Page 153 of Valentino

A reply bounces straight in.

Okay, I’ll bring the car around now.

Meet you at the front doors.

I reply.

Thank you

X

“I’m heading off,” I tell Francesca.

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I’m just really tired. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I hug her, put my phone back into my purse and head to the foyer and over to the coatroom, “Hello, I need to collect my coat, please.”

“Ticket?”

“Here you go.” I hand it over and she goes in search of my coat.

“Anna,” Valentino calls from the top of the stairs.

I purposely ignore him.

“Anna,” he calls again as he comes down the stairs. “What are you doing?”

“I’m leaving.”

“I’m not ready to go yet.” He comes to stand beside me.

“You don’t need to come, I’m fine.” I cross my arms, annoyed, everything about him tonight triggers my anger in ways I didn’t even know existed.

“Well, I’m coming so….”

“Not necessary, Val.”

“Come on back upstairs, I’m not ready to go.” He takes my hand in his and tries to pull me back upstairs.

He’s really beginning to piss me off now or is it the fact that I secretly want him to want to come with me that’s so infuriating, am I angry at myself or with him? Honestly at this point nothing is making sense at all. I snatch my hand out of his grip.

“What is your problem?” he snaps.

“I told you, I’m tired and I want to go home.”

“Fine.” He glares at me. “I’ll come. Give me five minutes to go back upstairs and say goodbye to everyone.”

It’s obvious that he feels burdened to leave with me.

Act normal for fuck’s sake, Anna.

“Honestly, I’m serious.” I force a smile. “Go back upstairs and have fun.”

“I don’t know why you’re being so difficult,” he snaps.

Steam shoots from my ears, I don’t know why I’m being so difficult either and that’s what makes it so infuriating.

“Here’s your jacket, miss,” the concierge tells me as she hands it over.