Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“You’re not mad?”
“I figured you had your reasons. And now you’re here to make them right, aren’t you?”
“I’m going to try.” Tears hit me again. “Shit, I’m a mess.”
“Not at all. You’re a sight, that’s what you are.” He pats me lightly on the arm. “Go on, get yourself together and go face him. Stefano’s a hard man, but he’s fair and honest. Tell him the truth. He’ll respect you for it.”
“Thank you.” I dab at my face with a tissue. “And I’m sorry.”
“Apology accepted.” He grins crookedly and salutes. “Luck to you, Mrs. Bianchi.” Then he stalks off and leaves me alone.
Nerves tingle down my spine. I face Stefano’s door and consider running away. Maybe I can give him more time to settle down.
But Emily’s right. If I let him stew, it’ll only get worse. He’ll conjure the most terrible explanations in his head. I need to face this straight on.
Maybe he really will respect it.
Or maybe he won’t, but at least I’ll be able to look myself in the mirror.
I knock lightly. When I hear his light grunt, which I assume is Stefano-speak for enter, I turn the knob and step inside.
He’s sitting at his desk. His eyes are red-rimmed and his clothes are rumpled. He looks exhausted. When he stares up at me, his expression doesn’t change. He remains hard and impassive like there are a thousand miles between us.
I close the door and face him.
“My grandfather said he’d grant me a divorce and let me become the family’s heir again if I spied on you.”
Stefano sits back, surprise softening his eyes. “Did he?”
“Before I even knew you. That was the deal. He wants to know everything about your family’s shipping network. I have a feeling he wants to take it over, or at least he wants to start his own competing routes.”
“Did he now…” Stefano tilts his head thoughtfully.
“I didn’t do it.” I take a deep breath, willing myself to stay calm. Don’t start crying. I won’t manipulate him into pitying me, although I’m not sure some tears would move a man like him. “I wanted to. But I hated myself. And I like you, Stefano. I started to like our life together, and I thought… maybe… I could find out what it’s like to be your wife.”
He stares at me. His lips press together. God, he’s handsome. Even when he hates me, he’s still attractive. His eyes move down to my body, over my dress, along my curves.
“You look good.”
“Thank Emily for that.”
“I will.” He slowly shakes his head. “But you took the keycard.”
“I know. It was a mistake.” I step closer to the desk, desperately clutching at my dress, feeling like an idiot but laying it all bare for him. “I stumbled into an opportunity when Giorgio was giving me that tour, and I took it. But the second I got home, I regretted everything. I was going into the office last night to use your shredder. I was going to get rid of the stupid card and never think about it again.”
His expression hardens. There’s an edge of confusion to him. “But someone used that card to break into the depot.”
“They did what?” I look around in surprise. “That can’t be right. I didn’t turn it over, I swear.”
He lets out a long sigh. Then he starts talking. He tells me about the GPS modules on the trucks, about the two different break-ins at the depot, how the second one used Giorgio’s credentials. A cold creep fills my stomach as he finishes.
“You see why I reacted the way I did last night.”
“It looks like I was the one behind it all.” I nearly choke on the words and quickly shake my head. “Stefano, I had nothing to do with any of that. I swear on my life. That man last night, I’ve never seen him before. He tried to kill me.”
“Yes, he did. Which is why I’m inclined to believe you. But still. You took the card, and someone used it to get in.”
“Are you sure? You said they had his credentials. Whoever’s been breaking in here is really good at tech stuff. Couldn’t they have made a fake?”
He considers that for a long moment. I can tell he doesn’t like the idea, but he grudgingly nods. “I think it’s possible.”
“What can I do to prove my innocence?” I move toward him. I want to touch him. I want to kiss him and tug at his hair and beg him to touch me back. Instead, I control myself, aching with how much I hate all the stupid mistakes I’ve made. “I need you to trust me again.”
“Did you tell your grandfather anything about my operation?”
I quickly shake my head. “No, not a word.” I take out my phone and unlock it. “Go ahead, look through my messages.”