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I was shocked when Luca requested Lorenzo to check in with them in the first place but secondly Lily took an interest in him because of it. He was attractive by definition but no good could come from having a relationship with someone like Lorenzo who was dedicated to his job and literally glued to Luca’s side. However, who was I to judge any type of functional relationship. I’d never seen one and the mess I’ve caught myself in is certainly far from any kind of sane connection. If you can even call it that.
“I’m so sorry I’m late!” Sienna bursts through the door, forcing the doorbell to jingle wildly. “I have news!”
Sienna’s explosive late entrances are expected and I’ve never seen her once arrive punctually. This time it seems different.
“What’s the news?” Lily asks evidently relieved all eyes and questions are off her. Although I want to warn Lily away from Lorenzo, I doubt they’d see each other again or when she does he will have moved on and so would she. They were worlds apart.
Sienna lifts her hand to her face with a big smile. On her left marital finger is a big fat stone. “I got engaged!” she squeals.
Lily immediately jumps up and starts screaming with Sienna in excitement.
Romi tries to hide her shock but still stands and says, “Guys it’s too early in the morning for that. This is exciting,” she says cautiously as she stands to hug her. I do the same, because in situations like this amongst women I suppose it is natural.
Romi continues. “I’m not taking away from the excitement. But you guys have only known each other for a few months. How do you know he’s the right one?”
I credit Romi for her level of tact. She asks it with a mix of excitement as if she’s wanting to be in on the secret, but I know she’s concerned.
“I don’t know. It just feels different with Michael. Like we clicked right away and we can’t keep our hands off each other. We’re just so in love and when he dropped to one knee, I literally just couldn’t imagine myself with anyone else. It just feels so right.”
Romi nods as if still trying to understand. Lily’s quick to cut through the tension.
“Wow. This is crazy,” Lily says excitedly. “It’s happened so quickly.”
Sienna’s too much on cloud nine to notice the obvious shift. “I know! Whatever you have in your calendars in two weeks’ time clear it because y’all are coming to my engagement party, bitches!” She offers us gold envelopes. When Romi opens it, she frowns.
“Girl, I want to go but that weekend I have an exhibition in Europe,” Romi protests.
“Oh fuck,” Sienna says. “Okay but you definitely have to come to the wedding. Don’t worry we’ll give a little more notice for that.”
The three of us look between one another, unsure what to say. It reminds me that for some women this is a huge moment. I almost begrudge that in the sense it’s never felt like a priority or option for me. Because I’ve only ever focused on my revenge. There was no room for my own personal desires or finding happiness in a companion. I’m no more inclined towards it now. It was just a reminder and dividing wedge this was all a lie. Even though I say I’m their friend, they don’t know the ugly version of me. If they knew how corrupt and twisted I am they’d never be able to tolerate standing in the same room as me.
I simply hold my coffee up in cheers. “Well, to Sienna and exciting times ahead!”
The other two raise their mugs and Sienna realizes she hasn’t yet ordered hers but pretends anyway with the saltshaker positioned in the middle of the table.
Although the engagement offers me some kind of relief. Luckily, focus and hype will be on Sienna and Michael’s engagement and will give me a cooling off period as if Luca Armani and I were never a thing in the media. I can’t help but notice the sinking sensation in my stomach.
This is all a lie. I remind myself, coming to the realization I am starting to fall for my own charade.
39
ARA
“Are you trying to get both of our hands cut off?” I ask Dmitri in his office. He’d sent me a text to meet him that morning. Meeting with him is risky, but I would’ve barged in myself either way after discovering he’d thrown me under the bus. I just need to establish to what extent.
He casually shrugs, immediately wincing with his now two broken ribs. Yet despite the beating his face took, the wonders of make-up and glasses hide the majority of it. Had I not witnessed it myself I might’ve not known he’d been in such a brutal fight.
“I never thought you were one to back down, Ara. Even to Luca?”
“That’s rich coming from you since you two apparently bonded so beautifully when you betrayed me. You look like shit by the way,” I say as I take a seat in the chair opposing him.
He gives me a half-cocked smile. “You look like you can’t sit either. I’m liking the brunette wig by the way.”
I curse his name under my breath because he’s right. Luca flogged my ass black and blue over the weekend. The girls had missed it over breakfast this week, but I’m not surprised he hadn’t. It’s early Tuesday morning and I’d since figured out a way to bypass the bodyguard Luca’s put on me. His man follows me everywhere as a way for Luca to keep tabs on me. I don’t blame his suspicion, but I need to shake it off.
Cleverly, I signed up to an all-women’s gym. Not only can he not walk in, but it gives me time to change into a different attire completely before slipping out the back. It gives me two-hours tops but has so far worked to my advantage. It wouldn’t be long until Luca will surely replace him with a woman.
When I don’t respond to his compliment he sighs heavily and jumps straight into it.
