by Maya Blake
What was she doing?
The question came again. Starker than before. Reminding her how dangerously close she was getting to losing herself again.
‘No. You can’t.’
He reared up, mild shock tightening his features. His eyes blazed holy hell for a second. Then he launched himself off the bed. He dragged rough fingers through his hair, paced to the window and back. Then he speared her with an intense glance.
‘You win this round, dea. But remember that ultimately I play to win. Make me suffer and I might just let you beg me for a victory.’
With that, he sauntered off, leaving her wound tight as a drum despite the fact that at some point Rocco had achieved his purpose, loosened her corset and set her free from her wedding dress.
CHAPTER TEN
SAYING A TEMPORARY goodbye to Gianni was heart-wrenching. It didn’t help that he was completely oblivious, happily learning an Italian nursery rhyme as he perched on his great-grandmother’s lap. Beside Caterina, Allegra’s twin seven-year-old boys sat, playing on their tablets.
Mia was aware of Rocco’s tense presence behind her. And of Allegra—who looked more as if she’d fresh returned from a luxury spa than from a family visit—lounging beside the massive mosaic-laid fireplace, her sharp eyes boring into Mia. She’d been surprised by the other woman’s appearance at the breakfast table this morning, had known something was up with her when she’d proceeded to ignore Mia and converse in Italian with Rocco and Caterina.
But Mia had ignored her, preoccupied with the scene from last night that’d kept her awake long into the night. As she caressed Gianni’s hair one last time, the morning sun glinted off her rings, as if she needed the reminder that the man prowling behind her was her husband.
The husband she’d displeased with her withdrawal last night. One who was still pissed off, if the turbulent look he’d levelled on her when she’d entered the dining room this morning was any indication.
‘We’re going to be late, Mia,’ he growled, earning himself a sharp look from Caterina.
Mia rose, studiously avoiding him as she crossed the vast salon to retrieve her bag.
But contrary to hurrying her out, Rocco took her place, sinking low until he was eye-level with his son. She couldn’t quite make out the words he murmured so she wandered out into the hallway, fighting back the stupid tears that threatened.
She swiped at her eyes, just as Allegra materialised beside her. Mia steeled herself to meet her chilling eyes. ‘You think you’re so clever, don’t you?’ Allegra hissed.
Mia stiffened in shock. ‘Excuse me?’
‘Making accusation about my poor Alessandro?’
Mia suppressed a gasp. ‘How...? Who told you that?’
Allegra’s face tightened. ‘So it’s true! You think you can take what’s mine and soil my Sandro’s memory in the process?’
‘What’s yours? What are you talking about?’
The other woman flicked a sideways glance at Rocco, long enough to ensure he was still occupied with Gianni, then stepped closer to Mia. ‘I never thought he would be foolish enough to go through with this...farsa! But that was my mistake. One I intend to correct.’
‘Do...do you mean my marriage?’
‘There is no marriage, is there? Not when you didn’t even spend your wedding night together,’ she crowed.
Mia felt her face redden with humiliating heat. She didn’t know how Allegra knew but she wasn’t going to lower herself by asking.
‘If you know what’s best for you, you’ll crawl back where you came from.’
Anger rippled up Mia’s spine. ‘Careful who you threaten, Allegra. You may have had your little reign here, but I’m effectively mistress of this house now. Which means I can kick you out like that.’ She snapped her fingers in front of her face.
Allegra paled. Just as Rocco walked into the hallway. His eyes narrowed. ‘Are you ready to leave, Mia?’
‘Of course...caro.’ She infused false warmth into her voice, her eyes still locked with Allegra’s. The other woman’s expression wavered, a flicker of fear in her eyes before it hardened again.
But when she turned to Rocco, she was soft and pliable, her sinuous body swaying as she pressed a hand to his chest, dropped a lingering kiss on his cheek and murmured in Italian.
Rocco gave a brisk nod, then catching Mia’s elbow, he led her outside to the waiting car.
The first ten minutes passed in tense silence as she fought the burning sensation in her chest.
‘Did you sleep well, cara?’ he asked, his tone mocking the endearment the same way she had minutes ago.
‘What do you care?’ she snapped.
One eyebrow elevated. Then his mouth twitched. ‘Shall I conclude that you didn’t in fact sleep at all? That you’re afflicted with the same discomfort I was?’
‘Even if I believe you were in any way afflicted, you seem well on your way to resolving it.’
He frowned. ‘Che cosa?’
‘I’m talking about Allegra. With her hands all over you. And you lapping it up.’
His eyes widened a fraction, then his smile returned. Wider. Deeper. ‘Are you jealous, amante mia?’
Yes, she was. Wildly. Disturbingly.
‘No. I’d just rather not be forced to endure the spectacle.’
‘Rest easy. I have no interest in Allegra. I have no interest in any other woman except the one I married.’
She turned sceptical eyes at him. Then scepticism turned into shock as she read the veracity of the statement in his eyes. ‘I...’
He made a very Latin gesture with his hand. ‘You have locked us into this, Mia. I’ll give you some time to get us out of it. But I won’t wait for ever.’
‘Wh-what does that mean?’
‘It means I won’t tolerate indifference, pretended or otherwise.’ His tone was harsh, ringing with a deeper meaning that made her heart trip over. ‘Deny this... impazzata between us all you like. But don’t expect me to follow suit. I told you last night, I will win in the end.’
The warning was still ringing in her ears when they pulled up to the private hangar in Boccadifalco Airport. She’d been on the Vitelli corporate jet before and had always been overawed by the experience.
This time, however, preoccupied both by the little incident with Allegra and by Rocco’s comments, and the fact that he seemed intent to delve straight into business, Mia had very little time to gawp at her opulent surroundings before they were taking off.
Soon after that, he turned to her.
‘I have the blueprints of the project with me. I’d like your take on it. Shall we?’
She nodded, a thrill bursting to life in her chest as she followed him to the middle part of the plane, where a large conference table and equipment had been set up for business. When she’d first met Rocco, and they’d travelled on his plane, she’d been concerned about the impact private jet travel was having on the environment. When she’d voiced her concern, he’d enlightened her as to the rigorous steps he took to offset his carbon footprint. And she soon discovered that every Vitelli Construction project was undertaken with materials that minimised its impact on the environment. It was one of the many reasons she’d loved working for him.
Within seconds of Rocco spreading out the blueprints of the proposed new performance arts building she saw that this was equally eco-friendly. In fact it was the most advanced ecological building she’d ever seen. Both in design and in implementation it was simply breathtaking.
After several minutes of absorbing the beauty and symmetry of his creation, she looked up from the blueprint to find Rocco’s intent gaze on her, eyebrows raised. ‘Initial thoughts?’
‘It’s...breathtaking.’
His eyes stayed on her for another moment before he gave a brisk nod. ‘Grazie.’ The word was terse.
She sighed.
‘I mean it, Rocco. This is magnificent.’ The structure was designed to resemble a delicate brush stroke, poised towards an easel. The ‘easel’ was to be the main facility with the brush stroke containing everything from galleries to auditoriums, restaurants and a techno park for interactive play.
‘It may be bold and innovative, but I need a structural engineer to show me how I can pull it off without it falling to the ground,’ he mused.
She nodded, her eyes moving over the blueprint. ‘I can give you an initial assessment once I see a feasibility report on the land and specifications of the actual materials we’re using.’
Rocco handed her his tablet. ‘The full report is on there.’
Their fingers brushed as she took the tablet from him. They both froze.
Rocco moved away first, firing questions at her as they examined the blueprints closer. He was halfway through another question when his phone rang.
‘I need to take this.’
He moved away, and, eager to get started, she pulled up the two-hundred-page report. She was so absorbed she didn’t notice he’d finished his phone call and was sitting across from her, intently watching her until she looked up.
Mia caught a naked expression of hunger on his face before he schooled his features, and other bout of heat flamed through her belly.
I won’t tolerate indifference, pretended or otherwise.
His words returned to her, impacting deeper than she wanted them to. Had he been referring to his parents? She wanted to ask but wasn’t she the one reinforcing the wall between them? What right did she have to personal details?
The plane banked slightly and again sunlight glinted off her rings. She stared down at her finger, wondering for the second time in a very short time if this was some sort of message. She wasn’t one for flights of fancy, but since Rocco seemed intent on renegotiating their deal, was she foolish to dismiss it out of hand? Again she looked up at him, watched his eyes travel from her face to the rings and back again.
‘Something on your mind?’ he rasped.
She opened her mouth to say no but the word stuck in her throat.
What was she doing? She’d been married barely a day and already she was doubting herself? She pushed her thoughts away and glanced down at the report.
‘The land is a little more waterlogged than I anticipated. You’ll need more substantial reinforcement of the foundation to support the building. And the soil is also porous, so you’ll require specially treated steel. I’ll be able to give you a better assessment once we’re onsite,’ she said, striving for a no-nonsense tone.
A flash of disappointment crossed his face.
Had he been hoping that she would delve into the personal? With everything still so strained between them?
His expression neutralised, the moment passing. They discussed the Macau project in further detail, then moved to other projects he was working on around the world. Each one was a stunning work of art and she eagerly absorbed every detail.
Oh, how she had missed this. As much as she loved being a mother to Gianni, her work life had sustained her spirit, her contribution to transforming Rocco’s vision from mere steel and bricks and mortar into beautiful works of art fulfilling in the extreme.
She barely felt time speed by but five hours later, when they reluctantly broke for lunch, Rocco tossed her an amused half-smile. ‘You’re enjoying yourself,’ he observed, his gaze raking her face.
She shrugged. ‘I can’t deny that I’ve missed this.’
‘Working with me?’
‘Working at all. But since you’re the only one I’ve really worked for, yes.’
Slowly, the amusement drained from his eyes. ‘Then why did you do it?’
Mia stared back at him, praying he would read the truth in her words. ‘I didn’t.’
For what felt like a lifetime he simply stared at her.
‘Do you believe me?’ she pushed.
‘Is it important to you that I do?’ he parried, his voice thick with emotion she couldn’t quite name.
She wanted to toss out a flippant answer to show she didn’t care one way or another. But she did care. Perhaps much more than was wise. ‘Yes, it is.’
‘Then I will,’ he stated equally simply. Starkly.
Her breath caught. ‘Just like that?’
‘The stalking case against you is fraudulent by all indication. It’s reasonable to assume whoever went to the trouble set you up for the blueprints too. I don’t need hard facts to tell me that. And in the grand scheme of things, no harm was caused by my opponents getting hold of those blueprints. They didn’t have the expertise to pull out such a structure in a desert environment like Abu Dhabi. And once it became known that they were trying to pass off my work as their own, their reputation took an irreparable dent. If you want me to believe that you didn’t betray me, then I will be prepared to put it behind us.’
A lump rose in her throat, despite the fact that he hadn’t given her the ringing endorsement of belief she’d sought. He was merely giving her the benefit of the doubt.
‘What about Alessandro?’ she blurted.
His features closed up, not before she spotted a shadow of doubt flash across his face. ‘I will not rush to judgement until I have irrefutable evidence before me.’
She shouldn’t have been hurt, of course. Still, her heart squeezed painfully. ‘Very well.’ She pushed her plate away, her appetite gone.
About to reach for the tablet to resume reading the reports on his various projects, she stopped when he brushed his fingers across her knuckles. ‘It’s time to take a break. If we don’t want to battle jet lag when we land it might be a good idea to catch a few hours of sleep.’
Immediately her pulse leapt, her blood heating as memories from last night flooded her. ‘I...okay, but not just yet. I want to finish this.’ She indicated the report.
He stayed seated for a beat, then nodded. ‘Bene.’
Mia wasn’t sure exactly what came over her, causing her to blurt, ‘Why did you tell Allegra?’
He frowned. ‘Why did I tell Allegra what?’
She exhaled. ‘You said you didn’t want to jump to conclusions or speak ill of the dead, but you told her that I suspected Alessandro was behind what happened to me.’
His frown intensified. ‘Besides my lawyers, I haven’t spoken to anyone about this.’
‘Well, she knows. She accused me of sullying her husband’s memory.’
‘When?’ he asked sharply.
‘This morning. In the hallway, before we left,’ she answered.
Fury blazed in his eyes for a few seconds as he wrestled down his emotion. Without another word to her, he rose and strode out, leaving her staring after him in confusion.
If he hadn’t told Allegra, then who had?
Without a forthcoming answer, she refocused on the reports. It took precious few minutes for her to fully absorb what she was reading. By the time she was done, her neck was stiff and her back ached.
She’d barely managed to sleep last night, and her body was reacting to the adrenaline of re-immersing herself in her work. Shutting down the tablet, she made her way to the back of the plane where the master bedroom and bathroom were located. After using the washroom, she entered the bedroom.
Thick gold covers gleamed invitingly, sunlight slanting through half-pulled shades bathing the room in warm, enticing light. Unable to resist, she perched on the bed, kicked off her shoes and flexed her feet. Grabbing one corner of the spread, she tugged it down and slid between the sheets.
She meant to shut her eyes for ten minutes, fifteen max. When she blinked awake, the sun was setting and semi-darkness shrouded the room. But even in the dimness she knew she wasn’t alone. She turned her head to see the dark figure heading towards the door.
‘Rocco?’
He froze then turned aroun
d. ‘We’re not landing for another couple of hours. Go back to sleep. I only came to check on you.’
She sat up, relaxed against the pillows. ‘Did you manage to get some sleep?’
In the darkness she saw his teeth flash a wry smile. ‘At the risk of sounding like a broken record, sleeping comfortably when you’re around has become impossible.’
She frowned. ‘I really affect you that much?’
Again he smiled as he slowly walked towards her. Mia couldn’t help but greedily absorb every animalistic movement of his streamlined body. She shivered at the intensity in the eyes that stared down at her when he reached the bed.
‘You create a deep impact on me, cara. I’ve stopped bothering trying to deny it.’ The words were thick, gruff, the hands shoved into his pockets attesting to the knife-edged control he balanced on.
Just like last night, feminine power resurged, sweeping through her veins like sweet, irresistible nectar.
‘I believe it’s why I reacted so strongly to the unfortunate incident three years ago,’ he elaborated tightly.
‘We’re reducing it to one unfortunate incident, are we?’ she asked.
One broad shoulder lifted in a shrug, drawing her attention to the fact that he’d discarded his suit jacket at some point and rolled up the shirt sleeves. ‘I’m not interested in the past. Not any more. I wish to look to the future. And that future requires that we address this thing between us. I fear I will be intolerable if I keep losing sleep over you.’
She clamoured for outrage, but only ended up with breathless anticipation. ‘That sounds suspiciously like another threat. I suggest you try harder to get some sleep. Perhaps you’ll be less disagreeable.’
She started to turn away, but he placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘Wait.’
Her eyes flew to his, connecting with the tempest raging in his eyes. ‘If we can’t indulge in one way, I’d very much like something else from you.’
‘What makes you think—’
She stopped when he placed a finger over her lips.
‘Per favore,’ he breathed.
Several heartbeats ticked by, all crammed with the urge to say no. But his gruff plea wrapped itself around her heart, and, as foolish as it was to let it affect her, Mia found herself nodding.
