“You were near impossible to contact,” Natalia says, a hint of annoyance in her gaze. “So it’s safe to assume you didn’t want to see me, but I’d like to thank you for meeting with me nonetheless.”
I sigh and glance at my glass wall to find Valentina staring at her screen. I thought she’d be curious, but she doesn’t seem to be. Why?
“Thank you for coming here, Natalia. I’m sorry for breaking off our engagement so suddenly.”
She stares at me and shakes her head, a rueful smile on her lips. “To be honest, Luca. I’m glad you followed your heart. If we’d gotten married, we’d both have been trapped in a loveless marriage. I knew it from the moment I first saw you together, but I was stubborn, and if you hadn’t called things off, I’d have paid the price for it.”
I glance at Valentina again, fierce protectiveness rendering me immobile for a moment. “Our engagement was broken because I think we’re incompatible. In addition, we couldn’t come to an agreement about the terms of the merger,” I say carefully.
Natalia laughs and glances at Valentina. “Sure, that’s the official reason that was given, but we both know better. You have no idea how much trouble you’ve put me in, do you? My father thinks I’ve done something wrong, but I’d much rather have it that way. If he knew the truth, it would complicate matters, and my dad’s ego wouldn’t be able to take it.” She hands me a document and smiles. “If he knew you left me for someone else, he’d have felt offended on my behalf, and he wouldn’t have allowed me to offer you this.”
I stare at the documents in my hands, surprised. “You propose a partnership?”
She nods. “We need a good financial partner, and that hasn’t changed. If I’m not mistaken, oil still is something the Windsors want to get into. This way, we both get the best of both worlds. I will not be involved with this beyond today, so it shouldn’t cause any friction.” She glances at Valentina through the glass again and smiles. “Honestly, she’s terrifying, yet inspiring all at once. You couldn’t have found a better match. From the moment I learned of our engagement, I’d been comparing myself to her. Everyone knows she’s the one that’s always been by your side, and I knew I could never compare. I should’ve known better than to even try. I made a fool of myself in front of her, purely because she intimidated me.” She grins at me then. “Do you think she’ll forgive me if I ask?”
I glance back at my wife and nod. “Yes,” I murmur, knowing that this one single word is instantly an admission of guilt, too. “I think she will. If not for her, you wouldn’t be standing here at all.”
She nods, and I rise to my feet to walk her out. Valentina stands up, that irritating smile of hers on her face. I’d give the world to know what she’s thinking right now, but her expression doesn’t even reveal a hint.
“I’ll see you around, darling,” Natalia murmurs, a mischievous smile on her lips.
I shake my head, and she chuckles as she walks up to Valentina’s desk. I lean back in my doorway as I watch my wife.
“I apologize,” Natalia says. “The dinner reservation, the way I spoke to you every single time I’ve seen you. It was all unwarranted, and not an accurate reflection of who I am.” She glances at me then and smirks before looking back at Valentina. “It’s odd, because I genuinely admire you, and under different circumstances, I would’ve hoped we could be friends. Maybe someday, huh? In the meantime, I hope you two are happy together. I mean that.”
She smiles at both of us and walks out. I stare at my wife while she watches Natalia walk away, a frown on her face.
“She knows about us. Is that going to be a problem?”
I glance in the direction Natalia walked toward and shake my head. “No, baby,” I murmur. “I don’t think so.”
Perhaps Natalia isn’t quite as bad as I thought she was. I could never have made her happy, but I hope she finds someone who does. I was reluctant to meet with her, but ultimately, my wife was right, as she always is. Letting go of any remaining guilt I felt toward her felt good.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Valentina
I stare at my abuela’s house, mentally preparing myself to get out of the car. We decided to tell my family tonight, but I’m terrified my mother will see straight through us — or worse, that she’ll tell Luca about all the ways I’ve badmouthed him throughout the years. How do I explain bringing him home now?
“Valentina,” Luca says, breaking the silence between us. He’s been as quiet as I’ve been on the way here, both of us lost in thought. “Do you remember what you said at my grandmother’s house? You said that you quit because you couldn’t bear to see me with Natalia. Is that truly why you tried to leave me?”
I glance at him in surprise. I thought he’d been quiet because he was thinking about all the work that awaits us when we get home tonight, but it looks like I was mistaken. I run a hand through my hair and look out the window. No, If I’m truly honest with myself, I knew that’s not why he’s been behaving so oddly in the last couple of days, but I’d been in denial. He’s been different since he spoke to Natalia, but somehow, I was too scared to ask him what was on his mind. Part of me fears what his answer would be. I’m trying my hardest to escape the past, but my wounds often still feel fresh. I’m scared he’ll betray me, or thathe’ll realize I’m worthless, and he’ll abandon me. I’m scared to ask too many questions, in case I find out something I didn’t want to know. He turned me into a coward, and I hate it. I never wanted to care about him as much as I do.
“Yes,” I admit, heat rushing to my cheeks. We promised we’d communicate, but right now, I wish I’d never agreed to. “It’s true.”
“Then what about the other excuses you gave me?”
“Those are also true,” I tell him. “I do want to have a life of my own. For as long as I can remember, I’ve gone through the motions without truly living, and I’m worried I’ll one day look back at my life and find it empty. But… I’ve felt that way for years, and it was never enough to make me quit.”
Luca smiles then, his eyes twinkling. “Did you ever stop to think about why you acted on impulse when that is entirely out of character for you?”
It was all unwarranted, and not an accurate reflection of who I am.That’s what Natalia told me. Is that what made him rethink my behavior throughout that time? Has he been thinking about her all along? I know that it’s irrational, but I don’t want her to be on his mind at all, not even if it’s merely because something she said made him think ofme.
My heart starts to race, and I clear my throat as I glance back at my grandmother’s house. “Um, I think it’s best if we tell my family that we’re dating. If we tell them we got married so abruptly, they’d never believe it,” I tell him, changing the subject.
Luca chuckles and nods. He’s leaning back, one arm on the steering wheel. “It’s your family, Valentina. I’ll do whatever you want me to.”
I stare at him for a moment, surprised. “I never knew you could be this easygoing. For years, you gave me hell, when allalong you could’ve been this kind. I feel really wronged, you know?”