Page 29 of His Two Hidden Masks

My mother stood at the front of the room, beside Umberto. “The ‘aye’s’ have it,” she said, nodding. “There is one ‘nay.’ We will reconvene in five days.”

The room erupted in clapping. Umberto, Nico, Roberto, and James stood in a circle looking satisfied with the outcome. My whole life, I thought that my future was here in Venice with my family, and in a few short months, I no longer knew where I belonged.

Lissa stood behind me with a silver tray of champagne flutes. “Bella, would you like a glass,” she whispered.

I shook my head. “No, thank you, Lissa.”

Lissa nodded, her lips in a thin line. “I thought you did very well today,” she said. “I’m sorry Leo and I were late with your boxes.”

“It didn’t matter, but thank you. Thank you for your discretion this morning, too.” I glanced at James, wondering if my memory of our night together would fade over time and someday feel like a dream.

It already felt as though a lifetime had passed since he’d touched my body, since he’d filled me completely with his hard cock as if I were the lock and he were the key.

I had woken up feeling optimistic, powerful, and beautiful. Now? I felt low and blue. For once I truly understood the risk of flying high. There is nothing like the feeling of the air beneath your wings, but beware gravity and the pain when your body falls to earth.

“Leo is in the lobby,” said Lissa.

Leo and I worked so hard on re-designing those boxes. They were beautiful and I knew they would sell if we received approval. Leo spent hours of his personal time helping me with revisions, and today, I knew he likely had a shift at the glass factory and he’d worked around it for me.

He was always here to help me with my emergencies, my crises. He was the best friend in the world.

“I should go talk to him,” I said, squeezing Lissa’s hand. “I appreciate everything you did for me today. I don’t know how to repay you.”

“I recognize the currency of Bella Baci.” She winked. “Pay me with chocolate.”

“Deal,” I said, managing a smile, before heading toward the exit.

I was almost out the door when a hand touched my shoulder. I turned around. James stood behind me. “Isabella,” he said.

I shook my head as if I could make him disappear. I did not want to talk to him. It was one thing to give my body to a stranger, but I did not sign up to see him watch me be humiliated by my father the next morning.

“I’m sorry, but I have a friend waiting in the lobby.” I moved to push past him.

“We should talk,” he said, his hand on my arm.

“I think I’ve heard enough talking today.” I glanced down at his hand. “We’ve seen enough of each other, as well. Let go of me.”

“There is something I need to explain to you.”

“I don’t know how that will help anything.”

He looked pained, and I noticed him glance down the table toward my father, who was watching our every move.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let my father know what you did to me last night,” I said, my voice low. “I know it didn’t mean anything to you, but I can’t believe you acted like you’d never met me at all.”

He laughed as if I said something funny and wrapped his arms around me in a big hug.

“What the hell?” I said

“Trust me,” he whispered, his lips against my ear. “

Meet me in the piazza in front of Andiamo tonight. There is something I need to show you.”

“Trust you?” I laughed, leaning back. So, the man who’d agreed to a night built on lies wanted me to trust him in the daylight. “I can’t trust you.”

“Meet me anyway, Isabella,” he said, releasing me from his arms. His dark eyes sparkled and electricity crackled between us. I looked into the face of my mystery lover, but saw a distance in his gaze that I couldn’t reconcile with running my hands over his naked body and the ridge of his enormous cock. “Please.”

“Maybe,” I said. “Maybe, I will meet you in the piazza.”

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