Her Venice Affair (The Albury Affairs)

by OW, Christina

  Riana had a mind to reach over the table and slap her. That slut wasn’t going to take any kind of care of Allan. But judging by the confident look on her face she actually believed she had a chance with Allan.

  The whore!

  Allan nodded. “Ah, so that’s what you do. Thanks but no thanks, my girlfriend takes exceptionally good care of me.”

  Riana had to bite her lips shut to keep from laughing at Antonia’s red face. If her flushed pink cheeks and wide eyes were anything to go by, she hadn’t banked on being turned down.

  Antonia leaned back in her chair, pulling her shirt to cover her cleavage. Riana felt sorry for Mr. Torino. He looked more ashamed than Antonia did.

  Doing Antonia a favor she certainly didn’t deserve, Riana quickly said, “But we will accept your invitation to stay at Casa Italiano. I loved the one in Rome, the décor was wonderful.”

  A gentle and loving look took over Mr. Torino’s face. “My wife, Mariana, designed the décor. She loved art, it was her passion.” He chuckled. “I used that to make her fall in love with me. Those thirty years I spent married to her were the best in my life.”

  Riana could feel her heart break for him. It was clear to see how much he loved her. “I would like to see more of her work if you don’t mind? I love art as well and I’m in love with her work.”

  He blinked several times, seemingly fighting back the tears. It took everything in Riana to stay put and not go over to him and hug him, and even more to keep from crying. She had always been sensitive, the type to fight crying at the drop of a pin but these damn hormones made her feel like an exposed nerve!

  “On one condition.”

  Riana felt Allan’s arm flex against hers. Oh no!

  “What would that be, Mr. Torino?” Allan asked, guardedly.

  “You keep the décor as it is, when you take over.”

  “Papa!” Antonia and Anthony exclaimed at the same time.

  He waved them off with his hands. “I have no delusions about ever keeping our percentage of Casa Italiano. You two have seen to that! Giving you control of my dream was a mistake but I will keep Mariana’s alive no matter the cost.”

  Here it was, the inch she knew Mr. Torino would want to keep after giving up his dream for someone better to care for it. Décor and the interior design to remain the same—that was all he was asking. Surely Allan would grant him that?

  Riana turned to Allan to find he was already staring at her. Allan laced their fingers together until their hands were palm to palm. By the look in his eyes she knew he was considering it, if not for Mr. Torino but for the mere fact that she loved the décor.

  For the first time, she wasn’t going to feel guilty about getting what she wanted.

  He smiled, closed his eyes, and shook his head.

  “Is that a no?” Mr. Torino croaked.

  Riana jumped to reassure him. “Oh no! That means yes. Well, not everyone would understand that as a yes, but the whole closing his eyes, smiling, and shaking his head thing is for me because after I saw the hotel in Rome, oh my God, I told him he couldn’t possibly destroy such art. And for some reason he tends to give me everything I want even the things I don’t need or ask for. By the way, the rooms were a letdown, why didn’t she—”

  Riana stopped when Allan squeezed her hand and chuckled. Her face heated, she was rambling again.

  Mr. Torino burst out laughing. “She’s wonderful! We must have dinner!”

  “Yes, we must,” Anthony echoed and Antonia rolled her eyes with an almost inaudible mumble.

  Allan stood up, pulling her up and the Torino men stood up as well. Antonia, however, was busy picking her red talons. “We’ll see you at dinner. Oh and Anthony, you can call off your spies. I don’t appreciate having my girlfriend followed around.”

  “What?” Riana exclaimed turning to Anthony.

  “How long have you been doing this, Anthony?” Mr. Torino demanded but Anthony turned his red face away, without answering. Mr. Torino sighed and suddenly, he aged ten years right before Riana’s eyes. “My apologies, Signore Sinclair and Signorina Albury. I promise it will not happen again.”

  Allan just nodded. He placed his hand on her back and led her away.

  Once they were outside the café, she turned to him. “How did you know? Is that why we have bodyguards that I didn’t even notice?”

  Allan stroked her cheek with his knuckles and gave her a reassuring smile. “You have nothing to worry about. It’s normal and standard for me to hire bodyguards when I travel.”

  That didn’t make Riana feel better. Before she was like ‘duh’, but now, she had a bad feeling. “Allan—”

  He kissed her to silence her. “Don’t worry about it. Now let’s go to the yacht. We have to pack and move our things to the hotel before dinner.” He pulled her closer and whispered in her ear, “And I need some taking care of right now.”

  His warm breath against her ear made her shiver. Over two months, and she still reacted to him like this. She was in trouble. There was no way she was willingly going to let go of him. She just had to find out how to do that without using the baby.

  She hugged him and he held her tight.

  Kid, your mom needs some ideas, and soon.

  * * * *

  Allan walked out of Mr. Torino’s office feeling a hundred pounds lighter. The deal was done and all that was left was putting their signatures on the contract.

  Mr. Torino had called for him immediately after they arrived at the hotel. Allan didn’t have to wonder what it was about. He had made himself clear at brunch that he was going to hand over the company to him. So it didn’t surprise him when Mr. Torino asked Allan to settle the bank loan which had grown considerably in the last two months.

  Not that he cared, but Allan asked if he and his children had another source of income. Leaving Mr. Torino destitute would not go over well with Riana.

  Anthony and Antonia had trust funds and Mr. Torino had his savings, which he would keep him comfortable for the rest of his life. With that out of the way, Allan called his lawyer to draw up the necessary paper work then left Mr. Torino to join Riana in their suite.

  They had three hours till dinner. Two she would need to get ready and one he had every intention of monopolizing.

  Just the thought of making love to Riana made him want to break out in song and dance like one of those Indian movies their housekeeper used to love when he was young. That joyous feeling came to an immediate death when Anthony stepped into his path.

  “Mr. Sinclair,” he sang with a smile that belayed the contempt in his eyes.

  Allan brushed it off. Junior didn’t matter. He maybe the CEO but the shares were in his father’s name.

  Allan stepped around him. “Junior.”

  Anthony rushed around him to block his path. “Mr. Sinclair. Allan—may I call you Allan? I was hoping to have a word with you.”

  Allan let out an exasperated sigh. “About what?”

  “About giving you complete control of Casa Italiano. I have an offer you won’t be able to resist.”

  Allan was tempted to tell him that the deal was done and Casa Italiano was as good as his just to see Junior’s reaction but the contracts hadn’t been signed yet. He was too close to the end to mess things up.

  “I’m listening.”

  Anthony pointed behind Allan. “Let’s speak in my office.” He led the way and Allan grudgingly followed until they stopped at the door with Manager on it.

  Anthony ushered him in, waiting for him to take a seat before he took his on the other side of the desk.

  “You are the manager?”

  Anthony’s lips lifted in a tight smile. “As of two months ago, yes. My father wasn’t too happy to learn of Casa Italiano’s…misfortune, which you brought to his attention when you attempted to over the loan from the bank. My uncle—my mother’s brother—owns that bank.”

  Allan scoffed. So that’s how they had found out. And he got demoted as punishment? “Let’s get to the
point shall we?”

  Anthony cleared his throat and nodded. “I’ll sell the forty percent to you at twenty million dollars.”

  Allan chortled. That was double what he was paying the bank. Was this man serious? Was this how he conducted business? It would explain everything. He should just shut him down then stand up and leave. But Allan was curious.

  “Why in the world would I do something as stupid as that?”

  Anthony clenched his jaw. “This recent loan was taken against my home. I’m quite attached to it.”

  Allan chuckled. “So I would have not only your hotel but your home.” Allan rested his elbows on the arms of the chair and weaved his fingers together, placing his chin on his joined hands. “Tell me, where is your house located?”

  Anthony’s jaw clenched tighter. “Why would you want to know that?”

  Allan shrugged. “If I like it’s location I might just consider it.”

  Anthony’s face relaxed with relief. “I would be happy to sell it to you at an added five million.”

  Allan laughed. “Pay you twenty-five million for properties I could get for ten?” He stood up. “I’m not one to waste my time. Goodbye, Junior.”

  Anthony shoved his seat back so hard it crushed to the ground as he stood. “Don’t call me that! It fucking annoys me!”

  Allan opened the door. “Exactly why I do that, Junior.”

  “I won’t let you take what is mine!” he spit out angrily.

  “What? The house? You can keep—”

  Anthony rounded the desk like a charging bull. “Fuck that house! The hotels are mine and I’ll be damned if I let an American son of a bitch take it from me!”

  Allan maintained his façade of calm. Anthony wouldn’t be the first angry owner he’d had to face down.

  “And what exactly can you do to stop me?”

  Anthony’s lips curved in a sneer. “Your pretty little black girl might just end up in all the places she visited in our beautiful country. Well, she would have to be in pieces to be in all those places at the same time.”

  Allan felt his body shake with rage. Did this little shit just threaten Riana, to his face?

  He cackled, stepping back and far away from Allan. “Does that mean I have your attention now?”

  Allan didn’t answer. He was too angry to speak.

  Anthony tsked. “The high and mighty Signore Sinclair left speechless by a stupid Italian idiot like me. How the mighty have fallen. I’m not so stupid now am I? You have a day to decide between Casa Italiano and that delicious little doll. It would be a shame to see such beauty wasted.”

  Allan wanted to charge him and rip his head clear off his shoulders. How dare he threaten Riana! But his mind wouldn’t let his body move. With slime like him, he needed to be dealt with in such a way that would leave him with no way of retaliation. Allan was going to strip him bare of everything he had.

  Allan marched out, and pulled his cell out of his pocket, and dialed for Vittorio, his lawyer. “I want a bodyguard for Riana. One who won’t bat an eyelash about killing a man.”

  “Sinclair, has something happened to her?” Vittorio’s apprehensive voice responded.

  “No, and I’m going to make damn sure that it doesn’t.”

  He hung up and took the elevator up to their suite, taking the short time to try and calm his temper. God, the thought of Riana getting hurt because of him…it made his chest ache.

  He got off the elevator when it stopped and quickly walked to the door. He stopped when he spotted a huge man dressed in black standing by it.

  Was he one of Anthony’s men? Oh God, Riana! Was she all right?

  “Who the hell are you?” Allan barked his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

  “I’m Von. Dante Vittorio sent me.”

  Allan relaxed. “Did he tell you what I need?”

  He nodded. “Kill anyone who poses a threat to Signorina Albury.”

  The giant didn’t even bat an eyelash when he answered. Good. He was exactly what Allan needed.

  Allan slotted his key card in the door. “I’ll introduce you to Riana. Don’t let her out of your sight for even a second, do you understand?”

  “Si, Signore.”

  Allan walked in to laughing and female chattering. Riana was seated in the living room speaking to a woman with purple hair that matched her lips. Who the hell was she?

  “Allan!” she started, jumping off the couch. “Come meet Guliana.”

  Guliana…the stylist. He let go of the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. After Anthony’s threat, he was suspicious of everyone.

  “Hello, Guliana.”

  “Ciao, Signore Sinclair,” she responded standing up.

  Allan took Riana’s arms and pulled her to him so that he could hold her. Yup. Anthony’s threat had rattled him.

  “Riana, this is Von. He’s going to be your bodyguard. You are not to go anywhere without him, understand?”

  Her brow creased in question. “Allan…” she started, staring hard at him.

  He knew it was the right thing to tell her about Anthony’s threat but he just couldn’t scare her like that. He wanted her to enjoy the rest of her trip without fear.

  Taking his silence as him not wanting to answer, she nodded. “All right, I’ll do as you say.”

  He kissed her. “Thank you. Why don’t you go get ready? I need to go down and meet my lawyer before dinner.”

  He could tell that she was worried and she wanted to say something but she bit her lower lip instead and nodded. He gave her one last kiss before he left. Von followed him, opting to keep guard outside the suite.

  Allan headed for the elevator. He was going to wait for Vittorio and the moment he arrived, they were going straight to Mr. Torino’s office. The sooner the contracts were signed, the sooner he’d start his plan on crippling Anthony.

  The bastard would rue the moment he dared to threaten Riana. Allan was going to make sure of it.

  * * * *

  Riana kept the water running as she tried to throw up quietly. She thought she’d escaped it when she didn’t get sick that morning.

  Why call it morning sickness if it hit you any time of the day?

  There was a knock on the door followed by a loud, “Signorina Albury, are you fine?” Guliana, her stylist and makeup artist for the night sounded worried.

  Before she could respond, she felt something come up. She retched what looked like water and the knock on the door grew to a banging.

  “Signorina, I should call the Signore, yes?”

  “No!” Riana yelled out. She flushed the toilet and lowered the cover before she sat on it. At least she didn’t feel drained and weak like when she was on the yacht.

  She placed her hand over her belly. “Why are you doing this to me? I’m housing you inside me for nine months.”

  “Signorina?”

  Riana groaned. “I’m coming out, Guliana!”

  Riana stood up, and the room swayed around her. She sat back down, and placed her head between her knees. “Maybe calling Allan isn’t such a bad idea.”

  The pounding on the door began again and immediately stopped. It was quiet for a while before she heard voices—like a man and a woman screaming at each other in Italian.

  She recognized Guliana’s voice and the other one she was sure belonged to her bodyguard. What was his name…Von, Van?

  She couldn’t think clearly. She sat up, pressing her hands over her eyes just in case the room swayed again.

  Allan had left the bodyguard with her when he went to meet up with his lawyer and Mr. Torino right after his meeting with Junior. Allan had mentioned that Anthony had a proposition to discuss with him, without his father being present. Riana thought Allan was being paranoid when he left the giant at the door of their suite but she didn’t argue. He had that guarded look on his face that only increased the uneasiness she felt after brunch. Something was up.

  “Signorina, are you away from the door?”

  Riana wa
sn’t sure if she responded; she was just thinking how good their English was and sounded really cool with the accent.

  She jumped when the door was forced in and the giant Von…yes, his name was Von she remembered now, came in and crouched next to her. Allan would have to pay for the door to be fixed right after he questioned her as to why it had to be broken in the first place. She would try to lie, and of course he wouldn’t believe her, and then he’d get angry and they would quarrel over it…

  Riana sighed rubbing her temples. She was too tired to think about that right now. She needed to sleep, nice uninterrupted sleep for a few hours.

  “Signorina, are you well?”

  She nodded. “Just tired. How long before dinner?”

  “Two hours, Signorina,” Guliana responded.

  Riana groaned. That didn’t give her enough time to rest and get ready. She’d just take one of those morning sickness pills the doctor gave her and hope for the best.

  Two hours later, she was primed and her stomach settled. The pill worked like a miracle.

  Guliana stood before her, her hands clasped at her chest as she admired her work. “You look magnifico, Signorina. Just bella.”

  Riana turned to the mirror and admired herself. Guliana was right—she looked amazing in the ivory halter gown held up with thin straps that crossed at her back. It exposed her entire back right to the small of her back. As if that wasn’t enough exposure, the slit ran right to her lower thigh and had a folded dip at the front that exposed just enough cleavage. It wouldn’t have exposed any if her boobs hadn’t grown a size bigger.

  Thanks, kid!

  She didn’t wear any jewelry except for the yellow diamond wristlet on one arm and a thick gold armlet on her other arm pushed up close to her elbow. Her hair was straightened and pinned to the side with a beautiful butterfly clip and it all cascaded to the side with large curls at the bottom.

  She kept the same earthy makeup and to make it up to Guliana for curbing her creativity when it came to makeup, she allowed the fake long eyelashes. She matched it all with a black clutch bag, a black shawl, and black, velvet peep-toe heels.

  She looked like she deserved a role in Gold Finger or in the Austin Powers movie next to Beyonce. She looked hot in ivory and gold!