Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 48585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
It isn’t until I get up from bed in the morning, after Luc has already left to attend to more business that needs his attention, that I remember something I’ve kept at the back of my mind. I’m standing in front of the bathroom sink, washing my face and brushing my teeth, when it suddenly dawns on me. I don’t know why I’m remembering it now suddenly, but the memory of the old woman at the cathedral handing me the tampon to stuff down into the bodice of my wedding dress pops into my head. On the airplane, when Luc and I removed the dress, it must have simply fallen deeper inside the fabric, and I forgot it. I haven’t given it another thought since, until now, or I’ve purposely kept it at bay.
It's definitely been too long. My period has never been this late before, and now I’m actually thinking that the “rare” chance of me being pregnant might not be that far-fetched. I don’t want to alarm Luc without knowing for sure. He’s got enough on his mind right now with both running things while Vincent and Isla are still in Italy and waiting for the other shoe to drop with Leonardo. I just need to get a pregnancy test to know and take things from there. The only problem is that I can’t leave this hotel suite.
I remember what Luc told me, that if I needed anything at all while he was away, I could ask any of the hotel staff here for help. He said that they are all loyal and obedient to Vincent. Since Vincent has a reputation, I don’t doubt it. I’ll wait until the maid comes to clean and I’ll ask her for help—woman to woman. I usually avoid her while she cleans the suite, but I’m confident she will help.
It's late afternoon when she arrives.
“Hi,” I say with a polite smile as I walk out to greet her. She stops and stands in the kitchen, looking at me with dark brown eyes, and returns the greeting with a thick Italian accent.
“Hello, ma’am,” she smiles. “Is now a good time for me to come clean, or would you like me to come back later?”
“Now is fine. And please, you don’t need to call me ma’am,” I laugh. “It makes me feel old. My name is Valentina.”
The maid and I look to be around the same age. She might be a couple of years older than I am. Her crisply pressed gray uniform weighs down her petite, slender frame, and she wears her dark brown hair tied neatly back in a tight ponytail. She has a sort of natural beauty about her, the kind that could easily blend into the background if it weren’t for her expressive, observant dark eyes.
“And what’s your name?” I ask when she doesn’t immediately offer it up.
“Maria,” she nods. “Maria Russo.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Maria,” I smile before getting right to the point. “I’m wondering if I could ask a favor of you?”
Her expression remains respectful, but also cautious. I get the sense that her loyalty to Vincent runs deep, and that she isn’t one to seek trouble. I imagine that being a maid in this hotel means she sees and hears quite a lot. She’s smart to stay quiet and keep her head down. I would probably do the same if I were in her shoes. “What is it that you need?” she asks timidly. “I mostly clean and stick to the duties that my employers give me. I can’t do much else without Mr. Moretti’s permission, or that of his people.”
“I understand,” I nod as I reassure her that there’s nothing for her to be worried or anxious about with me. “It’s just that Luciano instructed me not to leave the hotel room, and there’s something I need from the drugstore.”
Her brow raises at that. Maria seems to notice everything, even the slight apprehension in my voice when I mention my request.
“The drugstore?”
“Yes, and if I can ask you, woman to woman, it needs to be discreet,” I explain. “Can I trust you to keep this between us, Maria? Please?”
Her reluctance is palpable, so I press her a bit more. I’m honestly not trying to manipulate her or apply pressure that seems to make her increasingly anxious. I just really need her help since I can’t leave this suite. So, I need to do what is necessary to attain her compliance.
“I promise you won’t get into any trouble for helping me, as long as you can stay silent about what I’m about to tell you. I feel you can understand what it might be like for me here, surrounded by men, with none of my family around, and needing another woman to confide in for help, can’t you?”