Chapter Ten
The following evening Leo waited in the foyer of the Met museum for Angelica. She was coming directly from her shoot so it had made sense for them to meet here. He was at the top of the steps, having run the gauntlet of paparazzi. They’d all wanted to know where Angelica was.
A car pulled up at the bottom of the steps and, as if he could sense her, Leo went still. She’d said she would choose elegance this evening over shock value but he found he couldn’t care less either way. Whatever she wore, she’d be amazing.
The back door of the car opened and one of the museum staff helped her out of the car and when Leo took her in, his legs felt weak.
He knew she was a beautiful woman. But right now…
she was transcendent. So much so that a hush went over the crowd.
People arriving stood back, as if she were royalty. And she looked regal. Like a queen.
She was wearing a white dress. Satin, strapless. A straight sheath of material that skimmed over her curves. Her skin glowed, the after-effects of the Caribbean sun. It made Leo think about the fact that he’d noticed the sun brought out freckles across her nose.
She wore a simple diamond necklace and drop earrings.
Her hair was up in an elegant chignon. She oozed sophistication and elegance and for a second Leo was almost felled by the fact that he wouldn’t get to see her blossom into an even more beautiful woman as she got older. Become a mother. Work on her charity.
He didn’t want that, he assured himself.
That was in her future. Not his. And she deserved it.
What they had now was enough. He ignored the sharp pang in his chest. In a bid to stop his mind from going down a path of investigating the fact that maybe it was too late to avoid pain, he went down the steps to meet her.
And as he did, the crowd went wild. But he hardly heard them, all he could see was her, so luminously beautiful.
And it wasn’t just because she was physically beautiful, it shone out of her because she was a good person.
She looked at him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. ‘Will I do?’
Leo felt a little choked. He nodded and managed to get out, ‘You look stunning, Angel.’
Her cheeks flushed. ‘Thank you, you don’t look so bad yourself.’
He put out his arm and she slid hers through it. They made a striking couple, Leo in his black tuxedo and with Angelica’s white dress. Eventually they made it into the event itself.
Angelica let out a breath and said a little shakily, ‘I would have expected dressing formally would garner less attention.’
Leo shook his head. ‘I don’t think it’s possible for you to go under the radar, no matter what you do.’
Sounding a little wistful, Angelica said, ‘To be perfectly honest, going under the radar sounds lovely.’
Leo’s conscience twinged again. As long as they were married she would be in the eye of the storm.
She was tugging him forward now and they stood at the top of the stairs leading down into the crowd.
He found himself tensing at the thought of being surrounded by so many people but then as if hearing his thought Angelica took her arm out of his and slid her hand into his.
He looked down at her and she said, ‘Ready?’
He nodded, suddenly feeling less tense. And he noticed that, all evening, she made sure that they were never too surrounded by people, by staying close to the edges of the crowd, and orienting themselves so they were facing into the crowd rather than the other way around.
That sense of kinship was back. And he had to struggle against leaning into it. Because she was not always going to be with him. At that prospect though, instead of feeling a sense of relief or rightness Leo felt winded, as if someone had just punched him in the gut.
But it couldn’t be any other way. He could not have this woman in his life and not be crippled with fear that he’d lose her. He had to let her go.
‘OK? Do you want to move?’
Leo realised they’d moved more into the centre of the crowd but he was OK with that.
As long as she’s by your side. He looked down at her and all she could see were those huge pools of green.
He had a moment of déjà vu to shortly before they’d broken up when he’d felt panicked that she seemed to have such a hold over him. And then she’d told him she loved him.
He sucked in a breath and forced himself to be rational. That was a long time ago. As she’d said herself, she’d been infatuated, and maybe he had too. But that was all. And now…it was just about chemistry and making the most out of this marriage for both of them.
He shook his head. ‘No, I’m fine.’
Angelica squeezed his hand and Leo had the very sick sense that he wasn’t fine at all.
Two days later
There was a knot in Angelica’s gut as the water-taxi made its way up the iconic Grand Canal of Venice, to where Leo’s apartment was situated, in one of the majestic palazzos lining the canal.
They pulled in at the landing jetty and Leo jumped out athletically before turning to give a hand to Angelica. She was wearing wide jeans, silk T-shirt and a light cropped jacket.
Leo led her into the reception area of the palazzo where the concierge greeted Leo with genuine affection, telling him he was so glad that Leo had been exonerated. It made Angelica feel emotional too.
Leo’s apartment was on the second floor and took up the entire space.
Parquet flooring and ornate original features.
Oriental rugs. Soft, comfortable furnishings and coffee tables groaning under books on art and photography.
When she’d been with Leo three years ago, he’d used to spend almost as much time here as in Rome.
If Angelica wasn’t booked on a job, she’d used to curl up here while Leo was working in his office and flick through the books.
When they walked in she noticed something—empty spaces on the walls. ‘Where are your paintings?’
Leo had been building up a small curated collection with an art broker from New York.
‘Aldo took them because they were pretty much the only thing he could lift easily from the apartment. Luckily this was entirely in my name so he couldn’t get his hands on it.’
Angelica shook her head. ‘Unbelievable. If I’d known I would have tried to stop him, but I never came here with him.’ And she was so thankful for that. As painful as some of the memories were here, she didn’t need Aldo adding to the pain.
‘It’s fine. Faye Holt, the art broker, is doing a great job of retrieving them for me.’
‘I’m glad.’ There had been one she’d loved, by Matisse.
Leo looked at his watch. He was in a three-piece suit and, even after a transatlantic flight, he looked mouth-wateringly vital and gorgeous.
‘I have to go to a meeting for the afternoon, but I want to show you something first…if it’s here,’ Leo said enigmatically.
Angelica followed him out of the living area and into the corridor where the bedrooms were.
In the main bedroom, that had a small balcony/terrace overlooking the canal, Leo reached for a clothes bag that was hanging in the wardrobe.
He took it out and laid it on the bed and pulled down the zip, revealing shimmering gold and chiffon and lace and silk.
A dress. Ethereally beautiful, with delicate capped sleeves and a low bodice.
‘What’s this for?’
‘The event tonight. It’s a masked ball.’
Angelica noticed the feathered matching mask, attached to the dress.
He said, ‘I know you can dress yourself but I took the liberty of having a stylist organise a dress.’
Angelica reached out and touched the material. ‘It’s beautiful, of course I’ll wear it.’
‘What will you do for the afternoon?’
Angelica looked at Leo. ‘Actually, I have a Zoom meeting with the philanthropic team to talk about plans for the charity.’
‘Great…well, if you need anything just text me.’
‘I will.’
Leo looked at her for an unnervingly long time until Angelica felt herself blushing. ‘What are you doing?’
Leo shook his head as if he was coming out of a trance. ‘You mesmerise me.’
Angelica rolled her eyes, and held up her hand. ‘We’re married, Leo, you don’t have to say those kinds of things to me.’ Especially when we both know that you’ll undoubtedly be saying something similar to the next lover you bring here.
Leo came close and touched Angelica’s jaw. ‘I’ve never said anything like that to another woman and I don’t intend to.’
Angelica’s insides twisted. ‘Leo, stop, you really don’t have to—’
He cut her off by swooping down and placing his mouth over hers, igniting an immediate fire between them. Ignite? Who was she kidding? The fire never seemed to go out.
She was clutching his shirt to stay standing when he finally broke the kiss. Angelica was breathing harshly. ‘What was that for?’
Leo said, ‘I can’t imagine not wanting you, Angel…you’re part of my blood.’
She felt shaky. Was Leo finally admitting that perhaps he could feel something more permanent for her? ‘Me too.’
He straightened up. ‘As much as I’d like to stay here and exorcise this fever, I can’t.’ He went to the door, and looked back. ‘See you later?’
Angelica just nodded, her heart still pounding, skin hot. He disappeared and Angelica sank back onto the bed. Leo had just given her something with one hand and taken it away with the other. He wanted to exorcise her from his blood. Not admit that she might mean more to him.
Nothing had changed. If she told him she still loved him, he would surely end it all over again. Exactly as he had before. Full circle. It was nothing that Angelica didn’t know and she had to dampen down the flame of hope that she was confusing with desire, or she really would never recover.
Stepping into the ballroom of the palazzo just a bit further down the Grand Canal from Leo’s apartment was like stepping back in time. Flaming lanterns and massive candles lit the space in a golden glow.