Page 29 of The Billionaire's Pact

I nodded. “That’s fine.”

“Good. There’s some food in the kitchen. However, you can call room service if you want something else. The menu is on the tablet. There’s a steam room, shower, bath, books, music, whatever you want.” Her phone chimed with an incoming text. “Mr. Marini. He says you are an artist. I can get supplies for you here.”

My jaw dropped. Rocco had only heard a little about it today, and already, he was encouraging me. I liked it. But painting was not something I bet the hotel would approve of. “I’ll just take reference photos for later.”

“I can still make a list for Italy?” she offered. I agreed and she took down a list of art supplies from me.

I grinned broadly. “Thank you so much.” My eyes darted around. There was so much to take in. I rarely ever had time entirely to myself in the dorms. Now I’m in a penthouse suite! My grandparents’ house was elegant, but I spent my summers at college taking courses and working in the alumni office. A week or two here and there at their home, but never alone. Heck, I didn’t even go to their other homes. It was like they wanted to keep me and my lineage a secret. But who could blame them? It was my family who damaged them.

“Congratulations again, Adelina. I’ll leave you to relax. If you need anything, give me a call. My phone number is programmed into your phone. You can call me anytime.”

“Thank you so much for everything.”

“You’re very welcome.” Isla left.

I explored the rooms. The penthouse had two bedrooms, a spacious bathroom, and a sauna. There were robes and slippers to wear, and Isla had left perfumes and body mousses. I opened one and inhaled the fruity, jasmine musk. It smelled heavenly. Was it a favorite of Rocco’s? A tingle went through my chest thinking about it.

I decided to take a bubble bath. Once ready, I sank into the steam with a giggle. This is the life. Rocco was showing me his life, which was luxurious and enticing. To my surprise, he had leisure time for dance lessons. Rocco has me staying in a penthouse at a hotel for a week. I didn’t even know they did things like that.

I picked up my new phone, checked the price for this suite, and my jaw dropped. Over ten thousand dollars a night? Rocco spent all that money on me to stay here?

The penthouse in the hotel was excessive, but I couldn’t stop smiling. Sure, I should’ve felt bad for the extravagance, but I decided to leave that for later. I turned on the television and a stereo to play music. With both going simultaneously, I sang along and watched a show. This is freaking fantastic!

I found it hard to leave the comfortable bath but forced myself to. After, I changed into the new matching set of lingerie—delicate, lace, silk—not something I’d usually wear, or even what Mrs. Belfiore had shopped for me. This set was very sexy.

I put on a scoop-neck shirt and slacks, then checked my new phone again. To my surprise, it was already filled with messages from Mama and two from Cassidy. I listened to hers first.

“Hey, Lina, it’s Cass. I miss you already. How’s it going? Did ‘it’ happen? Call me when you have a chance.”

Second message.

“Okay. My head’s exploding over here. There’s a huge rumor out there. You must call me back, lady. I’m dying here, Gorgeous.”

I laughed and played the last message.

“It’s your mother again. Call me back. Now, Adelina.”

I furrowed my brows. What’s the rush? In the past eight years, she’d acted more like a sister than a mother. My grandparents were the ones who did the disciplining, not her. If something was wrong, they’d have told me. So I decided to call Cassidy, who answered with a scream.

I held the phone away from my ear and laughed.

“Tell me it’s true?” she said excitedly.

I grinned and walked over and sat down on the leather couch. “Yes. It’s true.”

“You’re marrying the Rocco Marini?” she whispered into the phone.

“Yes. I’m marrying Rocco Marini,” I repeated, and it was just as outrageous hearing me say it out loud.

Cassidy screamed again. “Oh, my God. We were joking about it and now it’s actually happening. Unbelievable. But wow, Rocco Marini. Is it still…arranged?” she asked softly.

“Yes, it is,” I said and bit my lip.

“Wow, I didn’t know the Marinis were also into arranged marriages. I guess you can never know. Now I understand why Mr. M sent you all those gift boxes.”

My stomach sank. “Yes, I guess so. But it kinda bothers me.” I always thought of him as a friend. It hadn’t been easy to build a friendship because I didn’t trust men, but he was patient and kind. So is Rocco so far.

“So, he had a motive. I don’t think it’s a bad thing. He was nice and you liked him. I mean it worked out in the end. It’s better your husband will be Rocco. Right?”

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