by Christina OW
Esme is Ruiz’s daughter!
Suddenly, the glare turned to concern and he rushed to her, his hands clamping around her arms. The contact shot a volt of desire right down her body and she gasped, falling against his chest. He walked her to the couch and sat her down slowly. Then he reached for the pitcher of water on the table, poured water into a glass and handed it to her. He helped her drink a few sips before taking the glass out of her trembling hands and placing it on the table. She stared at him, at his eyes, with so much joy until her own eyes began to blur.
“Mel, what’s wrong? Are you sick?”
The concern in his voice touched her and she giggled.
“Melody, are you going nuts?”
She chortled. “That ship sailed long ago!”
He shook his head as he dried her cheeks with his thumbs. “I figured that would be the only explanation for marrying that guy. Seriously, what were you thinking?”
The anger in his voice sobered her. It was time for her to do what she had to otherwise there was no telling what would have next—what she would initiate to happen next because by god she hungered for his touch, for his lips, for him to make love to her again. She wanted to say she was sorry for all the things she said, for not asking for an explanation, for jumping into bed with another man even though she couldn’t remember it. She wanted to beg him to take her back and save her and their daughter from the demon she was forced to marry.
She wanted a lot, but she knew very well she wasn’t going to get it. Antonio would make sure of it and that deflated her.
With a defeated sigh she said, “You need to leave him alone. You can have the run of the place but you need to leave Antonio to his own devices.”
He shot up, out of his crouch position and glared down at her with such venom in his eyes, it made her flinch.
“How could you say that? Have you not taken a tour of your gift? The same gift that almost cost my sister and your brother, their lives? Are you so selfish that you conveniently forgot what getting this place did to them?”
How could she forget? She lived that horror with them and he…How dare he say that to her! Fueled by her own anger she stood, her fists clenched at her sides.
“What would you know? You weren’t there. You know nothing about how I felt when they were hurting! Only Reno can bring me to task about how selfish I am. You are such a damn hypocrite, or do you think I’ve forgotten your real reason for ‘reuniting’ with your siblings and for dating me?”
“What the hell are you talking about? I dated you because I fell in love with you and as for my siblings, I love them and I’m glad we were reunited!”
She placed her hands on his chest and shoved him, but he only moved back half a foot. “You are like everyone else! You just wanted me to get close to my brother, to the Sinclair billions. You never loved me so don’t ever say that again!”
Ruiz huffed throwing his hands up. “That doesn’t fucking matter anymore, now does it? You are married to someone else and I don’t want your billions! I never have!”
“Maybe not, but you wanted what Reno had. I overheard you on the phone that day speaking to that woman about how the resort slipped through your fingers!”
Ruiz’s expression shuttered, his shoulders hunching with it. “That’s it? That’s why you left me?” He shook his head. “No demand for an explanation, no questions…you just picked up a john at the bar and told me to take a hike all because of a phone conversation you overheard?”
The way he stared at her, with hurt and defeat, it made her feel like she was missing something, like she had overreacted and therefore thrown both their lives off balance. He rubbed his hand over his chest and Melody had to quell the urge to go to him and apologize because she sincerely had no idea what she had to apologize for.
“I heard what you said about your husband. I’ll think about it, but right now, I have to meet someone before the staff meeting.” He walked to the door and opened it wide. Melody took the hint, but right before she stepped out he caught her hand in a tender hold. She fought not to look directly at him. She didn’t want to see the hurt in his eyes. “Melody, call your brother, tell him where you are or go visit him. He misses you.”
She gave him a curt nod, slipped her hand out of his and rushed for the elevator. She held herself together until she got to her room in the manager’s house. Jackie was seated in the rocking chair knitting. The second she saw her, she stopped and gave her a concerned look. Melody blinked back her tears and went to the crib. She scooped up her sleeping daughter’s tiny body and held her close to her chest.
“I saw your daddy today, and I’m sure it’s him.” She stroked her long eye lashes wishing Esme had her eyes open so that she could look into them again. “You have his beautiful eyes, little Miss Albury. And I just know, he’s going to fall madly in love with you when he meets you and he’ll keep loving you forever.”
“Are you going to tell him the truth?” Jackie asked coming up behind her.
Melody nodded, rubbing her nose against Esme’s tiny one. “Yes, I just don’t know how or when.”
Jackie stroked her head. “Don’t worry child. When the time is right, you’ll know and the words will come freely.”
Melody rubbed her lips against Esme’s forehead. Her skin was so soft and her scent was so good, it chased the chill of her confrontation with Ruiz away. “I hope you’re right nanny.”
* * * *
Melody watched as the room filled up with the hotel employees. She kept her head down, sinking a little lower in her seat right at the far back corner of the staff hall. She couldn’t bring herself to meet the eyes of her employees or see what she had turned them into. She’d let them down and the once polished and well mannered staff she and Ruiz had put in place over a year ago were now…God she wasn’t even sure they’d invented a word for it. Most of the good ones had left, seeking employment elsewhere, including the general manager at Antonio’s urging. Those who were left were rude, lazy and insubordinate and all that was also thanks to Antonio. She winced at the memory of one of the bellboys who’d winked at her a few months ago making suggestive and stomach turning gestures. When she’d gone to reprimand him he told Melody her husband had declared her fair game until she lost the baby weight. And apparently he’d had his eye on her since the days she and Ruiz were a couple. Red faced and ashamed, she ran to the manager’s house and remained cowered in there ever since. She never ventured out unless it was absolutely necessary, which had been when Antonio threw a hissy fit about being fired and thrown out of the Family suite by Ruiz. Another shameful moment for her. That suite was only for her family and she’d let that enemy desecrate it.
She blinked back tears and swallowed back the chocking emotions. She’d avoided calls from her family and somehow it all hadn’t registered until Reno called leaving a message. Though delivered in such a brotherly tone, he’d made it clear he was going to come get her and take her home kicking and screaming if necessary if she didn’t call the ladies and Allan. She was seven months pregnant then and couldn’t afford for him discovering her secret. So she called and Skyped appeasing him, but she knew it wasn’t enough so she dropped off again.
So it made her wonder if the failing hotel was the only reason they sent Ruiz over. They knew where she was and she’d asked them not to tell him, so was this some kind of plot to get them back together because the failure that Red Roses had become would have warranted a visit from the managing director, Reno and of course Matthew. Reno wasn’t the rip off the bandage type like Allan he was more like peel the onion one layer at a time. He would be the ideal one to confess her troubles to, but he’d gone through enough already. Maybe Ruiz could…
Her heart stuttered at the sound of his booming voice, echoing off the walls of the hall.
“I’m going to cut to the chase and save us from the false pleasantries because there is nothing pleasant about this meeting today. I’m beyond shocked by what I’ve seen in the three hours I’ve been here.�
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Ruiz…her heart sighed. The man was gorgeous. And somehow, with his stern glare and rigid imposing stance as he stared down at a room full of employees who’d probably be wishing him dead by the end of the meeting, he looked even hotter. He looked like a bad boy in his blue jeans and black boots that matched his button down black dress shirt. His jet black and wavy hair didn’t help matters as he kept tossing it back either by a jerk of his head or combing it back with his muscled fingers as he berated the room. She was sure she wasn’t the only woman swooning over that. He’d always kept it reasonably long but now it was long enough to pull it into a pony tail.
What she would give to run her fingers through it…
The push to her shoulder and the following snickers brought her out of her reverie and she blinked looking around only to meet Ruiz’s glare and thin lipped smile.
How the hell did he spot her? She’d sank so low on her seat and with the mass of bodies shielding her it would have been impossible. She looked down at herself only to notice she was sitting very upright, practically pushing herself up on her hands.
Damn!
“Miss Sinclair, or is it Mrs.—”
“How may I help you?” she practically yelled as she shot out of her seat, preventing him from insulting her or announcing the truth to a room full of people who had no respect for her. The last thing she wanted was for things to get worse off for her.
Ruiz smirked. “I was just introducing Monsieur Jon Luc. He is an attorney who is going to help you and I restructure the hotel and that includes re-staffing.”
Murmurs filled the room but he didn’t break momentum.
“If we are unable to do this in three months, Red Roses Paris will be shut down. Make no mistake we will not risk the entire franchise because of one ill managed hotel.”
Melody gasped. When she’d said that to Antonio it was only to irk him, but hearing the words come from Ruiz it frightened her. They couldn’t do that. The Red Roses were her hotels. They couldn’t shut down the Paris one without her consent, but the way his eyes bore into hers as he announced this, it was clear the rest had out voted her. She had no say in the matter, not anymore. She’d made a deal with Allan to never let the hotels slip through her fingers out of fault of her own and she’d down just that. She’d failed him and herself.
God what he must think of me! But if he only knew the circumstances…how could he if she won’t tell him? And Antonio, was this his plan right from the start, to ruin Red Roses?
“Melody.”
She looked up at the sound of her name rolling off his tongue.
The room had cleared and it was just the lawyer, him and her. He raised his hand and she watched it, keeping very still as he lightly brushed her cheek with his finger. It was either he wet it or she was crying. The look in his eyes gave her the answer.
His brows creased and his eyes looked pained making her heart ache. “Melody—”
He stopped abruptly, pulling his hand away and stepping back, his expression turning stern.
What Ruiz, what were you going to say? Why did you stop touching me, why are you so cold all of a sudden? She screamed inside wishing she had the guts to say the words out loud.
“Am I part of this restructuring and re-staffing?”
Melody felt her heart drop to her stomach. Of course that’s why Ruiz’s demeanor changed so fast. She fought the urge not to cringe when Antonio placed his arm around her waist. Ruiz’s lips split in a smile though the rage in his eyes was scotching.
“You have to be an employee here for that and if I recall, I already fired you.”
Melody felt Antonio’s hand fist, pinching her flesh and she winced. She caught Ruiz’s gaze and feared his reaction knowing he’d noticed her own.
“You do understand that I’m married to the owner?” Antonio added with a fake laugh.
“Part owner like me,” Ruiz gnashed out. “And I have the backing of the rest of the owners—Matthew, Reno and Allan.”
“But I have part majority.” Melody bit her lips shut wishing she hadn’t said that, but it was a knee jerk reaction. It had been so long she’d had to stand up for herself against the domineering men in her family to assert her own voice. It felt foreign after a year of captivity.
Ruiz’s smile widened. “Yes, just not enough to keep your husband in control.”
Melody fisted her hands at her sides. “So what you’re saying is, you’re asking me to join you out of courtesy.” She shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “Why should I? You are quite capable of making the changes on your own.”
Antonio scoffed. “So what? He’s firing you!”
“No, I’m hiring her because she needs to redeem herself. It’s quite clear she’s been ignoring her duties as owner for that of wife otherwise the hotel wouldn’t be in such a shameful state.” Ruiz added glaring at her.
Melody looked away, the jab hitting home. Ruiz cleared his throat and she looked at him from under her eyelashes.
“We’re starting tonight. Bring the files to the suite. Excuse us.” Ruiz turned around and left the lawyer on his heels.
With Ruiz gone, Melody could feel all the stress drain out of her and she fell back into her seat only to be yanked up by the arm.
“Ouch! You’re hurting me!” she lamented, struggling to pry his fingers open from around her arm.
“Fix this Melody and do it fast. Allan may be too far away to hurt, but the bambina,” he shook his head whistling, “she’s close enough to put a pillow over her face when she sleeps. Lei capisce?”
Melody nodded her entire body shaking with fear. He gave her a curt nod, released her to fall back into the seat and sauntered out with a victorious swagger. God she needed help, she needed to get Antonio out of her life.
* * * *
Ruiz banged his door shut. “I can’t believe her!” he hissed.
“It’s quite unbelievable any woman would be married to that Italian toad.”
Ruiz turned to where Jon Luc stood, pouring himself a drink from the bar. “You picked up on the accent too?”
He shrugged. “It’s as distinct as my own, oui?”
Ruiz nodded. “But he told Melody he’s Cuban.”
The glass halted at Jon Luc’s lips as he stared at Ruiz with a raised brow. “It would be foolish of us not to check on your love’s husband.”
Ruiz’s hands fisted so tight they shook. My love’s husband. Those words made him mad enough to make Melody a widow!
“Why did she marry him? It was quite clear she has no feelings for him…and judging by how she looked at you throughout the meeting, she is very much in love with you.”
Ruiz combed his fingers through his hair in frustration. He had been sure of a lot of things about his relationship with Melody before that meeting. He’d noticed too how she stared at him, like she was stuck in the memories of them when they were together and quite happy to be there. The look in her eyes had made him stumble a few times before he reminded himself of how she was married to someone else. But right after, when her cheek was wet with tears and his judgment lapsed…he was so close to confessing how stuck he was too in the memory of them until Antonio turned up. Then she flinched when Antonio touched her…there was no way the two of them were intimate if his arm on her waist made her cringe. It made Ruiz question their relationship. There was a lot more going on there than what they would want him to believe.
That brought him to the question that had been rattling around his head after Antonio’s marriage announcement.
“Jon Luc, what are your laws against bigamy?”
Chapter Four
Melody took several deep breaths to steady her nerves before she raised her hand to knock on Ruiz’s door. She’d almost not come after Antonio’s threat but Jackie had promised to look after Esme for a few hours. It broke her heart that she wouldn’t be there for Esme’s first bottle and the fact that she had to go on a bottle so young. She felt guilty, like she’d abandoned her. Jackie said those feelings were nor
mal and she had nothing to be guilty about, but that didn’t change anything. A bottle was one of Esme’s little milestones and she wouldn’t be there to either help or see.
The door swung open and Jon Luc, Ruiz’s lawyer halted in his steps when he saw her. After a stunned moment, he smiled down at her. “Madame, I didn’t notice you’d knocked.”
Melody gave him half a smile.“I hadn’t.”
“Jon Luc, who is it?”
Melody’s heart leaped at his voice, but that little reaction was nothing compared to when Jon Luc stepped aside, exposing Ruiz. He stood in the middle of the room, barefooted on the wall to wall grey carpet, his shirt halfway undone one hand holding his cell phone the other a glass of what she could only guess as Jameson. Ruiz was a beer kind of guy, but he partook in a little whisky once in a while, especially when he felt stressed. He did have a lot to be stressed about, thanks to her.
“Madame is here for your meeting,” Jon Luc said with a noticeable laugh in his voice that earned him a glare from Ruiz.
Was that supposed to be a joke or was she missing something?
“Come in Melody, you have the files?”
She nodded choosing to ignore his brisk tone. She pointed to her side. “They’re right here.”
Jon Luc stepped out as he subtly pushed her in. He probably noticed she was ready to run. Who wouldn’t be in this situation? There was so much in those boxes that would make him mad and she didn’t want to be on the receiving end even though she deserved it, and her hormones were on overdrive. She was ready to jump him, damn the consequences and everything else.
“I hope someone helped you with all these boxes?” Jon Luc asked.
She turned just enough to nod then turned back around, almost running into Ruiz’s bare chest, visible by the gaping shirt.
