"Gosford Ocean Hotel." My voice sounded foreign to my own ears. Raspy and harsh. "As fast as you can. It's urgent."
In fact, I couldn't think of a single damn thing more urgent than this. Not the multimillion-pound acquisition deal last year, not Charles' hotels that I'd craved to fold into my portfolio, not the important meeting I had booked a month ago that was totake place in an hour…nothing. As soon as Gordon uttered those words—that my wife was at a hotel—nothing ceased to matter.
My throat felt dry, and the pain in my chest was spreading to my stomach. I yanked open the drinks compartment, my hand hovering over the whisky bottle. I was tempted to drown my fear in spirits, to dull the thump of anxiety that was spreading through me. But in the end, I bypassed the booze and opted for the small bottle of water instead. I needed a clear head to do this.
My hands drummed against my thigh as I watched the scenery fly by. I debated calling Millie, but I didn't want to tip her off that I knew what she was up to. I didn't want her to disappear on me.
But also, if I called her and she didn't answer—if she was too busy…
That clawing feeling was climbing up my throat again, and I quickly doused it with the cool water.
Gosford Ocean Hotel. What kind of stupid name was that? It wasn't even near the bloody ocean. Once I dealt with my wife, I would buy the hotel and raze it to the ground.
Twenty torturous minutes later, the car pulled up to the hotel, and I was out of the door before it barely stopped. I stormed through the lobby, my face like thunder.
"My wife, Mille Ferrante, is in one of your rooms. I need a key."
I didn't care how I sounded, I didn't care that it was against hotel protocol to demand entrance to a room—even if I was her husband. The way I was feeling right now, I'd go from floor to floor, pounding on each door until I found her. They were lucky I was giving them this courtesy.
To my surprise, the hapless receptionist smiled brightly at me. "Of course, Mr Ferrante." She plucked a key card from a drawer and entered it into her system before swiping. "Here you go. Enjoy your stay."
I snatched the card and strode to the set of lifts before she changed her mind. Her incompetence was my win.
Before long, I was on her floor and staring at the white door to her room. The number blurred in front of me. Room 214. My heart thundered fast, and my hands shook so badly that I dropped the key card.
I swiped once. Red light.
"Shit."
Then again. Green light.
The first thing that greeted me was the sound of some love song playing softly in the background, and my heart sank to my stomach. The fear that I had been trying to downplay on the nerve-inducing ride was now fully realised.
The main lights had been dimmed and a soft glow coming from the bedroom area was the only source of light.
There, in the centre of the super king-size bed, was my wife. My breath caught at the sight, and ripples of pain climbed my body until they strangled my throat. My knees almost buckled from under me as I took in the devastating sight.
Millie was laid out in a pose meant to seduce. Her long, dark locks were spread out behind her as she leaned back on her elbows. One slim leg cast over the other. She wore a black lace bodysuit with a deep plunging neckline that left nothing to the imagination. Her make-up was immaculate. She looked absolutely gorgeous.
I wanted to die.
"Where is he?" The question was ripped from my throat, and my fists clenched in uncontrolled fury.
Millie did not react as expected, her smooth brows coming down in puzzlement. Christ, she didn't even look sorry. "What?"
"Where. Is. He?"
Without waiting for a response, I stormed towards the bathroom, kicking the door open in dramatic fashion. I hearda rustling on the bed as Millie scrambled from her provocative position. I slapped on the light, my gaze bouncing around the empty room.
"Alessio!" she called out.
I yanked open the shower curtains, expecting to see him crouching in the corner like a little coward.
Empty.
Relief washed over me, and the tightness in my chest waned slightly. I came just in time, it seemed.
But I still wasn't done.
