Page 39 of Forbidden Lord
A shot of energy washed through her as she thought about her friend who was embracing her inner artist. “She’ll be thrilled. I can’t wait to call her.”
Melissa proudly announced, “Your show sold out on the pieces.”
“Let’s make their acceptance letters.” She put the receipts back and signed for Melissa to extend the offers for acceptance at the already pre-agreed prices; this was a mere formality. Sheena then noticed that Melissa’s clothes were falling off her, and her assistant was clearly losing weight. Hopefully she wasn’t stressed. “If you stay on as my assistant full time now that I’m the countess, I can offer you a raise.”
“That would be great, Sheena.” Melissa’s shoulders relaxed. “It’s good that your showings will now all be in one location, and not all over Europe. It makes planning easier.”
Sheena finished her coffee. “I’m so pleased.” She checked the time—it had been more than the two hours she’d told Matteo. “It’s getting late. I will call you in a few days.”
“Thank you, my lady,” Melissa said as Sheena stood. At least she still had some of the good pieces of her old life, since her assistant was staying on. Melissa’s help these past five years was in part why she’d been so successful with running shows.
Sheena stared down her nose as Melissa finished her breakfast pastry. “That sounds so strange—but nice.”
She hurried out of the cafe and turned into the parking lot to get her red Ferrari, eager to spend what was left of the afternoon with Matteo.
Charles stood in front of her new car, wearing the same suit from the party but it now clearly needed to be cleaned and ironed.
Where had he come from? She glanced in both directions. Nobody else was around. She clicked the button for the car to unlock and alert anyone nearby.
Charles stuck his hands in his pockets and asked, “Is that why you married that worthless count who never does anything? So you could have the title of lady?”
Heat washed through her. What Charles thought shouldn’t matter. She pressed her lips together. “Don’t be crass, Charles. You shouldn’t be here at all.”
He stepped in front of her and waved his hand. “This is a public coffee shop you’ve chosen to do your business in.”
Her heart raced slightly as she crossed her arms. “I always meet my assistant at a coffee shop.”
He nodded. “I remember.”
“So you followed me?” She stilled. This was too much. She’d gone months without hearing from him and now he was everywhere.
He massaged her upper arms to get her to drop her guard. “Do you love your Count?”
Goosebumps grew where he touched her and she met his gaze. Once she’d wanted this, but not now. Not ever again. “That’s not your business. My life isn’t your concern.”
“I love you, Sheena.” He came closer.
Her lips pressed together. She couldn’t kiss him though her body buzzed with warning that he intended to do just that. She lowered her lashes, unsure how to handle this because a lady never uses her hands to push anyone off. “I… can’t.”
He traced her face. “Tell me you don’t love me and that you love your husband.”
Why was he doing this? Her heart skipped a beat as she thought about Matteo. This couldn’t happen. Not now. She clicked the button so her car beeped again and she shook her head, “Let me go.”
He came closer and lightly kissed her cheeks as he pulled her toward him. “Prove your denial with one last kiss.”
Before she could breathe, Charles kissed her lips and in that second, she thought about how Matteo’s lips made her tingle.
In comparison, right now, Charles tasted like cheap beer when she’d had champagne. Not caring about being a lady, she pushed on his chest to get him off her and said, “Stop! Let me go.”
The back of her neck tingled. She stepped out of his arms and opened her car door, but then saw Stefano, his wife, Rossie, Chelsea and her husband Alex. Chelsea called out, “Sheena! Are you okay?”
Charles disappeared as her friend raced toward her.
With witnesses, there was no way Matteo wouldn’t hear about this. Despite not wanting to kiss Charles ever, she now had both clarity and anger at the same time. Her face was hot. Her cold goosebumps were because she was guilty and should have handled this better. For now she waved at her friends who then watched her get in her car. As she locked the door, she thought about Matteo.
Her husband’s kisses were far superior. She should have stopped Charles before this ever happened. She shouldn’t have let him in.
Everything was her fault.
