Chapter 25
Twenty-Five
REGINA
I am in designer heaven. Every room is better than the last, and as I follow Mrs. Ravera into the kitchen, I do a treble take.
I have never seen a room like it. It commands its own postal district, and my mouth drops as I gaze in awe at the huge space. Ivory cabinets, marble, and the trademark chandeliers. It positively gleams, and I’m guessing I could eat my food off the floor.
The neutral color is broken up with potted trees twinkling with fairy lights and a beautiful alcove with a huge dining table overlooking the ocean outside.
Tears mist my eyes, and I sniff, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Ravera, but your kitchen has moved me to tears.” I sniff, “I have never seen such a beautiful space.”
“Call me Sophia, Regina.”
I’m surprised when I turn and note the soft smile on her face.
“Mrs. Ravera is so formal, and I hated Giovanni’s mother, and it reminds me of her.”
“Wow, you hated your mother-in-law. Bad luck.”
She points to a bar stool, and I jump on it as she grasps two porcelain mugs from the cupboard. “I don’t know about you, but I could murder a coffee right now.”
“Same.” I smile, glad that Nico’s mom is human at least, and as she sets about her task, she says softly, “I am so happy Nico found you, Regina. To be honest, I had given up hope.”
“Because?” I say slowly, worried we may lose the game at the first hurdle.
“He’s always been a playboy, if you don’t mind me saying so.”
I shrug. “I guess it comes with being movie star handsome and loaded like Midas.”
Her gaze sharpens, and I add hastily, “To be truthful, his money doesn’t interest me. I’m used to living carefully, and I’m happy with that. All of this is a lot of responsibility, and it’s nice to close my door at the end of the day knowing I don’t have to answer to anyone.”
“Would that bother you? Answering to someone else.”
She studies me carefully, and I shrug. “Probably. I mean, I’m an independent businesswoman. I would hate to sacrifice that.”
She pushes a steaming mug of coffee toward me and sits elegantly on one of the stools.
“Tell me about your business.”
‘’Well–” I smile as she mentions my pride and joy. “I make up gift baskets online, and I love it. From sourcing the gifts, wrapping them prettily and sending them out with a note of thanks.”
“That’s amazing.” She smiles as she sips her coffee. “Where are your warehouses?”
“I don’t understand.” I cock my head to one side.
“Your distribution center, where you pack and send the baskets.”
“Oh no,” I giggle. “I work from home. I’m still building the business, and maybe one day I’ll enjoy that luxury, but it sounds a little scary to me, really.”
“I see.” Her lips twitch. “So you prefer to stay at home.”
“Oh yes. It’s a luxury I never imagined would be mine.”
“So when you marry Nico, will you continue with your business?”
I regard her with surprise. “Of course. I would hate to be a kept woman, Sophia.”
It strikes me that may be her and I backtrack quickly. “Of course, there is nothing wrong with that, if, um, that’s your thing.”
She holds up her hand. “Relax, I may be a stay at home mom, but I have my interests.”
“What are they?”
I’m really enjoying our conversation, and Sophia grins. “Tapestry. I love making them, and there are various examples of them all over the house.”
“That’s amazing.” I’m impressed, and yet before we can speak any further, she glances at her gold wristwatch.
“I’m sorry, Regina, I really must dash. Julius will be arriving any minute, and I must be on hand to greet him. We should head back to the men.”
“Of course, and, um, thanks for the coffee. I really appreciate it.”
“And I appreciate you, Regina. Don’t let them change you.”
As I follow her out, I’m struck by the words she used. Who are ‘them’ and why would they change me? Perhaps I’ll ask Nico; he may know what she means. But I push the comment aside because at least Nico’s mom is cool and that makes the entire weekend ahead seem a lot better.
Julius terrifies the shit out of me. We meet him on our journey from the kitchen to the living room as he blew in through the front door like an ill wind.
I stay back when he notes his mother and heads straight for her, pulling her in for a hug and kissing her respectfully like Nico did. When he pulls back, his gaze lands on me, and the dark eyes powering inside me feel as if he’s violating my soul.
I shiver inside. Dark menace is the only description I can put into words, and I can’t believe he is surrounded by even more security than we were.
Their staffing bill must be huge every month.
“This is Regina, Nico’s fiancée.”
Sophia introduces me and Julius steps closer, his eyes flashing as he offers me a sinister smile.
I shake off my reluctance and paste a broad smile on my face.
“Nico’s brother, how lovely to meet you.”
I step forward, unsure if I should kiss him on the cheek or not, but resort to holding out my hand instead.
His hand wraps around mine like a steel glove, almost crushing it, but also with reverence, politeness even.
He nods and shakes my hand, his grip powerful, and then he pulls it away just as quickly.
“Regina.” He speaks and, like Nico, his voice is husky, slightly rougher around the edges, tough, and the intensity of his gaze more unnerving, if that’s possible.
When he lets my hand drop, it reminds me that breathing is a necessity to prolong life, and the air rushes into my lungs as he turns his attention back to his mother.
“They are waiting in the living room.”
She explains as he falls into step beside her, leaving me to scurry along after them, wondering about the gene pool I have fallen into.
As we enter the room, Nico’s eyes immediately find me, and he is like a port in a ferocious storm that I easily run to for cover.
His hand slips into mine, and he pulls me slightly behind him as he turns his attention to the dark soul who has joined us.
“Julius.” There is no brotherly backslapping or obscene joke or gesture; it’s as if they are polite strangers who ran across one another once.
Julius is an interesting one for sure. His father does that thumping back thing as they embrace and whispers something in his ear that causes the newcomer to smile in a strangely sinister way.
I say nothing because the air is growing increasingly toxic in here, and as we take our seats, I long to open the floor to ceiling windows and take a deep breath of fresh ocean air.
“Where are the others?” He asks in a husky whisper, and Mr. Ravera answers him with a deep, authoritarian voice.
“Simeon will be here later this evening along with Joseph. Our guests arrive in the morning.”
Nico’s hand tightens in mine, and he says casually, “We will settle in and meet for dinner. Please excuse us.”
There is silence as we stand, and it’s a little odd as we leave the room, the unspoken words swirling around us much louder than the silence in which we leave.