Page 21 of His Two Hidden Masks

“Cancel them,” Roberto said, annoyed. “Signor Uzano will have the details, but it’s my understanding that our out-of-town board meeting guests will be dining with us.”

“Who is coming from out of town for the meeting?” I said, expecting only the usual suspects -- my parents, Auntie Aurora, Uncle Lorenzo, Roberto’s father, Nico, and of course, Roberto.

“I’m afraid it’s not my place to share that information. There has been an update to the agenda.”

“Roberto,” I said, weary. “Come on.”

“I’m sorry, Bella, I take it your father didn’t mention anything to you?” Roberto raised his perfectly groomed eyebrows. His false concern for me was too much.

“We haven’t discussed the meeting, specifically,” I said, my heart racing. My father most likely had no intention of telling me anything about the board meeting. It was a part of my punishment for disappointing my parents.

“And it’s not my place,” Roberto said. “I am sure you understand.”

“It’s fine,” I said, my pulse roaring. Rise above. I would rise above. I wanted to take the bowl of caramels and throw it into the gilded mirror above the fireplace. I wanted to smash something, but I stood steady, unblinking, smile frozen.

I would not crack, not here, not in front of him. “I am sure Papa will update me on all relevant news tomorrow at the board meeting.”

“Tomorrow?” Roberto looked confused. “The meeting was moved to today at ten a.m. Didn’t you get the text?”

“What?” I asked, digging my phone out of my pocket.

Roberto held up his phone. “Your father messaged me late last night. I assumed he would let you know too.”

Feeling dizzy with confusion, I looked at Paolo, who nodded in agreement. “I’ll make those copies,” he said, opening the door that led to the back of the house.

“The meeting starts in fifteen minutes,” Roberto said. “I expect everyone is already there or will be arriving shortly. Let me see what your father messaged.” Roberto looked up, a mock apology on his smug face.

“Oh, I think I was supposed to relay the message to you. He followed up again this morning, saying he tried to find you, but he wasn’t sure you were at home last night?”

I concentrated on my poker face. Roberto’s insinuation was impossible to miss. He was taking cheap shots and keeping tabs on me. Even worse, so was my father. I held my phone in my pocket and resisted the urge to look at it in front of him again.

There was no missed text from my father. I wasn’t prepared for my presentation. I did not have candy samples to show the board. The new box mock ups were still with Leo. I had holes in my presentation that I had wanted to fill in with accurate growth projections.

I was out-maneuvered and felt sick with the realization that I had to run offense with the board and defense against my own family. I underestimated Roberto’s power and my father’s anger. This last-minute scheduling change was a clear message. Roberto was a lieutenant and I was, at best, an expendable foot soldier.

Paolo returned with a stack of copied papers, setting them on the marble countertop between us. Lissa also entered from the back of the house. “Buongiorno, Lissa. And thank you, Paolo. I’ll distribute these,” I said, taking the folder off the desk.

“Suit yourself,” Roberto said, shrugging.

“See you soon,” I said, forcing my biggest mega-watt smile.

Roberto said nothing. He turned and walked up the marble staircase.

“I’ll go with you and check on the beverage service upstairs,” Lissa said, moving out from behind the desk to stand beside me.

I took a breath and held the stack of papers to my chest. I had woken up feeling so good, so strong, so alive with sex and the memory of James. The way he lifted me onto the bed, his dark eyes drinking in my skin, his tongue and mouth exploring me.

My cheeks flushed and my arousal rose. I wasn’t going to let Roberto or anyone in my family make me feel guilty about choosing pleasure over reason for once in my life.

Ready or not, it was time to face my family and the board. I didn’t have time to go home, but I needed to make sure I didn’t look like someone who had just rolled out of bed.

“I have a hairbrush,” Lisa said, softly. She patted a crossbody bag under her cardigan. “I keep a few things here at the hotel, so I don’t have to run back to the palazzo.”

With Roberto out of sight, I reached over and gave her a quick hug. “I’m sorry you are in the middle of this.”

“Nonsense,” Lissa said. “I’m in the middle of nothing. You have a business idea to present. You deserve to stand before the board.”

“Thank you,” said, taking inventory of my clothes. I still had on my long black skirt, sweater, and emerald green pashmina. The clothes would have to do, but I knew my mother would be mortified to see a Venetian woman wearing my heavy, black, walking boots at the board meeting. Shoes were stupidly important to my family and everyone in Italy. I had an idea.

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