“No, please, Amalia. We’ve all gotten very close. I see you all as sisters. Whatever you have to say, I’d really like to hear it.”
Amalia glances at Lux and Izzy before settling her gaze back on me. “It’s just, I know you haven’t wanted to date anyone in this… line of work because of everything that’s happened to your family. Your parents, your aunt and uncle. I assumed you were resistant to dating anyone in this world because you’re worried about the pain and suffering it’s brought.”
“I mean, yeah, that’s part of it,” I mutter, moving my attention to Lux and Izzy, whose eyes are pinned on me. “Is that what you guys think too? That I’m just scared to open myself up to Massimo out of fear of what could happen?”
Izzy shrugs. “It’s not a bad thing to be scared, Liana. You have every right to be wary of the men in our world.”
“Yeah, I mean, I think that’s a big part of it, but also, I know the kind of man Massimo is. He’s selfish. He’s a player. He’s…” It dawns on me quickly that I don’t knowa tonabout him other than he’s apparently persistent.
“I don’t know. He’s a man who likes to flaunt women around my place of work, and a man who’s now trying to use extortion to control me. No matter what, I could never be with someone like that. I have a business that is my number one priority in life. I’m not going to let this world pull me into a marriage that forces me to put it on the back burner.”
Amalia, Lux, and Izzy are staring at me with what looks to be empathy, but it seems like there’s something else that could be there too.
“We get it, Liana,” Lux says. “You don’t have to explain your reasoning to us. We completely understand.”
Izzy shakes her head. “It really is a shame Massimo can’t just be a decent human being and talk to his capo. I really feel for Alessia. She doesn’t deserve what’s happening to her. Finding love is… Well, it’s magical. Finding the man she wants to spend her life with and then having to stand by while her father destroys his life. I can’t imagine what she’s going through. To sit idly by and not be able to do a damn thing.”
“I know. Trust me. I’vetriedwith Tommaso. I’vetriedwith Massimo, but… I don’t know. I’m all out of ideas.”
Izzy places her hand on my arm and squeezes it. “Hey, I know you and Alessia have a close relationship, but in the end, this is not your responsibility, and she knows that. She would never expect you to marry Massimo to help her.”
I give Izzy a solemn look. “I know, it’s just, you know how I see Alessia. She’s been coming around the boutique since her freshman year at CU, and I’ve kind of taken her under my wing. I was so excited when she asked me about the intern position. She reminds me so much of myself, and I just want to be there for her.”
“I know, but you cannot beat yourself up for what she’s going through. You tried, okay? Remember that.You tried,” Izzy says.
I give her a small nod and a tight smile. She might be right. Fixing Alessia’s problem with her boyfriendis notmy responsibility, but if that’s the case, then why do I still feel terrible knowing I’ve failed her?
Internally shaking my head, I try to pull myself out of this need to help Alessia.I’ve tried, but getting married to Massimo is out of the question. I’ve worked too damn hard building aname for myself in the fashion industry. I’m not going to let him squander all my hard work away because of his purely selfish behavior. He will never control me. I’m sorry, Alessia, but I can’t.
12
LIANA
Alessia hasn’t come into work all week. I texted her a few times, but her responses were short and very unlike her. It’s had my mind racing with what could be going on with her and Colton.
I’m working on a custom design for one of my clients, trying to push out the distracting thoughts when a knock sounds on my door. “Come in,” I call out.
“Hey, Liana,” Alessia says, shutting the door behind her.
“Alessia.” There’s a note of relief in my tone. I get up from my desk and walk over to give her a hug. “How are you? I’ve been worried.”
“I know, I’m so sorry.”
“Come, let’s sit over here,” I say, gesturing to the couch.
“I’m so sorry I’ve let my personal life affect so much. It was extremely unprofessional, and I promise I will not allow it to moving forward.”
I shake my head. “Alessia, you’re fine. It’s important to talk about these things, and you know I’m always someone who’s ready to listen.”
“Yes, but I should’ve said it was nothing. It opened up all this drama you didn’t need to be part of. I really appreciate you being there for me and trying to talk to my dad, but everything’s done now.”
I crinkle my brow. “What do you mean? Did he decide to finally back off Colton?”
Alessia gives me a tight smile. “Not quite,” she says, averting her gaze to the fidgeting fingers in her lap.
“I don’t understand. What happened?”
Bringing her gaze up to mine, she whispers, “It’s done… Colton and I are done.”
