When I lead Beppe down the hall, I find Julian cleaning up his dinner dishes in the kitchen. He takes a look at me and frowns.
“Going somewhere, Miss Bianchi?”
“Riccardo has requested my presence at the IVI banquet room,” I answer solemnly. “I have to be there at six-thirty, and he said I can’t bring Beppe, so I’ll have to take him out first.”
Julian’s jaw tightens as he nods. “Get his bag. I’ll keep him with me during the event.”
The pressure around my ribs loosens a fraction. “Are you sure? Riccardo might get angry.”
“Fortunately for me, I don’t answer to Riccardo.”
Relief hits me hard as I lean down and stroke Beppe’s fur. Just having him close will make me feel better. He’ll calm my nerves on the car ride and give me the courage to do what I have to tonight.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell Julian.
I return to my room and grab Beppe’s tote bag, and as I’m walking back down the hall, I hear Julian speaking quietly to someone on the phone. But by the time I reach him, he’s already ended the call.
“Ready to go?” He joins me at the elevator.
I blow out a breath. “As much as I can be.”
12
GABRIELA
“What partof don’t bring the dog did you not understand?” Riccardo glares at Beppe as I hand him over to Julian.
I twist my fingers together as anxiety balloons in my chest, but Julian saves me from answering.
“I’m under strict instructions to keep her dog with her at all times.”
I blink up at Julian, wondering why he’d cover for me, because I know Michael didn’t give him that directive.
Riccardo clenches his jaw, probably assuming that’s the case because it’s how things work in our world. Our fathers dictate the rules until we marry, and then it becomes our husbands’ job.
“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.”
