Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Audrey
I didn’t know how it was possible but the villa was even more impressive than their upstate New York home. It was magnificent with its own wine vineyard. I swore my mouth hung open the entire tour Emeline gave me. My jaw was going to be sore the next day. I was already exhausted and jet lagged but there was just too much to take in. It didn’t help that I was hoping the tour would go on for a few more hours so I could keep avoiding Alexei and Carina. The conversation had been strange enough. I’d expected some kind of mocking from Alexei and instead, he’d been the most genuine I’d ever seen him since we met just a few short weeks ago.
When I entered the grand entry way I was stunned all over again. The home was nothing like their upstate New York mansion. It was remodeled into a modern dream. Grand arching doorways lead to rooms with huge exposed beams. Immaculate white plaster made up each wall that was beautifully decorated with different art pieces. The grand estate boasted over 70 bedrooms and even more bathrooms. I could hardly keep up as Emeline showed me everything she could. I would surely get lost in this place just as I feared I would in their other home. In the corners of the room were vases full of metal flowers. The room I was put in had a sunken tub in the ground and a marble vanity. Stained glass took up most of the wall behind the tub. I could hardly believe my eyes. I thought for sure I was staying in luxury in Ace’s penthouse. It was nothing like this.
The backdoors led to a grand descending staircase that met up with an even more impressive oasis. It was surrounded by all different kinds of trees that you couldn’t see beyond. The pool was the focal point of it all and I knew if I was given any time off, I would never ever leave. The cobblestone bar was tucked up behind sprawling greenery, you almost missed it when you went around the pool.
Carina was exiting her bedroom, which was thankfully just a few doors down from mine when I came up the stairs. She smiled at me and I was relieved to see, by her expression, that Alexei hadn’t spilled the beans. It was very unlike him and I wondered what his MO was. It made me uncomfortable, yet grateful. Maybe all the wedding stuff was turning him into a softie.
One could dream.
She squealed and pulled me into a hug. “I missed you so much. I feel like we haven’t spoken in forever!”
We hadn’t. I was purposefully avoiding her and all of our texts were extremely short. I excused it for being busy looking for ways to be busy. I knew she didn’t believe me but I knew the third degree was coming. So before she could get her wits about her to question me, I threw up my left hand and tried to blind her with my pitiful ring.
Carina’s blue eyes went cross for a moment as she tried to focus on my hand thrown into her face. “What’s this?” She grabbed my hand in hers and for a moment, it was so brief I thought I imagined it, her eyes dimmed with sadness. “For real?”
This was nothing like the excitement we both shared when she told me she was engaged. At the time I was sad for myself, but I knew better than to let it show on my face. Honestly, I didn’t think I could even say it was sadness but envy instead.
“For real.”
“Why aren’t we more excited about this?” She voiced my thoughts for me.
“His mom picked out the ring.”
She screwed up her nose. “I can tell.” She recovered quickly. “But it’s still nice!” She pulled me into another hug. “Are you okay with it? Do you love it?”
“I should, shouldn’t I?”
She kept on with the questions and I was entirely too jet-lagged to go through it. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes and she ran her hand down my travel-worn hair. “It’s okay. It’s okay. Shhh.”
I hadn’t realized I was crying. But the longer we stood there embracing, the more the tears flooded my best friend’s shoulder. They should have been tears of joy but they were tears of helplessness.
“You aren’t stuck. You can be happy.” Her words were just barely a whisper.
Instead of being able to reply, one of the rooms down at the end of the hall opened and Alexei strolled out. His eyes took in my tear-stained cheeks and his face became unreadable. I dried my face quickly with my hands and pulled away from Carina.
“I probably just need a little rest. It was a long flight.”
Carina touched my cheek tenderly and hugged me one last time before I disappeared into my room. I told myself I was going to fight the nap and get through it but before I knew it, my eyes were slamming shut.
I woke up to a pounding headache and a dry mouth. On the wooden nightstand beside the bed were two bottles of water and some aspirin. I was starving but based on the time flashing on the alarm clock on the other side of the bed, it was too late for food.
My clothes still smelled like the airport and my suitcase sat at the end of the bed. A quick shower helped me feel a little better.
As I brushed my wet hair out, I picked up a small sheet of letterhead from the table by the door.
Please feel free to use our staff to your heart’s desire. There is a phone in the sitting area for you to order food, towels, or housekeeping. We hope you enjoy this time with us.
-Emeline
With a deep sigh, I pressed the parchment to my chest and closed my eyes. She was the best hostess. But I guessed that was what money could buy you, the best of the best.
Sure enough, in the little sitting room on the other side of the massive walk-in closet, was a phone with a small sheet of paper with a directory on it.
“Yes, Ms. Wilde?” A voice picked up on the first ring. Woah, this was cool.
“I’m sorry it’s so late, I was just wondering if I could get some food sent up?”
“No need for apologies, miss, this is what we are here for. What would you like to eat?”
“Umm,” I hummed into the phone. “I don’t really know. Maybe some leftovers from dinner?”
The man chuckled into the phone, “Yes, ma’am. Anything to drink?”
“Water would be nice.”
This was not my mama’s kitchen. Shit, this was nothing like any kitchen I knew. A large cart rolled into my room like I was ordering room service from an expensive hotel.
The cart was overflowing with dishes covered in silver toppers. It smelled divine. The man that delivered the cart, bowed at the waist, and left just as quickly as he came.
A girl could get used to this.