“I would say it is because you’re not wearing a tent for a dress.You’re on Massimo’s arm and you look delectable.I might even say that Massimo is the envy of quite a few men here.”
She was pretty sure Isabella was just being nice.“I don’t ...is that a good thing?”
“Yes.”
Isabella smiled at a passing woman.“I’ll be right back,” she said, stepping away.
She was by Massimo’s side, still holding her glass of champagne.He finished talking with the one that had stopped him, and put a hand to her back.“I fucking hate these functions,” he said, pulling her in close.
“As much as if they’re at one of their homes?”she asked.
“These are worse, because I can’t just stand in my corner and wait for a certain woman to come and speak to me,” he said.
She still couldn’t believe she was the one he looked forward to seeing at those parties.It was quite surreal to her.
“I’m glad I could be of assistance.”
He laughed.“Here, it’s impossible to tell people to fuck off.”
This made her laugh.“I’m sure you could get away with it.”
“True.”His gaze moved to her lips.“Do you have any idea how many men keep looking at you?”
“What?”she asked, hating the thought of anyone else looking at her.
He leaned in close and put his lips against her ear.“They’re all kicking themselves because they had no idea that under all those layers of clothing was one of the sexiest women alive.”He kissed her temple.“They’re wishing they had given you a chance, and I love the fact that I stole you away from them.”
She gasped.
For the next hour, they mingled.Isabella came back to their side, with a smile on her lips.She was full of gossip tonight, and as Massimo was busy, she listened to Isabella claim that one of the capos’ wives had become a mistress to another capo.There was also a daughter who was sleeping with a soldier.She didn’t know all the people Isabella mentioned, but it sounded quite scary.
After an hour and a half, she needed to use the bathroom.Isabella had gone to talk to another friend, so she excused herself and made her way to the ladies’ room.There were some giggling women, who looked at her and then immediately left.She used the bathroom, flushed the toilet, and stepped out to wash her hands.
As she washed her hands, she looked up, and out of one of the stalls stepped Lily-Mae.She hadn’t seen her enter the country club.The look on her face told her she was about to be trouble.
“Do you think you clean up nicely?”Lily-Mae asked.
“I’m not looking for any trouble.”
Lily-Mae laughed.“Not looking for any trouble?Your fat ass will find it.Do you think you have what it takes to keep Massimo?He is going to realize you’re nothing.You’re not worth his time or effort.I wouldn’t be shocked if he didn’t have another woman waiting for him.”
Adelina hated how that felt.She didn’t want to even think of Massimo being with another woman, but then could she blame him?What if he did wake up and realize she was not the woman he wanted?She was no stunning beauty like Lily-Mae.She was nothing.She was not in the same league as Massimo, and would never be.
“And when he comes to his senses and gets rid of you, I’ll be waiting.”
And with that, Lily-Mae left.
Adelina couldn’t move.She felt tears spring to her eyes, but she couldn’t let them fall.She had no idea if her mascara was waterproof.This felt awful.She felt sick.
Massimo deserved better.She glanced toward her reflection.Tonight, she looked pretty, but she was never going to be like the Lily-Maes of the world.However, she was not going to embarrass Massimo tonight.She was not going to break down and sob.
Holding her head high, she swallowed past the burn in her throat, and once she had gotten herself together and under control, she squared her shoulders and stepped out.
