I step into my suite and take a deep breath. The beautiful room I’m renting is my safe haven for now. The man affected me. He shouldn’t. We can’t embark on this stupid plan of his, but I can’t lose that building.
When my phone rings, my heart jolts in my chest. One glance at the screen tells me it’s the one person I was hoping would leave me be. Marco Gianetti. He is my father’s lifelong friend, and the reason Dad followed me to New York. Marco has known me since I was a child, always visiting us when he was in Italy.
“Ciao,” I answer, knowing that if I don’t, he’ll follow me to the West Coast, and that’s the last thing I need right now.
“Ciao, Bella.” His response is light, almost too uncaring, because I know this man, and that’s not how he normally speaks to me. “Come stai?”
“I’m fine, Marco. What do you want?”
His dark chuckle is my response. It causes me to shudder in fear. “Is that any way to speak to the man who helped you escape?” His voice is thick with indignation. He knows he’s right, and I can’t argue with that. He did help me. Only because I had no other choice. The life I was stuck in was one that would never have let me escape without Marco’s help.
“I’m tired. You know I didn’t mean to be so abrasive.”
“Si, I know this, Bella. Now tell me, when are you paying me the money that you owe me?” The words jar me. I thought I had more time. That’s why I wanted to purchase the building, open the restaurant, and make a profit before I had to let go of the money I had saved. Granted, there is a lot, but with what I owe Marco and what the building costs, I’ll never be able to get the restaurant up and running with whatever’s left.
“I need more time, please?” Shutting my eyes, I pray. I beg and plead with the gods above to help me here. To offer me some mercy, but deep down, I know I’m fucked. When Marco Gianetti wants his money, he goes to extremes to get it back.
“Time, Bella, is not something I know very well.”
Nodding, I sigh into the receiver. “I know. I promise you I’ll get it back to you. I just need another couple of months. Once the building is restored and I can open, there’ll be more profit than you can count.”
“Profit? If you’re lying to me—”
“I’m not. Marco. You’ve known me almost all my life. Have I ever lied to you?” I’m not beyond begging. This is life or death—mine.
He’s silent for a long while, and I wonder if he’s going to refuse. I’ve never been so scared. Fear skyrockets through me, sizzling in my veins as I wait for him to say something. Anything. When I finally slump into the small chair at my kitchen table, he responds.
“Fine. Tre mesi . . .” Three months.
“Thank you! You will not be sorry. I promise you, Marco,” I tell him as relief is evident in my voice. I know I can do this. All I need to do now is prove to Rome he has to sell me that building. There’s no way I can fail.
Marco hangs up before I have time to thank him once more. It’s my own fault for getting into business with a man like him, but I had no other choice. If it weren’t for him, I’d be dead right now.
Glancing at the time, I realize I have hours to go before I have to get ready for my dinner with Rome, but I’m not sure what to wear since this is business. I don’t want him to think this is more than I agreed to. It’s purely professional, and I’m not accustomed to the correct attire. I head into the bedroom with my mind whirling with possibilities.
As much as I find Rome Donovan handsome, alluring, and sexy, I know I’m in no position to even think of this as a date. It’s a professional arrangement. My contingency against losing both my business and my life.
Chapter 6
Elisabet
I’m staring up at the sign that reads Seduction. A restaurant I never thought I’d see because I was convinced I couldn’t make it here without my past following me. But I needed to come here and talk to Mia. I haven’t kept up to date with what she was doing, but after the show she and Camden did, I knew I needed to come to make things right. I needed to talk to the girl who offered me friendship when I needed it most.
When I step through the doors, I’m blown away by just how beautiful it is. The layout, lighting, everything down to the servers make me smile. My heart is full, knowing she did it. We studied together at college before I left without a word. I didn’t even say goodbye.