Page 40 of Surprise Baby for the Mafia Boss

“You have your usual room,” he continues. “That’s where you’ll stay. It’s right next to mine, so Carlos and his wife, and the others, will barely notice. I don’t want you speaking of the…baby.” He swallows hard on that word.

“And please remind yourself that this is all for show. If I say something, touch you, or even give you a look that makes you feel like everything is fine between us, it’s an act.” His steel blue eyes burn a hole through me, I can tell that he’s still hurt, but he’s masking it with indifference and it’s breaking my heart.

“I understand, Luca, I do. But please can we talk before we go ahead with this? I am carrying your baby and that’s not going to go away…” I take a step towards him and he holds his hand out to stop me.

“I am aware. And once this deal is fully secured—as in, we have the shipment in our own warehouse—I will have time to deal with you and your…situation. But for now, this is the job, and I need you to focus. Can you do that?”

“I can.” I look down at the dark wood floor, battling with myself and losing in the face of his cold blank stare.

“Good. Also, I have asked Grazia to make herself scarce while Carlos and his men are here. I cannot have an emotional outburst ruining this for me. I’m going to ask that you also don’t seek her out, and if you two happen to end up in the same room, I want you to leave.”

“You want me to avoid speaking to my best friend?” I ask, almost laughing at the ridiculousness of this entire situation.

“Grazia has no interest in speaking with you right now, Emelia. And if you do confront each other, I expect chaos. I can’t have that right now. Is that easy enough to understand?”

I can’t take his condescending tone any longer. “Why are you being like this?” I burst out.

“We were good! You know that what we were becoming was real. I don’t know why you’re all of a sudden acting like I forced you to have sex with me. Which time do you think was my grand plan? In Mexico, when you had your way with me all over our room, including the balcony? Or on your private jet, on our way to Paris, when you had me almost comatose from cumming? Were those all ‘orchestrated’ events?”

“No, they weren’t,” he replies simply. “But I believe Grazia and what she heard, and I believe that your father would be only too glad for you to be carrying a Baldini heir.”

“And you believe that I forced you to not wear a condom?” This time I do laugh, but Luca’s face tells me that was a bad idea.

“We’re not having this conversation, Emelia. I want this house ready for the Mexican party, and that includes you. It looks like you are ready, so I would suggest you take your bags to your room and come down in a couple of hours. And again, leave Grazia alone.” He sits down at his oversized Italian handcrafted desk and starts working on something I can’t see.

I look down at my dress and high heels. I thought if I showed up already dressed to the nines and ready, I could soften his attitude towards me before the Mexicans arrived.

Looks like I was wrong. He hadn’t even mentioned how good I look, which is stinging my ego just a bit.

I decide not to argue with him anymore. I leave his office, take my bags up to the room I have spent so many nights in, and head out into the garden. I doubt I’ll run into Grazia.

This house is huge, and I heard something about her taking over Ginny’s bedroom, which is on the opposite side of the house to my room.

I stand in the lookout house, remembering the night that Luca and I first found each other, my mind picturing again how he had touched me, kissed me, sent that mind-blowing orgasm through me.

Ginny said that it was hard for Luca to love, and I am sure that the guarded act he's putting on now is because of this. I just have to show him that I can be everything he needs in a wife and more. That a life with me and our baby will offer him all he’s ever wanted, the respect and love he deserves, and a brand-new chance at a happy life.

I know that my original plan might have been a horrible way to get into his heart, but I hadn’t known how soft Luca Baldini could be.

If I had thought that I could win his heart with nothing more than a few nights listening to him, I would have tried that ages ago.

But now we know each other better, he knows that I can be trusted with his associates, I know that he has what it takes to win the game and financially secure us for life.

We’re going to be a power couple, I can just see it.

Chapter Twenty-One

Luca

Carlos and his men show up at the mansion just as it’s getting dark.

I sent out cars to fetch them from the airstrip, and instructed my drivers to shower them with champagne and good service. I wanted them in a good mood when they arrived, and from the laughter I can hear at the door, the plan worked perfectly.

Tonight has to go well. It’s essential to the overall success of this deal. Our customers are already looking forward to buying more of the good stuff, and if we don’t deliver, we’ll lose them to other families—like the goddamn Morellis.

“Ah, Baldini! Your house is bigger than your attitude!” Carlos’ voice booms through the front entrance of the house, and I go to shake his hand.

“Welcome, to my humble abode. Thank you for coming out. I hope to show you all just how wonderful the States can be.” I greet the ladies behind Carlos, and the rest of his men.

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