Bianca pressed her lips. “There is nothing I need to do. I guess, you should first clear with your girlfriend why she—”
Ryan’s mouth twisted. “Ex-girlfriend.”
Bianca waved. “Whatever. It seems you two still have some unsettled issues. I don’t want to be caught in the middle of it.”
With that she turned away and grabbed Jake’s arm with her free hand. She pulled him toward the exit.
The circle of people who had formed around them to listen to their fight, opened up to let Bianca and Jake pass. Bianca kept her gaze straight ahead to avoid eye-contact with anyone. But from the corner of her eyes, she saw Lilly send a pitying glance at her, and Angie and Scarlett whispered as she passed them.
Why did this Jenna need to come tonight of all nights? There was never a good time to learn the man you loved had betrayed your trust, but to have it happen in front of the city’s most important people, all gathered in one place, was probably the most humiliating option of all.
As they reached the large archway leading to the garden beside the town hall, Stefano stopped them.
“Bianca, I want you to know I’m truly sorry for what happened. If I didn’t need the money for Deborah so urgently, I’d immediately cancel my arrangement with Ryan.”
Bianca couldn’t bear to look at her boss, so she stared at the red handkerchief in his suit pocket. “It’s fine, Stefano. Don’t worry. You go ahead with the contract as you best see fit.”
Stefano rubbed his neck. “But will you stay with the restaurant? Can I factor you into our agreement?”
Bianca’s gorge rose. She really couldn’t think about what to do regarding The Sapphire or her own career. She needed some space to process everything that happened.
Luckily, Jake came to her aid. He put a hand to the small of her back, while he blinked at Stefano. “I think this isn’t the best moment, Ste. Let’s talk about this in a bit.”
He led Bianca to the back of the garden, where a wooden bench sat among various rose bushes. The soft fragrance wafted around Bianca as she slouched onto its hard surface. She sighed and a small tear rolled out of her left eye.
Jake sat down and rubbed her shoulder. “Come on, Bi’. You can stop pretending now. It’s just us. You did really well in there. But I’m surprised you didn’t let Stefano in on the game you’re playing. He would certainly appreciate your dedication.”
Game?
Did Jake think Bianca was pretending to be outraged? That she did all this in order to manipulate Ryan? She didn’t even know how to respond to Jake’s twisted reasoning, so she kept quiet and chewed on her lip.
Jake leaned closer and snaked one hand around her waist. “I must say I never suspected you were such a great actress. The innocent hurt girl kind of turned me on. Why didn’t you ever show me this side of you when we were together?”
His warm breath sent an uncomfortable prickle to Bianca’s skin, and she angled further away from Jake.
“You’re hot, Bianca. I never realized how hot you are. Maybe I needed to see the passion in that billionaire’s eyes when he looked at you to understand it.”
Jake launched forward and grabbed Bianca’s neck, hauling her to him. His grip was strong, and it caught Bianca by surprise. His lips were on hers before she realized what was happening.
A startled cry cut through the air and Jake recoiled.
Bianca panted and wiggled out of Jake’s touch. She snapped her head toward the direction the noise came from.
Ryan stood only two meters from them, his nostrils flaring. “So, I was the one lying, huh?”
Bianca’s cheeks flushed and she jumped up. “Ryan, it’s not what you think.”
Why was her voice so apologetic? Wasn’t she the one who should be angry? She didn’t do anything wrong.
Ryan lifted his left brow. “Isn’t it? It very much seems to me that the one with more things to hide is you.”
Jake rubbed his hands and straightened up, too. “I’m sorry, Mr. O’Connor. Bianca surprised me. I didn’t know she still had feelings for me. Maybe it was the appearance of your girlfriend that—”
Ryan growled and Jake stopped.
Bianca’s knuckles knotted. The bastard! How could Jake claim she was the one who started this? “I didn’t kiss you, Jake. You came at me.”
Jake put up his hands and inched away from her. “No, Mr. O’Connor, I didn’t. I knew you two were seeing each other and—”
Ryan took a step forward. His eyes were filled with scalding fury. “Stop it, both of you. I know you set me up, Bianca. I saw Jake at your place on Sunday night. I thought you were honest when you told him you weren’t scheming behind my back. But now I see that I was wrong to assume the best.”
His contempt shocked Bianca into silence. She needed a moment to decipher what Ryan was talking about. When it dawned on her what he was referring to, guilt flooded over her.
Why didn’t she just tell Ryan that night when Jake came over? The realization that she’d also lied to Ryan sent a pang of pain through her. And here she’d been accusing Ryan of betraying her trust. She wasn’t any better.
She raised her eyes so they met Ryan’s. “Yes, I lied to you. I’m sorry. But I wasn’t scheming. I just didn’t want you to think that I might.”
Ryan’s mouth twitched as if he didn’t believe a word she said. “Aha. I wonder if you both planned it together, or whether you’ve involved your boss, too.”
A sudden tiredness swamped Bianca’s body and her chest caved.
Was it even worth trying to convince Ryan of her innocence? If they had both lied to each other in the short time they had known one another, was it even worth trying to clear things up? What good would come from battling his suspicions? Even if he believed her at some point, could she forget that he’d misled her?
Bianca dropped her chin. “You know what, Ryan? Think what you want. I don’t care. I’m done. With you and with this whole town. You can decide to do whatever you want with the restaurant. I’ll hand in my resignation to Stefano tomorrow. I don’t need any of this. I think we’ve both shown each other we aren’t meant to continue this”—she pointed at her chest and then at Ryan’s—“whatever this is, between you and me.”
Ryan’s eyes widened but he didn’t answer.
Fine. His silence was a sign he agreed.
Jake gasped. “But, Bi’, if you—”
Bianca’s pulse slammed in her neck as she turned to Jake. Without realizing what she was doing, she slapped his face. “That’s what you deserve.”
With that, she stormed out of the garden, following the path to the parking lot. Only halfway there did she realize she’d left her shoes at the bench. The tiny rocks of the road cut into her feet, but she didn’t slow her pace. Ryan wasn’t going to follow her, but she didn’t want anyone else to approach her.
When she got to the cars and looked around, she remembered they’d come in Ryan’s Tesla.
Whatever, she’d walk home then. Getting a taxi tonight would be nearly impossible, and she’d left her purse in the coatroom, anyhow. Together with her house keys.
Darn it. She would need to wake Clara to let her into her own house. Still, it was better to collect her keys tomorrow when the guests were gone. When Ryan’ll be gone.
She rushed to the sidewalk leading in the direction of her house. The memory of how Ryan had leveled his cold gaze at her made her heart clench.
It was over.
Her hopes for a relationship with Ryan were destroyed, and so was her future here in Rocky Harbor. She couldn’t stand to stay after such a spectacle in front of the town’s finest. Plus, her job in The Sapphire was now impossible. She wouldn’t witness her creation become a chain.
What if Ryan had told the truth and the restaurant stayed a single-location?
She shrugged. It didn’t matter. She didn’t want anything to do with Ryan. The violent thumping in her ribcage told her this thought was only driven by her momentary rage. It would dissipate with the passing of time
, and she’d remain with the all-consuming feeling of a broken heart.
Bianca began to hum the melody of “I’ll Never Smile Again.” Was it a curse or a blessing that she always managed to retrieve a song that suited her present state of mind?
Bianca sighed and hugged her belly. Why did she have to fall in love with Ryan? Why?
She focused her attention on the small stabs of pain on her feet as her soles smashed against the uneven ground and sang the sad lyrics quietly.
Yes, this time around she’d really hit the bull’s eye. The ache ripping her soul apart wasn’t anything she had felt before.
But she would have to come out of it eventually. She had to. There wasn’t any other way. She had to tear Ryan’s memory from her heart even if it meant that it was going to stay incomplete forever.
Chapter 30
Ryan stopped in front of the restaurant, and his throat constricted. He looked at his left hand. His knuckles were still sore from punching Jake last night.
Why did he have to lose control as soon as Bianca left?
Jake’s insolent comments came back to him. No. He wasn’t sorry for what he did. The only question remaining was whether Jake had told him the truth after his nose started bleeding.
Could it be that Ryan had accused Bianca innocently?
His heart squeezed at the possibility, as he recalled the sorrowful glint in Bianca’s eyes at his words. Did his own guilt about Jenna fuel the passion behind his outrage at Bianca?
He opened the door and stepped out of his car. His eyes searched the parking lot.
No sign of the Mini Cooper.
He tapped with his hand on his forehead. What did he expect? Bianca had been clear that she wasn’t going to show up today.
He sighed, then shrugged. As Bianca had put it, they had both showed each other that they weren’t meant to be. He might love her, but she probably didn’t love him back the same way. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have said what she did, right?
He pressed a hand to his chest. Maybe it was for the best. His hammering beats vibrated in his fingertips. Why did his heart want to convince him of the contrary then?
He went inside The Sapphire.
Stefano sat at one of the tables, a bunch of documents spread out in front of him. Angie, the band’s singer, sat beside him.
Stefano stood as he noticed Ryan approach. “Ryan, I was afraid you might not show after what happened yesterday.”
Ryan forced an even tone. “Business is business, Signor Celli. It’s time we finalize this deal then move on with our lives. Don’t you agree?”
He was a well-reputed investor after all. He needed to reestablish this, despite the spectacle he’d given yesterday.
Angie snorted then clapped her hand to her mouth.
Stefano shot her a disapproving glance.
Ryan arched his brows. “Angie, you don’t agree, do you?”
Angie wrinkled her nose then blinked at Ryan. Her heavily painted eyelids made her gaze even more intense. “As a matter of fact, Mr. O’Connor, I don’t. How can you so easily move on with your life when you leave such destruction behind?”
“Angie!” Stefano cried out, but Ryan waved with his hand.
“No, Signor Celli, please let Angie elaborate. What kind of destruction are you referring to?”
Angie looked startled for a second, her eyes drifting from Ryan to Stefano and then back to Ryan. The she licked her lip. “I mean Bianca, of course. And this place.”
Stefano tapped his hand on the table. “That’s really not your business, Angie. I asked you to be present because I need an additional signature for the contract. But you shouldn’t—”
Ryan held up his hands. “No, Angie most certainly should. I’m curious to know what she thinks. It appears that my entire private life has become a public affair as of yesterday, so I don’t mind stomaching one more opinion.”
He forced his voice as flat as possible, but at the mention of Bianca’s name, his entire body began to shudder from the inside.
Did Angie speak to Bianca? Did she see her? How was Bianca doing?
Angie leaned in on her elbows and smacked her lips. “If you want my opinion, then here you go. You have the reputation of being a smart businessman, but based on my experience with men, you’re the greatest fool I’ve ever seen.”
Stefano gasped but Ryan silenced him before he could object. “Ah, really? What makes me such a fool?”
Angie pointed to her heart. “Because only fools don’t realize when they find something so precious as the honest love of an exceptional woman.”
Heat singed the back of Ryan’s neck. Love? Was Angie implying that Bianca loved him?
He cleared his throat. “Are you talking about Bianca?”
She nodded. “Of course I’m talking about her.”
Would he dare to ask the question? “How can you be so sure that she loves me? She only hung out with me because she wanted me to make a favorable decision about The Sapphire and—”
Angie shook her head. “Nonsense. Maybe she bought you in the auction with that thought in mind, but she has definitely fallen for you. I’ve been working with Bianca for over three years now. We’ve become friends. I’ve never seen her as happy as she was these past few days with you.”
Ryan’s breath hitched. “Not even with Jake?”
Angie pulled her mouth into a disdainful grimace. “Jake? No, way. He and Bianca only went out a couple of times before she realized he’s a jerk.”
Ryan inhaled. “So Bianca didn’t plan this with him?” His eyes moved to Stefano. “And with you?”
Stefano pressed a hand to his chin. “Me? Oh, Dio mio. Certamente, che no. I haven’t spoken with Bianca about what you might do with the restaurant since the morning of the auction. She said she had faith that you would choose the best option for us and for the town. That’s all.”
Ryan’s stomach became as hard as a stone and his vision clouded.
They both had corroborated the story Jake had told him last night. Ryan didn’t believe Jake, because he was a sleazy jackass. But Angie and Signor Celli?
He rubbed his neck as the truth settled in. Bianca had been honest with him. She only omitted Jake’s visit because she was afraid it might create a conflict in Ryan.
Just like he’d kept silent about Jenna. They both wanted to protect each other. Could it mean that Bianca loved him?
He peered up at Angie. “Are you sure of what you’re saying?”
Angie nodded. “I know a broken heart when I see one. And Bianca’s is in pieces.”
Ryan’s insides sprang to life as the realization spread through his limbs. His cells began to spin in a joyous dance, and his head turned giddy.
Bianca loved him. And he loved Bianca. But how was he going to prove his love to her so that she believed him?
He needed a grand gesture, something she wouldn’t expect of him.
His gaze fell to the documents in front of him on the table, and an idea formed.
He raised his eyes and bounced his glance between Angie and Stefano. “I want to make things right. For Bianca, but also for the restaurant. I have an idea, but I need your help. Will you agree to give me a hand?”
Stefano clapped. “Of course.”
Angie cocked her head to the side and stared at Ryan for a second. Then she nodded. “Fine. But your idea better be good. I want to see Bianca smile again.”
Chapter 31
Bianca steered her car towards the railway block with her left hand, while with the right she adjusted her phone’s volume.
“I’m not sure, Eleni. I think I’ll leave tomorrow afternoon. But I need to spend at least a few days at Dad’s before I can come visit you.”
Her sister-in-law’s warm voice echoed in Bianca’s car. “You come whenever you can, Bi’. We’ll be waiting for you. Little Gaia can’t wait to see her auntie.”
Bianca’s heart warmed at the thought of seeing her brother and his family again. Perhaps putting an ocean between her an
d Ryan would tame the stabbing pain she’d been carrying around.
“Yes, me too.”
“Are you sure quitting is the right decision? You know, when I left the Triquol, I thought that physical distance would help me feel better. It didn’t.” Eleni sounded concerned.
Bianca bit her lip. Eleni and her brother’s situation had been entirely different. In their case, there weren’t any pointless accusations and lies involved. Matteo had clearly loved Eleni and had moved Heaven and Earth to get her back.
Ryan’s icy glare filled Bianca’s mind, and her lip trembled. No, she had cried enough. She couldn’t worry Eleni any more than she already had.
So she sucked in a breath and answered, “I’m certain it’s the right choice to make. It’s not only because of Ryan. I don’t want to put up with a new owner. The Sapphire will never be the same now that Stefano has sold it.”
“In that case, the Amalfi Coast awaits you.” Eleni said. “We’ve been talking with Matteo for a while about adding a restaurant to the D&D. Many of our guests, after working out, ask us where they should go to eat something yummy and healthy. Maybe it’s time we invested in it. You could lead the project.”
Bianca’s heart leaped. She knew her brother and Eleni would have her back. When she called them on Sunday and poured her heart out, they didn’t judge her for a second. Even Matteo managed to keep his usual ‘I told you so’ under control.
“I’m so grateful for what you do for me,” Bianca said.
“You kidding? What’s family for?” Eleni chuckled then added, “Did you arrive yet? Who will be there tonight?”
Bianca shrugged. “I’m not sure. Angie said she would keep the gathering small. Only the staff and some close friends. Otherwise I would’ve never agreed for her to throw a good-bye party in The Sapphire. Apparently the new owner is taking over the venue on Thursday, so it’s the last night of the restaurant as I know it.”
“Well, then have fun. Are you there yet?”
“Not yet, but almost. I’m gonna hang up now. Call you from Dad’s.”
Gambling With The Billionaire (Gems 0f Love Book 2) Page 15