Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
L iam
Three Weeks Later
Some days, I feel like I’m floating in the sky. Like my life is not my own. It’s weird. I’ve gotten into a comfortable pattern in the last few weeks, and it feels absolutely marvelous. Elisabetta and I enjoyed the island and made love every single day. When we got back to the city, she spent time at her place and at my place, but we were always together. I knew that something was going to have to give. I knew her Dad was phoning her, and I knew he wanted her to come to Italy the next week because he told me of his plans.
“What are you thinking about?” Elisabetta walks into my office.
“What do you mean?”
“You have a very concerned look on your face, so I’m wondering what you’re thinking about.”
“I’m thinking about your trip next week.”
“You mean our trip?” She grins at me. “The trip where we’re going to meet and find out you’re my fiance.” She giggles.
“It’s not funny.”
“I mean, it’s not funny. I will be the first to admit that, but my dad doesn’t know that I know that you’re my fiancé. It’s crazy. In fact, he calls me almost every day now. He asks me about you, so I ask him why he’s asking, and he makes all these silly excuses. I just want to say to him, ‘Dad, I know.’”
I look at her sharply.
“But don’t worry. I won’t say anything because I obviously don’t want him to know. What’s going on with that deal anyway?”
“The contracts have been signed, and the money’s been sent,” I say to her.
“Wow, so I’m officially yours now. Is that it?”
“I mean, in a court of law, I don’t think any judge would make you marry me. I mean, you have your own free will.”
“Yeah, I mean, that’s technically true, right? I do have my own free will to marry you, but the simple fact of the matter is, you’ve given my dad millions of dollars.”
“Technically, I’ve given your dad millions of dollars for the hotel properties, and that’s really where everything stands.” I stare at her for a couple of moments as she takes a seat across from me.
“So, Elisabetta, I want to ask you something before we fly out.”
“Yes?”
“Have you enjoyed the last couple of weeks?”
“I’ve more than enjoyed. I have loved them.”
“And do you have any questions on your mind? Anything that you’re nervous about?”
“I mean, I told you this before, but I am questioning whether my father is really my father.” Her eyes bore into mine. “I hate to say it, but it would just explain so many things.”
“I’m almost positive that your dad is your dad,” I respond. The truth of the matter is, I have no idea if her father is biologically her father. I would have no way of knowing unless I made him do a DNA test, which wasn’t really part of any deal I had with him.
“Don’t you think you look like him?” I ask her.
“Everyone says I look like my mom.” She shakes her head. “And if I’m my mother’s daughter and she cheated on my dad, then well, maybe that’s why he couldn’t really stand to be around me. Maybe I remind him of the other man.”
“Or maybe you remind him of your mother,” I say, and my heart pangs.
“I suppose. I mean, he was deeply hurt when she died.” She lets out a sigh.
“It’s weird. Sometimes, I wonder if I’ll ever get over this pain.”
“The pain of your dad not being around?” I ask her hopefully.
“I mean, that pain exists, of course, but I’m talking about the pain of never having a relationship with my mom, being a motherless child, you know? Sometimes, I just wish I could go back and change it so that she lived and could be there for me. Teach me the ways of the world, you know? Instead of Romeo, who, God bless him, I love, but as a teacher, he wasn’t exactly the greatest.”
“You had your aunts, right?”
“Yeah, but they weren’t really there to teach. They were just there to make sure I went to school and didn’t end up pregnant and unwed at sixteen.” She makes a face. “I guess I shouldn’t say that in front of Max.”
I laugh, then.
“I mean, it’s not his fault that Marie is pregnant. She’s starting next week, you know.” Her eyes widen as she leans forward. “And I heard that she and Gabe are not exactly getting along that well.”
“What do you mean?”I ask.
“I don’t know, but supposedly, he had some sort of meeting with her to discuss the parameters of her job, and she got really upset. I heard—now don’t say anything to anyone.”
“Who am I going to say anything to?”
“Well, I heard,” she whispers, “that maybe they had a fling, and maybe Gabe is…”
“Gabe is not the father of her child. I know that for a fact.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because contrary to popular belief, Gabe is not a dog.”
“No one thinks he’s a dog.”
“Well, I know for a fact that Gabe has not slept with her because I made a comment to him once about a woman, and he said that he would never, ever date or sleep with anyone that was related to one of his friends or partners.”
“What do you mean?”
“Marie is Max’s sister, remember? “
“Yeah, and?”
“His little sister. There’s no way Gabe would have slept with her.”
“Well, fine. Maybe he didn’t. Maybe he’s not the father, but that doesn’t mean Marie doesn’t have a crush on him.”
“That’s something very different. I’m sure plenty of women have a crush on Gabe. He’s a handsome man, so I’ve been told.”
“Yeah, yeah, I mean, he’s all right.” There’s a dreamy look on her face.
“What do you mean, he’s all right?” My eyes narrow. “Do you think he’s handsome?”
“Well, yeah. He’s extremely handsome. He’s ridiculously good-looking, as some women would put it.”
“I see, so if he had asked you to be his assistant, would you?”
“Oh, my gosh, Liam, what is this?”
“I’m just wondering if he had been the one in need of an assistant, would you have volunteered for that job?”
“Liam, are you jealous?”
“I’m not jealous,” I say quickly, though I can admit to myself that I am. “Fine. I’m just wondering how handsome you think he is.”
“I don’t think he’s more handsome than you, dear.” She grins at me. “He’s not the one whose bed I’m sharing every night.”
“That is true. So, are you staying over tonight?” I ask her.
“I don’t know. I need to go shopping and start packing for next week. My dad also wants me to get a wedding dress, and well…” She pauses. “Is this weird? This is weird, isn’t it?”
“What? Don’t fiancées often talk to their husband-to-be about their wedding dress?”
“Yes, but not when they’re not meant to know that they’re engaged to their boss.” She throws her hands up in the air. “At this point, I wonder if we’re just as bad as my dad.”
“I don’t think we could ever be as bad as your dad.”
“True, if he is my dad.”
“Elisabetta, I’m almost positive he’s your dad.”
“I don’t know, but whatever. Anyway, you can come over tonight if you want.”
“Oh, so, you want me to come over, do you?”
“Well, I was hoping to see you tonight because I didn’t see you last night.”
“I know, and I missed you.”
“I missed you more,” she says. “Are we weird?”
“Why would you ask that?”
“Because we’re acting like we’re an old married couple, and yet…”
“And yet, we haven’t even started that phase of our relationship.” I grin at her.
“This is just too kooky. Anyway, I have a meeting scheduled for you with an architect to discuss the parameters for the hotel on the island. He said that we should likely name each cabana after something specific, like flower types or native plants or…”
“Or what?” I ask her.
“Or anything else we decide. I thought it might be nice to name it after local flowers…” She pauses.
“Maybe we can even name it after local fruit.” She grins. “Like watermelon or mangoes or…”
I give her a look. “Watermelon?”
“Sorry, I couldn’t resist.” She giggles. “Anyway…”
“What are you doing over there?” I say.
“What do you mean?”
She looks up at me.
“Why are you sitting in a chair so far away from me?”
“Because we’re in the office, and I already told you, no hanky-panky in the office.”
“But what if I want a little hanky-panky? What if…
“Liam…”
“What? I’m just saying…”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you, your sister called.”
“Oh. What did she have to say?”
“She said that she’s desperate to see you and that your niece misses you, and she wanted to know when you’d be over in England again?”
“I see. Well, what do you think about taking a trip to England before we head over to Italy?”
“My dad’s already bought the ticket for me to get to Italy. Plus, he would want to know why I’m in London before I go to Italy, and seeing as he doesn’t know about us…”
“Okay, well, what about after the engagement? I can tell him that I want to introduce you to my family. I mean, he would understand that, right?”
“Yeah.” She nods slowly. “But…”
“But what?” I ask.
“I don’t know. I really want to meet your niece and your sister, but what are we going to tell them about our engagement? I don’t want to lie.”
“My sister will be very understanding, and she’ll love you.”
“So, there’s another thing I have to tell you,” she says. “And don’t hate me.”
“Oh, boy. What is it?”
“Romeo wants to speak to you.”
“Umm, okay. Why would I hate you for that?”
“Because I think he wants to speak to you , speak to you.”
“You’re confusing me. What does that mean?”
“Like I want to say that he wants to give you the chat that a dad would normally give you. But seeing as my dad sucks…”
“Okay, I’m not really sure what you’re talking about.”
“Can I call him now and put him on speakerphone?” she asks.
I nod slowly and sit back in the chair, a wry smile on my face. “Go ahead. It’s not like we’re at work with things to do.”
“I mean, we can wait till later. I just…”
“No, call him.” I watch as she pulls out her phone and places it on my desk. She dials the number and presses speakerphone.
“Hey, sis. What’s happening? I miss you. Where are you?”
“What do you mean, where am I? I’m at work. Where are you?”
“Oh, my gosh. I’m in Monaco. Yes, with the rich and famous, and yes, I did go to Monte Carlo and?—”
“I’m at work, and I’m in Liam’s office,” she cuts him off.
“Oh, okay. Liam Liam?”
“How many Liams are there, Romeo?”
“That’s what I would like to know,” I chime in.
“Oh, he’s there with you,” Romeo says. “Well, hello, Liam, future brother-in-law.”
“Hello, Romeo, future brother-in-law,” I say, and he bursts out laughing.
“So, I hear that you’re going to propose to my sister.”
“Well, I mean, the marriage has already been arranged, so…”
“I hear that you’re going to propose to my sister.”
I frown slightly. “And as I just said, the…”
“I hear you’re going to propose to my sister and make it romantic so that she doesn’t feel like this is some sort of paid-for arrangement.”
I look over at Elisabetta, and she’s frowning slightly.
“Romeo, what are you doing?”
“Honey, I love you, I love you, I love you, and you are admirable for going through with this craziness. I don’t know how you’re doing it, but if that man wants to put a ring on your finger and expects me to come to the wedding, I’m going to need to know that he put a lot more into this engagement than just signing a couple of pieces of paper.”
“I mean, I did also transfer millions of dollars to your father’s bank account.”
“First off, he’s not my daddy, he’s my step-daddy, and he’s already cut me off.”
“Oh, no, I didn’t know that,” Elisabetta says. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine. I’m an in-demand model right now. Have you ever heard of those supermodels in the 80s who didn’t even wake up unless they were offered ten grand? Well, that’s me, darling. I’m getting twenty grand a day. Who knew?”
“I knew. You’re fabulous.”
“Well, thank you. So, I don’t need your father’s money. I’m living my best life. But anyway, if this man is a real gentleman, like his accent would lead one to believe, then he’s going to need to get down on one knee and propose to you. Because my darling sister is not marrying any man without at least a real proposal.”
“You know this isn’t a real wedding.”
“Ah, it may not be a real wedding, but was the fucking that you did with him recently real?”
“Romeo!” She sounds shocked as she looks at me.
I grin at her. “Yes, your sister and I do have sex, and it is amazing, and yes, we’re dating, and…”
“And nothing,” Romeo says. “I know you guys are trying to compartmentalize this weird-ass relationship, and I’ve spoken to Sissy almost every day. I also know you’re making her happy, but I don’t care that you guys are doing this as some kind of business deal. This is my sister and best friend’s first wedding, and I need to hear that you proposed to her in the most bomb-ass romantic way. You hear me?”
“I hear you.”
“And if you break her heart or do anything that leads me to believe you’re a jackass, I will personally make your life miserable. Do you understand?”
“Completely,” I say. “Absolutely and completely.”