Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 148962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
“Fine,” Riccardo concedes. “You can wait outside the banquet room.”
“Sorry, no can do,” Julian says. “My contract states I require a direct line of sight.”
The vein in Riccardo’s forehead pulses as he lowers his voice to a growl. “I’m her fiancé. She’ll be fine with me.”
“When you’re her husband, you can change the contract as you see fit, but until then, I take the orders that come down the pipeline.”
Riccardo glares at Julian, but Julian remains completely unbothered. He’s a much bigger man, and Riccardo has to know Julian could swat him away like a fly if he wanted to. I just can’t understand why he’d lie to protect me. Regardless of the reasons, I’m grateful for him. At least I know I’ll have someone looking out for me.
“Riccardo,” someone calls out across the room. “Come settle an argument between us.”
“I don’t have time to deal with this right now.” Riccardo gives Julian one last scathing look as he grabs me by the arm. “Come on, Gabi.”
For the next thirty minutes, he proceeds to drag me around the room, his fingers biting into me like I’m his hostage. His friends’ wandering eyes roam over my body as Riccardo introduces me, and I shrink into myself, zoning out while Riccardo talks.
Occasionally, someone asks me something, and I force a smile and answer with as few words as possible. My feet are already killing me, and this cocktail hour feels never-ending. By the time we sit down for dinner, I’ll have nothing left to give.
I glance at Beppe across the room, longing to be a wallflower with him. Riccardo catches me and hisses in my ear.
“Make an effort. You’ll need to get used to networking with me.”
I nod and clear my throat. “I will. Sorry. I just need to use the ladies’ room quickly.”
Reluctantly, he lets me go, and I make a beeline for the door. Julian follows me into the hallway, and I pause to pet Beppe, wishing I had some time to hold him.
“I’m going to the ladies’ room,” I tell Julian.
“I’ll wait here.” He nods.
I find that a little strange, considering the bathroom is at the far end of the hall. If Riccardo came out and saw that Julian wasn’t following me, his spiel about direct line of sight would fall apart. But I’m grateful to have a moment to myself as I make the walk.
This level of the IVI building in downtown Seattle contains multiple gathering spaces for members, including several private lounges. Men often do business in those smaller, more comfortable rooms, but tonight they’re all empty.
I’m relieved to find the ladies' room is also vacant when I step inside. I don’t actually need to use the bathroom, so I take a seat on the chaise and do some breathing exercises to ground myself.
As I sit there, I wonder how long I can dawdle without being missed. Realistically, I know Riccardo would probably come for me, and he’d be mad.
“You can do this, Gabi.” I close my eyes. “You’ve been doing hard things your whole life.”
My mental pep talk isn’t as helpful tonight. Searching for another distraction, I take out my phone and see I have a new message.
Eros415: Missing me yet, little shark?
BiteSizedGabi: You have no idea.
He reads my response right away, so I wait for his reply before I leave the bathroom.
Eros415: I didn’t get to peel those clothes off you. Now what am I supposed to do with myself?
My stomach sinks as I realize I was so distracted earlier, I forgot to let him know I’d be gone. He’s probably at the penthouse—or at least he was. Now I’ve missed him, and I might not even see him tonight.
BiteSizedGabi: I’m sorry. Something came up, but I’d much rather be with you.
He sends me a selfie taken from my bed, lying beside the giant teddy bear.
Eros415: Not the same.
I smile, but it fades quickly. I want to ask him if he’ll still be there when I get back, but I don’t know how long this night will drag on, and that isn’t fair to him.
BiteSizedGabi: Raincheck until tomorrow?
I wait for him to answer, but he doesn’t. Then I start to overanalyze, wondering if I said the wrong thing. Regardless, I can’t stay locked in this bathroom all night.
Reluctantly, I open the door and force myself back toward my version of hell.
I notice Julian is no longer in the hallway, and a sense of unease fills the air. I don’t know where he would have gone, but maybe he decided to take Beppe out.
As I pass one of the private lounges, something flashes in my periphery, and I pause to look through the glass pane. I don’t see anything, so I think I must have imagined it. Still, my curiosity gets the best of me, and I reach for the doorknob.