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“I was fighting with his mother at the time of your birth. I told him there was no way in the world I would name my precious only daughter after that devil of a woman. This was a sort of compromise. He swore he would call you Ana, but I started calling you Stasia instead and it stuck. He was completely enamored of you. You were his pride and joy, always.” Her mother smiled fondly.
Stasia filled with warmth at her mother’s words. She knew this was true. She’d followed her father everywhere growing up. Always wanting his approval, she’d strived to get his attention in any and every way. So why would he so ruthlessly reject her in death?
“Then what happened?”
“He met Hunter Worth somewhere, just before his diagnosis, and realized it was as if he was staring into your eyes, he told me. Out of the three Worth brothers, you look the most like him. Your father found it so odd, you see, that you looked so much like Hunter. And I had never confessed my affair to your father. I knew Giorgio had been with someone after I left him, something short and meaningless. I never confirmed or denied if I’d been with anyone, but he knew Michael and I had spent time together when I was in New York. I denied it at first, claimed it a silly coincidence.”
Stasia felt as if she’d been repeatedly punched in the stomach. Nausea threatened, her mouth went dry and her head spun. This was all…too much. Yes, she’d wanted to know everything, but it was still overwhelming to take in.
“He put it together. It’s easier when you have a lot of time on your hands, no? He was so sick with the cancer that had come out of nowhere. Sitting in those treatments, resting at home. His mind raced and he figured it out. When he came to me and asked if you weren’t his, I pretended I had no idea what he was talking about. He knew I was lying.” Her mother started to cry. “I only wanted to protect you. You were innocent in all of this. And now I’ve destroyed everything. Will you ever forgive me?”
“Oh, Mama.” She drew her frail mother into her arms and held her close, rocking her back and forth as their mutual tears flowed. “You didn’t know Father was going to do this.”
“I had my suspicions. But I couldn’t stop him. He was different these last few years, and it became worse when he grew sick. He was terribly paranoid, afraid everyone was out to get him, including me. Including you. And especially the Worths.”
“They didn’t know…”
“It didn’t matter. He still believed it.”
“Mama.” Her mother lifted her head so their gazes met, her eyes still flooded with unshed tears. “I wish you wouldn’t have hidden away like this. I wish you would’ve told me everything before the will reading. Before the funeral, even.”
“I didn’t know how.”
“You left me alone, M
ama. That hurts.” More than she’d ever know.
Claudia sniffled. “But I know you brought a young man with you. Renzo said you make a very beautiful couple and that he is very attentive of you. Tell me about him.”
Nerves made her stomach pitch and roil. God, she couldn’t lie to her mother, not after she just confessed everything. “I’ll tell you about him later. During dinner. You’ll join us for dinner, won’t you?”
“If…if you will have me.” She nodded and sniffled again, moving away from Stasia. “I know there is much damage I need to repair. And hopefully you will forgive me. Someday.”
Stasia didn’t know what to say. “I’ll see you later tonight,” she blurted, then fled the room, slamming the door behind her as she made her escape.
Her mind awhirl, she barricaded herself inside her room, not wishing to see anyone, not even Gavin.
Especially not Gavin. She wouldn’t know what to say. Needed to put her thoughts together first after the endless bombs her mother dropped upon her. It was so much to wrap her head around, she wasn’t sure if she’d be ready to tell Gavin all about it at lunchtime.
Or ever.
Chapter Nine
Stasia didn’t appear for lunch, which Gavin found odd considering she’d wanted to meet. He’d looked around for her, asked Renzo if he might know where she was, but he was just as clueless. So Gavin had been on his own, eating yet another amazing meal put together by the equally amazing Elena. His lunch was a Caprese Salad that had thick slices of mozzarella accompanied by juicy tomatoes from the garden, along with a tangy balsamic vinegar dressing and fresh basil. He’d become surprisingly full, when normally he thought of salads as meals were for sissies, but he could admit when he was wrong.
While eating, he’d made small talk with Renzo, trying his best to discover what he could about Claudia Renaldi. The older man had been close-lipped, which Gavin could grudgingly admire. At least he wasn’t blabbing and sharing every secret the family had. When he’d tried to find out information about Stasia, the old man turned the tables on him, starting to dig into the supposed relationship Gavin had with her.
He had no details to share, so he made up a few, then grumbled that he had things to do for work and bailed out of there as quick as possible, feeling like a complete coward.
After lunch he’d gone outside, enjoying the weather and the view while he made a few legitimate business calls. His new assistant reassured him everything was under control, pacifying Gavin somewhat. It still felt odd, leaving like he did, especially since he never left. The word vacation had simply never been a part of his vocabulary. He rarely made business trips either.
So to up and leave like he did was a major change. He knew everyone who worked with him was shocked. Hell, so was he.
More than anything, he was shocked by what he’d done last night with Stasia. The moment he saw her naked, he became a man possessed. He’d had to touch her, kiss her, have her. The memory of tasting her, of licking the very heart of her, and how she’d writhed and panted for him, had him breaking out into a sweat.
He’d gone and done the one thing he vowed never to do—mess around with a client. Not only did he do it, but he wanted to do it again. And nothing was going to stop him.
“Hi.”
