Chapter 34 Chiara
Chiara
Angelo shields me from the waiting press pack as we step inside the glittering entrance of the family’s new flagship casino hotel.
The place is stunning. Recently converted from a historic grain warehouse, the architects retained the bones of the building while adding modern elements, such as a large glass-roofed inner courtyard filled with tropical plants and a cascading waterfall.
The casino is in the basement, along with a luxe bar and nightclub.
Honestly, I’m impressed. I was expecting something tacky, but this…this is amazing.
Kane stands two feet away, his shoulders tense as he watches the reporters milling around outside.
Given a choice, I’d have stayed at home watching Netflix, but Angelo made it clear my presence was not optional. He said his father had been looking forward to seeing me, which gave me the ick.
Staff wearing smart uniforms hover, waiting to serve the VIP guests with complimentary Krug and caviar.
I spot a famous actress and her much younger husband.
She looks older in the flesh, which proves how filtered most photos are these days.
When a small dog’s head pops up from the Chanel tote bag she carries, I smile.
It reminds me of Coco; she would have loved being schlepped around in a fancy purse.
Fina called the other day to say she’d asked a guy she knew to see if he could find out what happened to Coco, but I’m not optimistic.
Vivian was and is vindictive enough to have had her sent to a kill shelter, and even though Coco looked cute, she hated men, which would have made her less attractive to potential adopters.
Angelo hustles me through the grand foyer and across the atrium. I stare at the waterfall, my jaw dropping. It’s truly a feat of engineering. The warm, moist air in here smells divine, and when I look up, there are butterflies.
“We’ve had them bred especially,” Angelo says in a low voice when he sees me gaping.
“They’ll die without the right plants,” I point out, having spotted several crushed bodies on the walkway already. It makes me sad.
“That’s life.”
Yet another reminder that he and I are not at all suited. Whereas I can’t bear the thought of these beautiful, doomed creatures existing only to make Angelo’s fucking hotel look special, he gives no shits.
“They’ll last longer in here than outside,” he points out when he sees me scowl.
“Debatable,” I mutter.
Angelo says nothing more. He’s not been back to the mansion since Luka and I fucked outside. Nothing’s been said, but I know he knows. That man misses nothing. And if he knows, Kane also knows.
Not that I care. The pair of them can do one.
“Chiara!” Fina appears in a cloud of expensive perfume. As usual, she looks like a million dollars in a cream silk wrap dress, her hair pinned up in a stylish chignon. “You look lovely, darling.”
She nods approvingly at my green dress, even though I had no say in what I wore. Angelo seems to enjoy playing dress-up with me. He treats me like his doll.
“Thank your brother,” I say with a smirk. “Left to my own devices, I’d be wearing sneakers and sweats.”
Kane chuckles before turning it into a cough when Angelo throws a glare in his direction.
“Angelo has good taste,” Fina admits. “Are you ready?” Her question is aimed at both of us, but Angelo nods on my behalf.
“Chiara has promised to behave herself.”
My jaw unhinges. “I have?”
“Yes, because the alternative is I remove the TVs from the house so you can’t watch your trashy shows anymore.”
“That’s…cruel.”
“Don’t worry, kitten, I’d replace them,” Kane whispers in my ear while a creepy guy wearing a blazer and a name tag that says he’s the manager distracts Angelo.
Kane’s breath smells of mint and coffee. It’s a delicious combo. It sends a shiver of desire through my veins. My outdoor tryst with Luka feels like a lifetime ago, and my body is more than ready for a repeat.
“That’s mighty generous of you considering there’s at least five TVs that I know of.” I fight a smile as he grins at me.
“You’re worth it, kitten.”
Angelo catches us whispering, and his expression turns thunderous.
“If you’ve quite finished flirting with my wife, Kane, tell the reporters Fina will issue a press release and photos later.”
Kane winks one last time before sliding away. Knowing our little interaction has irritated Angelo lifts my mood as he gestures at me to follow him. Fina glances at the pair of us and then rolls her eyes.
“You two should just fuck already,” she murmurs when Angelo turns his back on us.
“Only when hell freezes over,” I retort.
Lorenzo Di Rossi reminds me of a crocodile lounging on a muddy riverbank. At first glance, he seems harmless. Far too lazy to attack. But the moment his gaze snaps onto me, my fight-or-flight response kicks in.
Angelo and Fina might be the public faces of the Di Rossi family, but this man still wields considerable power. And he knows it.
“Mio caro,” he says with a smile as he stands to greet us.
Dry lips brush my cheek, and I struggle not to recoil.
While Lorenzo acts like a jovial father-in-law, my instincts tell me he’s dangerous.
After all, it’s because of him I’m stuck in a marriage of convenience to a man I despise.
“Such a pleasure to finally see you after you ran away from my son.”
The words are spoken with a congenial smile, but his eyes are reptilian cold.
“Such a shame Kane found me,” I quip, refusing to let him get the upper hand. He might hold all the power in the room, but I won't submit without a fight.
Fina sucks in a sharp breath as Lorenzo’s lips flatten and all traces of amusement vanish. The hum of conversation fades as he and I stare at each other. Then he chuckles, and the tension breaks.
“The girl has a sense of humor,” he says with a smile before lifting his hand and summoning a nervous man in a waistcoat over. “More champagne.” The man nods and scurries away. “What do you think of our newest project, Chiara?”
“It’s impressive,” I reply honestly.
“My son and I both appreciate beautiful things.” There’s a subtext there, but I don’t care to examine it too closely.
“The hotel’s booked out for the next twelve months,” Angelo says, butting in. “Profit projections have exceeded our initial forecasts.”
“Good, we can use that to our advantage.” The conversation continues, and after a few minutes of pretending I give a fuck, I accept a glass of champagne and tune them out.
Guests approach to pay their respects, and soon various exquisite dishes arrive. Nobody asked what I wanted, but it all looks delicious, so I don’t care.
Angelo fills my plate for me, acting like a solicitous husband. I’m tempted to stab him with my fork but decide it’s not worth the drama.
Fina doesn’t contribute much to the conversation either, only answering direct questions. It soon becomes apparent that Lorenzo is an old-fashioned misogynist. Even though his daughter works hard for the family, in his eyes, she has no value.
It’s not until Lorenzo turns the conversation to her marriage prospects that I focus once again. Her cheeks pale, but she doesn’t defend herself.
“Henry Graville junior has expressed an interest,” Lorenzo murmurs to Angelo, who nods like this conversation is perfectly acceptable. “But he’s not proven his family can afford her.”
I watch as Lorenzo’s gaze slithers back to me.
“The Faugno heir would have been my first choice,” he muses while sipping a glass of bourbon, having moved on from champagne. “But he’s married some whore waitress.”
Angelo’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Salvatore married a waitress? I wasn’t aware.”
“Yes, the fool. I expect Aroldo wasn’t too happy about it.” Lorenzo sneers at the idea a man might decide to choose to marry for love. At least I assume that was the case. Not having met Salvatore Faugno, who knows? “He has two younger brothers, though.”
“Ah yes, Christiano and Romano.” From Angelo’s cough, neither is marriage material. Thank god.
“Perhaps Fina would like to choose her own husband,” I interject. Angelo’s hand reaches beneath the damask tablecloth and squeezes my thigh in warning. But staying silent is not in my nature.
“Fina will marry whomever I choose.” Lorenzo waves his hand dismissively.
Fina frantically tries to catch my eye, but I shake my head in disgust. “How progressive of you.”
“Get your wife under control,” Lorenzo hisses at Angelo when the people sitting nearby pause their conversation to listen to ours.
“Of course, Dad.” Angelo turns to me with a look that would strip paint. “Darling, let me show you where the bathrooms are.”
Fina’s chair scrapes on the tile as she jumps up. “Let me show her, Angelo. I need to powder my nose.” Angelo’s jaw tightens, but he nods.
“Take Kane with you.” Fina grabs my hand and leads me away from our table before Lorenzo can lynch me. My personal guard dog trails after us and takes a position outside the ladies’ bathroom.
Once inside the cavernous room, Fina waits until a glamorous woman dripping in jewels leaves before she speaks.
“Thank you for standing up for me, Chiara.” Her eyes glisten with unshed tears before she hugs me. “I appreciate it, even though there’s no way my father will change his mind about finding me a husband.”
“Are the Faugno brothers awful?” I grimace while picturing two bald, fat thugs.
“They’re actually really hot,” she chuckles before her smile fades. “But my heart belongs to another.”
“I know,” I say, and Fina flushes.
“How?”
I snort. “You might think you’re hiding your true feelings for Matteo, but trust me, you’re really not.” Her face falls.
“If my father finds out, he’ll…” She swallows hard before standing tall and fixing her hair like she hopes looking perfect will keep her safe. “Anyway, it’s not your problem. Angelo assures me he won’t let anything happen to Matteo, and I trust him.”
“Glad one of us does,” I mutter under my breath while she applies a fresh coat of lipstick.
Fina catches my eye in the mirror. “My brother is a good man, Chiara. I know it might not seem that way to you, but he’s nothing like our father.” My derisive scoff speaks volumes, and she sighs. “If he could fix this marriage mess, he would. I’m certain of that.”
I’m sure she believes the bullshit she’s selling, but I don’t.
Angelo has done nothing to make this right. There are dozens more eligible women out there for him. Women who’d happily wear his ring and bear him children. So why does he insist on continuing with this fake marriage when it’s obvious we’re a terrible match?