Page 31 of The Billionaire's Pact

“It’s about time I reached you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Hello, Mama. How are you?” I deadpanned.

“Don’t take that tone with me, young lady. Yes, there is something wrong. I don’t understand why you’re staying in New York this week. Where are you?”

I sat up on the couch. “I’m in a hotel in Tribeca. It’s a penthouse.”

She scoffed down the line. “Rocco took you to a hotel? Only whores go to hotels.”

I tightened my jaw. “Gee, thanks, Mama.”

“I don’t mean you are, you know that. It’s just not proper. You could have stayed with Rocco’s relatives—”

“Stay with people I haven’t met?” I huffed. “No thanks.”

“Your uncle Lawrence offered, but my mother put her foot down. I can’t believe it.”

“Fine by me.” I pursed my lips.

Grandmother refusing Uncle Lawrence didn’t surprise me. She thought him too lenient. But Mama seemed clueless. She had been gone for sixteen years. I doubt she knows, or she would tell me.

“They’re falling all over Rocco because he’s a billionaire. Your grandfather offered to have a family dinner at their estate, which was a generous offer. But he turned them down for a splashy dance hall. He arranged flights and cars for a few hours, spending like a gambler drunk on a winning streak.” Her tone was downright snotty. She was already making him sound like my horrible father, and she hadn’t even met him yet.

“It’s his money, Mama. Isn’t marrying me to a wealthy family what you all wanted?” I grumbled and rolled my eyes. Now marrying well isn’t enough?

“It is, but I expect him to behave appropriately. He’s treating you like he’s not planning to keep you. I expected him to bring you into his family, not leave you at a hotel.”

It’s better than the seedy motel Judge Colby had us staying in at the end. The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t dare say them. Even when I disagreed with Mama, I avoided retriggering her trauma.

“Did he…Rocco, make a move on you?” she asked gingerly.

I suppressed my laugh. “You mean did he try to have sex with me?”

“Yes. Rocco took you to a hotel. He must have made a move?”

My mouth went dry. “What happened to getting things going with Rocco fast?” I asked coyly. She told me to try to get pregnant; my grandmother told me the opposite. Neither one could make up their minds. There was a lot at stake for this wedding: my grandparent’s future, Mama and Jacob’s security.

The line went quiet, and I sat up. “Mama, you there?”

She sighed. “I am here, Adelina. I know you’re older, but as I explained to Rocco, when I spoke with him, you’re a virgin. You’ve never dated and didn’t have good male role models until you were fourteen—”

“You, what?” My voice erupted, a mixture of disbelief and anger. I shot up from my seat. “Why on earth did you tell him that?” My face warmed. Rocco hadn’t mentioned it at all when we had lunch or during the lesson. He was nice and I had fun with him. He flirted, but he didn’t even try to kiss me. Not even when he slid the ring on my finger.

“What did I say that wasn’t true, Adelina?”

I balled my fist. What does she know about role models in my life? She’s been gone for most of the last eight years. “Grandfather and Grandmother are my role models. They taught me the importance of family and duty. I am the one who should decide if I want him to know about my past or personal life. It’s too late to mother me now.”

She never cared for my privacy or boundaries, and we both knew I never had a childhood. All I did was fight to take care of her.

The line fell silent. Had I been too harsh? My stomach lurched. I never wanted to hurt her, especially now that I knew why she took us to my grandparents. She had a mental break and couldn’t take care of me. She didn’t leave me because she wanted to. “Mama, I’m sorry. I’m grateful you helped us. I love you.”

“I know, Adelina…I have regrets. Many. But you’re defending Rocco too much already, just like I did with your father. You can’t even see he’s charming you into his bed to ruin you for another match—”

“What other match? We signed our marriage license today.” My voice strained, and a wave of panic churned my stomach.

“He…is, but…well, you’re not officially married yet.” Her voice wavered, adding to my growing unease.

My hand tightened on the phone. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

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