The Ambassador and Me: an unlikely love story (The Ambassador Trilogy Book 1)

by Villano, Mia

  “What are you singing?” I whispered to him as I neared an orgasm. His thumb massaged my clit and I grabbed on to the railing as Fabrice continued to sing.

  “Non, je ne regretted rien.”

  “What does it mean?”

  “I regret nothing. I love this song. My father used to sing this to my mother. I think he still does. I want you to meet them.” His fingers magically found the right spot for me. I was aware of his skill in knowing what I liked and just the right place to touch.

  “Do you?” I asked.

  “Do I what?”

  “Regret nothing?”

  “I regret nothing we are doing.”

  “That’s easy to say with you fingering me alone in the dark in Paris on a romantic cruise.” I looked back at him and he kissed me.

  “Oh, sweet Isabella. We have a lot of talking to do tonight.” He began to sing again in my ear. His lips barely touching me as he continued to finger me.

  He brought me to an orgasm as we passed the Cathedral of Notre Dame. I wanted to cry out, but I bit my lip and closed my eyes as the roaring wave went through my body. He pushed me tighter to him as I thrashed against his body and gripped the railing. I remember at that moment feeling happier than I had in a long time.

  “You came?” he whispered in my ear.

  “Yes.” My legs went weak and my body kept shaking inside.

  “Do you want more of me? Are you ready for more of me?”

  I turned to face him and ran my hand against his hard cock and kissed him. That was my answer and the only one he needed.

  “I need all of you, Fabrice. Your mind and your body. Your past and hopefully your future. I’m sorry for storming out. I had no right to act like a spoiled teenager.”

  “I will tell you.” The tension I saw in his face when he found me at the café was easing. He buried his face in my hair, inhaling.

  “Let’s go to my room and talk. You should know,” he said.

  After our sexy boat ride through the Seine, I was exhausted. We climbed back in the SUV that waited for us by the curb. I snuggled into his warm body and laid my head on his chest as we rode back to the hotel.

  “You go in first and I will be right behind you. I have my room key.” He kissed me on the forehead as I stepped out. Thankfully, no one from the meeting was around when I walked into the lobby. Just the two employees at the desk and a couple of bell boys. My phone rang and it was Fabrice.

  “I hate to tell you this but I have to go into an emergency meeting.”

  “Okay. That’s why we’re here. We can talk later. Just come and get in bed with me when you get done.”

  One downfall, among many, of dating an Ambassador was you could not make plans. I laid down and fell into a deep sleep as I waited for him to come to my room. When my alarm on my phone went off the following morning, I was disappointed he wasn’t there. I noticed he had texted me in the middle of the night.

  Emergency meeting with the president. I won’t make it back tonight.

  The text came in around two in the morning and it was now seven. I ordered coffee and jumped into the shower. We had a meeting before we were to leave and head back home. I packed my things so I was ready to head to the airport once the meeting wrapped up. I planned on doing shopping before I headed to the last meeting in Paris. At around nine I received a text from the Attaché saying our meeting was cancelled; Elizabeth and the rest of the staff were going to the airport and we were to fly back home. He was staying behind with Fabrice. I texted him so that he knew I was fine and would see him once we were back to D.C, but I didn’t hear back from him as I boarded the plane.

  Chapter 13

  I was so grateful to be home once the plane landed and I grabbed a cab, not waiting for anyone. I nearly ran in the front door once I paid the cab fare. Avery was studying and had something cooking in the oven. I hope that it tasted as good as it smelled, but, knowing from the past, the chances were slim that it tasted good. I was surprised to see her there with everything that went on with Anthony.

  “Hey, glad to see you here.”

  “Glad to be back. Too much togetherness with Cherise. Remind me not to stay with anyone again. How was Paris?”

  “Wonderful.”

  She hugged me. I loved being home with the familiar scents and my things. I was gone for three whole days, yet it seemed like a month. I was tired, in need of a shower and starved. French food was good, but I wanted some of my own and even Avery’s.

  “Give me the details. I love Paris. My parents have an apartment somewhere. I will have to check so maybe next time you can stay there.”

  “Mind if I get a cup of coffee before I go into the details of my new sex life?”

  “Go put your stuff up, I will make it for you. I want every detail.” Avery rushed around the kitchen to make me a cup of coffee. I adored her for doing that.

  “What’s in the oven?” It smelled wonderful.

  “Chipotle tofu casserole. I found the recipe online.”

  I sighed. If she followed that, it might be edible. I went to my room and put my bags down, stripped off my clothes, and threw on yoga pants and a sweatshirt. They aren’t kidding when they say home is where the heart is. It truly was.

  I grabbed my coffee and then my cell phone started ringing. I didn’t let my family know when I was getting back and once they knew I would be at their beckoned call. I had to answer it. It was Marco and very unusual that he called me.

  “Hey, what’s up?”

  “I hope you don’t care I’m calling this late. I wouldn’t be if it wasn’t something big.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I wanted to tell you, the police have been at the restaurant. They found Anthony with the shit beat out of him.”

  I closed my eyes to take in what he said to me.

  “How do you know this?”

  “The police are questioning people. They found his car and cell phone a block from your condo and he was laying in the ditch. The police will probably question you as well, I’m sure.”

  “Where’s Danny?” Why didn’t he call me? I felt the fear of what he could have done creep up me.

  “I don’t know where Danny is. We are trying to get in touch with him. He won't answer his phone.”

  That’s fucking great.

  “Anthony was hated by a lot of people. I’m sure it was a bookie or some girl's boyfriend.” Honestly, he was usually gambling, owing bookies money, fighting, and being an all-around ass.

  “They are questioning anyone that knew him. He had your address in his phone, pictures of you going to work, the French Ambassador’s house, and pictures of you and this Ambassador. Why does he care about the Ambassador’s house?” I had not told Marco about my relationship with Fabrice.

  I closed my eyes and tried to force the image of him stalking me the night I went over to Fabrice's house. He had to have followed us. They would be questioning Fabrice soon and then we would be exposed to the public. This was a nightmare.

  “It’s a long story. Listen, I’m exhausted beyond belief. I’m going to try to get some rest. I will come by in the morning. Please keep calling Danny, and tell him to call me if you get in touch with him.”

  “Okay, Izzy.”

  “Call me if anything else goes on tonight or if anything changes with Anthony.” I hung up and finished my coffee. I told Avery about Anthony.

  “Too bad they didn’t kill him.” She was getting ready for a date and preoccupied. She hated Anthony from the beginning and him living or dying wasn’t a concern to her.

  “Ave, I don’t want him dead. He’s an asshole, but come on! Marco said he had pictures of the Ambassador’s house in his car and pictures of Fabrice and I together. Holy fuck! This will be all everyone will talk about now. I’m going to lose my job. Fabrice is going to lose his.”

  “Izz. Settle down. You work with Fabrice, of course the two of you would be together at times. You can come up with something. They don’t care about that. Where’s Fab
rice?”

  “He’s still in Paris, Avery. What am I going to do?” I paced the condo with my head in my hands, crying.

  I remembered my talk I'd had with Danny before I went to Paris. I had to talk to him now. He promised he wouldn’t kill him or do something stupid. Could he have beat him up?

  “Well, it serves him right. He’ll pull through, Izz. This happened to him once before, remember?”

  I remember when two bookies beat him up for owing money for bets he made and then couldn’t pay. They kept warning him, and he didn’t take them seriously until they met him one night and beat the shit out of him. His dad paid off the bookies or he would have ended up in worse shape or dead.

  I stepped outside and called Danny and he answered right away. Why didn’t he answer Marco?

  “Danny, what did you do?” I asked as soon as he answered.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You know damn well what I mean! Marco just called me and he’s frantic trying to get in touch with you. Will you please call him?”

  “Listen, I’m coming over. Are you home?”

  “Yes, I just got here.”

  “Give me twenty minutes. I’ll call Marco.”

  I hung up with Danny and paced the condo like a wild animal. My worst nightmare was coming true and there was no way to stop it or make it go away. I trusted Danny with this secret knowing this could happen. Maybe this is what I wanted to happen. Maybe deep down I knew he would do this.

  I turned off my phone and threw it on the couch. I didn’t care to talk to anyone, including Fabrice. I needed something to drink. The house didn’t have alcohol in it and when it did it didn’t last long with Avery. I went to the kitchen in search of something and found a bottle of half-full white wine in the back of the refrigerator. I popped the cork and, without getting a glass, started swigging from the bottle.

  Avery came out of the bedroom, wide-eyed watching me guzzle wine.

  “What the fuck, Izzy?”

  I finished the bottle and threw the empty bottle into the trash with a loud thud.

  “Don’t judge.” I walked back into the living room and tried to sit until Danny’s car rumbled up the driveway.

  I couldn’t stop thinking about Danny and whatever he may have done to Anthony. I didn’t want to be one of those family members that visit their relatives in jail.

  “Why don’t you get some rest, Izzy.” Avery was putting on her earrings and searching the condo looking for her purse.

  “I will once I talk to Danny. I can’t believe Anthony is in such bad shape.”

  Avery smiled at me. “At least he won’t be lurking around the condo for a while. I’m going to a movie with Cherise. I will be back later. I’m not spending the night and neither is she. I need some space.”

  I gave her a look and started to open my mouth when the doorbell rang. I jumped up hoping it was Danny but, to my dismay, it was her date.

  Avery kissed me goodbye; a few more minutes later, Danny was there.

  I ran to him before he reached the door. He looked frazzled and confused. His hair was a mess, his clothes looked slept-in, and to me he looked guilty.

  “What did you do to him?”

  He pushed me inside and locked the door behind him.

  “I didn’t do anything to that fuck, Izzy! That’s the problem.”

  “What do you mean that’s the problem?” I stood with him in the kitchen.

  “Today, I went to see him at his house. When I got there, the police were already there. I didn’t go in. I left. It was later this afternoon that they came to the restaurant questioning anyone that may know what happened. They were looking for you too. I told Mom and Dad what he did. I had to, Izzy. I’m sorry.”

  I shot him a look of shock. Why did he have to tell them? Now it was going to be brought up and I would have to explain myself again.

  “You did this, Danny. This sounds like something you would do.” I wasn’t convinced he didn’t beat up Anthony. He looked too guilty standing in my kitchen.

  “If I would have done this, Izzy, I would have taken anything concerning you out of his car. I would have thought to look for things like that. I don’t do something half-assed. This was a half-assed job.”

  “I hope you didn’t do it, Danny. That idiot isn’t worth you going to prison.”

  “I didn’t. You have to believe me. I would tell you if I had. You know me.” He was right. He would have told me. He actually would have bragged to me about what he did.

  “Will he live?” I asked.

  “I don’t know and I don’t care. He was beat bad in the head with baseball bats. The bats were left and broke in two. I’m sure they can get fingerprints off them. Mom and Dad want to see you, so be prepared for the call.”

  “I know. I will talk to them about it. I just hate reliving that night.”

  I hated that there was more to the story than any of them knew. More than I could bare to discuss.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  The next day Fabrice called me. I didn’t get out of bed till noon and left my phone off. If there was any news, I didn’t want to know. The less I knew, the better.

  “Jesus, Isabella. I have called you all night! I almost came over.”

  “I’m sorry. I turned off my phone and went to bed.” I lied, hoping to keep him out of the loop for a little while longer. We had unfinished business with Celeste we needed to discuss.

  “Have dinner with me tonight.”

  I was starved and it was early, so the offer sounded good. I needed to get out of the condo and I needed to see him.

  “Sounds good. I miss you.”

  I found myself pacing the condo again. I couldn’t sit still. I was preoccupied with worry about Danny and his connection with Anthony. I was worried about the pictures in Anthony’s car and if the detectives would be over to interrogate me. I needed time with Fabrice. I needed to tell him about Anthony.

  He pulled down our driveway and I ran to his car. Earlier, we decided to go to my favorite place, a forty minute drive out of town. I wasn’t saying much and Fabrice seemed to be steeling quick glances at me. He knew not to talk to me until he sensed I had calmed down.

  “Are you fine with going to a restaurant? We have some talking to do.”

  “Honestly, I want to cook for you tonight.”

  “Are you sure. You don’t act like you’re in the mood for cooking.”

  “I’m so sure, Fabrice. I also need to talk to you.”

  He smiled at me and turned the car around as we headed north to his house. I wanted to be surrounded by Fabrice and nothing that reminded me of Anthony.

  As soon as we walked into the huge foyer, I kicked off my heels, put up my hair, and headed to the kitchen. Fabrice had stocked the fridge with more food, knowing how much I loved to cook for him. I made myself at home in his giant industrial kitchen. He told me to make whatever I was in the mood for. I decided to cook some chicken and jasmine rice with asparagus. Though not his favorite, he put on Frank Sinatra knowing it was mine. I dug into the fridge with a mission in mind.

  I wasn’t hungry as I thought about my talk with Danny and what I needed to tell Fabrice. I questioned whether or not I should have told anyone anything. Would we be worrying about Anthony dying if I had not said anything? After dinner we both cleaned up the kitchen without talking much. I broke the silence.

  “Fabrice, I have to talk to you.” I was drying the dishes and he was putting them back. He put the bowl down, came up behind me, and wrapped his arms around me. His hands pushed me into his warm, inviting body.

  “Tell me anything, Isabella. I can tell something is wrong. Is it because I had to stay in Paris and we didn’t get to finish our conversation?” He kissed my neck, which caused me to rethink talking and head up to the bedroom. His lips were warm and wet and whenever they touched my skin it sent an ache between my legs.

  As the picture of Anthony crossed my mind I snapped out of it.

  “No, that’s the least of
my worries right now. We can talk about that later. Let’s go sit down.”

  Fabrice fixed us two drinks and I headed for the couch to curl up under the throw he keeps draped over the back. There was a fire roaring as I sat in front of it mesmerized by the dancing flames.

  Once he sat, we both took a sip. I snuggled up next to him and started to tell him.

  “Remember I told you about Anthony? He was the one that wanted to get married.”

  “Yes, the boyfriend from college. Why, did you have a change of heart?”

  “No, not even close. There is more to the story than what I told you.”

  “What do you mean more?”

  It was difficult to speak. My throat became dry. I took another sip of my wine and took a deep breathe.

  “He’s not a nice guy. He hurt me.” Fabrice instantly tightened up after I said that.

  “What, how did he hurt you, Isabella?”

  I took another sip my drink. I told him what happened the night and how he tried to choke me. I also told him that my family had no idea until now. I also told Fabrice about the flowers that were delivered to the office.

  Fabrice set his glass down, walked to the window, and stared out. His hands were in his pockets and he looked upset. I stayed on the couch and the tears started to come down my eyes.

  “I’m sorry for telling you. I probably shouldn’t involve you in this. I don’t know what to do, and I’m so afraid of what my brother might do. He is out for revenge and he loves me a lot.” I was sick to my stomach and what little food I forced down seemed to be coming up.