Chapter 12 ~ Alexander
I stand at the bottom of the stairs after breakfast and watch her back go straight, clenching her fists tight at her sides. I shouldn’t have done it, but the temptation to rile her up was too irresistible.
I head into my office, still chuckling to myself. I sit and turn on my laptop. She plays a good game; her front is almost solid until I bring up our wedding night. She can’t take that back. She gave herself to me, everything but her voice.
I bring up the camera feed to her room. She is sitting on the couch looking out the window; her face crumpled up in concentration, her hands clasped between her knees.
I pan over to her bed; everything is still sitting there unopened.
My God, she’s a stubborn woman. I would never have believed that when I first met her.
She was so awkward and clumsy; too easily flustered. She still is, but when she plants her feet in, it’s hard to move her.
I click off the feed and bring up my emails. I click on the one from Carlos.
Subject: Jasper
Boss,
News from Jasper He will be here early next week. I will set up a meeting then. Says we need your father to attend. I’ll be back around 6:30 pm to pick you up unless otherwise needed. (Please tell me Isabella is going with you.)
Carlos
Asshole. Did he really think I wouldn’t make sure to take her? She is coming with me in a dress or without. Humm… without sounds good. A naked Isabella. I groan and adjust my pants.
Subject: Re: Jasper
Sounds good. Let me know when he’s back and I will open up my schedule. I’ll inform my father tonight to make room to fit us in.
(Of course, I am taking her, you dick. I bought her a dress with earrings to match.)
A
Five minutes later, I hear a ding. I shake my head; he will not drop this.
Subject: Re: Re: Jasper
Holy shit? You bought jewelry AND a dress? Is this really Alexander Russo?
Carlos
I give up on the email and just texted him, Fuck off.
I spend most of the day in the office. I look at my watch; it’s almost five thirty. Isabella has been held up in her room most of the day. She changed into her painting clothes and locked herself in her studio.
Clicking on her feed and zooming in on the door.
I can’t see her, but I catch sight of her moving about every once in a while as the shadows cross the carpet.
I meant it when I said I’d like to see her work.
When she moved in, I didn’t pay much attention to the paintings on the floor.
I just had the guys throw them in with the rest of her shit.
I wish I would have. I won’t get a chance now unless she leaves the house and I sneak in there. But I won’t. I can be an asshole, but that is her space and as much as I want to be in charge of everything else, she needs one room that is solely hers.
I rub my face with my hands and chuckle. Look at me being a nice guy.
I pick up the phone and call Rose; order a plate sent up to our rooms with grapes and cheeses, that sort of thing. We won’t be able to hold off until 8:00 for something to eat.
I shut down my computer and head up the stairs to my room. I stop at her door and listen. There is never any noise, no TV, no music. If I didn’t check on her with the cameras, I wouldn’t even know she was there.
Entering my room while undoing my tie, I toss it on the bed and remove my suit jacket.
Picking up the remote and flipping on the TV, looking for a game.
I flop onto the couch and put my feet up on the coffee table.
I just need to sit and relax for a few before I have to dress up in my tuxedo.
She will be wearing a silk dress that matches her eyes.
I smile to myself; she is going to be stunning.
Ten minutes into the game, Sasha knocks on my door, handing me my food.
I say my thanks and sit back down to finish the game.
It’s 6:45. I’m dressed and waiting in the foyer. I pace a few times as Carlos stands by the door, arms crossed, leaning against the wall.
“Are you sure you asked her to come with you? Nicely?”
I stop and glare at him. “Yes, I wrote a note with the dress.”
I adjusted my tie for the hundredth time. She will come. I know she will. I saw the challenge in her eyes when I asked about my gifts. They pissed her off. I smile and look up at the top of the stairs again. She’s not there. I look at my watch; it’s 6:50.
I walk back over to the door and back again, looking up. No Isabella. I walk back towards Carlos, my lip pinched between my thumb and forefinger. His eyes go wide and he drops his arms straight and pushes off the wall to stand up straight, looking over my head.
He barely breathes, “Sei una visione Isabella.”
I turn and my heart stops, then jumps back to life ten times faster. Jesus!
She is a vision of shimmering jade green silk.
Her hair is up in a French twist, exposing her soft neck; the diamond teardrop earrings sparkle as she carefully makes her way down the stairs, one hand holding the banister, the other holding up one side of the dress, exposing her sexy as fuck calf, and the matching shoes that make my dick hurt.
The dress is form-fitting with a low sweeping neckline that just reaches her collarbones and long sleeves that reach her wrists. The back of the dress drops low, but not too low, just enough to show her sexy curves and enough to make a man drool.
She stops at the bottom of the stairs, drops her dress from her hand, and waits. She looks at the floor and then back up, her eyes darting between Carlos and me. Right now, I’d like to be the only one she’s looking at. I clear my throat and go to her.
I take her hand and kiss the top, “Sei squisita, Bella. Una gemma preziosa sicuramente in questo vestito.” (You look exquisite, Bella. A precious gem, to be sure, in this dress.)
She blushes; I think she prefers my compliments in Italian. Good to know. I stand up and look into her eyes. They are a brilliant shade of green, with the color of the dress enhancing them. She wears very little makeup, but she doesn’t need to.
“Turn, Bella. I have a gift for you.” I can hardly get the words out. My mouth is so dry.
She turns and I take the necklace out of my pocket.
Standing behind her, I lean my face over her shoulder as I did when we cut the cake.
Her back nestled in my chest. I softly kiss her under her ear and I can hear her sharp intake of breath as I slide the necklace around her throat.
I clip it closed, slide my hand gently down the chain and press the diamond on her chest.
She reaches her hand up to touch the pendant, and our fingers touch briefly before she drops her hand right away and steps out of my embrace. She faces me and picks up the pendant. Her eyes go wide as she looks at me.
“You shouldn’t have Alexander. This whole thing was way over the top.”
She waves her hands over her body, head to toe.
I couldn’t disagree with her more. She’s a vision, an exquisite jade goddess on my arm tonight, and it was worth every penny to see her like this. She looks better than she did in her wedding dress, and that was pretty hot.
I kiss her cheek and put her hand on my arm, leading her to the door where Carlos stands there with his mouth hanging open.
“Not one more word. You look mesmerizing, Isabella. And I, for one, can’t wait to show you off.”
She snorts and raises her eyebrows at me like I was joking, but I’m not. I just smile back at her, waiting for her to say something smart. She just tilts her head back and then looks at Carlos, who is beaming at her and holding the door open for us.
“Dopo di te, Isabella” He bows at her, waving one hand to the open door.
She picks up one side of her dress and tips her head down in a tiny curtsey. “Perché grazie, gentile signore.”
She giggles as we make our way down the steps to the car. I like this fun side of her. I wish it was for me, but she and Carlos have been like brother and sister since she came into our lives.
He defends her like one as well.
I open the door and she slides in, going to the opposite side of the seats with her back to Carlos.
She settles her skirt around her and I climb in and close the door.
I can smell her perfume and I want to reach out, grab her by the waist and put her in my lap so I can bury my nose in her hair and hold her tight to my chest.
Carlos climbs into the driver’s side and we take off down the driveway, heading downtown.
She wipes at the top of her thighs and looks out the window as she whispers.
“Thank you for my dress.” She holds her hand over the necklace. “And the jewelry. It’s beautiful.” She drops her hand and holds them together on her lap.
“You’re very welcome. I’d like to say they are dull compared to how stunning you look, but I know you won’t believe me.”
Carlos glowers at me in the rearview mirror, shaking his head and pursing his lips. He mouths, be nice and I take my middle finger and rub my eye back and forth. He outright gives me the finger because Isabella can’t see him, and I shake my head and bite my lip to hide my smile.
Fucker!
I turn to look back at Isabella, a portion of her face partially obscured by the shadow of the dark interior of the car. The streetlights, which act like strobe lights, make her skin glow amber and her one diamond earring sparkles with every streetlamp we pass by.
She looks down at her fingers, and then she looks back up at the window and mumbles.
“I’m done believing in things.”
I raise my eyebrows and cut a look at her. She looks really sad for someone so beautiful.
“You stopped believing in what, exactly?” I nervously adjust my tie as I rub one hand on my thigh.
“Things.” She looks up at me with her sullen eyes, a weak smile playing on her lips.
I don’t understand why I’m trying so hard. I don’t even know what I’m trying to do exactly. Maybe just find a reason for her to like me. Every time I think I’ve taken a step forward with her, I take ten steps back with my mouth.