26. Out of Control
CHAPTER 26
OUT OF CONTROL
M arco
I slam the empty crystal tumbler on the bar top and heave out a breath before signaling to the bartender again.
“You sure, Mr. Rossi?” The young blond guy eyes me warily.
“I’m getting married tomorrow, Sean. I’m fucking celebrating.” Alone because my twin is too busy obsessing over his girlfriend to spend a minute with his damned brother.
The bartender doesn’t move, his eyes narrowed on the row of empty glasses in front of me. So what if it’s only noon?
“I’ve got a room upstairs, kid. I’m not driving anywhere. Just give me the fucking whiskey, or I’ll have your pretty boy ass fired.”
He dips his head and scrambles away, and I heave out a sigh of relief when he’s back a moment later refilling my glass. As I sip the smooth, smoky liquid and twirl the cubes of ice around, my thoughts flicker to the dainty red box in my pocket, and my spirits sink lower.
Damn Nico for forcing me to buy a stupid engagement ring.
Jia despises me, she wants an open marriage and nothing to do with me. Why the fuck would a fifty-thousand-dollar diamond ring change anything?
The damned box burns a hole in my pocket, its weight against my thigh irritating the hell out of me. Plucking it free, I slam the little box onto the mahogany bar. The gold piping along the top glistens beneath the dim lighting. I flick the lid and the enormous princess cut diamond winks at me.
It would look perfect on Jia’s long, slender finger. My grand plan was to go back to the penthouse and offer it as an apology. Only, every minute I waited, the more nervous I became. What if she refused it? What if she refused me ?
So instead, I drank more.
She hates you, you coglione .
I flip the lid shut, cursing under my breath, and bury the ring in my pocket.
A rush of female voices jerks my attention to the entrance of the Waldorf’s lobby bar. A gaggle of young women saunter toward me, inquisitive gazes latching on.
“O.M.G, it is him,” one of the girls squeals.
“I told you,” says another.
The four females in bright sundresses surround me, oblivious to my deepening scowl.
“You were in last month’s New Yorker for Manhattan’s most eligible bachelors,” says a blonde.
“Caught me red-handed.” I finish off the remainder of my drink and stand.
“Oh, no, please don’t go.” A brunette places her hand on my forearm. “We just got here.”
“And that’s why I’m leaving.” I signal to the bartender. “Put it on my tab, Sean. ”
“Sure thing, Mr. Rossi.”
“Why do you have to go?” The brunette’s hold tightens.
“Because I’m getting married tomorrow.” I narrow my gaze and flash her a tight smile. “So kindly remove your hand from my arm so I can be on my way.”
“Unbelievable.” A familiar voice echoes through the foyer, and a tangle of excitement and trepidation swirls in my gut.
I push past the circle of females to find Jia with her grandfather in the lobby. She glares up at me, pitch irises smoldering.
“So this is you giving me space?” she hisses. “Getting drunk with a bunch of girls in the middle of the day?”
“No,” I grit out. “I was getting drunk by myself. They just showed up about a minute ago.”
“I bet.” She knots her arms across her chest, the disgust in her eyes palpable.
“Fuck, I just can’t win with you, Jia,” I snarl. “I’m really trying here, but you’re making it impossible.” I pace a tight circle, dragging my hands through my hair. “We’re not even married yet, and you’re already driving me crazy. I don’t know if I can do this…”
“ You don’t know?” she snaps. “That’s exactly what I’ve been saying from day one. This was a terrible idea!”
“I couldn’t agree with you more.”
“Then why are we even doing this?” She throws her hands in the air, her cheeks flushed.
“Fuck if I know.”
“Mr. Rossi,” Guo whispers, “perhaps we should take this discussion to a more private location.”
I glance around the lobby and meet half a dozen curious gazes. Merda .
“And need I remind you,” the old man whispers, “this arrangement has already been finalized with a binding contract. If you’d like to discuss any of the details in private?—”
“No. I’ve said all I needed to say, and your granddaughter has made her intentions perfectly clear.” I spin to Jia, to her puckered lips, to the fury in those midnight irises. “I’ll see you at the altar.”
“Marco!” Her voice echoes behind me, but I can barely make it out over the wild thrashing of my pulse.
I need to get the hell out of here. I need to shoot at something or fuck the shit out of someone before I lose my damned mind. Marching out the gilded doors of the Waldorf, that godforsaken ring stabs at my thigh with each frenzied step. I should go back to Cartier and return the cursed diamond.
My assistant Mel had already procured two plain wedding bands for the ceremony. That was all we needed anyway. That reminds me… Mel . My feet compel me forward, each step more rushed than the last.
I’m not married yet. I didn’t even get a bachelor party, and I deserve a night of fun.
Mel’s apartment is a short walk from the Waldorf, but even after the frantic five-minute march, the haze of booze begins to lift. By the time I reach the building, my resolve is faltering. I stand at the door for an endless moment, my finger an inch from the buzzer. But fuck, it won’t move.
I wasn’t lying to Jia the other day. She’s the only woman I want, the only person I can’t get out of my mind. My stupid cock twitches at just the thought of her. He’s so stupid he doesn’t understand we don’t have a chance. What am I going to do, force myself onto her on our wedding night? I’d never… And just because we’ll be married doesn’t obligate her to fuck me.
Dragging my hand through my hair, I spin on my heel and barrel into a familiar form. Mel’s groceries go sprawling across the sidewalk and I hiss out a curse.
“Geez, Marco, watch out.”
“Sorry.” I drop to the ground beside her and refill her recyclable shopping bags .
Once I’ve gathered the array of fruit, yogurt and energy drinks, I straighten and draw in a steadying breath.
“What are you doing here?” She brushes an errant strand of blonde hair behind her ear.
“Nothing… Um, I was in the area and?—”
She sniffs the air, then inches closer. “Are you drunk?”
“Not exactly.” I shrug, but even I can smell the Macallan on my breath.
“So you got drunk and came to see me?” Her eyes widen, almost comically.
Was I that much of an asshole while we were together?
“Maybe,” I mumble. “Before I realized what a dick move that would be.”
“On the night before your wedding…”
“…Right.”
She draws in a sharp breath and motions to the door. “What are you doing, Marco?”
“I don’t fucking know. I’m so out of my league here.” I tug at the wild ends of my hair, wishing I could rip them out. I’ve never felt so out of control. I jab my hands into my slacks’ pockets, and my fingers brush the ring box. Fury pummels my veins, and there’s nothing I want more than to toss the fucking diamond in the nearest dumpster.
She must read the turmoil in my gaze because she steps to the door and unlocks it. “You can come in if you want to talk. I’m sure this marriage thing must be hard on you.”
The crazy thing is that it isn’t the marriage part that has me in a tailspin. A few days ago, sure. But I’ve come to terms with it. Now, what’s driving me mad is how much Jia doesn’t want this. Women have always thrown themselves at me. I’ve never been denied.
Leaning against the door, I shake my head. “Nah, I think I’m good now, but thanks for the chat, Mel. And I’m sorry if I was a total ass while we were together. You didn’t deserve that. ”
A rueful smile parts her lips. “That’s the thing, Marco, we were never really together. You never gave us that chance.” Before I can get another word out, she slips through the door and disappears down the hall.
I stand there, motionless, for a long moment considering her words. I’d been so fucked up after Isa, I never gave any woman a chance. I buried my head between the legs of any female I could have and drowned the pain in meaningless sex. I never wanted to be hurt like that again, and the only way to accomplish that was to never let anyone in, never allow myself to become attached, to love.
The blaring horn of a passing car snaps me from my mental musings. I look up just in time to see the barrel of a gun emerge through the cracked window of a black SUV.