Page 9 of Take Me Under

Not waiting for Madeleine to reply, I said, “Yes, that’s me. Serena Martinelli.”

“Dr.Serena Martinelli,” Madeleine proudly corrected with an emphasis on my formal title.

Anton’s eyes widened briefly before quickly recovering. They never strayed from my face, keeping focus on only me. Then his jaw hardened into a line of unmistakable irritation.

“Why do you ask?” I wondered, somewhat bewildered by his expression.

“No reason,” he said curtly. “It was nice meeting you, Madeleine. And Serena, thank you for allowing me to escort you inside. Enjoy your night.”

And with that, he turned and walked away. My brow raised over the abrupt departure.

Did I do something wrong?

“He’s so lovely to look at. It’s a shame to see him go, even if I do enjoy the view,” Madeleine murmured. “Just met him, you say?”

“Yes, right outside. He...” I hesitated, not wanting to explain my near fall and all the subsequent events. I didn’t know why, but my brief encounter with Anton felt special in some way, and I wanted to keep the details about our meeting private.

“He’s a good friend to keep around, Serena. The minute you said his name, I knew who he was. He might try to hide from the press, but that handsome face can be recognized anywhere. Especially after he was included in the list of sexiest men aliveby…” She pressed a finger to her chin. “Oh, I can’t remember the name of the magazine, but it’s a popular U.S. publication.”

I blinked in confusion.

“He’s really that well known?”

“My dear, are you going to tell me that you do not know who he is?” Her incredulous stare was nothing short of comical.

“I’m afraid I don’t have a clue,” I said with a laugh. Only select U.S. magazines made it into Italian circulation, but even if the magazine featuring Anton had been on the shelves in Rome, it was unlikely I would have paid much attention.

“That was Anton Romano. The magazine referred to him as a newly minted billionaire. All things considered, I assumed your meeting him was deliberate on your part. If you’re looking for financial backers, he might be an interested party. The man was an overnight success. He made a fortune in cryptocurrency a few years back.”

“Crypto?”

“That’s right. Virtual money. It’s changing the world—or so I’m told. I don’t understand the concept. To me, money is a physical thing that you can hold. But I suppose it’s all spent the same way no matter its form.”

The sudden sound of loud voices caused me to look past Madeleine toward a crowd of people filtering in. Their chatter echoed throughout the room.

“Looks like the red carpet parade is over,” I remarked.

“Oui, oui.Time to get this party going!” she said with an exaggerated clap of her hands. “I’ll let you get to work. I spoke with Raul, the event organizer. He assured me he would seat you with people who might be interested in your cause. I looked over the seating chart when I arrived, and I approve. Your table is along the left wall, third row, second one in.”

I followed where her finger pointed, and quickly noted how she said it wasmytable—not ours.

“Aren’t you sitting with me?” I asked.

“Of course not!” She laughed as if the thought were preposterous. “Some designers like to sit with their muses, but that is not my style. You are my star here tonight, and you should be seated in a place of honor. I will be in my designated area mingling with my fellow designers. If all goes well, this evening will be a triumph for us both. We will catch up later. I know you will have the time of your life, my dear! Trust me.”

With that, she swept away, leaving me alone as the room gradually filled with guests.

Damn her!

I had been relying on her to guide me through the evening. I was completely out of my depth and had no idea how to navigate a celebrity scene of this magnitude. I had hoped she would help ease me into the crowd.

Guests made their way to the tables, and the room filled quickly. I followed suit and headed in the direction Madeleine had indicated. I eyed the place settings on my approach, taking note of the bamboo utensils, floral-patterned china, and gold-rimmed champagne flutes atop a cerulean tablecloth. The stunning arrangement complimented the rest of the extravagant décor, reminding me once again how much I didn’t fit in with such luxury.

I was the first to arrive at my table. I located the place card bearing my name, picked it up, and traced my finger over the gilded lettering before slipping the card into my red clutch purse as a keepsake to take home.

Glancing around the room one more time, I silently hoped I’d be able to locate Anton. I sighed to myself when I realized finding him now would be hopeless in the crowd that had filtered in.

“You’re on your own tonight, Serena,” I muttered to myself.

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