them speaking or averting their gaze.
"Let's play a game to get to know each other better," he said.
"Are you changing the subject?"
"Not at all. I'm just making the subject more interesting. Would you like to play a game with me, Monique?"
Against her better judgment, she found herself nodding her head. She had time for a game.
"Good. I'll tell you something I like in a woman, and then you'll tell me something you like in a man. Deal?"
Releasing a sigh, Monique agreed. "Deal."
"I'm a protector, Ms. Rose. It's just who I am. It's embedded in my DNA. And though I like a woman who stands her ground, I also want her to allow me to be a man and protect her from the world," Mr. Miconi mused. "What do you like in a man, Ms. Rose?"
"I like a protective man. But one who doesn't let his desire to protect me consume him."
"The desire to protect is very consuming. But a real man won't let it show. His woman will never know that he's consumed by the need to keep her safe. He'd do it subtly, quietly, fiercely. She'd live her entire life not knowing that in the shadows, he's murdering everything that moves to keep her safe."
His words struck her in the center of her chest, nearly making her gasp. Those were the words she wanted to hear... no, needed to hear from Raz. She understood Raz's need to protect her. And she trusted him to do just that.
She didn't have to know what went on in the shadows. She was okay with him doing whatever it took to keep them safe and together. But he never gave her the chance to tell him that. The urge to cry welled within her, and this time, she really did blink back tears.
And it wasn't tears for Raz. It was tears for what could've been if only he'd said those words to her that horrible day when he'd ended things. Monique swallowed down her emotions, refusing to let them show right here, right now.
"It's your turn," Mr. Miconi urged. "You're supposed to tell me something you like now."
Monique cleared her throat before saying, "Um... Are you sure it's my turn?"
Smiling, he nodded. Monique tried to think of something she liked in a man. It should be easy to do, but he'd thrown her off her game with his last statement.
"I, uh, I like a man who speaks his mind and doesn't attempt to spare my feelings when we talk. I'm not a child. I'm a grown woman. I can handle anything you throw at me."
Nodding, Mr. Miconi said, "I like a woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to tell me. I can't read your mind. Tell me what you want, and I'll do it. Simple as that. I'll do whatever my woman wants and needs."
Monique swallowed. "I like a man who wants me and only me and would move heaven and hell to keep me by his side."
"And that's exactly what you deserve, Ms. Rose. Which is why you should choose me instead of Don Cattaneo," Mr. Miconi drawled, intense eyes holding her captive. Eyes that a girl could get lost in. Eyes that...
Wait! What the hell did he just say?
Shock stopped her heart. Once it was beating again, she recovered enough to ask, "How do you know about me and Orazio?"
"Is it that surprising that I know about your past?"
"Answer the question," Monique hissed through clenched teeth, patience thin.
"I found out about you and Orazio Cattaneo a few weeks ago," Mr. Miconi confessed.
A few weeks ago? Her mind raced, trying to process all this new information. If he already knew about her and Raz, and since his daughter was Raz's future fiancé, that meant he planned this entire encounter.
"Is that why you approached me?" Monique asked, feeling betrayed, which was strange because she didn't know this man at all. He didn't owe her any loyalty.
"If I say that isn't why I approached you, would you believe me?" Mr. Miconi questioned.
"Believe you?" Monique released a sarcastic chuckle, feeling foolish as hell for believing this man in the first place. "No, I won't believe you. I don't even know why I'm still talking to you. It's clear that you approached me with an agenda. This is the type of bullshit I do not have time for." Monique snatched her purse up, then rose from her seat. "Let's cancel our date to the gala. I refuse to be a pawn in whatever game you're playing." Monique turned to leave.
"Was it okay for you to make me a pawn in whatever game you're playing?" Mr. Miconi's voice drifted to her, causing her to stop.
She slowly turned to face him. Monique opened her mouth to speak but closed it because Mr. Miconi spoke up before she could.
"Careful," he warned. "Don't paint yourself as a hypocrite."
Oh, no, this bastard didn't! Monique strode forward, heels clicking against the floor as she approached him. She placed her purse on the table next to his wine glass and peered into his face. She was so close to him that she was pretty sure he could feel her breath on his face. At this point, she didn't give a damn.
"You have no right to call me a hypocrite," Monique hissed.
"So, you hadn't planned to use me as a pawn?" Mr. Miconi's eyebrow rose in questioning.
"I did," Monique admitted. "Since you had the same agenda, there's no reason to get your boxers in a bunch over it. I..."
"I don't wear boxers. I'm a briefs man."
"You... what... You know what, I don't care what type of underwear you prefer. We're even, Frederico Miconi. I planned to use you. You planned to use me. We're both busted. Let's call this off and never see each other again. Goodbye."
Monique had only taken three steps when Miconi's words forced her to halt again.
"I became mesmerized by you before Orazio Cattaneo did," Mr. Miconi called out.
Monique stopped walking. What the hell was he talking about now? She spun around again.
"What?" she asked.
"According to my intel, Orazio saw you for the first time right before you got divorced. I saw you a year before that. Unfortunately, I learned of your divorce too late. And when I finally found out, Orazio had already staked his claim."
Monique cocked her head to the side. "Mr. Miconi, there's no way you saw me a year before..."
"Yes, I did. It was at an event I shouldn't have been at. But a series of events led me to that location, to you, yet we never said a word to each other," Mr. Miconi announced as he rose from his seat and approached her.
"My patience is wearing thin. Just tell me where you saw me."
"A company wanted me to invest in their latest vehicle. I wasn't interested. To show me how popular their previous version of the vehicle was, they invited me to an event," Mr. Miconi told her as he approached her.
Resisting the urge to take a step back, she tilted her head to stare up at him when he reached her. She was pretty sure she'd never run in the same circles as him. The only events she'd ever attended with her ex were small events. Nothing worth bragging about. Nothing that would require the presence of Frederico Miconi.
"What event were you invited to that I was apparently invited to as well, Mr. Miconi?" Monique asked, ready to catch him in his lie.
"Call me Frederico," he whispered, the spicy scent of his cologne wrapping around her. Why did he have to smell so damn good?
"I don't have time for this, so..." she started.
"Call me Frederico, and I'll tell you everything."
"Okay, Frederico . Tell me now, please."
His eyes darkened, and she could've sworn he shivered.
"You shouldn't say please like that to a man like me," he whispered.
Well, damn, Mr. Miconi. Monique reminded herself that her heart and body still belonged to Raz.
"I-I'm still waiting for you to tell me where you saw me," Monique stuttered.
"It was at Jeep Week, or maybe it's called Jeep Weekend, I'm not sure."
Well, that... was shocking. "You've been to Jeep Weekend?"
He nodded. "I didn't want to go. My daughter insisted I go, not to view the company's new vehicle but to enjoy myself. A short vacation. I was supposed to attend the one in Florida. But more important matters arose, and I couldn't attend. I received a second invitation from the company to attend the event in Biloxi, MS. Again, my daughter insisted I go. So, I did. And I'm glad I did because that's where I saw a beautiful woman standing all by herself on the beach."
Oh, wow! He really had seen her there. She hadn't wanted to be there either, but Trevor insisted she go so his client's wife wouldn't be alone. The woman had gotten food poisoning the night before, and no one had informed them.
So, Monique ended up at the event with no one to talk to and feeling like the only female there who had on clothing. Instead of staying by her side and keeping her company so she wouldn't feel out of place, her ex had left her standing alone, with people staring at her, probably wondering what she was doing there.
"You looked like you felt out of place there," Mr. Miconi pointed out. "Which was exactly how I was feeling. I watched you for over thirty minutes while working up the courage to go talk to you."
"A man like you didn't have the courage to approach me?" Monique asked in disbelief.
"You were the first woman I'd felt the urge to approach after my wife's passing. It takes time and courage to get back in the saddle. Just when I felt ready to approach you, another man did. At first, I didn't think you two were together. You didn't seem intimate or close. You even looked irritated by him. When the guy walked away, I sent my guard to ask him who he was to you. The bastard told my guard that he was your husband, but for the right price, he could pretend the two of you weren't together."
Fucking Trevor! He was a stain on her life that she just couldn't wipe clean.
"When I heard that, I became enraged. I hadn't been that mad in a long time. I guess you could say my protective instincts kicked in," Mr. Miconi told her. "I told my guard to ready the car. I told him I would be taking you away from that idiot."
"What do you mean by ' taking' me away?" Please tell me I'm not in the presence of another kidnapper!
"I mean what I said."
Yep, I am.
"And I would've done it," he continued as if kidnapping was legal. "You would've been mine a long time ago if the company who wanted me to invest in them hadn't distracted me. As they showed off their vehicle to me, I kept my eyes on you. You looked like a breath of fresh air to me – which was exactly what I needed in my life. I'll never forget the vision you were on that day. You were wearing a long blue dress and a white and blue beach hat. You had on blue sandals. And you smiled at everyone who passed you, even if they didn't smile back. I wanted to approach you with a smile to ease the nervousness I saw on your face. Unfortunately, I lost sight of you and your ex in the sea of people on the beach."
"How can you remember all of that?" Monique whispered.
"I remember things that are important," he told her. "I also remember how lonely you looked, standing all alone while your husband stared at the bikini-clad women on the beach in between mingling with investors."
Monique stared down at the floor. "So, you saw that too, huh? It seems you know all about my horrible relationship with my ex."
Mr. Miconi placed his finger under her chin and forced her gaze to his again.
"Don't ever allow thoughts of him to make you lower your head. He didn't deserve you. And if you ask me, neither does Don Orazio Cattaneo."
Monique took a step back. "Mr. Miconi..."
"Frederico," he corrected her.
"Frederico, I don't know what to say. I mean, you've left me speechless."
"Just say you'll go with me to the gala. Say you'll enjoy yourself at the event. Let Raz go with my Isla, and let him see if he can handle you being there with someone else. If he can handle it, if he doesn't react at all, then he's not the one for you. The two of you can have a clean break if that's the case. But if he can't handle it, then I'll step aside. For now."
"For now?"
"Yes, for now. If he fucks up again, I'll step in. And he won't get a second chance to hurt you. I'm already giving him a chance to see you one last time. If he blows this chance, then he'll have to start a war if he wants to take you from me. And I don't think the young don is ready for that type of war."
Oh, wow! Monique didn't think she was ready for this type of man. Mr. Miconi was nothing like she'd imagined. Even so, she was looking forward to her night with him at Orazio's gala.
And that scared her because a woman in love shouldn't look forward to spending time with anyone but her lover. However, Raz had dumped her which meant, right now, she had no lover.