Page 76 of The Billionaire's Pact

I nodded in agreement.

He wrinkled his nose. “Let’s go back to the Renaissance work.”

I laughed.

“You could show in a gallery one day,” he said.

I stopped walking. “I doubt it.”

“Don’t. Every accomplishment starts with a dream. I was fortunate to have connections,” he acknowledged. “But still the willingness to try. I volunteered to do every position.”

“Did you? I never heard about that,” I said.

He gazed at me. “Even though it feels like it, everything is not captured. It felt good to be anonymous, in a way.”

I stared at him, as I hadn’t expected him to feel that way. He was always out there with so much attention on him. “I’m surprised. I thought you liked the spotlight.”

“I use it to promote my work, but there are times I just want to walk in a gallery,” he said, and I hugged his side. “I like how easy it is with us here.”

It had been like we’re in our own, special cocoon. I also loved the time away.

“I most of all like that I can talk to you,” he said, his eyes shifting over my face.

My pulse sped up. “I love to listen.”

He kissed me on the lips, then checked his watch. “I must cut this short so we have time at the Academia Gallery.”

I checked my phone. The call was in two hours. “Okay.”

Rocco stopped to speak with a few people on our way to the car. By the time we were seated and moving, the traffic was busy. We only made it a block before stopping, waiting to navigate the narrow streets.

My heart accelerated. “Maybe we can go another time?”

“It’s not that far; we’ll be there very soon.

Ten minutes later, we parked a couple of blocks away and had to wade through a huge crowd. Rocco ran into more people he knew, so he introduced me and started a conversation. I put on a smile next to him, but I couldn’t resist checking the time on my phone. Only an hour and fifteen minutes left. The laptop was in the car, and I had no idea where we had parked.

I touched his arm. “Maybe another time?”

He said goodbye to his friend and placed his hand on my back. “Why? We’re almost there, Adelina. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this.”

I went stiff. “I-I can’t right now. I have an important call and barely an hour to make it. Please. Let’s go.” My voice caught.

He lifted my chin to him. “What’s wrong?”

“I have a call scheduled with my brother, Jacob. He’s at Yarwood Springs Care Center. They have him on a set schedule. I-I can’t miss it,” I said nasally and sniffled.

He pulled me into a hug, then made a call, speaking rapidly in Italian. “We’ll make it. I promise.”

The car came within minutes, and we were back on the road. “We’ll go to my grandpa’s home. You can make your call there.”

“Thank you,” I mumbled, my fingers fidgeting on my lap.

He took out his phone and made a call.

However, my eyes were focused out the window, and for once, I wanted the traffic to move faster. After turning a sharp corner, the road opened up to the countryside, and I eased some. We finally turned down a road to a mansion surrounded by fruit trees, and Mr. Marini stood in the front doorway. I rushed forward and into a bear hug.

He patted my back. “Mia dolce, Adelina. There you are.”

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