“No, I do not. Who are you?” I ask the man.
“My apologies,” the man laughs awkwardly. “I’m a friend of your fathers. Rest in peace… Call me Isaiah,” he insists.
I eye him. He does look of the right age to be a friend of my late father, but I’ve never met him before.
“Why has Mr. Dresvanni never met you before?” Damian asks in my place.
A heat spreads from my stomach to my groin in response. The protective and possessive sound of his voice. I shouldn’t feel anything; he’s just doing his job, but alas.
“I live in Prague. We mostly networked long distance,” Isaiah explains with a chuckle. “I apologize for causing a ruckus. Truly, I just wanted to congratulate you on your engagement and introduce myself.”
I nod slowly. “Thank you. Mr. Rossi,” I look over at Damian, “I don’t believe you’re needed.”
Damian takes a slow step back after letting the man’s arm go. Seeing the way his hand flexes makes my cock twitch.
There’s an unmistakable difference in how a handsome man affects me versus a beautiful woman like Rosalie.
If I’d had any doubt about my sexuality, I certainly don’t anymore.
I clear my throat as Damian steps away, but I can’t stop myself from watching his strong and ample behind as he walks away. He sits at a nearby table.
I suppose I could have asked him where Rosalie is…if I truly wanted to.
“You weren’t at my father’s funeral,” I note to Isaiah.
“I wasn’t. A choice I truly regret, but I was in the middle of a…very important series of meeting with an ally,” he says quietly. “You’ll be hearing from them shortly, as they wish to discuss ideas with you as well. Or… I suppose it’ll be Carmine that hears from them, won’t it?”
My jaw tightens. “I’ll hear as well.”
“Of course. I’m sure he tells you all of the happening of your family,” Isaiah smiles, but I get the sense that he’s trying to pull some information out of me that I’m not going to give him.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to find my fiancé,” I tell him with a touch on his shoulder.
He looks disappointed but nods. “Very well. Let’s catch up later.”
As if there’s anything we really need to catch up on.
I step away from him and begin a real search for Rosalie. I’m curious who she is speaking to, what she is doing. If she’s having as much or as little fun as I am. Is she making up lies about me too?
If so, what are they?
I smirk slightly as I think about it. It doesn’t upset me, the idea of her lying about me. It only makes me more motivated to think of more lies to spread about her. Perhaps she could even be pregnant? That would be a reason to get married quickly and fall in line with her feeling unwell lately.
I scoff to myself. Then again, it would require a child eventually come of our union, and the thought of that sends an unpleasant chill down my spine.
“There are you, darling,” I say as I find her talking to a group of young women around her age. I recognize some of them as being around the estate now and again, around town, but I’ve never truly spoken to them much. Perhaps they’ve been at the club.
“Here is your wine.” I hand her the glass. My rum and coke is already almost gone again. I feel a slight buzz taking over, and it makes the evening easier to handle.
I wonder if a third will make it even more pleasant.
“What took you so long?” she asks with a chuckle.
“Oh, I was stopped by a few people,” I insist.
“It’s almost time for your dance! How romantic,” one of the women coos as she nurses a glass of champagne.
“Is dinner not before the dance?” I ask curiously. I had no say in how the event was planned, but if I had, dancing would have come long after dinner.
