Chapter Fifteen #2
Four hours later, Nico stood at the edge of the ballroom, a flute of champagne clasped in his hand as he watched Ashley make the rounds, talking up Infinite Innovations at every opportunity.
She was radiant with purpose and joy. Her hair was held back the same way it had been at that ball so long ago, diamond drops on her ears that he had given her himself just an hour ago.
The dress she wore was different, but just as beautiful, and, Nico reflected, more suitable for a woman of her maturity and elegance than the na?ve eighteen-year-old girl she’d once been.
Everything felt like a redemption. These last ten days together had felt like a miracle, one he was so very thankful for.
After his years in prison and the relentless grind of proving himself afterwards, he’d thought he’d lost the ability to trust anyone ever again.
To love anyone ever again—and certainly not a Woodward.
Yet here he was, considering those two emotions in relation to Ashley Woodward, a woman he’d come to respect, admire, enjoy and, yes, maybe even love.
Love. The word reverberated through him.
No matter how wonderful the last ten days had been, it made him uneasy, as did the feeling.
Ten days was nothing when it came to actually knowing someone.
Even if he was falling in love with Ashley, he didn’t yet know her well enough to be able truly to trust her.
Did he? There were certainly things, important things, he still hadn’t told her—such as how she’d turned away from him on that fateful night.
He hadn’t told her about Roberto, even though she’d asked about his family.
He still kept the most private and exposing parts of his life to himself, but there had been moments when he’d considered telling her, when he’d wanted to unburden himself.
What was love without trust? And he did want to trust and love her?
Over the last week and a half, he’d felt that he was starting to; it had been less of a choice than a compulsion, and it had been freeing and frightening in equal measure.
It was so much safer, Nico reflected, as well as so much easier, simply to keep his guard up.
To make sure not to let anyone in, especially a Woodward.
But, he’d come to realise, it was no way to live: without love, without trust, without joy.
Now, in a moment of quiet, he knew he needed to take stock and ask himself honestly whether, considering all he’d already endured—some of it at the hands of Ashley herself—he could let go and truly let himself love her.
Did he have it in him? Was he willing to let the last of his prized control slip from his hands?
‘Nico!’ Nico turned to see Adam Tyler, a business colleague from New York, strolling up to him. ‘I didn’t know you were in Italy,’ the man remarked.
‘Just checking in on my real estate,’ Nico replied dryly. ‘And you?’ Adam was CEO of a luxury tourism business that often recommended Galletti hotels.
‘Visiting all the locations for a new tour we’re offering,’ Tyler replied with a grin. ‘It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it.’
‘I’m sure.’
Tyler’s eyes narrowed as he gazed out over the ballroom that held a fair few of Europe’s and North America’s most influential financiers and entrepreneurs, all gathered together to support an international charity for cancer research.
It was, Nico thought, the perfect opportunity for Ashley to talk about Infinite Innovations.
‘So what’s the deal with you and the Woodward woman?
’ Tyler asked, jangling some keys in his pocket as his narrowed gaze lasered in on Ashley, who stood across the ballroom, gesturing enthusiastically with her hands as she chatted to another guest. ‘You took over her company and now you’re travelling the world with her? ’
There was a slightly suggestive note in the other man’s voice that made Nico tense. The last thing he wanted to do was talk about his relationship with Ashley with a veritable stranger.
‘Something like that,’ he replied.
‘I always thought that company was a vanity project,’ Tyler remarked.
‘Most people see it as a money-laundering operation, although Chase Woodward won’t get to use his hard-stolen cash for some time.
’ He let out a dry chuckle. ‘Word is, though, he might get parole in a year.’ Tyler shrugged while Nico went completely rigid, the casually spoken words reverberating through him like the aftershocks of an earthquake.
‘Chase Woodward,’ he stated carefully, coldly, ‘Has nothing to do with Infinite Innovations.’
Tyler let out a guffaw of genuine amusement. ‘And if you believe that, I have some beachfront property I want to sell you in—’
‘What are you talking about?’ Nico demanded through gritted teeth, swivelling to face the man, his fingers clenched around the fragile stem of his champagne flute so tightly, he thought it might snap.
It felt as if he were tumbling back through time to that night when he’d been so na?ve, stunned into submission by sheer shock.
Phillip Boxall had explained the reason for his arrest while they’d been handcuffing him, but Nico had only been able to shake his head in mute, shocked denial.
He’d been so stupid, so foolish, and now he felt so again—but this time it was even worse. Had Ashley been lying to him all along? Was he going to learn the truth from a virtual stranger, and not from her?
‘You mean you really don’t know?’ Tyler asked.
He looked pleased to be the bearer of such information.
‘I thought it was common knowledge. Ashley Woodward set up the company right after her father went to prison and, even though she didn’t know anything about business, somehow this dubious start-up got a sudden influx of however many millions.
Everyone knew her father had squirrelled some money away in offshore accounts.
Laundering it through his daughter’s company seems a little obvious, but then butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, and it’s such a worthy enterprise, no one wanted to question it openly.
And as far as I know, no one has.’ He shrugged, dismissive now.
‘They say Woodward might be released soon, so I guess he wants his money.’
Nico turned and walked away from the man without another word. He was reeling, both emotionally and physically, memories pounding through him of the last time he’d been so blindsided, along with a fresh and terrible realisation that it had happened again.
Ashley Woodward had lied to him again. He’d asked her where the funding had first come from, and with hindsight he realised how obviously and blunderingly she’d prevaricated, simply talking about an anonymous, generous investor.
Had she been lying to him this whole time?
Trying to keep him sweet, to see if there was any way she could get some of her father’s money out of the company before he noticed?
Or maybe she was trying to get him to change his mind so she could keep it for herself.
He’d paused making any decisions about the future of Infinite Innovations until he was more certain in his mind about what he wanted to do.
Was that what she’d been hoping for, with her endless dramatics—fainting, spraining her ankle, having that ridiculous little breakdown?
Good Lord, but the woman was a failed actress and he’d fallen for it all!
Just like before, Nico’s fury masked a far deeper shame. How could he have fallen for it? Was everything she did a lie?
For a second, he forced himself to stop and think calmly. One stranger’s gossip should not make him doubt everything about Ashley…and yet it did. Because, he realised, he’d never known her that well at all. And the investment into her company was dubious—something she’d never explained.
And the last thing Nico ever wanted to do was be made to feel like a stupid dupe again by the same woman—and this time it was much worse because he’d thought he was in love with her!
He’d been going to tell her about Roberto.
He’d been thinking of baring his whole heart, offering it to her on a platter.
No longer. His heart, which had become so shamefully soft and pliable, hardened right back up, and it felt like a relief. He’d been right all along: keeping up his guard was the only sensible and sane thing to do. After all, he’d always known never to trust a Woodward.
His iron-hard gaze tracked the woman he’d almost fallen in love with across the ballroom. She looked like an emerald flame in her deep-green dress, a column of silk that clung to her lithe figure, hugging every slender and sinuous curve.
He was tempted to march over there, drag her out of the ballroom and let her know they were finished.
But he’d played that card before and, he decided, he was not going to add to the drama.
No, he’d tell her tonight, after the ball.
He’d exult in letting her know the jig was finally, for ever, up, and then sending her packing.
His heart would be intact, and Ashley Woodward would be gone.
It would be revenge, he thought bitterly…but it was anything but sweet.