Page 67 of Pretty Little Disaster

“That's not what this was. We…You know what, it's none of your business.” I stop myself from taking this woman's bait.

“You're right, it’s not. I just figured that since we weren’t so different from each other we might be friends.” She crosses her long, slender legs with ease and dusts off the front of her high heel.

“We’reverydifferent from each other,” I assure her, shifting my ass on the seat to get more comfortable. When we get home Nic is going to have to rub my lower back before I go to sleep, it feels stiff as hell.

“Come on, Lorna, you don’t have to play dumb with me, we both know exactly what we are. We’re all part of the competition. You may be in the lead on the family department, but Gio has a lot of support. Nic’s attempt to turn your little mistake into a show-stopping performance will all be such a waste. I do hope you invite us to the wedding.” She goes to stand up but I grab her arm.

“What the hell are you talking about?” I feel my hand shaking as she looks down at it and smiles.

“Ask your baby daddy how far he’s prepared to go to get that district. He needed stability, he needed a wife. He already had the baby on the way so it only made sense that he would rope you in to be all the rest. Two birds, one stone.” I hate that she’s looking at me like she feels sorry for me.

“You know nothing about our lives. We’re happy and we’re–”

“He proposed to you after he found out that Gio was challenging for the district, did he not?” She tilts her head and stares deep into my eyes. “Do you really believe that Nic Conte, this city's biggest playboy, is ready to settle down, and be a husband and a father?” She laughs. “It's all an act for Dario, and for the other leaders. I’m sorry, I’m guessing from the look on your face that it’s been an act for you too. I was under the impression that you were aware.”

“I…I.” I have no words, suddenly I’m feeling hot, and the floor beneath me is wobbling. I think back to how things used to be. The scowls he’d make when I walked into a room, the way he would tut at every word I spoke. Nic hated me, he always thought his family was better than mine. Did I really think that having a baby with him would change all that?

The whole time I’ve known Nic, he’s been determined to follow in his father’s footsteps, determined to be a leader. I look at the ring on my finger and feel my eyes fill with tears when I consider that this is a marriage of convenience that I’ve been mistaking for love.

I stand up, leaving my shoes on the floor, storming past Madalina and the women she’s talking with to get to the lobby.

“Lorna?” She notices me passing and must excuse herself because she chases after me. “Wait up, what's wrong?”

I quickly dry my eyes before I turn around and face her.

“Nothing’s wrong.” I smile brightly.

“I thought you looked upset.” She still doesn’t seem convinced.

“I have a six-pound baby pushing on my bladder, what do you expect?” I laugh, hoping it will pass. She isn’t the person I can talk to about this. Nic’s her brother, she’s always going to see the best in him.

“Sorry.” She smiles awkwardly, then turns to head back to the ballroom,

“Mads, answer me a question,” I call after her and when she turns back around, I stare my best friend in the eye so she can’t lie to me. “Does me being Nic’s wife make a difference to him getting the district he wants?” I ask, reminding myself to breathe, this dress suddenly feels even tighter.

“Of course, it does.” She laughs before looking around us and lowering her tone to a whisper. “We must not discuss this here, there are ears everywhere.” She winks.

“And how far would Nic go to get what he wants, what are the limits?” I ask my final question.

“There are none,” she tells me, frowning like I’ve confused her.

“Okay.” I brave a smile for her, and when she leaves to rejoin her friends I slowly start backing toward the front door. We’re miles from anywhere, I have no idea how I’m going to get home, but I can’t stay here a second longer. I feel like such a fool for believing every word Nic said. For believing that he was falling in love withme. Of course, he wasn’t. All along Madalina must have known that too.

“Ma’am…Can I help you, Ma’am?” One of the valets steps up behind me and takes hold of my arm when I stumble.

“Would you like me to fetch your car for you, Ma’am?” he asks and I quickly nod my head.

“Nic Conte,” I say the name of the man who has deceived me in the cruelest of ways.

“Very good, Ma’am.” He nods for one of the younger boys to head off once he passes them the keys, and within a few minutes, I hear the loud engine purr as the car crunches onto the gravel.

I look over my shoulder and check that Nic hasn’t followed me out. I guess he’ll be busy, looking at jet skis and convincing everyone inside that he’s ready to be the perfect leader and family man too.

The guy gets out of the car and holds the door open for me.

“She’s a beauty,” he tells me as I gently lower myself into the driver’s seat. It’s been a while since I drove and I have to majorly adjust the seat so I can fit behind the wheel. Still, I manage it, without help.Without him.

I pull away, knowing that I can’t go back to the apartment. Nic and I need to talk, but not tonight. Tonight I’m too angry. Tonight I’m too hurt. I need a night away from Nic Conte’s savage, brutal world, and I know just where I can find it.

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