Chapter 25
twenty-five
Valentina
I stare at the dress I’m going to wear tonight for what seems like an hour and try to talk myself out of what I’m going to do.
However, I did decide to change my strategy in my relationship with Gabriel. So, I’m going from forcing his hand to playing seductive. I hated those women, but now I get them. I get why someone would play hard to get and seduce a man.
Still, I’m not sure if it will work.
I expected Gabriel to avoid me; he did everything but. He moved around me like nothing had happened. Almost nothing. The tension in his shoulders, the flicker of regret in his eyes… he couldn’t hide that from me, no matter how hard he tried.
His attempts at conversation were pathetic, and if I weren’t still pissed at him, I might’ve actually laughed.
I kept my distance on purpose. Let him talk if he wanted. Let him circle around whatever truth he’s choking on.
I was buying myself time; just enough before I force his hand and make him tell me exactly what I need to know
Let’s see how my plan will work.
Gabriel never told me there was a gala for the Lotus Group.
He called and told me he would be late, so I shouldn’t wait for him.
I called Clara, and she confirmed that it is tonight.
Since I will need an invitation and I don’t want Gabriel to know I’m going to be there, Clara will make sure they let me in.
My dress is black and lethal. Sheer, sequined fabric falls down my body into a mermaid look, covering my skin.
I’m wearing nothing underneath it; the attached undergarments cover all my important parts, and the sheer fabric shows everything else.
My low bun prevents my hair from covering my exposed back, and I smile as I fix the last touches on my cherry red lips.
I grab my clutch and the black jacket that matches my outfit and leave my room.
My heels click on the floor as I descend the stairs, ready for this night to start. It took Renzo some convincing to take me to the hotel. I may have threatened him a little, but that doesn’t matter.
I exit the door, and my eyes trace the building from the bottom to the top.
I’ve never been here before. Well, not this close.
People pass beside me, and my attention falls on the entrance where a man and a woman in black stand and take the invitations from guests.
When I stand in front of them, I tell them I’m here for Clara, just as she told me to.
The man nods and lets me in, and I smile as I pass through the front doors.
I look around, and I don’t have to search too much before I spot Clara in her short, sparkly pink dress, looking better than ever.
Spotting me, she says something to the person she was speaking to and approaches me.
“He’s inside, and you never saw me. This is my payback for the other night. If this gets to the don, I may lose not just this gig but the one for the family.”
“No one will ever know, I promise.” I smile. “You look amazing.”
She smiles back. “You too, now give him what he deserves.” She winks and goes back to her job as I take my jacket off and give it to the lady waiting to take it from me.
I take a drink from a passing waiter and walk inside like I’m in the right place.
I don’t hide. I smile at every woman looking my way and every man who scans my body, but my eyes search for just one man.
When I find him, I ignore the burning rage inside me and pretend like I’m not affected that he’s standing with a hot blonde woman, who has her hand wrapped around his bicep.
I take a sip of my drink, stand at the nearest table, and watch his interaction with a group of people.
The woman is getting too comfortable touching him.
Someone approaches me, and a good-looking man around my age comes and stands by my side.
His lips pull into a smile as his tongue licks his lips, and his eyes land on the front of my dress where the deep V is showing my front.
“Well, hello! Why is such a beautiful woman spending time at this party alone?”
I smirk and bat my eyelashes at him. “Who said I was alone?”
“Because I saw you enter alone, and my eyes caught you the moment you arrived.” A grin curves his lips, and his eyes sparkle.
I smile. “Maybe I’m meeting someone here.”
“Are you?”
“We’ll see.” I smirk.
“I’m Sinclair,” he says with a grin on his face.
I was listening to Sinclair rambling about his current position with the Lotus Group; he is some kind of financial bro.
And that’s where he lost me. That was when I stopped listening and started to play pretend to be interested in whatever he was explaining about how he invested money for Salvatore Catalano and returned that money three times.
I thought I would die of boredom. Still, I smiled and pretended all while I threw glances behind his head, where my husband was standing.
The music changes, and people move toward the dance floor as the new beat pours from the sound system. My eyes narrow because I never expected this kind of music.
“Oh, yes. Love this song. Wanna join me on the dance floor?” Sinclair grins and extends his hand, and I look from his hand to the place above his shoulder where I can see Gabriel still in a conversation as the blonde moves slowly to the music.
“Come on, this song is a must at all our events. It’s like an employee anthem. ”
I smile and take his hand. A little dancing can’t hurt anyone.
I actually forget about why I’m here as I dance to the beat. I’m having fun, and all because Sinclair is making moves that have most of the people looking at him.
When a possessive arm wraps around my waist, the people around me, including Sinclair, stop dancing and stare at me. I bite my lip. Now I have his attention.
“Valentina.” His serious voice sends tremors down my spine, and I inhale, just so I don’t melt into his arms.
I spread my lips into a small smile and slowly turn to the side until I can see my husband’s angry gaze. “Gabriel.”
“What are you doing here?” His question shouldn’t hurt me. He would have told me if he had wanted me to be here.
“I’m dancing.” I glance toward Sinclair. “With Sinclair. He was nice enough to invite me to dance.” I look between my husband and Sinclair. “Sinclair, this is my husband, Gabriel.”
Sinclair swallows. “Mr. Savastano. I didn’t know she was your wife. I didn’t know you were married.”
My brows raise, and I look at Gabriel. His jaw ticks. “Not that that is any of your business, but this is my wife, and if you know what’s good for you, you will forget you met her.”
I want to argue with him, but I don’t. I just smile at Sinclair and let Gabriel lead me toward the other side of the room.
When we stop, I turn to him. “So, only family knows you're married?”
“There are others who know. Those who are close to me. Sinclair is employed by the Lotus Group. He doesn’t even work here.”
“I guess the blonde who was at your side a moment ago also doesn’t know.”
I look him directly in his eyes so I can see what passes through them. He exhales. When I see nothing in his eyes, I shake my head.
“She does know, actually.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Wow, I’m not sure how I feel about that. But I guess this is one of your walls.”
“It’s not like that.” Gabriel starts to speak, but we’re interrupted when a man slightly older than Gabriel approaches us. He is handsome; his salt and pepper hair gives him a serious look, for which his boyish face compensates as he smiles at us.
“Gabriel. The party is lovely as always. Pity we couldn’t see Salvatore around. I heard what happened to his wife. Hope they get through it.”
“They’re both going through a rough time.”
“And who is this lovely lady?” The man smiles at me as he takes my hand in his without waiting for me to extend it.
“Valentina,” I say.
Something like an animalistic growl sounds from beside me, and Gabriel’s hand that was at the small of my back wraps around my waist and pulls me to his side.
“This is my WIFE.” Gabriel punctuates the word, and the man pulls his hand from mine like it’s on fire.
“You’re married?” His face turns serious.
“A few months ago. Not that it’s any of your business.”
“Well, it was nice to see you. I will be in touch so we can talk about that project.” He lowers his head and turns to me. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Savastano.”
What did he mean? I glance at Gabriel, whose expression is deadly, like he is looking at his worst enemy. I shake my head.
Unbelievable.
“You didn’t have to be a prick.”
He looks down at me, his dark eyes pinning me. “He was ogling you like I wasn’t standing beside you.”
I meet his dark look. “Maybe if he knew you got married, he might have actually thought you brought your wife tonight. Not that it would matter.”
“Valentina.” He says my name like a warning.
I open my mouth to give him a piece of my mind but decide against it.
I’m not doing that; I need a different approach.
I try to pull away from him, since I’m still pressed to his side, only his grip on my waist tightens as growling sounds rumble from him.
“Pull away and see what happens,” he warns, and two men I’ve never seen before approach us.
I ignore them; my attention is on the reaction of my body and my brain.
Both would like to test him and see what would happen.
I really like to push his buttons. Only then can I see underneath his perfect mask.
Gabriel introduces me as his, and I make an effort to keep up with the introductions without thinking about how to shift from one leg to another and not feeling like I’ll combust. Gabriel’s hand is no longer on my waist but my hip and partially on my butt.
He’s making circles with his fingers. Wetness pools between my legs, and I bite my lip just so I can’t moan or lean into him. Because I need more.
I want more.
I take a deep breath. I’m not giving in.
When we’re alone again, I want to pull away, but this time, he pulls me into him until my body is flat against his and his arms are firmly gripping my waist.
“What are you doing?” I look at him from under my eyelashes.
His jaw ticks. “Sending a clear message to anyone who is looking at you that you're mine.”
I chuckle, and his eyes narrow. “What does that mean, Gabriel? What does being yours mean? Because I refuse to be treated like a piece of property, and maybe until now, I let you. I thought I wasn’t alone in this and we could try to make things work, but I was alone.
You have armor that you're not ready to lower, so I will ask you again, what does being yours mean?”
I wait for the answer. And wait. I inspect his face, searching for any emotion that will give him away.
His jaw ticks, his expression changes, and when I’m sure I won’t get any answers, I shake my head, disappointed, and push against him.
He lets go, and I take a step back and turn away from him.
My eye catches the waiter’s, and I walk in that direction, away from Gabriel.
I take two sparkling drinks and gulp one in one go.
Placing the empty flute on the first table I see, I walk around the room, trying to find Clara. I need to see a friendly face.
A man appears beside me, preventing me from continuing my search. “Aren’t you a sight to behold?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I’m sorry, but I’m not interested.” I try to make this as short and polite as I can and walk past him, but as I take a step to my right side to pass him, he steps in front of me again.
“Now, now. How would you know if you're interested if you haven’t heard what I have to say?”
“I don’t want to hear it. Now, please, leave me alone.” Once again, I try to walk away, and he stops me.
“You little bitch. Don’t you know who I am and what I can do…”
“Careful, Adkins. I would not continue if I were you.” A raw, low voice appears from behind me, and my body shivers.
“This woman you called a little bitch is my wife.” Gabriel places himself between me and the man, and I need to take a step to the side to see that he’s in his face. “You're going to apologize.”
Adkins opens his mouth. “I’m sorry.” His voice shakes, and he tries to step away from Gabriel, but Gabriel backs him to the wall.
“That’s not good enough,” he says with his jaw clenched.
Before I can blink, two security guys appear.
“Escort Mr. Adkins to my office. I’m going to have a chat with him.
” He pulls back from the man, but before stepping away, he levels him with a look.
“And be careful not to make a scene. You don’t want to attract attention to yourself, do you? ”
The man straightens, and without saying a word, he follows security.
Gabriel’s hand wraps around my wrist, and he pulls me with him as he follows where the man is escorted.