Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Tatiana
The big party is today. Penelope had a few dresses sent over for me to choose from. I’m flipping through the evening gowns that hang from a portable clothes rack in the lounge when Dante walks in.
Surprised, I smile. “I thought you had a meeting.”
“I do.” He walks over, cups my nape, and pulls me in for a kiss. “With you.”
“You want to have lunch? You should’ve warned me. I would’ve made something you actually like, such as lasagna.”
“Yes?” His voice is gruff as his heated gaze homes in on my lips. “What is for lunch?”
“Carrot and sweet potato casserole.”
He winces. “Poor Noah.”
I laugh. Yep, carrots have definitely never been one of Dante’s favorite vegetables.
Brushing his thumb over my nape, he kisses me again. “It’s lucky for me I’m not having lunch at home.”
“What meeting are we having then?”
“A business meeting.”
“Another one?” I raise a brow. “Should I be worried?”
He releases me. “I hope not.”
“Now?”
“There won’t be time later.”
“Emily went out for groceries. I’ll have to bring Noah.”
“Good. As it’ll be his future workspace, he can get accustomed to it.”
I prop a hand on my hip. “Dante.”
He raises his palms. “What?”
“He’s not even five. I want our son to be happy. I don’t want you to force him into something he may not want.”
He chuckles. “Noah will do what he wants to do. But I can guarantee you he’ll want to be a part of the business.”
“How can you be so sure?”
He shrugs. “I see a lot of myself in him.”
I can’t argue that. Every day, Noah behaves more like his father.
Dante eyes the dresses. “Are those for tonight?”
I sigh. “Penelope had them sent over.”
“Don’t you like them?”
“I like all of them. It’s difficult to choose one.”
And I’m a little worried. I know Dante’s guests are going to dissect my choice, no matter what I wear.
Just like in my teenage years when my mother made me parade around in the latest fashion at social events, my dress, shoes, hair, and even my posture will be criticized.
It’s only one of the reasons why I hate those gatherings.
The main one is that I find them boring.
Dante goes straight for the only dress that has an open back and takes it off the rail. “This one.”
I gape at him. It’s a stunning dress of jade green silk with lace inlays of the same color. The fabric drapes softly at the back and ends in a short trail. The high neck at the front is square and elegant. There’s no doubt that it’s a gorgeous creation, but it will expose my back.
He holds the dress in front of me. “I’ll probably have to kill a few men for staring at you, but it’ll be worth it.”
I take the dress and return it to the rail. “The back is open.”
“So?”
“Dante,” I say in a hushed exclamation. “My scars will be on display.”
He cups my face in a fierce and urgent gesture, his gaze burning on me. “Then let them be. I don’t give a fuck, and neither should you. I’m proud of those scars, Tatiana. They remind me how brave and strong you are, the bravest and strongest person I know, so own them.”
As I stare at the conviction and passion that set his features into hard lines, my heart shatters in the best possible way. Without knowing, Dante has just glued together the broken parts of me, the parts I don’t even understand myself yet.
Cupping his cheek, I give him a smile that warms me inside. “I love you.”
He turns his face and kisses my palm. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Don’t say that,” I whisper.
He meets my eyes squarely, openly. Honestly. “It’s true.”
“Dante.”
Taking me into his arms, he kisses the top of my head. “We better go, or we’ll be late.”
After fetching Noah, we drive with the habitual convoy of guards to Dante’s office.
Penelope greets us at the door.
“Tatiana.” She holds out her arms. “Boy, am I glad to see you.” She hugs and air-kisses me. “Dante is driving me insane about tonight.”
“I didn’t have a chance to say thank you for taking care of the arrangements.” I give her a grateful smile. “I just found out about the party yesterday. Knowing you, it will be amazing.”
She lifts her eyes to the ceiling. “Your husband is a perfectionist. He’s going to be the end of me.”
Dante scoffs. “And he’s also your boss who pays you more than adequately to expect attention to detail, not to mention that he’s standing right here and can hear you complain.”
Penny shrugs. “My appraisal is done. I don’t have to worry for another year.” She crouches down to Noah’s level. “And here’s my favorite person.”
Noah, who’s standing between Dante and me, slips his hand into Dante’s and sticks his thumb into his mouth.
“How about a tour of our health bar?” Penny wags her eyebrows. “We have the most delicious blueberry bran muffins. And they’re healthy.”
Noah glances at me.
Still smiling, I nod.
Penny holds out a hand. “What do you say, young man?”
Noah slowly releases Dante’s hand and takes Penny’s.
She straightens. “How about a freshly squeezed orange juice to go with that?”
Winking over her shoulder at me, she leads him away.
I stare after them, my heart pulling with a strange magnetism toward Noah. Even when I know he’s safe, I’m always reluctant to let him out of my sight.
Dante’s gentle statement pulls my attention to him. “He’ll be fine.”
“She’s good with him. It’s just…”
Out of nowhere, another flash hits me, a flash of me locking Noah in a bathroom and whispering to be quiet, keeping my voice calm for his sake even as terror slices through me.
“Hey.” Dante grips my chin and tilts my face to his. “Is everything all right?”
Blinking, I give myself a mental shake. The memory is disturbing, but this is hardly the moment to burden Dante with the recollection. I don’t even know what it means.
“Yes.” I swallow. “It’s just nerves about tonight.”
He pulls me against his strong chest. “Those people don’t deserve an ounce of your time or attention. You’re too good for them. Remember that when you get nervous, darling.”
Burrowing my hands under his jacket on his warm, broad back, I nod. I always appreciate his understanding.
“You know why it has to be done,” he says with regret.
I pull away to smile up at him. “I grew up with social gatherings, remember?”
The corner of his mouth lifts. “Trust me, there’s nothing about you I can ever forget.” He kisses my forehead. “Ready?”
I’m apprehensive as he leads me to the boardroom. After yesterday’s surprise, I’m not sure what to expect today.
He opens the door and lets me enter. When I step over the threshold, I stop dead in my tracks. The woman who sits at the boardroom table is the one I saw with Dante, the one he took to the Italian restaurant.
“Tatiana.” Dante places a hand on my back and guides me deeper into the room. “I’d like you to meet Lexi.”
The blonde stands and offers me a wide smile and a hand. “Mrs. Morici, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Snapping out of the shock that immobilizes me, I force myself to shake her hand.
I look at Dante for an explanation as we sit down.
“Lexi has done some headhunting for me before.” He cups my hand where it rests on the table. “I took the liberty of asking her to put together a list of candidates for your new business.”
My lips part. “My new business?”
He locks his fingers around my wrist and rubs a thumb over my pulse point. “The home organizing venture.”
For some reason, I find the way in which he touches me hotter than if he’d held my hand. The caress is so him, both dominant and soothing. It makes it hard for me to focus on anything else.
“What?” I ask through dry lips.
His smile is patient. “You said you wanted a job. This is what you’re good at.”
“Do you mean…?”
He tightens his hold on my arm, making my heartbeat quicken. “My lawyer will help with the setup and registration. Lexi can help with employing the right people. I have no doubt you’ll make a success of it.” He adds with a gentle note, “If that’s what you want.”
Lexi pushes a file toward me. “From the briefing Dante gave me, I’ve selected good candidates for the finance and HR departments as well as the executive staff.
We can refine and expand the organogram to fit your business vision and professional needs.
I’m here to listen and advise you. It’s my job to make sure you get the best possible team to help you succeed. ”
Dante’s deep voice fills every part of me. “What do you think, Tatiana?”
I’m thinking how relieved I am, how stupid I’ve been to be jealous, to not have trusted my husband.
I’m thinking how grateful I am, and how lucky.
I’m thinking how guilty I feel for ever doubting him when I should’ve simply looked into my heart for the truth.
I’m also thinking how scared yet excited I am, and how strangely nostalgic this feels but also right.
I put my free hand on his thigh. “Thank you.”
His muscles bunch beneath my palm, his gaze devouring me. “Happy birthday again, darling.”
We talk about the global vision and service offerings I have in mind. I’m surprised how clear everything is in my head. I already know the mission statement and what I want to achieve. All I have to do is put everything on paper.
Building a business from scratch, an enterprise that will be mine, is exhilarating.
The challenge not only gives me the sense of purpose and independence I wanted but also freedom and joy.
Lexi, who has extensive experience in getting startups on their feet, pledges her services until the new business is running smoothly.
When we wrap up the meeting, Lexi comes around the table to shake hands on the deal.
“I’m looking forward to working with you, Mrs. Morici.
I have to say, when Dante told me about the project, I got really excited about it.
I was worried you’d have your own contacts and might’ve preferred to work with someone else.
I’m glad it’s me. I believe the business has great potential, and I’m honored to be part of the creation. ”
“Please, call me Tatiana. I’m looking forward to working with you too.” I can’t help but notice her stylish black dress and killer heels. She looks as if she’s just stepped out of a fashion magazine. “Nice shoes, by the way.”
“Thanks.” She flashes a row of pearly, straight teeth. “They’re Dior.” Winking, she whispers, “I got them on sale.”
Oh, I like her. I get the feeling we’ll make a good team.
Dante has a bottle of champagne waiting on ice. He must’ve been sure that Lexi and I would get on.
He was right.
He knows me better than anyone.
As I clink my glass to his, my heart overflows with gratitude.
Can life get any better than this? Despite the memory loss and the demons my mind can’t face, I’m deliriously happy.
I have Dante and Noah—my precious, beautiful family—and soon, I’ll be my own boss.
Reality is even better than when I was a lovesick girl who dreamed about becoming Dante’s wife.
I’m unarguably the luckiest woman alive.