Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
But more than anything, I hope that by the end of the night, I can convince Liliana to see her true worth too. Her worth as a sexy and strong woman who has every right to be at my side.
Because this bond between us?
It’s not ever going to fade.
Not when watching her in my home, in my life, makes my heart beat faster with that elusive thing called love.
23
LILIANA
I’ve never been the kind of girl to imagine myself in some potential Cinderella scenario, but as I gather the skirts of this silver dress and climb into the backseat an hour and a half after Anton showed up at the bakery, I can’t help feeling like I’ve fallen into an alternate universe.
He’s whisked me away from work, literally, and somehow arranged for me to come as his date to New York City’s biggest night of fundraising. It’s not a party. It’s not a grand dinner. This is the night that everyone in the upper one percent of elitist society talks about. Celebrities will be here. Reporters will mill around hoping for an exclusive. And billions of dollars will be spent.
In just this one night.
Anton leans down to face me. “I’ll be just a minute.” He doesn’t wait for my reply. As I adjust my dress and settle against the cushion, he straightens and closes the door to speak to Viktor outside.
I heave out a nervous breath and slide my phone out of my coat pocket.
This man didn’t just get me a dress and shoes, he had Viktor find a matching coat, too.
I shake my head at the extravagance and check my phone. My parents are clueless about this, still away at the rehab place, but I like that Jenni knows where I am. Just like a woman should always tell her girlfriends when she’s out on a date, I’m relieved that someone who knows me knows where I am.
I see several missed texts from her.
I’m sorry.
I didn’t mean to push you into anything you didn’t want to do.
Please don’t hate me.
I know you don’t want to see him yet or face him.
But you need to.
I sigh, hating that she’s right. According to my checkup, I’m already over two months along. I’m nearly at the end of the first trimester, and sooner than later, I’ll start showing. In the back of my mind, I know that the longer I hide this from Anton, the more likely he’ll be upset with me for the secrecy.
It’s probably just better to get it over with. Tell him and not have that burden weighing me down.
I know. And you’re right, I respond.
So you’re going?
She must have been staring at her phone, waiting for me to reply, since she texted that back so fast.
Don’t you need to come home and get ready then? I have a dress you can borrow.
I smile, wondering if I’m a hypocrite for loving this gown I’m wearing.
Anton is the kind of man who plans ahead, apparently.
I take a selfie of the dress and send it.
OMG!!!!
That is gorgeous.
I bet I could sell it for a decent price too. After.
Ha.
I furrow my brow.
The way that man looks at you, I doubt he’ll let you.
I scowl, not liking her insinuation.
He looks at me like a man who lusts for a woman. That’s it. He’s not some Prince Charming who’s going to change my life.
I bite my lip. He already has changed my life. He’s made me a mother. And that’s not a bad thing. Bad timing, perhaps, but not a curse.
He looks at you like a man who realizes what love means.
I shake my head.
As much as I might wish that’s true, and that’s probably just the hormones talking, it’s not reality. He’s twice my age. He’s Roman’s father! And he’s an influential, wealthy man who won’t settle for someone like me.
Three dots appear to indicate she’s replying, but Anton gets in, and I slide my phone back into my pocket.
“Ready?” he asks once he’s next to me, his arm draped comfortably over my shoulders like it’s a pose we’ve practiced a hundred times until it felt natural.
“No.” There’s no point in lying about it.
“Why not?”
I blow out a big breath. “I’m wearing something worth more than I’d make in a year. I’m going to look like an amateur without my hair professionally styled. And I’m dreading how awkwardly I’ll stand out as someone you’d never be expected to bring to a thing like this.”
He smiles before leaning in to kiss me. It’s a tender one, but possessive nonetheless.
“You’ll be with me, and that’s all that matters.”
Somehow, his words seep into my soul and it clicks. He’s not bluffing. Just by having me with him, he gives me some of his confidence.
Yet it’s not that simple. “It’s not just that this is so far out of my comfort zone. It’s that I’m going to something with you.” I clear my throat.