Page 69 of The Veiling

Assets

It had been three weeks since Felipe’s demise. Tanya had asked her sister to babysit Aston so her, Laura, and I could enjoy a girl’s day. The three of us took advantage of the freedom and went to an outdoor mall. It was nice to feel a taste of the outside world after so long.

“How does it feel to be out of the house and not have a worry in the world?” Tanya licked the top of the pistachio gelato off the cone as we strolled by shops.

“People still stare at me since the whole frenzy but so far no one has been mean about it.” I glanced around for the first time since we had been out to see several people aiming their phones in our direction and whispering amongst themselves.

“But how does the freedomfeel?” She rolled her eyes, tossing the melting cone into the garbage can we passed.

I pulled my Louis Vuitton handbag up on my shoulder and tucked my arms tight against me. “It feels nice, but I still feel weird about it.”

Laura hooked her arm on mine. “Giacomo, Tate and Noah will keep the crazies away.”

I glanced over my shoulder at the three bodyguards Valentino had ordered to accompany us. One for each of us. “I’m sure you love having Noah around.”

She nudged me in the side. “But right now, he’s working, so my lust for him is on pause.”

“You’re still enjoying it, though.”

“Heissssuper sexy in that black suit, sunglasses, and earpiece.”

“Isabelle,” Noah muttered behind me.

I had demanded our staff stop calling me Miss Ayala, due to the connection to my uncle. I wanted to break all ties to that name once and for all. It made me shudder every time someone called me that.

Valentino had reluctantly agreed, but he demanded I compromise and allow people to address me asMiss Isabelleuntil after the wedding. I agreed, though it still felt weird to me. Noah, however, was exempt from all formalities from now on since he was family. He still had trouble addressing Valentino as his name in public, though.

I stopped and twirled around.

“The boss has asked you to choose a dress for tonight.”

“For what?”

He shrugged, pointing to his earpiece. “I didn’t ask details.”

“After you ladies are finished, we have to stop by the office.”

“His request?” I asked.

He nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Oh my God!” a woman gasped, dashing over to me.

My eyes widened, and Noah instantly planted himself in front of me. Giacomo and Tate stepped over closer to Laura and Tanya.

“You’re her!” The woman exclaimed.

Peeking around Noah, I offered a polite smile, knowing exactly what she was talking about.

“So happy you’re back safely now!”

Noah crossed his arms. “Move on, lady. She doesn’t have a comment about it.”

Though awkward, I let the over-protective security handle things, and Noah was not going to take any chances, even with Felipe gone. He would never leave room for error. The, now embarrassed, woman hurried away with her friend.

“Why won’t you just let me talk to people sometimes?”

Looking down at me, he crossed his arms. “I let you speak to plenty of people, but the threat will never be gone.”

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