Chapter 20 Giovanna
Giovanna
I’m in the kitchen, stirring iced coffee, when the doorbell rings.
I didn’t get cleaned up—still in leggings, tank top, messy bun—because I have no intention of going anywhere.
Part of me considers ignoring him, hiding in my room until he takes the hint.
But I know Antonio isn’t the type to leave easily, and it doesn’t solve the problem of my father.
I head for the door, only to collide with what feels like a brick wall.
An Armani-covered brick wall. Coffee splashes, and I gasp.
“Oh shit, I’m so sorry!”
Antonio glances at his damp shirt, then at me, his grin crooked.
“You never miss an opportunity to fuck with me, do you?”
“I didn’t—fuck.
” I snatch a towel and blot at the dark stain spreading across his suit.
“Armani. Jesus. I’m so sorry.”
He takes the towel from me, brushing it off like it’s nothing.
“Relax. Besides, from the way you’re dressed, I’m guessing we’re not going anywhere fancy.
”
I freeze. “You actually want to go out to dinner with me?”
His grin tilts wider.
“Honestly? No. But I was told this was happening, and I do owe you an apology, so…”
I eye him like he’s sprouted horns.
“You owe me an apology? Antonio, I’m the one who should apologize—”
“Don’t,” he cuts in, flushing faintly.
“It doesn’t matter what you did, I should never have put my hands on you or said what I did.
I was wasted, but that’s not an excuse. I crossed a line.
” He exhales. “The only upside is I was so gone I barely felt it when your boyfriend jumped me.”
Heat flares in my cheeks.
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
Antonio studies my face, searching.
Then he shrugs, casual. “Good. He’s an asshole.
You deserve better.”
I roll my eyes. “Like you? Because you loooove me, right?” I toss it out like a grenade, a callback to New Year’s Eve when he was trying to fuck me in the elevator at Dragovari Tower.
He laughs, sheepish, his head dipping down.
“Yeah, not my finest moment. Another thing I should apologize for. Timing wasn’t great.
” His grin sharpens. “But what you did was worse.”
I snort, the tension breaking for a second.
“Fair.”
He drops onto a stool at the counter, watching me as I sip my coffee.
“So why are you really here?” I ask. “My dad?”
His smile fades.
“No. This isn’t about your dad. If that’s the only reason you’re talking to me, don’t bother.
”
My silence betrays me, and he sighs, leaning closer over the counter.
“Look. Whatever pressure’s coming from anyone else?
Forget it. This is between you and me. I want things to be good again.
”
“Why?” Antonio cannot possibly want to date me after what happened with Tommy on our date, much less marry me.
He’s a pawn, too. The question is, is he a willing pawn?
If he isn’t, he could stop this whole thing by walking away and leaving me alone.
“Why not?” His grin softens, almost boyish.
“We were friends once. I liked that. Still do.” He hesitates.
“So… dinner?”
I narrow my eyes. “Why me? You could go out to dinner with a dozen women, any one of whom would come with far fewer complications.”
“Maybe,” he says.
“But none of them are you.” He seems to catch himself and changes tack with a smirk.
“And let’s be honest: pissing Tommy off is one of my favorite hobbies.
If I get to do that and have dinner with you?
Win-win.”
I purse my lips. Tommy would be jealous, but I sent another half dozen texts over the last hour, none of them answered.
He’s definitely ghosting me.
“You’re ridiculous.
”
“Maybe. But I’m not lying.” He tilts his head.
“I’m not just trying to fuck you, if that’s what you’re worried about.
I do like you, but it’s a dinner. That’s all.
”
He pauses and narrows his eyes at me. “Unless you really are with Tommy and you guys are just keeping it on the low so your dad doesn’t find out.
I’m not interested in getting jumped again tonight.
This suit has been through enough.”
I sip my coffee, my stomach twisting.
I am with Tommy, at least my heart is, but—36 hours with no contact?
Is he still with me? “Nothing is on the low with Tommy.”
“Then go out with me.”
I look down at my phone, willing Tommy to text me or call.
If he’s going to let my dad come between us, I have to de-weaponize my father’s plan, and I can’t think of any better way to do that than to convince Antonio himself to tell my father to fuck off.
Antonio taps my chin, making me look at him.
“I thought maybe you liked me, too. Even if it’s just because I look a lot like him.
Or because I’m actually nice to you.”
I burst out laughing.
“Nice? At Lexi’s party, you were nice?”
He chuckles.
“Don’t hold it against me. I’d just gotten my heart broken.
” His tone shifts, low and speculative. “Maybe you like me because, deep down, you know I’m the one for you.
”
The one? Jesus. Does that mean he’s working with my dad on his psychotic plan to marry us off?
No way he’s actually interested after what happened the last time we went out.
I need to find out for sure, so I laugh it off and turn away, rolling my eyes.
“I don’t like you, Antonio,” I say lightly.
“And I’m not looking for ‘the one.’ You’re more like a partner-in-crime rental at this point.
”
He steps back and laughs drily, but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
“A rental, huh? Brutal.”
“Keeping your ego in check is my public service,” I deadpan.
He glances at his watch, then back at me.
“So, you keeping my ego in check over dinner or what?”
“Not a date,” I say firmly.
“Not a date,” he echoes, mock solemn.
“I’m serious, Antonio.
Just dinner as friends.”
His grin creeps back.
“Perfect. But wear that dress from last time.”
Tommy’s dress?
Ugh, no. “That dress is cursed,” I groan.
“Then let’s un-curse it. On you, it was…
” His gaze lingers. “Incredible. Come on, Marino. No dress, no dinner.”
When he sees me pause, he shakes his head at me.
“Don’t say no.” He leans in close to me, and I freeze, terrified he’s going to try to kiss me.
Instead, he breathes in deeply and pulls back to look at me thoughtfully.
“As hot as that dress is, it’ll look even hotter when—”
I hold up my hand.
“If you say ‘it’ll look even hotter on my floor,’ dinner is canceled.
”
He smirks. “Interesting that that’s where your head is at.
I was just going to say that it would look even hotter with those boots you wore that night.
Wear those too?”
I shove him, fake grin in place as bile rises in my throat.
I have to convince Antonio to drop this charade.
If I have to wear a stupid outfit to make him more amenable, so be it.
On my way up to my room to get ready, I text Lexi.
I need a bailout call in two hours.
Can you do that?
Bailout calls are something Lexi and I do for each other when we want to get out of a boring meeting or a bad date.
When Lexi calls in a couple of hours, I’ll be able to fake an emergency and end the dinner with Antonio before it gets weird.
On it. Why?
Dinner with Antonio. I’ll fill you in later.