Episode 53
Episode 53
Divide and Conquer
GIOVANNI
“Ready to go in?” I traced her curves with my gaze in order to determine if anything was out of place after our limo ride. Emphasis on the word ride. Julianne’s passion had been insatiable while my driver circled the block repeatedly as I’d instructed, until we’d satisfied our need for one another.
I wanted Julianne constantly, and she seemed as hot around the collar for me. Perhaps it was the years we’d secretly lusted after one another that drove our libidos to unquenchable levels. So much wasted time. Just the thought of being without her again made my heart pound and my hand reflexively contract into a fist.
She pushed a tousled red lock of hair behind her ear. “Actually, do you think you could handle gathering your things without me? After the visit to the attorneys, I want to check in at the office. Since you made it clear that Brenden had no business firing me, I kind of want to rub it in his face.”
“And you think you should be doing that alone?” I didn’t like the idea of her being anywhere near her brother without me there to run interference.
“He’s not going to get physical with me, if that’s what you’re worried about. He’d never hurt me that way,” she said gently.
“My sore jaw and bruised ribs contradict that sentiment.” I reminded her of the fight I’d had with her brother last night.
She sighed and slumped against the leather seat. “True, but he’s never laid a hand on me, and regardless of what happened between the two of you, I am his sister.”
I pressed my lips together and focused on her expression, attempting to read between the lines and ascertain she genuinely believed she would be safe. Her expression was tinged with sorrow at the mention of her brother, but there was no sign of fear, which calmed my instinctive need to protect her from harm, even if that harm was by her own brother’s hand.
Julianne smiled, pressed a hand to my chest and kissed me. “Stop worrying about me. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
I curled my hand around her nape, keeping her close. “I know you can, but you no longer have to carry your burdens alone. You have me.”
The smile she gifted me in response was ethereal. “I appreciate it. I do, but I need to handle some things on my own. I suggest we divide and conquer. You pull together what you’d like to take to your new home while I check in at work and rifle through our parents’ offices. Maybe there’s something we missed. Then, this weekend, perhaps we can go to the estate. I’m not ready to go there quite yet and poke around. I just …” She inhaled sharply and looked away.
I used my thumb and finger to turn her chin so she faced me. “You just what?” I pushed.
“I’m not ready to go there. I haven’t been back since the funeral and the reading of the will. The same one we confirmed was forged. I know we need to look into things.” She shook her head. “I can’t today. I need a few days to process all that we learned, our marriage, the shitstorm that is my brother, the business…” As she continued, her breathing picked up as though she was starting to panic.
“Hey, hey, hey, if you’re not ready, we’ll wait. There’s no rush. The lawyers are doing their research; the authorities have been informed, and we’ll follow up as we see fit.”
She nodded and closed her eyes while she took a full, cleansing breath. “Okay, you’re right. No need to rush. We’ve got this.”
I smiled and kissed her. “We’ve got this.” The limo had been idling by the front door of my building, and I pushed the door open. “Check in with me in a couple hours?”
“Absolutely. See you later, husband.”
Every time she called me husband, it felt like the sky opened up and the angels were singing loud enough for all the world to hear.
“See you later, wife,” I shut the door.
She rolled down the window as the driver started to move into traffic.
“Love you!” she called and waved wildly.
I chuckled, blew her a kiss, and waved, watching the car disappear before I turned around to take on the enormous task of moving into my wife’s house. No, not my wife’s house, our home. I’d have to figure out what she owed on it and pay the remainder off. There was no need for her to have a monthly mortgage.
“Mr. Falco,” the doorman greeted as he held open the door.
“Thank you. It’s a beautiful day in the city, isn’t it, Tony?”
“That it is, sir. Looking forward to grilling out on the deck with my wife when I get off work.”
“Steaks?”
“Pork chops,” he grinned.
“Nice. Sounds delicious. Maybe I’ll check in with the missus and see about grilling dinner as well. Great idea.”
“The weather calls for it, that’s for sure. Nothing but sunny, blue skies. Perfect for grilling.”
I glanced up at the sky, and it reminded me of Julianne’s eyes. I clapped the man on the shoulder after doors on the private elevator opened for the penthouse floor. “Well, enjoy, my friend.”
“Will do, sir. Call down if you need anything.” Tony said the same thing every time I arrived.
I lifted my hand in goodbye as the doors shut.
My mind was on Julianne and whether or not she had a grill as I rode the elevator up. I’d not inspected her place, outside of the bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. I pulled out my phone and texted her.
To: Julianne Myers
Do you own a BBQ grill?
From: Julianne Myers
Why do you ask?
I chuckled as the doors to my place opened and I entered, my attention focused entirely on my phone.
To: Julianne Myers
Because I want to play music on it.
I laughed at my own joke as I continued to type.
To grill my wife dinner of course!
From: Julianne Myers
You cook? Since when?
j/k 12
Yum! And yes, I have a grill. It’s hidden away in the small closet off the balcony.
I was about to respond with something equally funny and prickly when I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I stopped at the entrance to my sunken living room and glanced up. My entire body chilled as Bianca stood from the chair nearest the balcony.
“What the fuck are you doing in my home?” I snarled.
She lifted her hands in supplication. “Gio, please, we need to talk.”
“You and I have nothing to say that can’t be discussed between our lawyers,” I declared and stomped over to the bar, suddenly needing a very large drink.
“Please, I know you’re angry. Just hear me out,” Bianca begged.
“Fuck you!” I snapped as I grabbed the crystal whiskey decanter.
“Gio, I’m sorry, okay! I’m sorry. I fucked up.”
I poured two fingers of the amber colored liquor and slammed the entire thing down, hoping it would hit immediately and magically make my ex disappear.
No such luck.
Bianca approached, her long, tanned legs on full display. I knew her well enough to know she’d made a point to put my favorite assets of hers on show. I’d constantly told her how much I appreciated her dancers’ legs. They were a mile long, unblemished, and toned to perfection in the short, flirty skirt she wore. She’d paired it with a tight-fitting sleeveless turtleneck and a blazer. Her dark brown hair was parted down the center and pulled into a sleek pony-tail running down her back. It made it impossible not to take in those big brown eyes, and full, red-painted lips I’d once adored.
Those perfect legs couldn’t compensate for the fact she was entirely too thin for my preference. The woman hardly ate, and when she did, it definitely wasn’t late night Chinese food, or crusty bagels like I’d shared with my wife just this morning, intermingled with sips of coffee and cream cheese coated kisses.
Frankly, as I stared at Bianca, I realized I was in love with the idea of her more than I’d ever been with the woman standing before me. She was a beautiful woman on the surface, looking a lot like a Hollywood actress, only a lot thinner. To me, Bianca was a cubic zirconia while Julianne was that rarest natural jewel—a clear, flawless diamond.
“Anything you have to say, you can say to my lawyers, Bianca.” I pointed to the elevator door. “Get out,” I hissed.
She ignored my request and walked forward until she stood on the opposite side of the bar. I took that opportunity to pour myself a refill.
“What about the baby?” she asked, sliding off her coat and tossing it onto one of the barstools. She then turned to the side so that I could see the slightest rounding of her abdomen.
I gritted my teeth and let out a long sigh. She fumbled with her coat and pulled out a single black and white square image and set it onto the granite top.
“That’s your baby,” she said with confidence pointing at the sonogram photo.
I ignored the photo entirely. “And you know it’s mine how? And why now? Did a doctor confirm it with a blood test, DNA, anything that could hold up in a court of law?”
Her lips pursed. “I just know it, okay?”
I sucked back half of my drink and shook my head. “You don’t know shit. And that’s because you are a backstabbing, unfaithful, gold-digger that I want out of my life and my fucking apartment. Right! Now!” I roared.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I want you back,” she murmured, and I swore I could barely hear it through the din of my anger, like rushing water between my ears.
“Jesus, you have got to be kidding me. What would make you think I’d take you back after everything you’ve done to me?”
“Because you love me, and we’re going to have a baby together.”
“I don’t fucking love you anymore, Bianca. And honestly, I’m not even sure I ever did. You fucked my best friend on the night of our rehearsal dinner, not a month after my parents died. Do you have any idea what that did to me? I counted on you to love and support me through thick and thin. I was going to promise to cherish you through sickness and in health. Until death do us part. Do you understand that? Of course you don’t. You didn’t even last until the ceremony before you broke those vows.”
“Gio…please…”
“I gave you everything. And you gave me lies and betrayal. You kicked me when I was at my absolute lowest. I’ll never forgive you for what you’ve done. And I’m going to tell you right now, if that baby is in fact mine, I will be securing full custody and raising him or her with my wife.”
“Wife? What are you talking about?” Her face paled.
I held up my left hand with pride, showing off the wedding ring Julianne had placed upon my finger.
“I married Julianne Myers, the love of my fucking life. And thank God for that. I could have ended up with you and been miserable,” I hissed.
“You don’t mean that.” Bianca started to cry.
“With every fiber of my being. Now get the fuck out of my house,” I yelled and slammed the rest of my drink.
My eyes started to get heavy, and my mouth felt like cotton was coating it. Four shots usually gave me a buzz, but never made me feel like this.
“We can get your marriage annulled or a divorce. Mine too. It will be okay. We’ll work through our differences and raise this baby as a family. You’ll see, my love.”
I blinked rapidly as I tugged off my tie and tossed it on the counter, then proceeded to unbutton my shirt. “Fuck, I’m hot.” It was like my skin was on fire. I shucked off my blazer and moved toward my bedroom, running into the wall as I did so. “Leave, Biiii…aaannn…ccccaaaa…” I was having trouble forming the words, but my order was clear. I wanted her out of my house.
“Are you okay? You seem unwell. Let me help.” She looped her arm around my waist as I stumbled but finally unbuttoned my shirt all the way. I didn’t have the energy to push her off me.
“H-h-hot…ughhh, and…t-t-ti-tired…” I managed that much around a tongue that was suddenly too big inside my mouth.
Bianca helped me sit on the bed, then took one of my arms and undid the buttons at my wrist.
“F-fu-fuck o-off,” I mumbled, my eyes so heavy I could barely keep them open.
What the hell?
Why was I so tired?
What was happening?
“W-w-what hap…pen…” I couldn’t even talk.
“You’re sick. I’ve got you. Don’t you worry. Bianca is here, and I’m going to take care of you, my love. Just like I always did before all of this mess. And it is a mess.” She removed the second button on my wrist and pulled off my shirt completely, leaving me bare chested. “You know, you weren’t supposed to find out about me and Brenden that night. It certainly wasn’t part of the plan. And I will admit, I improvised by switching teams and marrying him. Though, he’s really a poor replacement for you in every way.”
I growled under my breath, not capable of anything more.
I needed a doctor.
I needed Julianne .
Bianca cupped my cheeks and forced my face up. She pressed her lips to mine, kissing me hard. I tried to move away but I was so tired, and my arms weren’t working like they should, and my eyes were closing. It was taking all the energy I had to keep them open.
“N-n-no,” I mumbled but Bianca pressed her lips to my jaw, and then down my neck. My stomach soured when she reached my chest, and I almost threw up.
“Nope. None of that.” She fanned my face; the cool air felt so good. “If you vomit, I’ll vomit. Your baby has been making me sick as a dog, but I know in six months it will be worth it when he or she makes their debut,” she hummed almost whimsically.
NOT MY BABY! I tried to scream, but only a gurgled moan left my lips.
Then the earth went upside down as she pushed on my chest until I was flat on my back. I could feel her hands undoing my belt. She moved to my feet and removed my shoes.
I tried to protest but didn’t have the strength. I grunted instead but that seemed only to egg her on.
“You’re welcome, my love.” She moved up to my waist, undid my pants and pulled them and my underwear off entirely.
I gagged as she appraised my naked body. I loathed her, and as soon as I had all my faculties back, I’d do everything in my power to ruin her.
“You have always been something to look at Giovanni Falco. The hottest man alive. That certainly hasn’t changed.” She grinned.
The woman was completely psycho.
“Hmm, I wonder if I should put my lips all over you, leave lipstick marks in the most private of places in order to stake my claim in person with Julianne. I still can’t believe you’d choose to marry a chubby workaholic with no real future. I mean, I thought you had good taste. Even her parents chose to only leave her a house over their multi-million-dollar stake in their company. Says a lot about your current wife I’m afraid.” She sighed as though put out.
Then I watched in complete and utter horror as she let her blazer fall to the floor. Then she curled her fingers around her top and pulled it off her head. Her bra came next, and I averted my eyes. I could hear her undressing, and my stomach sank with each new piece of clothing I heard hit the floor.
Whatever shit was in my system worked fast and pretty soon I was having trouble opening my eyes.
Bianca appeared above me, her small bare breasts swaying as she hovered. I could feel the weight of her sitting on my lap. Then, through the haze, I heard a clicking sound.
I used every ounce of power I had left and opened my eyes to see her typing on my phone.
“There! I sent a nice little text to your wifey to come to your apartment quickly. There’s a lot she needs to see in person.” The look on her face was pure evil.
How had I never seen this side to her?
Then what she said worked its way through my mind. Julianne was coming here. She’d see me like this.
Naked, with Bianca.
God, no. If Julianne saw the two of us in bed together, she’d never forgive me. I’d lose her forever.
“Nooooooooo!” I gurgled, my stomach tightening painfully as I was barely able to turn my head to the side and vomit.
“Oh hell! Gio. How much did you drink! I wasn’t expecting you to have so much. Shit! You’re a mess. Now I have to clean you up before she gets here!” She bitched and then I heard the sound of her gagging and running into the bathroom.
After that, I heard nothing because I passed out.