Chapter Forty-six
NINA
Present Day
NEW YORK CITY
The Eminence deal was closed, and the partnership was solid. It felt like a weight had been lifted, a sense of accomplishment and relief settling over me. But even amidst that achievement, my mind kept circling back to him.
He built me a boutique.
A boutique of my dreams.
Oh my gosh.
Days have passed, but I couldn’t shake it.
I marveled at how everything had come together so quickly, how fast everything was moving. Project after project, meeting after meeting, but despite the whirlwind, I was grateful. Grateful for everything and everyone.
Sitting in the luxurious jet Ronan had insisted we use—despite my many protests—I glanced out the window as the plane prepared for takeoff. The city lights of New York faded into the distance, and with them, the chaotic swirl of recent events seemed to drift away.
But my thoughts were anchored in him. My love for him wasn’t only about the grand gestures or the sweeping declarations. It was in the gentle moments, the laughter we shared, the care he showed when he thought I wasn’t looking.
My love for him was a fire that warmed my soul, something I couldn’t easily extinguish or ignore. No matter how complicated things got, no matter how many arguments we had or how far apart we were, my love for him remained constant and true.
Inaya sat across from me, a folder spread between us. “What’s the plan for the boutique here? Are you moving to New York permanently?”
I shook my head, feeling clarity. “No specifics yet, but Italy is where I call home. I’ll be splitting my time between here and there.”
Inaya nodded. “And the people from the folder?”
I flipped through, pointing to key names and roles. “Yes, the seamstresses, cashiers, and support staff are all set. They’re amazing at what they do and know my vision for the boutique. They’ll manage everything while I’m in Italy. Ronan spoke with them, but we’ll need to meet soon.”
Inaya smiled. “Sounds like you’ve got it all covered. It’s impressive how you balance everything.”
I smiled back, feeling proud. “I’m excited for what’s ahead.”
Inaya’s eyes lit up. “Speaking of Ronan, he’s been a great support. It’s clear how much he cares about you.”
My heart fluttered at the thought of him. “He’s incredible. Even before we broke up, he was like this. Always the best person, who went the extra mile for me.”
“That boutique is one hell of a gift. I’m not his biggest fan, but damn, he even softened my heart.”
I chuckled. “He melted mine.”
As I gazed out the jet window, the city lights of New York fading, my thoughts shifted. I felt a deep strength in my love for Ronan, a force that transcended time and circumstances. His love had been a constant, steady presence in my life.
I felt invincible, grateful for how far I’d come and how much Ronan’s love had reshaped my world. The past no longer weighed on me; it was part of the journey.
As I savored these thoughts, the flight attendant interrupted. “Mrs. Romano, would you or Ms. Abbas like anything?”
I smiled, shaking my head. “We’re good, thanks.”
The attendant nodded and left, leaving me with a sense of peace.
Inaya raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t correct her.”
I blinked, confused. “Huh?”
Inaya gestured to the attendant. “She called you ‘Mrs. Romano,’ and you didn’t correct her.”
A smile tugged at my lips. “I didn’t realize.”
Inaya laughed. “Well, I think we have our answer.”
I grinned. “I think we do, too.”
Ronan
NEW YORK CITY
Azzaria leaned forward, eyes wide with awe. “You built an entire boutique?” she asked, disbelief in her voice. “I’m not surprised, but that’s huge.”
I smirked, glancing at the amber liquid in my glass. “This coming from the girl with a sandwich shop, an entire safe haven, and a meal named after her?”
Azzaria grinned. “That’s why I’m not surprised. You men are experts in romance.”
“No,” Dillon interrupted, stepping into the room. “We’re experts in who we love.”
I took a sip of scotch. “Truly,” I agreed, letting the word linger.
Azzaria raised an eyebrow. “Where’s Nina?”
“On her way back to Italy. I’ll be flying out to see her once my jet returns.”
“Returns?” she and Dillon asked in unison.
“She has the jet,” I said with a mix of pride and affection.
“You’ve got it bad,” Azzaria teased. “Now, if only we could get Arnoldo on the same page.”
“I pick my battles wisely,” I smirked.
Azzaria’s tone shifted to mischief. “Well, I may or may not have seen him at the gym with Meli.”
“He’s with random women all the time,” I said, confused.
“The way he looked at her,” Azzaria continued. “Like she was the most beautiful person he’s ever seen. You guys don’t know her?”
Dillon and I exchanged puzzled glances. “No.”
Azzaria pulled out her phone, showing us a picture.
“Emilia?” Dillon and I said in disbelief. “That has to be a mistake.”
Azzaria’s voice was amused yet certain. “He looked at her like you look at me, like Ronan looks at Nina, like Mikkel looks at Abi.”
Dillon leaned in. “And what way is that?”
Azzaria met his gaze seriously. “Like he saw forever. Ask the gym to pull the security feed.”
Dillon and I exchanged shocked glances. This could be significant or troubling.
“Anyway,” I said, checking the time, “I’ve got a therapy session. See you soon.”
After hugging them goodbye, I made my way to Dr. Saad’s office, the familiar mix of apprehension and relief settling in.
The calming colors and comfortable furniture of the room helped ground me, and her warm smile offered a contrast to the swirling thoughts in my head.
We briefly discussed how I was doing, work, and my progress with Nina.
The session gave me the clarity I needed, leaving me calm and ready for what lay ahead.
As I left Dr. Saad’s office, I felt more prepared for the day. The hospital came next, where meeting patients, discussing treatments, lecturing interns, and offering reassurance kept me busy.
After finishing my rounds, I shifted gears and headed to my main office.
The transition from clinical to corporate was always noticeable.
Meetings with Rachel and the team followed, where we worked through projects, resolved issues, and made key decisions that would shape our future.
Despite the demanding day, there was a sense of accomplishment in everything we had achieved.
Before wrapping up, I checked in with the flight crew to ensure Nina’s return to Italy was on track. They assured me everything was running smoothly, easing my earlier concerns. As I finished up, I realized I needed a break from the day’s pace, so I decided to head over to Lucio’s house.
Lucio greeted me with a playful smile, “Look who decided to show up. How’s the groveling going?”
I chuckled. “Oh, you know, the usual.”
His grin widened. “How does that feel?”
I shrugged. “Honestly, it feels good. Taking things one step at a time.”
The conversation shifted to family. Lucio mentioned visiting our parents’ graves in Italy with Marina. “It was nice,” he said. “Just remembering them.”
I nodded, feeling a lump in my throat. “I need to make a trip soon.”
Lucio’s eyes softened. “Take your time, and I saw Aunt Rosa too.”
“How is she?”
“She’s good,” he replied, and I made a mental note to reach out to her more often.
“How’s your baby-making going?”
I felt stupid and regretful as those words came out of my mouth. But what other decent way was there to ask my brother how his sex life is going?
Lucio smiled, calm and hopeful. “We’re still waiting. It’s a process, but I’m not worried. If it’s meant to be, it will happen.”
I admired his calm demeanor. “You’re always so peaceful. How do you manage that?”
He laughed, a warm sound. “I prefer silence and simplicity. I have more than enough to be grateful for. I’ve lost, but I’ve gained more. I do lose my shit, but I let it go quickly.”
I sighed. “I wish I could be more like you.”
Lucio grinned. “We have the same face. No need for the same personality.”
We both laughed, the tension of the day easing. The conversation shifted to recent events, and I shared Azzaria’s surprising news about Arnoldo.
Lucio’s eyes widened. “Arnoldo? Reyes? Lawyer? Our best friend?”
“That’s exactly how Dillon and I reacted,” I said with a wry smile. “It was like being hit with a ton of bricks.”
Lucio leaned back. “Well, we’ll know soon enough. Arnoldo can’t keep a secret.”
As the evening wore on, we talked about family and life. Eventually, I glanced at my Rolex. “I should get going,” I said. “Early morning ahead and some things to wrap up.”
Lucio gave me a hug. “Take care of yourself. And remember, we’ve got each other’s backs, fratello.”
“I know,” I smiled. “Thanks for everything, Luc.”