Page 13 of King

My heels click against the marble floor, echoing through the otherwise quiet mansion until I step onto the wooden floor of the sunroom. The sound of my heels changes and becomes softer.

Giovanni doesn’t stand up or even look at me when I walk in.

The doorman bows ever so slightly, then turns away, pulling the door closed behind himself to give us privacy.

Giovanni’s voice is calm when he speaks.

“Come inside. Sit down.” He demands.

I make my way to the pale grey sofa and sit opposite him, crossing one leg over the other and placing my purse next to me on the sofa. I brush my hands over my thighs to push my dress down where it’s riding up my legs.

“You look lovely.” He says his eyes tracing over me with a coldness I don’t recognize.Maybe he has changed. Maybe he would kill me.

“Thank you for seeing me.”

“You caused such a scene at my wife’sfuneral, I don’t think I had a choice, Zina.” He snaps angrily.

I sigh loudly. “He’s your son, and he wants to know his father. I waited as long as I could but how can I say no to him when all he wants to do is?—”

“For fuck’s sake, Zina. Do you understand what you doing by coming here? You’re causing havoc. It’s your fault that Guido never had a chance to know me - you’re the one who kept him from me.” He says with dark accusation on his voice.

Anger spikes inside me. “Are you serious?” I snap. “So, you would have wanted me to come bursting in here while your wife was still alive? You don’t think I was hiding him out of respect for her? You should thank me!” I shout.

“Thank you?” he says, standing, his fists clenched at his side.

“Yes.” I snap, remaining seated, refusing to let him chase me out before I’ve had my say.

Giovanni stands over me, peering down at me, trying to intimidate me with those piercing green eyes of his.

I shake my head and stare back at him just as fiercely.

“I’m not leaving.” I whisper.

He turns away in a huff, storming towards the bar to pour himself a drink. He doesn’t offer me anything.

If I don’t turn his mood around, I’m going to get nowhere again.

I let out a huff of air and force myself to speak calmly.

“You’re the one who pushed me away, Giovanni. I thought we were going to run away together. I thought we were in love. I loved you. I know that much.” I say, closing my eyes. When I open them again, he’s staring at me from across the room. The coldness in his gaze has softened a little.

“I never wanted to leave.” I continue. “But I did it because you wanted that of me. Somehow you always got what you wanted.” I shake my head with regret. “You have no right to be angry at me for hiding Guido from you. You know I made the right choice. But now - it’s only fair of you to give us a chance. You abandoned me. Not the other way around. Don’t forget that.”

Giovanni clenches his jaw and lifts the glass of whisky to his lips, draining all of it from the glass in one tilt of his head. He slams the glass down onto the wooden counter top.

“All of that is in the past.” He tries to argue.

I sigh in frustration.

“We can’t change the past. We were young. I was stupid to believe you loved me. But I refuse to let you push your own son away now.” I snap, finally standing up because my body is trembling with anger and I can’t sit still anymore.

“I never—” he starts, but his words trail off.

“You never what?” I demand.

“I never—” he closes his eyes. “I never loved you.” The lie that spills from his mouth is so obvious even a blind man could see straight through him.

“I see.” I say, tilting me head to the side. “Not that it matters.”

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