Chapter 23
ISLA
Why was Ciro messing with my head and emotions? Just being his controlling and possessive self… And sexy as hell.
Stop it. Ciro can’t give you what you want, nothing lasting anyway.
But a night of phenomenal sex would be amazing… For closure, of course.
What was I thinking? Sex would be bad. Very bad idea, Isla.
The erratic thoughts in my head were why I had taken a ride service to work, even though Ciro had insisted on Paolo driving me. He’d been relentless, while playing with Pippa. But I had held strong, which hadn’t been easy.
Ciro was not only powerful and ruthless, but he could also be quite charming and persuasive. Hence his demand that he paid for my ride. At that point, I didn’t care so long as I got time to myself, just me and my thoughts.
However, I knew time alone wasn’t what Ciro wanted.
I might get ideas that would work against him.
I’d learned very early in our relationship that he wouldn’t leave me after we’d had a fight—usually over another woman.
He’d force me to talk it out to solve our problems, then we’d have mind-blowing make-up sex.
Naturally, things always went his way.
No matter what Ciro said about caring for me, I’d never been first in his life.
This past year changed me in many ways. Yes, it sucked struggling and not always having food to eat or money to pay for any extras. But I’d made the best out of a difficult situation and had grown into an independent woman without Ciro Remotti as my cushion.
I survived.
I thrived.
I proved I didn’t need Ciro or his billions.
Not that having his money wouldn’t be amazing and make my life easier, it absolutely would.
But at what cost? I had no desire to go back to the way things used to be, where I didn’t know when I was welcome at his estate and brought an overnight bag with me just in case he decided I could spend the night.
Or where I had to smile and bear it when women threw themselves at him. No thank you.
Except, what gave me pause was seeing him with Pippa. He’d been so gentle and in complete awe of her. The two of them together had fractured something in me. It made me think of my dad and how much I’d missed having him in my life.
I still loved Ciro and we had a daughter together. But how could I trust him not to break mine and Pippa’s hearts?
Before I left Alba’s, I could tell Ciro sensed my internal struggles. It was in his intense gaze when I kissed Pippa’s sweet head. He’d wrapped his fingers around my wrist, holding me there without saying a word. His eyes had said all that needed to be said: he wasn’t giving up.
The redhead came to mind as I entered the kitchen at West End. He’d said I had it all wrong, that she was just a friend. God, I hoped I was wrong. But why was she texting and calling him?
Stop it, Isla. Focus.
I tossed my denim jacket and purse into my locker and took out my black apron. The bistro’s kitchen was alive with activity. No one had noticed when I entered with the clinking and sizzling sounds mixed with shouts and mumbles.
“Your young Jedi is here” was whispered at the shell of my ear. Jon.
I stiffened, looking over my shoulder. “I didn’t know you were working today.”
“I am.” He smiled, putting his pearly whites on full display. “I’m looking forward to your teachings. Tell me what you need.” He leaned in closer, too close. “I’m all yours.”
Holy moly! His words were laced with innuendo. Or maybe my imagination was screwing with me like it had with Ciro. Yes! That had to be it. I wasn’t my usual self and needed to pull myself together.
“Great. I want you to find Chris and shadow him for a bit until I’m ready for you.”
“Anything you say, Isla.” My name rolled off his tongue with a delicate intent that didn’t match the glimmer in his eye. Instead, they were dark and filled with desire.
Any other time, I might’ve entertained his flirting. Maybe even flirted back. I would’ve considered Jon if Ciro hadn’t shown up. But I couldn’t engage my Jedi, not with my baby daddy in town, hovering over me and our daughter.
I shook my head. What was I thinking?
Nothing would’ve happened with Jon, even if Ciro hadn’t shown up.
Jon was a catch: intelligent, funny, hard-working, and handsome. Any woman would jump at the chance to be with him. Not me though. I was the problem.
I wasn’t ready to give my heart to another man. How could I trust another after Ciro shattered me into a billion pieces? I was finally in a better place, then he showed up…
Stop thinking about Ciro!
Falina wasn’t in the kitchen, so I assumed she was in her office. I sought her out and tapped on her opened office door. “Got a minute?”
She raised her head above her laptop. “I do.” She snapped her fingers in the air in a zigzag motion. “Sit.”
“Thanks. I wanted to—”
“You’ve been crying.” Falina leaned forward on her desk with an examining eye. “What happened?”
“That’s what I was going to talk to you about.”
She reclined in her chair, waving her hand to continue.
“That man yesterday asking about me is Pippa’s father.”
Falina gaped and sprung forward, putting her hands flat on her desk. A speechless Falina was a first. All she knew about Pippa and me was that her father wasn’t in the picture. I hadn’t given any details other than I was on my own.
I gave her a moment to process.
“The sinfully gorgeous, mature man who looked like a million bucks?”
“Mhm.” My insides tingled as Ciro’s face flashed in my head. He was the most sinfully gorgeous man on the planet and mature at fourteen years older than me.
“I don’t understand. He looks like the total package. And he’s rich, isn’t he?” Falina asked, but I could tell she knew the answer to her own question.
I really didn’t want to give her specifics. She could do an easy search online to find out his net worth if she absolutely needed to know.
“I noticed his Rolex and smelled his millions.” She eyed me for a reaction. When I didn’t respond, her eyes went wide as if she understood my silence. Ciro was worth billions, not millions.
“Listen. It’s complicated. I just wanted to give you a heads-up that I might need some time off.
” I could be putting the cart before the horse, but there was a niggling in my gut telling me he’d want the baby near him.
In what context I didn’t know, or if I’d be welcome in the Remotti mansion after keeping Pippa away from them.
“Time off? Why?”
“Because Ciro might—”
“Oh my God! Even his name sounds regal.” Falina fanned her face like a starstruck fan. “He’s Italian, right? I know he is. He has a passionate, distinguished aura about him.”
“Will you focus?” I snapped louder than I intended. “Stop thinking about his money. He could take Pippa from me if he wanted to!”
“I’m sorry.” Falina clamped her hand over her mouth.
“He hasn’t said so yet, but I know he’s going to want me to take Pippa to meet his father and siblings. I just don’t know when and for how long.”
“Is that what you want? To be alone with him for an extended amount of time?” Falina’s question made me tremble inside.
“Honestly, I don’t know what I want.” I sighed, brushing my bangs back. “It’s complicated.”
“You said that already. Do I need to prepare myself to hire a replacement for you?”
“Maybe.” I steepled my hands against my mouth like I was about to pray.
Ciro told me to quit my job. He wouldn’t have said it if he didn’t intend on providing for Pippa and me. Maybe the words fell from his mouth—word vomit—out of shock. He’d barely learned he was a father. Perhaps he had responded emotionally. Who knew?
“I understand.”
“Well, that’s good because I don’t.” I slouched on the chair. “I have no idea what Ciro will do or what he wants.”
“Sounds like he might expect you to move to Canada. Are you okay with leaving your life and sister, and all your friends?” When she put it that way, my answer was no.
I’d always done whatever Ciro wanted. Obeyed like a good girl. Not this time.
If he wanted Pippa in his life, he needed to do the work and prove he wouldn’t abandon her after the novelty of having a child wore off. I needed to protect my daughter’s heart, so she didn’t end up like me, guarded with daddy issues.
“Isla?” Falina’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “Are you okay?”
“No.” I squared my shoulders and composed myself. “I’m not okay with moving to Canada if Ciro demands it. You saw me not long after we broke up. I was a mess because of him.”
“You were.”
“Well, he doesn’t get to drop in out of nowhere and call the shots. I’m a goddamn independent woman and mother!”
“Yes, you are!” She stood and clapped enthusiastically, which fueled my burst of confidence.
“Just because he’s powerful and disgustingly rich doesn’t mean squat. I’m Pippa’s mother and I decide what’s best for me and my daughter.”
“That’s right girlie. Don’t let him intimidate you and boss you around!”
“No one will ever control me again!” I paced in the small office and flexed my hands. “Ciro better get used to the brand new me. I might be a lot younger than him, but I’ve grown and matured over the past year. I don’t need him or his money. I can provide for my child just fine!”
“Brava! You’re a badass momma!” She clapped some more. “You got this!”
“Damn straight I do!” I went to the doorway. “Good talk.”
I left Falina’s office with mental clarity and felt a thousand times stronger.
I’m ready for you Ciro.