"Well, good morning," Leo said.
Marianna turned to see him walk up to her. He had on a pair of business slacks and a button-up shirt. His sleeves were rolled up past his wrists and the top button was undone. He looked relaxed but formal. And incredibly handsome. So much so that Marianna almost forgot how to speak.
"I—you—" She let out her breath and smiled. "Hi. You look great," she said as she waved at him and then felt stupid. What was the matter with her?
He grinned at her. "So do you." He leaned forward. "I like it when you don't look like my mom."
She brushed her hair back and tucked it behind her ear. "Good. I don't like it when I look like your mom."
He pulled back and studied her—in that raw and unabashed way he always did that made butterflies race around her stomach.
"So, what are we going to do today?" she asked, hoping to move her focus on to something other than how he was making her feel.
"Well, I know my mom has plans. But I was hoping we could play hooky—grab Clara and head up the coast. I can show you the beauty that Caro has to offer."
Marianna swallowed. That sounded amazing. She'd grown to love Clara overnight and spending the day with her and her handsome brother sounded better than sitting next to their judgy mom.
"So you'll come?" he asked. Her heart pounded at the hopeful hint to his voice.
She chewed her lip. "Sure."
He clapped his hands together. "Perfect. Clara will be so excited."
Marianna nodded as she followed after him. He led her down the stairs and over to the dining room, where people were milling around, filling their plates from the buffet that had been set up. Half of the people Marianna didn't recognize. Everyone else had been there in New York.
Thankfully, Clara was sitting at the table when Marianna had filled her plate and was looking for a spot. She'd rather hang out with the eight-year-old than any adult there. Well, she really wanted to be with Leo, but from the way Gisella was hanging onto his arm and laughing a bit too loud at what he was saying, Marianna knew that wasn't possible.
"We're going to the beach?" Clara asked, peering up at Marianna with hope in her gaze.
Marianna turned her attention back to her and smiled. "I think so. That's what your brother said."
Her smile grew wide as she shifted in her seat. It was as if her tiny body couldn't contain her excitement. "Oh, that's amazing. I hope you bury me in the sand. All the way up to my neck." She giggled as she gazed off into the distance.
"But mother, we are taking her," Leo's voice broke through the low murmur of voices. Everyone shushed and turned toward Leo and Mrs. DeLuca.
When Marianna glanced over, she saw Mrs. DeLuca's skin redden as she nodded toward everyone who was watching her. "My apologies. My son and I have something to discuss in the other room." She grabbed his arm and led him away.
Clara's sigh pulled Marianna's attention down. "We're not going to the beach. Mommy is mad at Leo. Again."
Marianna reached out and wrapped her arm around Clara's shoulders. "Sometimes that happens. Adults have a lot to do, and princes who are going to be king have a lot more to do."
That didn't seem to appease Clara. She just sat there with her shoulders rounded, pushing some food around on her plate. Marianna's heart went out to her. That poor little girl just wanted to have some fun. Something Marianna was sure didn't happen a lot. Not when her family was as busy as they were.
Marianna clapped her hands, hoping to redirect her frustration. "How about we finish breakfast and head upstairs. I'm sure there's a printer around here, and we can make ourselves some coloring pages. Do you like to color?"
Clara hesitated and peeked up at Marianna. "Can we get a Belle coloring page?"
"From Beauty and the Beast?"
Clara nodded.
"Of course. I'm sure there are a lot."
That seemed to be what Clara needed to hear. She smiled and began shoveling eggs into her mouth. "Perfect," she said through the food.
Marianna patted her head and then moved to eat her breakfast.
Fifteen minutes later, Leo came back into the room, looking more frustrated than ever. Marianna wished she could go up to him and ask him what was wrong. To calm him down. She hated how stressed out he looked. How disappointed in his life he seemed. She wished there was something that she could say that would help ease his burden.
But she knew that was a joke. What did she know about running a country? All she could really do was encourage him to do his duty and help him laugh. It felt small and ridiculous, but she was going to do it to the best of her ability.
"Marianna?" Mrs. DeLuca said from behind her.
Marianna turned to see the queen standing a few feet away.
"Yeah?" Marianna asked, hoping she didn't have eggs in her teeth.
"We are sending you on a tour of Trieste today." Mrs. DeLuca reached over toward Horace who tore off a piece of paper and handed it to her. She studied it for a moment before passing it over to Marianna.
Marianna took it. She ran her gaze over it. This was an itinerary. Her entire day was planned down to the half hour. It didn't have her getting back until late that night.
From the forlorn look on Clara's face, Marianna knew she understood what was happening. The adults were leaving, and Clara would be left alone. Again.
Marianna wanted to comfort her, but she doubted that the queen would appreciate her meddling with the princess as well, so she kept her comments to herself. Mrs. DeLuca seemed to have grown bored because she walked over to a woman wearing a suit with her hair pulled up into a severe bun.
"It'll be okay," Marianna said, leaning toward Clara.
Clara looked up at her with wide eyes. "I'm going to be left alone. Again."
Marianna nodded. "I promise, as soon as I get back, we will color."
Clara shrugged. "Okay." She stood and set her napkin down on her plate.
It hurt Marianna's heart to see this little girl so broken up about her situation. It couldn't feel good, always being cast aside. She allowed her gaze to follow Clara out of the room. It wasn't until she was gone that Marianna noticed that Leo was studying her. Once he caught her attention, he tipped his head toward the open door.
Marianna nodded, finished up her food, and then stood. She nodded to a few people—praying that she looked normal and not like some crazed tourist—and, hoping no one was watching, slipped out the door.
Just as she walked by one of the rooms, she felt a hand engulf her arm and pull her into an alcove just off the main hallway. It was small, forcing the two of them to stand next to each other. She could feel Leo’s intensity as he stared down at her.
"So you heard?" he asked, pushing his hands through his hair as if he had all of this pent-up anger and didn't know where to put it.
"You and your mom?" she asked, keeping her voice low. It couldn't feel good, having your mother scold you like a child. Leo was going to be king, and yet his mother treated him like a disobedient kid.
His jaw clenched as he nodded. "Yeah. She's forbidden me to go out with you guys today. She said there is too much to do and I should focus on my responsibilities instead of gallivanting around the countryside." He sighed, leaning his back against the wall and tilting his face toward the ceiling. "I just want to get away from all of this."
Marianna wanted to reach out and brush her hand against his arm. Wanted to tell him that she understood what he was going through. She understood the frustration of being controlled by someone. But that felt too intimate, and right now, keeping her distance was best. So she just nodded. "I get it."
He glanced down at her, his expression serious. Tingles raced up her spine as he leaned closer to her. From the corner of her eye, she saw him reached his hand out like he was about to brush his fingers across her cheek. She braced herself for the myriad of sensations that always came from his touch.
But it never came. Instead he shoved both hands into his front pockets. "I should go," he said, dipping hi
s head and stepping out into the hallway.
Marianna nodded. "Oh, okay." She pushed out the feelings that came from his sudden need to distance himself from her. It hurt more than she cared to admit.
He glanced over at her. For a moment, regret flashed over his face. He scrubbed his face with his hand. "My mom wants to take you out to do some shopping and sightseeing. I will be stuck here, dealing with contracts and issues." He gave her a weak smile. "Do you think you'll be okay?"
Marianna hated seeing him so stressed out, and she hated that he was worrying about her. With everything he had going on, the last thing she wanted to be was a burden. She forced a smile and brushed off his concern. "Are you kidding me? I'll be just fine. Go. Do whatever princely duty you have." This time, she reached out and rested her hand on his arm. She met his gaze with as much force as she could.
A look of relief flashed over his face. "Okay. That's good to hear. I won’t have to be stuck in meetings worrying about how you are doing." His gaze dropped to her hand and then back up to her. She could feel his intensity.
She swallowed, forcing her feelings to the back of her mind. "I'll be fine," she repeated. This time, her response was much less confident.
He patted her hand that was still resting on his arm, letting his fingers linger against her skin for a few moments before stepping out of reach. He gave her a wink and headed back down the hall.
Now alone, Marianna took a deep breath. She was probably never going to be the same after this trip. It was for certain, Leo DeLuca was slowly inching his way into her heart and taking hold. The possibility of leaving Caro in one piece was already well out the window. Instead, she needed to focus on keeping afloat. Protecting her heart just enough to survive their inevitable breakup.
Chapter Fourteen
Marianna watched as Mrs. DeLuca picked up a dress and held it against her. They'd been shopping for hours, and Marianna had felt uncomfortable the entire time. She wasn't sure what to say to the queen and every time she tried to speak, jumbled sentences came out.
So Marianna had resorted to keeping her lips shut tight and nodding anytime Mrs. DeLuca looked her way—which was few and far between. It seemed that Mrs. DeLuca had just insisted that Marianna come just to keep her away from Leo. It bothered Marianna at first, but then she brushed it off.
She wasn't here for the crown or the DeLuca family. She was here to help Leo, and the more time she spent around him, the more her resolve deepened. She was going to help free Leo from his mother's grasp. Help him escape the oppression he felt here.
"Are you ready?" Mrs. DeLuca asked, walking up to her and nodding toward the few dresses that Marianna had picked out and draped over her arm.
Marianna stood. "Yes." She wasn't going to say no to free clothes if the crown was paying. Might as well get something she wanted to wear instead of what felt like Mrs. DeLuca's personal style.
After they checked out, Marianna followed Mrs. DeLuca and a few of her friends—who Marianna hadn't bothered to remember the names of—out onto the sidewalk. The store may have been cleared for the royal family, but the street had not. Crowds gathered around them, each peering over each other, wanting to catch a glimpse.
Many people had their phones out and were documenting it. Marianna kept her head down, hating how it felt to be on display all the time. Everyone else seemed to enjoy it, stopping to pose and smile. Marianna blew past them and over to the limo, where she climbed in. After a few minutes, Mrs. DeLuca appeared, sliding in to sit next to Marianna.
Once everyone was in, the door closed. The chauffeur got in on the driver's side and the limo pulled away. Mrs. DeLuca glanced at her watch. She sighed as she peered out the window.
"Are you enjoying your time in Caro?" she asked. She didn't turn to look at Marianna, but she could only assume that she was talking to her.
Marianna nodded. "Yes. It is beautiful here."
Mrs. DeLuca glanced over at her. "It is my country. I love it." She got a nostalgic expression on her face. It was something that Marianna could relate to. Feeling a loyalty and love for a place that held meaning. That’s how she felt about her hometown.
"I get that," she said, giving Mrs. DeLuca a small smile.
"Which is why you understand why you must leave," Mrs. DeLuca said, matter-of-factly.
Marianna coughed at the bluntness of her statement. She glanced over at her. Had she heard right? "Excuse me?"
Mrs. DeLuca sighed. "Leo is confused. He's convinced himself that the Marasco family is out to get the crown or something. If you ask me, it all started with him hitting his head. Now he refuses to marry Gisella, stating that he does not remember her." Mrs. DeLuca rubbed her temples. "But, I am having a hard time believing that. What he doesn't realize is we need this alliance. The Marasco’s can help us." Her voice lowered. "And we need the help."
Marianna widened her eyes. What was she talking about? And why was she saying these things to her? "Okay. What do you want me to do?"
Mrs. DeLuca glanced over at her. "Leo seems to trust your opinion. He confides in you. Tell him that he should fulfill his commitment to his country. Ermes would be the worst person to run it. He's"—she let out a sigh—"not Leo. Leo has been trained from a boy to become king. It's his destiny."
That was something that Marianna could agree on. Leo was meant to be king. She could see it when she looked at him—he was destined for greatness. If only he could believe that about himself, then Caro would be set.
She forced a smile and nodded. "I'll do what I can." She couldn't promise that she'd change his mind, because she doubted anyone’s ability to do that. But she would give it a go. It was what Caro and Leo needed. She'd help him see just how perfect he was for his country.
Leo sat in the boardroom in the east wing of the castle, drumming his fingertips on the tabletop. There had been hours of meetings and he was getting antsy. It was hard to feign interest when he knew this was not his future. He was ready to run away from this world and make something that was just for him. A place where neither corrupt men nor his mother could control him.
Mr. Marasco and his business partner, Mr. Geo, were sitting across from him, discussing the stack of papers on the conference table. They were pitching an idea to him that had just been passed by the Prime Minister. It needed his approval to be put into effect.
"As you can see here, building a factory in the Caro National Forest would actually benefit the country. It would provide jobs and stimulate the economy." Mr. Geo said, pushing the stack of paper over to Leo and tapping at a few numbers.
Leo flicked his gaze down and studied the report. They were proposing to take five hundred acres of the national forest. It was the largest stretch of land that had remained untouched, and they wanted to cut it in half.
Leo didn't have to think about it. He shook his head. "No," he said, pushing the papers back.
Mr. Marasco raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Leo folded his arms. He wasn't going to be controlled by this man. He hated how he acted as if he was above the rules. Above the crown. So he shook his head again, this time slower so Mr. Marasco got the full force of his response. "I said, no. You are not taking half of the forest, leveling it, and building a giant factory in its place." He pulled the stack of papers back and flipped through the top few pages. "And there's no way my parents will ever approve, either. The numbers you are giving seem inflated. I have a feeling you aren't being entirely truthful." He eyed Mr. Marasco, who didn't even flinch.
Instead, he glanced over at Mr. Geo, who leaned in and whispered something under his breath. "My apologies, Your Highness. I can see you are still in distress from your accident. Asking you to make a decision on this so soon was obviously a mistake." He grabbed the stack of papers and tapped them on the table before slipping them into his briefcase. "We will allow you time to heal and approach this topic at a later date."
Leo parted his lips to tell Mr. Marasco off. His insinuation that Leo wasn't in his right mind was infuriating. That he
could just brush off Leo's decisions, due to his injury. But then Leo remembered his fake amnesia and snapped his lips shut. As much as he wanted to speak his mind, he couldn't. He wasn't supposed to remember Gisella.
Plus, what did it matter? He wasn't going to be king—even though it angered Leo to think that Mr. Marasco wanted to destroy the national forest all for his personal gain. This would be Ermes’s decision, and the least Leo could do was to push back long enough for Ermes to come into power, and then he could rule on it.
"I would appreciate you leaving these important decisions until I have fully healed," Leo said, leaning back in his chair.
Mr. Marasco hesitated and then nodded. "Of course, Your Highness. My apologies for pushing you further than you wanted to go." He nodded toward Mr. Geo, who stood.
"I'm sorry as well," Mr. Geo said.
Leo waved them away and then turned in his chair so he could study the landscape through the window behind him. He steepled his fingers and rocked a few times, letting his breath out slowly. The sound of the door latching marked their retreat. Now alone, he scrubbed his face with his hands.
That meeting hadn't gone the way he’d wanted, but at least he’d bought himself some time. Hopefully his parents would respect his decision to hold off and not overrule him. If they truly wanted him to become king, then they needed to respect his decisions.
But a sinking feeling settled in his gut. His parents weren't going to respect him. They thought they were doing the right thing for Caro by getting attached to the Marasco family, but Leo could see that it was a mistake.
It wasn't until evening that Marianna and his mother returned from their outing. When Leo heard Marianna's voice out in the hall, he tried to nonchalantly open his door and peer out. He watched her say goodnight to his mother and make her way down the hall, toward his room. Her gaze lingered on his as she passed by.
His heart picked up speed. He hadn't realized how much he missed her until this moment. He'd grown used to having her close by, and spending the day without her had been hard.
Marrying a Prince (A Fake Marriage Series Book 4) Page 10