Page 11 of Bride of Betrayal
She was turning away from him to leave the room but he caught her arm in his hand, relishing the feel of her toned muscles. She looked up at him and he could see how she held herself tightly. Tense. Which automatically made him want to move that hand from her arm to her waist, and put his other hand there and pull her into him until he could feel those womanly curves pressed against his body.
Angry with his wayward libido, he said more harshly than he intended, ‘If you’ve changed your habits to include taking recreational drugs like your husband, I won’t tolerate it.’
A flash of disgust came over her face before it was gone. She pulled her arm free and said with a mocking smile, ‘What a shame. If I’d known a coke habit would turn you off the marriage, I would have mentioned it a lot sooner.’
But then her smile faded and she was deadly serious. ‘I’ve never done drugs and I still don’t do drugs.’
She turned and walked out of the room, back straight, legs long. Hair like silk down her back. Regal, stunning.
Leo turned to face the view, tugging at his tie, staring out unseeingly. Once again he questioned his sanity but then he told himself again that he never would have found a woman willing to be his convenient wife with no strings attached. And Angelica owed him. Even she acknowledged that.
But the reality of following through on his plans, the reality of looking at her, smelling her scent, talking to her—convenience was the last thing on his mind. It was a tangle of emotions and desires and the anger that had kept him going for the last three years. He smiled mirthlessly. Yes, his anger at, and hatred for, Angelica Malgeri had actually helped him survive the last three years, because he’d pictured this very scenario. Having her at his mercy. Aldo too, but Aldo had not afforded him that opportunity.
He cursed his introspection. He had to stop ruminating on the past and get on with rebuilding his future. With his new wife at his side.
Even though Angelica was exhausted, she couldn’t rest. She’d found what she assumed to be a guest suite, decorated in muted elegant tones with a luxurious cream carpet. She’d taken off the funeral clothes and had a blissful shower, scrubbing every bit of the last three years from her body. And now she was in a robe with her hair piled up turban-style on her head. She’d come out onto the small terrace outside the bedroom and was taking in the view as dusk stole over the iconic skyline of Manhattan.
In spite of everything that had happened and the fact that within hours of burying her husband she was now married to her ex-lover, she couldn’t deny that she felt a measure of peace. The kind of peace that had been elusive for three years.Since Leo rejected you.
Even though she knew she couldn’t trust Leo, she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. Life with Aldo and his moods and mercurial nature had kept her in a constant adrenalised state. At least she’d been able to use her work as an excuse to stay away from him as much as possible and he’d never really objected because his ego had loved having a supermodel for a wife. They were only seen together for public events, and as few of those as Angelica could get away with.
She’d had to fly back at short notice on a private jet from Bangkok to Rome in order to placate him when he’d had a tantrum that she wouldn’t be with him for an event. But thankfully those incidents hadn’t been too common. Aldo had never mentioned specifically what he’d do if he went after her mother and brother, the threat of any kind of harm to them had been enough. She’d never been able to push things too far.
But at least with Leo, it would just be about getting through the charade of the next three months, less if she could manage it. She was counting on being able to encourage Leo to change his mind about this marriage. After being Aldo’s wife, and after fake smiling her way through social engagement after social engagement, doing everything not to stand out, she now knew exactly what to do, to stand out.
The following morning Angelica woke up and it took her a couple of minutes to figure out where she was. On another continent. Married to a different man. Her ex-lover.Leo.She sat up in bed. She was still wearing the robe she’d put on after the shower.
She couldn’t hear any sounds and, after freshening up, she belted the robe tighter around her—because it was either that or what she’d been wearing yesterday—and went out into the apartment.
All was quiet and then she heard noises from the kitchen area. She went to investigate and found an older man dressed in smart black trousers and a black top. He smiled and introduced himself as Michael. ‘I’m Mr Falzone’s apartment manager. He told me to let you know that he’s gone to meetings but he’s arranged for the glam squad to come at four to help you get ready.’
Ready for what? Angelica didn’t ask. ‘I… OK.’ Obviously there was an event this evening and Leo expected her to go with him.
‘What would you like for brunch?’
She gulped. ‘What time is it?’
‘Midday.’
She’d slept for hours. ‘I’m so sorry, I didn’t realise.’
Michael waved a hand, ‘Mr Falzone said you weren’t to be disturbed. I can prepare something for you now?’
Angelica wanted to get out onto the streets and breathe some fresh air and orientate herself but— ‘I’d like to go out actually, but I have a small problem, I didn’t bring any luggage with me and I only have what I was wearing while travelling.’
Michael walked out of the kitchen and said, ‘Come with me.’
Bemused, Angelica followed him to a room adjacent to her bedroom suite. He opened a door and she looked inside. It was a dressing room, full of clothes. She walked in. They were all in her size. An array of casual clothes and evening-wear. Sports clothes. Underwear. She turned to Michael. ‘How long has this been here?’
‘Mr Falzone had a stylist deliver the clothes this morning. I have her number if you need to contact her for anything but she’ll be back later with the glam squad.’
The fact that this hadn’t already been here before her arrival settled something inside Angelica. Leo obviously hadn’t taken it for granted that she would comply.
A flash of gold caught her eye and she reached out and touched a dress. It was like a liquid waterfall of silken folds. She recognised the iconic designer label.
‘If there’s anything else?’
Angelica forced a smile at the man. ‘No, thank you, this is very helpful.’
