Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
I know I’m attractive. Men have tripped over themselves to tell me so. I’m his wife. I cannot stop him if he wants it, but he isn’t even trying. At least, try once. One attempt that I can fight off would be nice. Then I wouldn’t have to soul search like this.
I stuff the last half of my delicious croissant into my mouth and watch him dab his mouth with his napkin. I dump some bacon and scrambled eggs on my plate. He still hasn’t even glanced at me.
Bastard!
Is he seeing another woman? Probably the one whose scent was all over him on our first night here. The audacity of the man makes my stomach churn. I stab my bacon with a fork and suddenly struggle with a loss of appetite. Strange, my stomach was rumbling like crazy only minutes before.
As I take a deep breath, a tanned, perfectly manicured hand slides a black AmEx card along the white linen and stops it next to my plate. I look up to see Valentino looking at me, his gray eyes so cold my blood starts to freeze. Only a few hours ago, he stared at me like he wanted to rip the clothes off my body and eat me raw. Now, his eyes convey nothing but icy contempt.
“What is this for?”
“We’ll be flying to Italy this evening,” he says. “I’ll be gone until then. Use this to shop. Buy anything you want. I hear Paris has nice dresses for women.”
“You would know, wouldn’t you?” I snap.
Ignoring my jibe, he pushes his chair back and rises. “The three-digit code to verify your possession of the card is 904 and the pin for making payments is 1904. Ensure you’re packed and ready to leave by the time I return in the evening.”
I’m tempted to fight him right then and there, but I hold my tongue and keep my eyes on my plate until the door closes behind him. As soon as it does, I let out a loud yell and stomp my feet with frustration, dissatisfaction and fury.
Ensure you’re packed and ready to leave by the time I return in the evening.
His bossiness is beyond belief. How dare he treat me like one of his bimbo whores and drag me around Europe at his whim and fancy? I want out of this stupid marriage.
My gaze drops to the shiny card on the table, and I wonder just how much money Valentino had placed in my hands. Suddenly, an idea crosses my mind, and it brings a smile and my appetite back.
Buy anything you want.
I will take him at his word and spend so much money that he will be forced into a reaction. He’s been cold ever since I came back from Church, but when a million dollars suddenly disappears from his account he will storm back to the hotel and I’ll see the fire in his gunmetal gray eyes again. Maybe he’ll be angry enough to wrap his fingers around my neck again like he did the first night …
A horrified gasp falls out of my mouth. I’m even more mortified when I realize that I am literally flushing all over at the thought of Valentino wrapping his fingers around my neck while his eyes blaze with unbridled lust.
Oh God! I’m a whore!
I touch a finger to the wet heat between my legs, confirming that I am indeed thrilled at the thought of Valentino putting his filthy, bloody, monstrous hands on me.
Truly, I am my father’s daughter.
The doorbell rings, causing me to jump in fright. I walk toward the door and peek through the eyehole. It’s Vance, one of Valentino’s goons. I open the door, and to my shock, he bows as if he is meeting royalty.
“Good morning, La Signora Barone. I’ll be your driver today.”
He’s just doing his job so there’s no need to be disrespectful towards him like I am towards his boss. I move my muscles into a polite smile. “Please, come inside. I’ll be ready in an hour.”
Vance shakes his head. “I’ll wait out here.”
“What? Why?”
He shakes his head again and takes a step backwards as if I am diseased or something. I eye him with astonishment before slamming the door shut. I’m trapped in a crazy world.
Once I’m ready I leave the suite and Vance respectfully walks me to the elevator, ushers me through the reception and into the back seat of a black Mercedes. All this without a word being exchanged.
“Where to, La Signora Barone?”
I hate Valentino, but there’s a certain ring to La Signora Barone that I don’t mind the sound of.
“The Basilique du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre.”
“Okay, ma’am.”
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted to go there. I have a feeling that if I pray in that Holy Church all my prayers will be answered. Before I go off to blow all of Valentino’s money, I have to commit myself to God’s hands first so Valentino will just have our marriage annulled and not kill me instead.