“I wasn’t too sure you could pull this off and give me confirmation. Many eyes are on you and me.”
“It helps I have a beautiful fiancée for distraction.”
The food I ate earlier threatened to reappear, and all his sweet and thoughtful gestures came crashing down around me in an avalanche of deception. Kirill didn’t desire to know me better or make our marriage work. He just wanted a docile smokescreen.
“She doesn’t suspect anything?”
Kirill gave a scoffing laugh. “No. I have her eating out of my hand with a few romantic gestures. Women are easy to manipulate, and Lucy is no different. Despite that law degree, she’s as gullible as they come. She’s a pretty face and will suit me well.”
I knew I was a pawn, but he didn’t need to disguise his intentions. He almost fooled me. Angry tears stung my eyes. I was going to be sick.
The door slammed shut and made me jump. Then I heard Kirill scold someone, probably the soldier who didn’t close the door.
I scurried back to our private room. Involuntary tremors shook my body. I was livid, but I knew what I was getting into, didn’t I? Kirill didn’t have to butter me up. All he had to do was to be his cold, fucked-up self, and I would appear with him at events and play my part.
When Kirill returned, my fingers were hurting from gripping each other beneath the table when all I was dying to do was break the bottle of wine over his head.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “Arturo wanted my opinion about a selection of wines for the restaurant.”
Sure.
“Of course,” I whispered, swallowing the bitterness in my throat.
His expression was back to its bland, stoic self. I guessed he was successful in conducting business and he didn’t need to charm me anymore.
Still, his eyes were searching, alert. “Are you okay?”
I flashed him a tight smile. “I think I ate too much. Acid reflux and all that.”
“There’s still the dessert course.”
“I’m done with sweets.” My voice was too sharp, and I forced an apologetic smile. “Sorry. I’m just not feeling well. Too much bubbly and sweets, you know.” I managed a light laugh that sounded genuine. “Just have them box it, maybe?” I couldn’t bear another second in his presence.
“Okay.” The harsh lines of his face softened. “I’ve settled the bill. I’ll let our server know we’re ready to leave and have him box the dessert.”
I said little on the drive home, and neither did Kirill. It wasn’t even tension; I was deflated with an overall sense of bleakness. It only made it harder to keep up pretenses.
Kirill did the gentlemanly thing again and walked me to the door. Unlike the kiss he gave me earlier, this attempt left mecold because I’d realized his duplicity. In a way, I was glad I saw his true colors. I knew something he didn’t. But my experience in politics taught me to be strategic, holding on to information until I could use it for maximum impact. He thought I was a gullible woman? I could just see Zio Luca beaming at me with pride at my restraint.
And as I entered the house, I was glad my parents were not around.
I went to the kitchen and jammed the takeout dessert in the garbage disposal.
That was where it belonged, with my ridiculous giddiness over the ring earlier. Straight to the sewer.
Chapter
Twelve
Three weekslater
Lucy
The rain splatteredon the window. They said rain on one’s wedding day was a blessing. I wasn’t sure about that. It was a rare moment that I was alone in the bridal room. All the pictures were done and we were waiting for the ceremony to begin.
I wore a beautiful ivory taffeta gown. The sweetheart draped bodice flared beautifully into a full skirt edged with bias-cut ruffles. Shabby chic yet couture. But I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror when I was alone because I might talk myself out of going through with the ceremony.
My stomach twisted with nerves and a riot of butterfly wings. I forced myself to look out the window and let the pitter-patter of rain calm me down. Lush green trees and acres and acres of green surrounded the event space. Green evoked calm, remember?
