Chapter 32 #2
“Great,” I say to his retreating back.
“I’ll be back. I just need to powder my nose.” Aubrey turns and heads in the opposite direction.
“Methinks there’s a shit tonne of trouble in paradise,” Gabbi hisses under her breath, but there’s also an element of glee. I’m getting the impression she’s unimpressed with her brother’s choice of lady friend.
I remain silent, not wanting to fuel the fire or make assumptions.
Gabbi grips my arm. “Sorry, it’s just that she’s one of those. I can see it as plain as the nose on your face.”
“One of them?”
“Someone who sees Alex as a means to an end. Models, actresses, wannabe designers. Since Loretta left, there has been a constant stream. He’s usually better at spotting them, but Aubrey…”
“Maybe he genuinely likes her?” I say.
She raises an eyebrow. “Does his behaviour tonight tell you they’re a match made in heaven?”
I incline my head but decide I’m better off staying quiet. It’s not my place to make a judgement on Alex’s love life.
“I better say goodbye to your parents and Enzo,” I say, giving her forearm a squeeze.
“I’ll come with you. I may retire for the night. Not sure I can stand much more of this social posturing.”
We approach Sophia and Edoardo, who are holding court in the centre of the room.
“Ah, Brooke, how are you enjoying yourself?” Edoardo asks.
“It’s been a wonderful party, thank you,” I say with a smile as Gabbi whispers “Liar,” in my ear.
“Brooke is our son’s incredibly efficient PA,” he continues.
“Delightful,” one of the women says.
It’s impossible to miss the dismissal.
I seriously hope my family aren’t seen this way. Although if my brothers behaved this way, Leah, April, and Pen, all of whom come from humble beginnings, would have something to say about it.
“I just wanted to come and say goodnight,” I say.
“You’re leaving already?” Sophia asks.
“Alex has offered to drive me back into the city. He’s apparently taking Aubrey home.”
“Is he now…” Sophia says, her eyes drifting towards the door, where he’s standing, waiting.
“I better go,” I say. “Thank you for a wonderful day.”
Sophia steps forward and pulls me in for a hug.
“Will you join us for New Year?” she asks.
“I…”
“Think about it.”
“Please do,” Gabbi says.
Alex appears at my side, his energy barely contained. “Are you ready?”
Edoardo pulls me in for a hug. “Lovely to meet you,” he says. “Safe trip home.”
“Thank you again.”
Enzo appears at my side, pulling me into a hug.
“Next time I’m on your team,” he says. “It was lovely to finally meet you. Don’t let my brother be a big bad wolf.”
Alex growls, making him hug me even tighter.
“Put my PA down,” he hisses at his brother.
He does as he’s told, but shoots me a conspiratorial wink.
“See you soon, Brooke.”
“Bye, Enzo. Lovely meeting you.”
Gabbi is next. “I wish you weren’t going. You’ve kept me sane,” she says against my ear.
“I’ll hopefully catch you soon. When do you head back to Italy?”
“Straight after New Year,” she says, her face dropping. “I’ll message you.”
“Coming?” Alex says, his patience clearly running thin.
“Absolutely.”
We exit quickly before anyone else can stop us, although the urgency is more his than mine.
Here I’m a nobody, just a lowly PA. I wonder if they’d act differently if they knew who I really am?
Of course they would. The thought makes me queasy.
A realisation hits. I don’t want them to know.
I’m enjoying being Brooke. No one is expecting anything of me, asking the impossible.
I’ve shed the chains I’ve borne all my life.
I don’t have to worry about expectations.
People are free to choose if they like me.
People like Gabriella. She’s chosen me, not because I’m wealthy and we’re from the same social circles, but because I’m someone she wants to spend time with.
Aubrey is waiting in the hallway. Her coat is already on, her Hermès bag draped over her forearm.
She turns and walks towards the door as we approach.
Okay then, all is definitely not well in paradise.
I thought Gabbi was exaggerating, but now I can sense the annoyance emanating from the man next to me.
Aubrey moves to the passenger side.
Alex holds open the rear car door so I can slide in.
“It’s open,” he calls across to Aubrey.
The air within the car crackles with unspoken tension as he fires up the engine and heads out of the main gates.
“I really don’t see what the big deal is,” Aubrey says, her tone sullen after about twenty minutes of almost unbearable silence. “It was your mother who invited me.”
“We’ve discussed this.” His eyes meet mine in the rear-view mirror, and I look away.
Awkward!
“Well, she’s not wrong. We have been together a long time,” she says, twisting in her seat to stare at him.
“We see each other sporadically,” he says, his tone clipped.
“Maybe it’s time I moved on… if I’m wasting my time?” she says, her tone sullen. “I’m not getting any younger. I don’t want to waste the best years of my life on someone who isn’t interested.”
I cringe. This is not something I want to listen to.
Back seat swallow me up.
She clearly has a death wish if she can’t sense the agitation rolling off him.
“Maybe you should,” he says.
There’s no mistaking the finality of it.
Shit, I’ve just witnessed Alessandro break up with his girlfriend.
“You don’t mean that,” she says. “Look, I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
“It’s not your fault,” he says quietly. “This has been coming for a while.”
“Fun while it lasted, you mean,” she says, unable to hide the bitterness in her tone. “I should have realised it wasn’t her blocking my calls.”
“Leave Brooke out of this,” he says.
“You’re the one who is breaking up with me in front of your PA,” she says, her voice catching.
“We discussed this at the house. You’re the one who’s brought it up in front of Brooke. Don’t put this on me. I won’t be manipulated, Aubrey.”
I don’t understand. She’s beautiful, a model, fits neatly into his world, but then they say the heart wants what the heart wants. I should know.
My heart wants what it can never have.
“Of course not, you’re Alessandro Bianchi, CEO of St Clair. I’m just some washed-up model.”
I bite the inside of my cheek.
Oh heavens, cut the crap, woman. Please try to retain some form of dignity.
Begging is never a good look and never works, except in Darra’s case, but then she pulled the pregnancy card.
Alex pulls up outside a beautiful apartment block.
“What? You’re dropping me home first?” she says, swivelling once more in her seat. “I—”
“We’ve said all we need to say.”
“You can’t mean that,” she says, her voice desperate. “Please, Alex—”
“Aubrey, don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”
He sounds tired, as his hand drifts to the back of his neck, squeezing the muscles, something I’ve noticed he does when he’s tense.
“But—”
“Enough.” His sharp tone cuts through the car like a hot knife through butter. “We’re over. I’m not sure how much clearer I need to be.”
I turn away as her face crumples.
She storms out of the car, slamming the door behind her. Alex remains silent until she has disappeared into her apartment building.
“Will you please get in the front? I feel like Benjamin with you sat in the back.”
I scurry out and move to the passenger door, only to have it pushed open from the inside.
“I’d get out and hold it for you, but right now I’m tired. I just want to get home.”
I climb in.
“Sorry you had to be privy to that. I should have ordered her a cab, but unfortunately, being Christmas night…”
“No taxis,” I finish for him, and wonder whether his offer of a ride was to act as a protection against the onslaught he knew was coming. Not that it worked.
He puts the car into drive and sets off.
I stare out of the window and watch the city go by, unsure what else to say.