Given a choice, I’d have stayed at home watching Netflix, but Angelo made it clear my presence was not optional. He said his father had been looking forward to seeing me, which gave me the ick.
Staff wearing smart uniforms hover, waiting to serve the VIP guests with complimentary Krug and caviar.
I spot a famous actress and her much younger husband. She looks older in the flesh, which proves how filtered most photos are these days. When a small dog’s head pops up from the Chanel tote bag she carries, I smile. It reminds me of Coco; she would have loved being schlepped around in a fancy purse.
Fina called the other day to say she’d asked a guy she knew to see if he could find out what happened to Coco, but I’m not optimistic. Vivian was and is vindictive enough to have had her sent to a kill shelter, and even though Coco looked cute, she hated men, which would have made her less attractive to potential adopters.
Angelo hustles me through the grand foyer and across the atrium. I stare at the waterfall, my jaw dropping. It’s truly a feat of engineering. The warm, moist air in here smells divine, and when I look up, there are butterflies.
“We’ve had them bred especially,” Angelo says in a low voice when he sees me gaping.
“They’ll die without the right plants,” I point out, having spotted several crushed bodies on the walkway already. It makes me sad.
“That’s life.”
Yet another reminder that he and I are not at all suited. Whereas I can’t bear the thought of these beautiful, doomed creatures existing only to make Angelo’s fucking hotel look special, he gives no shits.
“They’ll last longer in here than outside,” he points out when he sees me scowl.
“Debatable,” I mutter.
Angelo says nothing more. He’s not been back to the mansion since Luka and I fucked outside. Nothing’s been said, but I know he knows. That man misses nothing. And if he knows, Kane also knows.
Not that I care. The pair of them can do one.
“Chiara!” Fina appears in a cloud of expensive perfume. As usual, she looks like a million dollars in a cream silk wrap dress, her hair pinned up in a stylish chignon. “You look lovely, darling.”
She nods approvingly at my green dress, even though I had no say in what I wore. Angelo seems to enjoy playing dress-up with me. He treats me like his doll.
“Thank your brother,” I say with a smirk. “Left to my own devices, I’d be wearing sneakers and sweats.”
Kane chuckles before turning it into a cough when Angelo throws a glare in his direction.
“Angelo has good taste,” Fina admits. “Are you ready?” Her question is aimed at both of us, but Angelo nods on my behalf.
“Chiara has promised to behave herself.”
My jaw unhinges. “I have?”
“Yes, because the alternative is I remove the TVs from the house so you can’t watch your trashy shows anymore.”
“That’s…cruel.”
“Don’t worry, kitten, I’d replace them,” Kane whispers in my ear while a creepy guy wearing a blazer and a name tag that says he’s the manager distracts Angelo.
Kane’s breath smells of mint and coffee. It’s a delicious combo. It sends a shiver of desire through my veins. My outdoor tryst with Luka feels like a lifetime ago, and my body is more than ready for a repeat.
“That’s mighty generous of you considering there’s at least five TVs that I know of.” I fight a smile as he grins at me.
“You’re worth it, kitten.”
Angelo catches us whispering, and his expression turns thunderous.
“If you’vequite finishedflirting withmy wife, Kane, tell the reporters Fina will issue a press release and photos later.”
Kane winks one last time before sliding away. Knowing our little interaction has irritated Angelo lifts my mood as he gestures at me to follow him. Fina glances at the pair of us and then rolls her eyes.
“You two should just fuck already,” she murmurs when Angelo turns his back on us.
