by Katie Dowe
All through the evening, she smiled even though her heart was breaking. She pretended to be happy when they were seated at the head table with the photographers taking in everything they did and even when he fed her with the delicious vanilla and strawberry cake. Even when he kissed her in between and the sparks shot between them she held it together. She was not going to let him ruin what should be the happiest day of her life. She danced with his best friend Alberto who regaled her with the various escapades they had engaged in and she saw another side to her husband. He was her husband! The thought hit her right in the heart causing her to gasp slightly. “You okay honey?” Alberto asked her in concern.
“I am fine,” she smiled up at him. “I see my brother coming over.”
“So he is,” he kissed her lightly on the cheek. “He is stubborn as a mule but he cannot take his eyes off you,” he whispered in her ear. “Don’t wear your heart on your beautiful sleeves so much, honey.”
She went into Marcus’ arm and looked after Alberto thoughtfully as he made his way across to where her husband was standing with several members of the club he belonged to.
“Happy?” her brother asked her softly as they danced around the floor.
“I am,” she looked up at him and smiled. “Look at us,” she shook her head. “Who would have thought that we would be here rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous?”
“Certainly not our aunt.” He looked over to where his wife was sitting with her parents. April caught his gaze and waved at him. “I was afraid that I would feel like a kept man but surprisingly I don’t feel that way.”
“Because you are not,” she touched his cheek gently and let her fingers linger, unknowing that her husband was watching the tender moment with a slight frown. She rested her head on his chest and sighed as they finished the dance.
She danced with her father-in-law and some of the cousins that had come over from Italy for the wedding and several members of his club. She was dancing with a cousin by the name of Luciana when he cut in rudely.
“Do you want me to apologize?” he asked her coldly as he pulled her into his arms, holding her tight.
“Do you think you should?” she looked up at him levelly determined not to be intimidated by his dark scowl.
“No,” he bit out. “He had his hands all over you,”
“I did not realize.” She said mildly, feeling secretly triumphant. “Jealous?” she taunted him using his own words.
“Of course not darling,” he said carelessly. “You are mine and that means you are mine only.”
“I am not your possession, Lorenzo.”
“Are you not?” his hands tightened around her waist.
She pushed against him but he held on.
“We are getting out of here,” he muttered and without waiting for her to say anything he took her hand and led her out.
*****
He was forceful and ruthless as he made love to her with a hunger that swamped her. They had gone back to the mansion where he had hastily undressed her before taking her right by the door, his fingers biting into her flesh.
“I want you swollen with my child,” he told her harshly as he pounded into her. Monique dug her nails into his corded shoulders as she arched her body closer to his. “You are mine!” he growled and then he bent his head to pull her nipple inside his mouth. Monique came immediately calling out his name as he increased the pace. A few minutes later he came inside her, his breathing harsh and his body shuddering against hers. He waited until they had recovered enough and then he carried her over to the bed where he placed her in the center of the huge bed that dominated most of the room. He knelt there looking down at her before climbing off and going into the bathroom. She watched as he came out wearing a robe over his nakedness and headed for the sitting room. “Where are you going?” she whispered.
“I need to be alone for a minute” he turned to look at her. “Go to sleep.” He murmured before leaving and closing the doors behind him. She waited for him but he never came. Monique could not believe that he had left her to spend their wedding night all by herself! She almost went to find him to demand what was happening but she remembered what Alberto had said to her and decided that she was not going to be one of the women who ran after him!
Chapter 7
“I get mobbed when I simply go out to get a cup of coffee. I am not the same person I was before as far as the social media is concerned. I have suddenly become someone of worth.” Monique stirred her hot chocolate listlessly. It had been three weeks since she had said ‘I do’ to the most contrary man she had ever met. The first week had been a round of engagements and couture parties because it was coming to December, the time of year when the brands were putting out their new lines of perfumes.
“It goes with the territory honey,” Camille told her sympathetically. She had come over to the mansion to see her friend whom she had not seen since the wedding. “The good news is the same kids who used to give you grief are now your greatest fans.”
They laughed at that and then Monique sobered. “As much as they were a pain in the… you know where, I miss them and I miss teaching.”
“How does it feel?” Camille asked her curiously. She had been at the mansion before now but it still did not stop her from being very impressed! The place was a showpiece which had often been featured in several housekeeping magazines for the rich and famous. They were in Monique’s private sitting room and as soon as she had come upstairs, a maid had materialized out of nowhere to offer refreshment.
“Like I am reading about someone else’s life.” Monique admitted.
“I miss that we do not get to hang out again.” Camille got to her feet and went to look out the window, admiring the lush lawn and especially the thickly muscled gardener tending to the roses. “Lacy is boinking Richard and pretending that they are total strangers when they are in the staff lounge,” she added wickedly, referring to two of the teachers at the school.
“Get out!” Monique’s eyes sparkled as she prepared to listen to the gossip of her one-time life. “I thought Richard was going back to his wife?”
“Apparently not or Lacy is just his side piece. I miss you being there girl. The Christmas pageant is coming up and you know you were the one who always got the ball rolling.”
“Maybe I can still help out,” she said hopefully.
“Are you sure your husband is going to want you doing that?”
“I am my own woman,” she said stoutly. “Sign me up, girlfriend!”
*****
“I don’t think it is something you should be doing.” Lorenzo told her abruptly as he took off his clothes in readiness for bed. He had been moody and taciturn since lately. The only emotion he showed was when he was making love to her and when he was finished he would get up and leave the room only returning when she was asleep. She had tried to talk to him about it but he always told her that it had nothing to do with her and that he was not used to having someone constantly in his bed.
“Why not?’ she demanded as she pulled the thin white lace nightgown over her head. He turned to her, his eyes scanning her delectable figure and feeling the stirring of his desire. It was frustrating the lack of control he had over his emotions when he was with her or when he thought of her. “Because you are my wife and besides we are going to be doing a lot of heavy entertaining in the coming months. You are no longer employed at the school, remember?”
“How could I forget,” she said heatedly. “When you keep reminding me that I am your wife and a Romano, and the certain things I cannot do. I need to do something Lorenzo! I am not used to just sitting at home doing nothing. I need to be occupied.”
“When the children come; you will be more than occupied,” he told her carelessly as he pulled on loose sweatpants over his nakedness. He had some reports to go over and a new strategy he needed to discuss with the sales team, so he did not have time for arguments.
“Children?” her voice was soft as she came over to stand
in front of him, her hands on her hips.
“Two, maybe three,” his eyes went to her full bottom lip and he knew he had to have her. “We can afford them.” His voice had dropped a decibel. “Perhaps then you will not be complaining about being unoccupied.” His hand reached up to cup her cheek. Monique pushed his hand away and stepped back. “I am a double English major and I certainly did not struggle to achieve that so I would become a man’s birthing canal.”
“You don’t want children?’ he looked at her frowningly.
“I don’t want children as a means of occupying myself.” She stressed. “This is the twenty-first century and a man like you should know that women are far more liberated these days. We don’t even talk to each other Lorenzo and you want to bring children into this kind of marriage?”
“We have been married for three weeks and we got married right in the middle of the busiest time of the year for the company. What did you expect?” he asked her impatiently.
“I expect you to have time for me. I am your wife as you keep saying. I don’t expect to be ignored.”
He shrugged elegantly and started to walk away. “Oh no, Lorenzo!” she marched after him and pulled at his arm. “We are talking tonight.”
He turned to look down at her, his expression inscrutable. “I can think of something else we can do that does not require conversation.” His voice was soft and his meaning clear.
“Is that the only thing you can think of?”
“With the way you are dressed right now yes.”
She dropped her hand and gave him a defeated look. “I am going to bed and by the way I am going to the school and I am will be helping with the pageant.”
He grabbed her arm and hauled her up to him. “You married into a family that is very influential and are likely to attract a lot of attention. When I tell you to stay away from somewhere, it is for your own good.”
“Let go of me,” she hissed.
“Or?” his stare was insolent.
She pushed at him but he would not budge and she felt when the atmosphere changed between them. “I can’t keep my hands off you. Why is that?” his voice was thick as he brought her closer to him.
“Lorenzo,” she whispered feeling her heart thudding.
“I cannot stop from wanting you,” his voice was rife with frustration. His head lowered and he took his time taking her lips with his. Monique’s mouth opened beneath his and she spread her fingers over his smoothly muscled chest, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath her fingers. She could feel his heart thudding beneath her palm. He lifted her, strode with her to the bed where he put her down gently before moving back to take off his pants. Monique hurriedly took off her nightgown and reached for him eagerly. He came over her and entered her swiftly, staying still as he gazed down at her. He used his fingers to brush back her hair from her face before bending his head to take her lips with his. With a moan of gratification, she put her legs around his waist and gave in to the raging desire consuming them both.
*****
“Mrs. Romano!” the svelte looking woman sharply dressed in a chic olive skirt suit got to her feet hurriedly as Monique made her way across the plush carpet towards her. “Lorenzo is in a meeting just now. I can ring him if you like.”
“He did not know I was coming over.” Monique pulled off her black leather gloves and took off her expensive scarf from around her neck. She had decided to beard the lion in his den. She had been talking to both Bernardo and Adele and knew what she wanted to do. “I will wait in his office.” She said smiling at the woman as she walked past her and pushed the door open. She had been here one time before they were married and had tried not to be awestruck at the opulence and the impressive artworks on the walls. His office was huge with a log desk on a raised dais. It was sparsely furnished with another table holding several items of clothing on the sleek surface. She had hoped he would have displayed even one of their wedding photos on his desk or even on one side of the walls, but so far there was nothing. There was a life sized one hanging over the sofa in their suite and one in the huge living room downstairs. It had been two weeks since he had told her that he did not want her to go and deal with the pageant at her former school, but she had gone ahead and done it and he had not said anything to her about it. She wandered around the room, her feet sinking into the plush carpeting. She had told him that she needed something to do and had been spending her time delving into the makings of high fashion and had become quite fascinated. Their advertising department needed revamping and Adele had told her so. She was armed with her C.V. and ideas on how to go about redesigning the department. She was aware that Romano needed no help in getting their brands out the stores but they were now going into the retail stores. If there was anything she knew about it was retail!
She turned swiftly as the doors were pushed open and he strode in. He stopped abruptly as he saw her, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her. “We had an appointment?”
“I need an appointment to come and see my husband?” she asked him coolly wishing he would not be so aloof when they were not making love.
“I am in the middle of meeting with the sales team and the board members. Whatever it is will have to wait.” He strode over to his desk and put his phone down before turning back to her.
She handed him the folder she had brought with her.
“What’s this?”
“See for yourself,” she sat on one of the plump sofas and crossed her legs watching as he leafed through the folder.
“Why do I have this?”
“I need a job.” She was portraying a confidence that she was not feeling. “I understand you have an opening in advertising.”
“I see,” he looked at her with an eyebrow lifted. “We have all the people we need in advertising. Why would we want anyone else?”
“You need someone for the retail part of the brand. Romano’s is just breaking into the local department stores and you are going to need a slogan and campaign to shine brighter than the other brands. You are also going to show the average American that they will be able to afford your brand and will be getting quality for their dollar. I know exactly how to do that.”
He stared at her for a moment and this time he was openly amused. “Up to a month ago you were a school teacher and now you know what the public wants in terms of clothing?”
“I walked the malls when I was a teacher and before I became a Romano, I was one of those average Americans.” She looked at him challengingly.
He considered her for a moment and then leaning over he hit the button on the intercom. “Monica, hold my calls for now.” He depressed the button and turned his attention to back her. “You have ten minutes to convince me.”
*****
It took her less than ten minutes to make him see things her way. The advertising team was called in after their meeting and she was formally introduced to the head of the team – a Michael Barrington who looked at her suspiciously for a moment. “My wife here seems to know what we need to break into the local department stores with our brands. I like the argument she puts forward. I have also told her that when it comes to working here it really does not matter that she is my wife and that she will be treated with the same courtesy of all the employees at Romano’s.” Lorenzo turned to Michael. “You are the head of the advertising team, so I expect that she will be working closely with you.”
“I am too busy to be holding anyone’s hands Lorenzo, even if that person is your wife.” The tall dark haired man told him bluntly, his grey eyes cool.
“I don’t expect you to hold my hand,” Monique told him quietly. “Just show me the ropes and I will get on with it.” Her eyes held his for a moment before he looked away and then nodded.
“I think she is going to do very well. That’s all.” The others flied out immediately. “Michael, a minute please.”
Michael turned back expecting to be reprimanded for his bluntness. “I need to see results by the end of January.” He told the man coolly
. “See to it and ask someone to make some office space for Monique.”
“Yes, of course,” his eyes strayed to the coolly beautiful woman seated there and smiled. “Welcome to the company, Mrs. Romano.”
“Monique please,” she said smiling back. “And thank you.”
Monique got to her feet to leave as soon as the doors were closed behind Michael. “I suppose I will see you at home?”
“I suppose you will,” he had his hands folded as he looked at her, his expression unreadable. “Come here,” he said softly.
“I thought you had meetings?”
“They can wait a little bit longer. I want to feel your lips on mine.”
She walked over to him and he pulled her into his arms. He was wearing a superbly cut pinstriped jacket suit with a light green shirt inside and he looked every inch of the very wealthy man he was. “You turn me on even when you are not trying to.” He murmured as he bent his head to the hollow of her throat.
“Good to know,” she said with a soft moan.
“I am going to have to stay far away from you when you start working here.” He muttered feeling the flood of desire starting.
“We will both be too busy–” she stopped talking as he bit the soft flesh of her breast and used his tongue to soothe the sting of the bite.
The insistent ringing of his intercom broke them apart. Still holding her close to him, he depressed the button.
“I am sorry Lorenzo but they are ready to begin,” his secretary’s voice came over.
“I will be right there.” He planted a rough kiss on her lips. “Later. There is this sexy black teddy that has been out for the past six weeks. I would love to see you in it tonight.”
“Your wish is always my command,” she told him dryly trying to get her emotions under control.
