Page 61 of The Billionaire's Pact

“Yes. Mayor Louisa gave us her personal invite, and that’s not common. She’s presiding over it this year. We need to leave soon. I’ll see you downstairs.”

“But…but the mayor?” I lowered my head and touched my lips. I had no idea how to be with political figures, or what to wear to meet them. Rocco was out the door before I could ask what one should wear to meet a mayor.

My stomach knotted in panic. I’ll embarrass myself and him. They’ll know I don’t belong. Was this a test? No, Rocco said we were personally invited.

I took another look at Isla’s note.

I opened it and found a beautiful cream midi tube dress and ankle-strap sandals in a designer bag, which was packed with sunscreen, gloss, and a brush. Isla’s the best.

I took a quick shower, and after brushed my hair, adding the low ponytail clip and mousse left by Isla. I added some makeup, then the necklace and earrings I’d worn at the engagement dinner, and somehow made it downstairs in thirty minutes.

Rocco was busy speaking with Rick, his driver. He turned and scanned me. “Bella, you make my heart beat faster.” He gazed over the jewelry and frowned. “You already wore those and have been photographed in them.”

I lifted my shoulders. “Is that a problem?”

“Yes. We’re meeting Louisa Calla. She will notice.” He blew out his breath and took out his phone. “It’s not your fault.” He rapidly spoke in Italian, but I gathered that he wanted to stop at a shop. “Grazi. We’ll go to Ponte Vecchio. No problem.”

My brows knitted. “Why is it such a big deal?

He sighed. “It is and it isn’t. Think of it as work. Our life is our brand. Everything we do is work.” He gazed off, and I could see the tension in his shoulders.

I touched his hand. “I’m sorry.”

He smiled and rubbed my arms. “It’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

Still a cut dug into my chest. I didn’t want to disappoint him, but I was at a disadvantage. I knew of jewelry, but I never could afford to have it. But that was it, to be a part of his life I had to learn and anticipate what I needed to support him. I had to do better.

We took a Bentley, and I stared out the window watching as the sky grew brighter on our drive toward Florence. We turned down a narrow street, stopping outside a jewelry shop, where a man was the only one waiting in front of the shop. The closest I’d ever come to a jeweler was passing a store in a shopping mall. It was a luxury only for the rich. But today, I went in. Inside the shop were cases of sparkling gems in pristine glass were displayed. He was dressed formally, in a three-piece suit, and greeted Rocco warmly in Italian like they were old friends.

“Ciao! Che piacere vederti!”

“Come stai?”

“Molto bene, grazie.”

“Sto bene grazie, e tu?”

Rocco placed his hand on my lower back. “Enzo this is my fiancée, Adelina Belfiore from America.”

“Buongiorno,” I said softly.

He beamed at me. “Bellissima. A Belfiore. Oh, She’s a beauty. So lovely to meet you.”

I smiled bashfully, my head dipping. I glanced up at Rocco, who smiled broadly at me. “Adelina’s a gentle soul. Sweet and very underdressed.”

Enzo nodded, his eyes shifting over me. “Not even earrings?” He said in a shocked tone.

They laughed, and I smiled.

Rocco squeezed my shoulders. “We need to fix that.”

“We must,” Enzo mused.

Rocco and I followed him to a seating area before a vanity with two seats and a mirror. Rocco stayed behind me with his hands draped around my shoulders. The weight and warmth of his hands eased some of my nervousness. Enzo returned with a few velvet cases, which he placed down. The first was a pendant necklace.

“L’heure du diamant Marquise,” Enzo said in perfect French. It was a Marquise Diamond with a gold double ring of exquisite white diamonds. There were no prices, but I knew enough that it was expensive.

I trembled as he placed it around my neck. I loved the dress, but with the diamond necklace, it went from pretty to graceful. But Rocco wasn’t done. He chose a vintage gold bracelet, a diamond, a yellow gold band, and a small, wrapped gold necklace. I tried on diamond studs, cluster, and drop earrings. While I thought the extravagance was too much, I had to think of it like Rocco. My image was also work; to be his wife, I had to fit in.

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