The crowd erupted into a deafening roar of excitement and applause. There were awws and ohhhs.
Fabio savored the attention, flashing his grin conspiratorially at them as they offered their congratulations to him.
I just stood there frozen to the spot like a statue. I was filled with the horror that there was absolutely nothing I could do to stop this. Like being tied to train tracks and watching an oncoming train. I just didn’t know what I could do to stop it. When I turned my face to my mother, I saw the delight she exuded. I looked at my father and he was beaming with happiness.
Fabio pulled the ring out of the box.
A strange thing happened then.
I felt as though I had abandoned my body and was hovering in the air, watching the scene unfold.
He grabbed my unresisting hand and slipped the diamond onto my finger.
No one seemed to even notice that I hadn’t said yes.
The ring felt like a band of fire. It burned my finger. I wanted to take it off and fling it away from me, but I couldn’t.
Fabio rose to his feet and pulled me into an embrace. With his hand stroking my back, he turned to face the cheering audience. They were all so pleased for us.
I turned my gaze then and began to search for him, my gaze running across the room in desperation. It felt like I would crumble but something made me believe that if I saw him, even if it was just for a second, then I would feel better—everything would be okay.
But he was nowhere to be found. I felt so alone I wanted to cry. My eyes filled with tears. Through the haze of tears, I saw him. He stood at one of the side entrances. I had to blink several times to focus my eyes.
I whimpered as my gaze locked on him. I moved to take a step away from Fabio.
Angelo shook his head at me.
I froze. I didn’t need any special interpretation to understand what he was saying.
Fabio linked his fingers with mine and turned me towards him. “You’ve made me the happiest man on earth today,” he shouted loudly.
And you’ve made me the saddest woman on earth today.
Chapter 44
Sienna
“What the hell was that all about?” Somehow, my mouth stretched into a smile, I had managed to pull Fabio out of the hall with me into one of the tasting rooms, and now we stood facing each other. I was panting with anger.
He looked at me innocently. “That was a proposal that you have agreed to since you’re wearing my ring on your third finger, dearest fiancée.”
“I don't care about you,” I said, trying to understand him. “And you are aware of that. So why would you do this?”
“Sienna,” he said. “What do you think this is? Do you think that our parents paired us together because they give a fuck about how we feel about each other? When the hell are you going to grow up? Use your damn brain and open your eyes.”
I straightened. “Fabio, I’m already grown, which is why I’m not going to marry you. I’d rather die.” I grabbed at the ring on my finger and pulled it off.
“Oh, you will,” he said. “The moment your father does.” He moved towards me until there wasn’t even an inch of space left between us. “All the vultures that have been circling him for the last thirty years are going to swarm in, and if you are lucky your bodyguard will keep you alive, but it is no longer like the old days. Women and children were out of bounds. Everyone you love will be killed … one by one … brutally to teach you a lesson … and it will all be on your head. Suicide will come quite naturally to you then. It will be as sweet as fuck.” He stepped back to turn and walk away.
“I’m in love with someone else,” I said. “Will you be all right with it then, if I continue to see him even after we’re married?”
He stopped, and turned to face me, an amused smile across his face. “And who is it?”
Fear gripped my heart. “It’s someone back in England. We met during my time there.”
“What a little liar you are. It’s that thick as two planks bodyguard of yours, isn’t it?”
I lifted my head. “It’s none of your business who it is.”
He shrugged. “To be honest, you can continue to see whoever the hell you want as long as you’re discreet about it. In fact, I’ll get you an apartment nearby where you can go to get your kicks.”
I stared at him. “You really don’t care, do you?”
“I have my own needs that you cannot meet. You remember Frederick? He answered the door when you came over? Well, he’s one of several men that I enjoy.”