Monza (Formula Men #1)(10)
Although it was true what they said—that two weeks wasn’t enough time to truly get to know someone—she had never given off the vibe that she was in to money or anything related to it. What she spoke about most was how enthralled she was with the Italian culture and how deeply she loved her family. She also wasn’t one to shy away from discussing the loss of her mother and how it had shaped her as the woman she was today. So, color me confused with the sudden turn of events after leaving Rome for a month and coming back to see an announcement in the newspaper that she had gotten married to one of Italy’s leading prosecutors.
She couldn’t fault me if I was seeking retribution.
With a poached bottle of brandy in hand, I patiently peered at the incoming throng of people, biding my time until the woman graced my sight with her despicable presence. I was a quarter down in the bottle when the newlyweds appeared, seeming rather too chummy for my liking.
Merda. Why did she have to look even better than the last time I had seen her?
It was appalling to find myself so irate after studying their relationship from this vantage point.
Refraining myself from chucking the bottle their way, I found myself quietly at odds with my emotions.
This was going to a long, interesting evening.
=-=-=-=
Dazzling in her low cut, satin, black dress, Kimberly appeared confidently poised next to her husband. She was smiling to the man Anton was introducing her to, and I felt my throat constrict, as if I was having a tough time breathing.
I took another gulp of my brandy, my eyes never straying away from her. They were glued, stuck, zeroed in on one person—the husband I couldn’t care less about.
As challenging as it was to listen through such tedious speeches, one after the other, during dinner, my persistence hadn’t deteriorated as I bided for the perfect time. My opportunity came when she unexpectedly got a message on her phone, frowning as she did so. Then she whispered in Anton’s ear, quite possibly excusing herself to step out to attend to the message that had gotten her worried.
Treading a few feet away from her, I followed her stride as she left the ballroom and sought for the nearest exit, finding herself in the beautiful botanical garden. She sought out a secluded spot close to an old tree that was not too far from the door she had exited from but enough distance to keep her conversation private from other guests. She had her back turned, occupying herself with the emergency call she was engaged in, while my gaze occupied itself with the silky, bare expanse of her skin and ample, pert bottom.
“Don’t even think about it. Keep him in there,” she said with pure aggravation. “No … I have this handled. Please. I promise it’ll all be okay soon.” She exchanged another few short words before ending the call with her head bent low, distraught about something.
“Was that another man to cause your plight?” I gingerly invaded her space while she looked ghostly pale and speechless. I supposed it was the fitting reaction I had been aiming for.
“Luca,” she breathlessly uttered as if she couldn’t fathom that I was right there with her, antagonizing her.
Stiff as a board, I almost sneered at her. “You remember my name, and here I thought you were diagnosed with selective amnesia.”
Shaking her head, her eyes suddenly appeared glassy. “You look fine. When I was watching you on TV … when your car smashed into a wall … You don’t know how happy I am to see you alive and well.”
She was happy. Ha! Of course she was.
“You never let on that you were engaged to be married. It must be nice to be the Mrs. Anton Gallo, isn’t it? It’s every girl’s dream to marry an old, rich man. How is that going for you, by the way?”
Her throat bobbed as she tried to keep her tears at bay. “Don’t say it like that. Anton’s a very good man.”
So was I, but she had never given me a bloody chance. My chest was on fire. It was as if there was a caged animal inside me, and it needed to be let out. It was maddening. However, my cool demeanor started to break when a tear fell, sliding down her beautiful face.
“Why the f*uk are you crying? It won’t make a difference to me, so you best change your tactics.”
“I get that you’re very angry at me—”
“Angry?” I huffed out with exasperation. “Oh, that’s a mild word to use, Kimberly.” Getting close to her face, I hardened my resolve when she didn’t stop her crying. “You know, had you told me you were desperate for money, I could have easily given you more than what Anton could. I have millions. Hell, I’m worth more than that if I add my inheritance in the equation. All you needed to do was ask instead of going behind my back and betraying me like the gold-digging strumpet you are!”
She nodded, shamefaced. “Okay, I’m a gold digger…” She sniffed. “I’m really sorry for everything.” She gave me one last, lingering look before she spun on her heels, readying to escape my wrath.
She wasn’t fast enough, though.
My arm speedily wrapped around her hips, immediately pulling her back to continue our engaging conversation. “You’re not going to f*uking walk away when I’m not—” I eerily stilled as my ears heavily pounded when my hand cupped something that shouldn’t be there.
“Che cazzo! You’re pregnant!” I hissed out, seeing red as I stared in shock at her tiny stomach bump. “Is that why you got married? It was because you were carrying his child?” As much as I loathed the fact, it made sense now.