by Katie Dowe
*******
“You are a natural my dear,” Bernardo said with a pleased smile as he looked over at Monique. It had been a week since she had started at Romano’s and she was getting the hang of it. She and Michael as well as the others got along fine and they had stopped treating her like the boss’ wife.
“Thank you Bernardo,” she cast a swift look at her husband who was sipping his wine and looking at her with an aloof expression on his darkly handsome face.
“I understand that the advertising campaign is going very well. I am not used to seeing our brand in the department stores.” Adele said with a small smile as she looked at her daughter in law.
“I remember when Camille and I went to the mall one time and we wanted to buy one of the sweaters with the brand and we baulked at the price.” Monique said with a tinkling laugh. “Now normal everyday people can get the brand without having to empty their pockets.”
“And I like that you used that term in the marketing slogan,” Bernardo said approvingly as he glanced at his silent son. “What do you think Lorenzo?”
“We are still yet to see the results,” he said with a sardonic twist to his lips. “We have started off with apparels and lingerie and those seem to be holding their own. We have introduced household things like bedspreads, pillows and all that. Michael and the team have been talking about paints and of course jewelry. We have to walk before we can run.”
“I don’t agree,” Monique interjected causing him to look at her. “Romano has been around for decades and it is a brand that speaks of quality. You wear a Romano or put a Romano spread on your bed or even hang the curtains at the windows and you know people are going to be aware that it is Romano. The brand speaks of quality and people already know that. The regular housewife out here or the woman just starting out to decorate her first apartment wants something fancy and within their price range.”
There was silence around the table as they looked at her. She had been trying to find her ground and now she realized that she had found it. There were still moments of intimidation when she realized that she was actually married to Lorenzo Romano, the man that the papers said was one of the hottest men in the clothing industry but she was determined not to make it overwhelm her!
“You make a good argument.” He told her slowly as he looked at her reflectively.
“I am more than just a school teacher.”
*****
“What do you think?” Lorenzo asked her as he stood a little behind her. He had called her into his office to look at some denims they were planning to put out for the spring. Monique had never dreamed that high fashion could take so much work! As soon as one season was finished then there was the getting ready for another one. They were in the middle of putting together the campaign for the spring and they were extremely busy. Monique picked up one and examined it closely. “I like the fabric and the cut.”
“We are mainly targeting teens and young adults.” He murmured. Ever since she had spoken about the brand at the dinner table two weeks ago, he had started talking more and more to her about work. She still wanted him to share intimate conversations with her and tell her what he felt but she was prepared to wait.
“Good,” she nodded as she put the jeans back. “We have dinner plans with the Rivers later,” she reminded him.
“I am flying off to Italy later today.” He said in a cool offhanded manner. “Meetings there as well as trying to revive the brand over there.”
Monique stared at him in shock. “When were you going to tell me?”
“I am telling you now,” he saw the expression on her face and sighed. “Look, I am not used to telling another person my every move, and besides my secretary was supposed to send you a list of my activities. I am going with Dad.”
“She did not or maybe she did and I did not check my emails,” she told him bitterly. “We sleep in the same bed and even when I am menstruating we have sex. There is nothing more intimate than that! The fact that you do not think enough of me to tell me that you are leaving the country makes me wonder what the hell I am to you!”
“You are overreacting,” he told her tightly, refusing to feel guilty about not telling her. “I will be back by Friday, that’s three days away.”
“Go to hell!” she whispered and without another word she turned and left him standing there.
Swearing beneath his breath he pressed the intercom. “Did you send a copy of my activities to my wife?”
“I did from the beginning of the week. You only decided that you were going to Italy yesterday and I did not get to make the changes.” The secretary told him.
“Right,”
“Lorenzo?” the woman prodded when he did not say anything else.
“That’s all.” He responded.
He had made love to her last night, his heart thudding inside his chest, and his body on fire for her but he still found it hard to share everything with her!
Chapter 8
Monique made an excuse and ate up in their suite. She had deliberately made herself unavailable when he was leaving to go so she did not see him leave. She was sure it was hurting her more than him. He did not give a damn! She toyed with her fettuccine as the depression hit her. She missed him! Even though he would come in at odd hours, not coming home to catch dinner but as soon as he came he would pull her into his arms when they reached the bedroom. He was able to ignore her all the other times but not when they were alone together. She had wondered if he was taking some other woman with him but knew he would not do so, not while his father was along for the ride. She closed her eyes briefly as she remembered how they had met and wondered if he was going to be doing the same thing with someone he meets in a restaurant. They had exchanged rings but he had not been wearing his for the past two weeks. She was determined not to ask him why, she had her pride.
She looked up at the knock on the door and called out to the person to come in. It was her mother-in-law and she had gotten ready for bed wearing a pale blue silk nightgown and matching robe. “I come bearing something to calm your nerves.”
“I had no idea my nerves needed calming,” she said forcing a smile.
“If you have to deal with my son, then you certainly need something more than what you are having.” She placed a bottle of Italian red on the table and two glasses. “I am betting he has not called.”
Monique shook her head. “I don’t care.”
“Of course you do,” Adele said mildly, her dark eyes taking in the girl’s sad expression. She poured the wine and passed a glass to her. “You care very much and I can see that. It’s a wonder my son cannot.”
Monique stared at her for a moment and then sipped the delicious red wine. “Maybe he is not interested.”
“You know better than that.” Adele crossed elegant legs and leaned back against the sofa where she had taken her seat. “I have seen you two together and I know that there is something there. Lorenzo has a way of bottling things up inside and he does not know what to make of you.”
“That makes two of us,” she said dryly feeling slightly buzzed as she continued to sip the wine. “He told me he is not used to accounting for his whereabouts, but then neither am I but I am learning to compromise.”
“Let me give you some advice.” Adele leaned closer to her. “Ignore him and pretend that you are not hurting like crazy and he will come around.”
“I would not be pretending,” she said grimly.
Adele laughed in delight and eyed the girl in admiration. It was approaching midnight before she left to go over to her own suite.
*****
“She is so beautiful,” Monique murmured as she stared down at her niece. She had rushed from the office and come to the hospital to see her niece who had been born this afternoon. Lorenzo was due back tomorrow and she had not been doing well sleeping without him. He had called her finally and talked to her about the development there but he had not apologized. “How are you?” he had asked her softly after a lull in the c
onversation.
“I am okay,” she had told him coolly. She had been in bed when the video call had come in.
“I miss making love to you,” he murmured.
“I will see you when you get here,” she said ready to hang up from him.
“Do you miss me?”
“Stop playing games Lorenzo!” she snapped. “I need to get to sleep. I have an early morning.”
“I am as hard as a rock so this is no game.”
Monique closed her eyes briefly and fought the desire. “Goodbye, Lorenzo.”
“Don’t hang up,” he urged. “Touch your nipples for me.”
“No,” she said weakly.
“Please.”
She had done it and had spent the night tormented without him being there!
“Isn’t she?” Marcus said proudly as he sat next to his sister and stared at his daughter. The baby looked like a little kewpie doll with her tuft of dark blonde hair and rosy skin. She had dark brown eyes like her daddy and was so adorable that Monique had a hard time letting go of her. She had seen a reporter or two hanging out the hospital and had hurried inside before they could rush her.
“You are a dad,” Monique looked at her brother in wonder. She had been in to see April but the girl was now sleeping after experiencing twelve hours of labor. Her brothers and her parents had left a short while ago.
“A scared one,” he admitted seriously. “Now it’s your turn.”
Monique shrugged and did not answer but looked down at her niece who was drifting off to sleep.
“Is the Italian dude not treating you right?” Marcus asked her as he took his daughter from her and went to put her into her cot before coming back to sit next to her.
“He has a name.” she reminded him.
“How could I forget?” Marcus asked her dryly. “I cannot turn on the television or pick up a newspaper without seeing the name Romano. Girl, I know you are a fine piece of woman and all that, but Romano seems to be a bit rich for our blood.”
“Says the man who married a rich woman.”
“What April and her people own is peanuts compared to the vast holdings of the Romano’s,” Marcus reminded her. “I read up on them just recently and learnt that they rub shoulders with presidents and kings, not to mention celebrities.”
“Are you trying to cheer me up?”
“Do you need cheering up?” he asked her sharply.
“Stop worrying about me, you have a family to look out for.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “I am going to be a super aunt.”
“You are next.” He told her.
“I would like to think so.” She told him quietly before she left. She pulled the dark cashmere coat around her tightly as she left the hospital. She knew it was early days yet but she had thought she would have been pregnant by now. She slid into the driver’s seat of the BMW convertible and sat there for a moment staring out into the darkened night. She was so far away that she did not hear the rustling beside the car nor noticed the two men quietly opening the doors until she felt the cold object against her neck.
“Mrs. Romano, we do not want to hurt you so as long as you cooperate.” The polite voice said to her.
Monique went cold at the sound of the voice and the words. ‘What do you want?” she asked forcing herself not to show any fear. “The secret to Romano’s success,” the other man said with a chilling laugh that trembled up her spine. “But for now, we will settle for a little bit of information.”
“What kind of information?”
“How soon is the new line of denims coming out and how many outlets will they be placed in?’
Monique stiffened in disbelief. “You want me to tell you the company’s secret? For what?”
“To save your life.”
The statement was issued in a deadly tone and she had a feeling that he meant it. “I don’t know when they are coming out exactly.”
He jammed the barrel into her neck causing her to wince. “Come now Mrs. Romano, we happen to know that you are now working in the advertising department. Surely you are privy to such information.”
Monique thought swiftly. Maybe if she screamed someone would come to her aid. The parking lot was a little empty at that time of the night and there was no sign of a security guard anywhere around. She was in a bind! “If you kill me, you will never get the information and you will be in a shit ton of problems.”
“There are other ways of extracting information,” his voice had chilled suddenly. Monique had her pocketbook in front of her and she very carefully inched her fingers into it searching for the pepper spray she had started walking with from the other day. She had told Lorenzo she refused to have a guard following her around and he had warned her that she could be a target. Her fingers clasped the bottle and closed around it pulling it out carefully. She waited for the right moment and as soon as a car started up and she saw the distraction from her mirror she turned swiftly and sprayed it into his eyes opening the door swiftly while screaming at the top of her lungs as she ran as fast as she could towards the hospital. A shot rang out and Monique felt the tearing pain in her left arm before she fell to the ground unconscious!
******
Marcus looked up as he heard the confusion at the lobby. He had just gone to get a cup of coffee and was on his way back to look in on his wife when he saw them wheeling her in. The coffee fell from his lifeless fingers as he saw who it was and for a moment he stood rooted to the spot. “Hey, that’s my sister!” he shouted as he ran towards them.
“What happened?” he asked the doctors as they hurried her into the emergency room. “She is bleeding. Was she shot?”
“Please sir, we need to take her in now. We will let you know what is happening.”
Marcus let go of the rail as they pushed her in. There was a lot of blood. What the hell was going on and why had someone shot her?
He reached for his phone and dialed his father-in-law’s number and told him of the situation. “Please try and call her mother-in-law and let her know. I don’t have a number for them. Her husband is in Italy.”
He quickly went to check on his wife and daughter before coming back out to see several detectives on the scene. What a difference a name makes! He thought cynically as they hurried over to him.
*****
“Mother, what is it?” Lorenzo tried to get the sleep out of his eyes as he came awake. He had gone to bed late because of a press party and he had drunk a little too much of the expensive wine they had served. He wanted to go home, to her and it was the first time he had ever missed a woman the way he missed her. “How soon can you come home?”
“Monique,” he felt fear grip him immediately.
“She has been shot cara. She is going to be okay, it was a surface wound but she lost a lot of blood.”
“I am going to wake Dad.”
*****
He sat there staring at her for a moment, his hands clenched into fists. The plane ride from Italy had seemed interminably long, and even though his father had tried to set his mind at ease it had not worked. A car had been waiting for them at the airstrip and he had prayed that the news had not gotten out yet for the parasites to be lying in wait to jump out at them. But they had been waiting at the hospital and as soon as he had alighted from the vehicle with his father behind him they had started running after them and throwing questions. Lorenzo had not broken his stride as he hurried inside the hospital. He had spoken to her brother briefly and then went in to see her. There was a bandage wrapped around her arm and she was still unconscious. His mother and father were talking to the police but he just wanted to sit with her.
“I am sorry Mr. Lorenzo, but she lost the baby.”
“She had been pregnant?” he had looked at the doctor incredulously.
“Early stages. I doubt even your wife knew she was pregnant. I am sorry.” Lorenzo had nodded and had gone into the room to sit with her. She had been pregnant with his child and someone had caused her to lose it! He was go
ing to get to the bottom of it and whoever it was would pay dearly!
*****
“She is still not awake?” Bernardo followed his son as he paced the length of the private sitting room at the hospital. Adele had gone home to get some rest and would be coming back later in the day. Lorenzo realized that he had not gotten much sleep but he was too wired to even take a nap.
“She lost a lot of blood and losing the baby–” his voice trailed off and he dropped down on one of the chairs available. “Have you found out anything yet?” her car had been discovered in the parking lot with the back doors opened and her door as well.
“I am waiting until she wakes up to find out what happened before we can set our PI on it.” Bernardo could feel the anger coming off in waves as his son straightened up. “We are going to find out who did this son.”
“And when we do…” he left the sentence unfinished but his father knew what he meant!
*****
“Lorenzo? Marcus?” her voice sounded weak and hoarse as she had not used it in a while. Both men sprang to attention at the sound of her and hurried over to her bedside.
“You are awake,” Marcus touched her cheek lightly. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I have been hit in the arm by a truck,” her eyes drifted to her husband as he stood looking down at her. “You were not due back until tomorrow.”
“It is tomorrow,” his eyes roamed her face and then her arm. “You were shot.”
There was a look of naked emotion on his face that caused Marcus to step back. “I will talk to you later,” he told his sister and went from the room leaving them alone.
He pulled up a chair and sat next to the bed. “What happened?”
“I was silly,” she tried to shrug and winced as she felt the pinch. “I went inside the car and forgot to lock the door.” She looked at him and then shielded her eyes with her lashes. “I was thinking.”
“About us,” he supplied and she looked up at him. He had not shaved and there was a shadow on his jaw. His hair was tousled as if he had been combing his fingers through them and his eyes were red as if he had not slept in a while.