Page 15 of Marrying My Billionaire Playboy

I fish for my cell phone in my bag and dial Grace. I contemplate hitting the call button for a moment. She should be having a fun time as a newlywed. I don't want to worry her about my problems. But, she's my best friend and the only one I can talk to right now. I console myself with the thought that she'd want me to call if I needed to talk, regardless of the circumstances. I hit the call, with my thumb hovering over the hang-up button.

Grace picks up on the fifth ring just before I can hit the hang up button.

"Hello, Darling, how are you?" Her voice is cheerful, and I almost feel wrong about the truckload of troubles I'm about to dump on her.

"Not good, Grace."

"What's the problem, Ella?"

At this point, I'm on the brink of tears. I try hard not to break down over the phone. Everything begins to spill out, one word at a time, so I don't get overwhelmed. There's noticeable concern as her tone changes when I talk about my brother getting hit by a car and how Jeremy has to make sure everything is fine back home. I also add the conversation about the job offer I had received from Antonio. I need a reason not to go to him. I hope Grace talks me out of it, but she doesn't. She just listens. When I finish, she breathes heavily and says, "Damn it! Ella, that's a lot." I remain silent, waiting for a punch line which never comes.

"I know, Grace, that's why I called you. What do you think I should do?"

"Listen, El, I've known you for a long time. And if there's one thing I know about you, you're never wrong. I also know you're an amazing woman who's also very smart. Now, if Antonio doesn't see that, it's his loss. But the thing is, I know Antonio as well. You know he's best friends with Sergio. And he's not an idiot. I'm sure he sees what an amazing person you are." There's a pause, before continuing. "He's probably agonizing about his decision to leave. I think that you both need to talk, if not for anything, for closure. You deserve a closure, and you should seek it for yourself."

For some reason, I am relieved to hear her suggest a dialogue and not simply that I should completely ignore him. "Thanks, Babe. I knew I had to call you. You always know what to say."

"Anytime, Darling, that’s why I'm here. And about your brother, Sergio and I are always ready to help, so just let us know. And also, just know that whatever you decide about Antonio, I'll always have your back.”

"This is really sweet of you. Thanks again. I gotta go. Say hello to Sergio for me, bye." When I finally get up from the couch, my thoughts are clear, and I have two goals in mind: get a closure with Antonio and get my brother out of the hospital alive.

Chapter 11

Ella and Antonio

Certain things are easier said than done. Words of affirmation don't always work. It's been three weeks since I affirmed that I would get my closure with Antonio while also getting Josh all the medical help he needs. I felt much better when I got the call that Josh is in stable condition after the surgery and found out exactly how much money I needed to come up with to pay the bills. I could talk with my boss about giving me an advance. I'm working twice as hard to kiss her ass. Maybe I'm giving myself an excuse not to face Antonio. Either way, it's all starting to take its toll on my body.

Of course, my health is not the primary concern. The biggest concern is the pregnancy test I set on the counter. It's like a nightmare I desperately want to wake up from. It feels like some sort of punishment from the universe because I've been putting off facing Antonio.

I splash icy water from the tap on my face and pick up the test again. I hope my eyes are playing tricks on me. When I put my gaze to focus on the test in my hand again, the result is still undeniably positive. This is the fourth one now, or is it the fifth? I'm not sure. I lost count. I bought them from the drugstore down the street when I noticed I missed my period.

'I'm pregnant…'The words sound more like a question than a statement as they roll out of my tongue. My head starts pounding furiously again. It's been like that since yesterday, on and off. I’m not sure what concerns me more, the fact that I'm pregnant or the fact that it's Antonio’s.

My headache intensifies as I recall all the events that led up to this point. The bathroom walls threaten to close in on me as my head spins with dizziness. I can hear my pulse drumming heavily in my ear while my breathing quickens. I take short gulps of air to replenish oxygen in my brain.

I shut my eyes because they burn when I open them. My hands find the walls, and I steady myself. I lean back and gradually slide down to the floor, forcing my breathing to slow. Eventually, the pounding gets better, and I open my eyes gradually. The dizziness is gone, and in its place, I've gained some clarity to make a decision. This time, it won't be mere words of affirmation. I'm going to see Antonio. I call Grace and tell her that I've finally decided to go and see Antonio, but I leave out the pregnancy part. I'll tell her eventually.

It's an eight-hour flight from New York to Seattle. I decide to take the first plane available and then move on to the task of packing my luggage. I check the time. It's noon. I reason that I'll be there by 10:00 p.m. so maybe I can lodge somewhere and see him tomorrow at his office.

***

"Sir, there’s a woman here to see you. She says her name is Maria Parisi. I've told her you're busy and won't see anyone. She's insisting that it's urgent that she sees you right away."

Urgent my ass. If there's one thing I know about Maria, she is a narcissist who would do or say anything to have her way. "Send her in, Agnes," I say and replace the receiver. The noisy clicking of some rather expensive heels hurrying along thehallway towards my door is the first indication that Maria isn't here for a friendly chatter. Without knocking, she throws open my office door and walks in like she owns the place. She glances around, as if she's assessing if it's up to her standard, before she takes her seat. She is wearing a scowl that she'd dare not wear if she ever saw herself in the mirror. "Of course, go right ahead and make yourself comfortable," I say.

"Hello Antonio, have you been well?"

"Never better. But I'm sure my well-being is not why you're here, so how about we jump right in and save ourselves the time?"

"That's rude, Antonio. Don't you care to know how I've been?"

"No, not particularly." I've never liked Maria, she may have liked me at some point, but she got over it quickly. Our parents decided they were matchmakers and tried to get us to couple up, but we haven't, and it will never work. Not in a million years. We are just too different. Opposites that make the idea that unlike poles attract sound like a load of crap.

"Anyway," she continues. "I have a proposition, and I think we can really help each other out." she says smugly.

"I'm listening."

"It's simple, really. You just need to tell your parents that you caught me cheating and that I'm unfaithful. I'll tell my parents that I caught you cheating as well." She pauses and I assume she's giving me time to assimilate the supposedly simple plan. "You see, I'm in love with someone else, and I'm sure you have someone in your life. So, having to fulfill the agreement between our fathers doesn't end well for either of us."

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