by Ana Huang
Quickly wiping the sugar off with the back of my hand, I opened the door but kept my hand on the knob. My heart thudded painfully when I saw the bouquet of white roses in his hand. White roses were my favorite.
“Hey,” he finally said quietly, when it was clear I wouldn’t be speaking first.
“Hi.” I made my voice as cold as possible. “What are you doing here?”
I didn’t care if I sounded rude. Besides, I really was curious as to why he was here. He’d made no attempt to talk to me at all after our little encounter Saturday morning, which I was perfectly fine with. The less I saw and talked to him, the quicker I could get over him.
“I, uh, just wanted to come by and give you these.” Roman thrust the flowers in my direction. “You know, as an apology.” His gaze landed on my jaw. “Does it still hurt?” he added softly.
I gripped the knob tighter, not making a move to take the flowers. “Yeah, it does,” I answered, giving the words double meaning.
Roman shifted his weight. I’ve never seen him look so nervous.
“I’m so sorry about Friday night. Really,” he said, his eyes searching my face.
I resisted the urge to bite my lip. It took all of my willpower to keep my blank expression intact. “It’s fine,” I said. “Apology accepted. Now we can just go back to the way things are supposed to be.”
He frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means.” I took a deep breath before continuing. “It means we go back to the way they were before everything. You can go be the leader of the Scions, date supermodels, pick fights, whatever you want. And I go back to my life. It’ll be like we never even met.”
Roman’s jaw tensed. “It doesn’t work like that, Maya.”
“Yes, it does,” I snapped. “Look, I was never cut out for your world, ok? I had a perfectly good, normal life until I got caught up in—in all this.” I gestured to my surroundings. “I just want things to go back to the way they used to be!”
“Oh, yeah? What about the twins? What about Parker? What about Carlo? Are you just going to ditch them like that?”
“I’m not ditching anyone,” I hissed. “I can still hang out with them. I just don’t want to hang out with you. We were never friends. We’ll never be friends. I don’t know why we should pretend otherwise.”
Roman swallowed hard. “So you’ve never liked me, at all. Not even as a friend.”
Tears pricked the back of my eyes. I’ve always been a bad liar, but I sure as hell couldn’t tell him how I feel. If I did, he’d probably break my heart, rub it in my face, then go back to Solange so the two of them could laugh about how stupid and naïve I was.
“No.” My voice shook a little, but thankfully he didn’t seem to catch it. “As far as I’m concerned, you’ll always be the person who made my life a living hell here. I can’t even list all the things you’ve done to me, but don’t think for a second I can ever forgive you.”
Liar! You’re a liar! a voice in my head screamed.
Shut up! I mentally yelled back. What did the voice inside my head know anyway?
“Oh.” Roman’s voice was completely emotionless, but his chest heaved as though he couldn’t get enough air in his lungs. “Thanks for clearing that up for me. Don’t worry, I won’t be bothering you anymore.”
I pressed my lips together, trying not to let the tears spill over as he placed the flowers in front of the doorstep. “Do whatever you want with those,” he mumbled.
He started walking away, but stopped after a few steps and turned to look at me. His usually expressive eyes seemed dull and lifeless. “I really am sorry,” he added. “For everything.”
A ragged sob escaped my throat, and I quickly pressed my fist to my mouth, but he didn’t seem to have heard it, because he just kept walking until he finally disappeared around a corner.
I reached down to pick up the flowers with a trembling hand, my heart hurting so bad it was a wonder I could still breathe. I couldn’t shake the image of his face out of my head. Before he’d left, I could’ve sworn I saw real pain there, but it was probably just my imagination.
He was probably secretly jumping for joy over the fact he didn’t have to put up with my lowly commoner presence anymore. In fact, he was probably going on a date with Solange or some other six-foot-tall fashionista right now.
I shut the door behind me, sliding my back down against the wood until I was sitting on the floor. More sobs broke the silence in the guesthouse as I pressed my forehead to my knees.
I’d done the right thing, the only thing I could’ve done if I didn’t want my heart broken. I knew that. Roman and I never would’ve worked out, even if he did like me back, which I’m almost positive he didn’t. If he did, he had plenty of chances to show it, but that never happened. I knew I had just saved myself a whole lot of heartbreak in the future.
So why did it feel like my heart was broken anyway?
CHAPTER 23
“Is there something wrong with your food?”
Adriana looked up from her perfectly cooked steak to where Parker’s jade-green eyes were assessing her quietly.
“No, my food’s fine,” she answered, taking a sip of her wine. “I’m sorry, I’m a bit distracted tonight.”
The candlelight flickered over Parker’s sculpted features as he nodded in understanding. “Let me guess. Roman and Maya?”
“Bingo.” She sighed. “Those two are way too stubborn. I’ve never had so much trouble playing Cupid.”
“If it makes you feel better, you’re the hottest Cupid I’ve ever seen.” Parker smirked.
She rolled her eyes at his cheesiness but smiled. “I bet you’ve seen a lot, huh?”
“Well, I don’t mean to brag…” he bragged.
Adriana snorted. “Ok, player. We all know you’ve had your fun. If you cheat on me though…” She waved her fork threateningly in the air.
“I would never. I waited too long for this,” Parker said seriously.
She almost melted in her seat. Who knew there would be a day when she’d succumb to Parker Remington’s charms? As she’d learned over the past few weeks though, those charms were just too irresistible.
“I just wish they’d admit their feelings to one another. Being in a relationship isn’t as horrible as some make it out to be,” Parker half-joked, cutting into his own steak.
Adriana nodded in agreement. “How’s Rome? Still moping like a baby?”
Parker shook his head. “He’s even more bipolar now than before. One day, he’s cleaning out his bar and muttering about how much his life sucks. The next, he’s flirting with every girl in a skirt.”
“And Maya refuses to even go near him. She practically runs away whenever someone brings him up.” Adriana threw her napkin on the table. “This is ridiculous. There are our friends. We have to help them.”
Parker cleared his throat. “Trust me, we’ve all tried talking to them. I would do it again, but I’m not suicidal. I’m far too young and good-looking to die.”
“You’re not too young and good-looking to go without sex for a month because your girlfriend is mad at you,” Adriana said sweetly.
Parker froze, then straightened up. “Ok, what’s your plan? I’m all ears.”
One hour later
“Talk to him? That’s your plan?” Parker exclaimed as Adriana rang the Fioris’ doorbell. “That’s the worst plan I’ve ever heard. We tried that already, remember?”
“Yes. You, Carlo, and Zack tried. I haven’t yet.”
“What difference does it make?”
“I’m a girl,” Adriana said simply.
The doors swung open, and the couple blinked in shock at the beautiful, elegant woman before them. Her black hair tumbled past her slim shoulders, framing a heart-shaped face with gold-flecked hazel eyes, high cheekbones, and red lips. She wore a pair of sleek satin Christian Louboutin pumps and a black silk Prada cocktail dress that stood out in stark contrast to her creamy alabaster skin. A pair of diamon
d studs glittered brightly under her earlobes, battling with the foyer’s chandelier for eye-catching brilliance, and for once, she looked sober.
Adriana was the first to recover. “Giselle, you look absolutely lovely, as usual,” she said smoothly, stepping forward to give Roman’s mother a double air-kiss.
“Adriana, my dear, you are too kind,” Giselle lilted with a small smile made a bit stiff from Botox. “Boarding school in Switzerland suits you.”
“Actually, Adriana goes to Valesca now,” Parker spoke up. “She just transferred this year.” He also gave Giselle a double air kiss. “Look at you. You look better than some of the twenty-year-olds I’ve met.”
Giselle smiled, obviously pleased. “Parker. Always the charmer.” She smoothed down the front of her dress. “Are you two here to see Roman?”
“Yes, is he home?”
A shadow crossed her face. “He’s in his room. I went to check on him and he seems to be quite—intoxicated. Gloria tells me it’s been a near daily occurrence. I am wondering if I should send him to the rehabilitation center in Arizona. I heard it does wonders.”
Adriana couldn’t help but think Giselle had gone to that center herself. She’d never seen Roman’s mother so coherent and sober. And she was actually answering the door herself? That had to be a first.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’s just going through a phase,” Adriana assured her.
“I sure hope so.” Giselle patted down her hair. “You two go on up now. I am positively exhausted after that horrid flight back from Monte Carlo, and I’m supposed to meet up with Maria Tevasco for drinks later.”
Ok, maybe she wasn’t totally sober. At least, she was still drinking. It was a surprise that Carlo’s mom was also in town though. She usually spent this time of year at her family’s estate in Cartagena.
Adriana and Parker bid Giselle good night. When they arrived at Roman’s room, they were immediately bombarded with the smell of alcohol.
“What the hell?” Adriana crinkled her nose in disgust as she gazed around the room. It was littered with empty beer, vodka, and rum bottles, and Roman was sitting amidst the debris, slumped down in his custom-upholstered leather armchair. His hair was tousled and his eyes were bloodshot as he stared at seemingly nothing at all.
“Parker, honey, why don’t you wait outside?” Adriana said quietly.
Parker didn’t need to be asked twice.
Once the door shut behind him, Adriana made her way gingerly through the suite to where Roman was sitting. He didn’t look up.
She stared at him for a moment, then walked over to the fridge and pulled out an ice-cold bottle of water, unscrewing the cap before she returned to Roman. Calmly, she emptied the entire bottle over his head.
He immediately jerked out of the seat, though he didn’t stand up. “Adri! What the hell are you doing?” He glared at her, the most emotion she’d seen from him in the past few days.
“What does it look like? I’m trying to wake you up.” She set the emptied bottle on a nearby table and sat down next to him, smoothing her skirt primly over her legs.
Roman snorted. “Obviously I’m awake.”
“I don’t think you are. Look at yourself.” Adriana indicated the trashed room. “When was the last time you let the maids in here to clean?”
“None of your business.”
“It is my business!” She was this close to losing her patience. “When will you see that your stubbornness is affecting everyone? Not just you, ok? So stop being so selfish for once and get your act together.”
“Look, it’s my life, and I’ll do whatever I want. No one, not even you, can tell me what to do,” Roman ground out.
“Your mom’s home.”
His expression turned stony. “I know.”
“She’s sober.”
He snorted again. “She won’t stay that way for long. She’s probably drinking right now.”
“Like mother, like son, right? Drowning your sorrows in alcohol and running from your problems?”
Roman’s eyes crackled with anger. “Do not compare me to her, or anyone else in my family!”
Adriana shrugged, unfazed. “I will once you stop giving me something to compare you with.”
He sighed, slumping back down in his seat and running a hand through his messy dark hair. “What do you suggest I do, Adri? Act like everything’s normal?”
“No, I’m suggesting you act normal.” She pointed at him. “What happened to the Roman Fiori I know? The one who always gets what he wants because he refuses to give up until he does? The one who’s confident and sure of himself? I don’t see him right now. The only thing I see is a pathetic broken mess moaning about how he can’t get a girl.”
Roman gripped the armrests of his seat. “It’s a little more complicated than that,” he said through gritted teeth.
She was definitely at the end of her patience now. Adriana stood up and placed her hands on her hips. When she spoke, she made sure to enunciate each word clearly, so he knew exactly what she was saying. “There’s nothing complicated about it. You want Maya, right? So go get her! You’ve wasted enough time, and if you don’t do anything soon, I can’t guarantee she’ll be waiting when you do come to your senses.”
Roman’s jaw tensed. “She doesn’t like me that way. She told me herself.”
“Girls often say things they don’t mean. Trust me, I know.” Adriana slung her bag over her shoulder. “I’m done playing Dr. Phil for the evening. Take my advice or don’t take it, it’s up to you, but make sure you know what you’re losing if you don’t.”
With that, she walked out, leaving Roman to sit in silence once again.
* * *
“Thank you so much for driving me home. I feel so bad, always making you drive all the way out here,” I apologized, unbuckling my seatbelt as I smiled at James.
“It’s not a big deal. It’s worth it if I get to see you,” James said, winking at me.
I rolled my eyes but laughed. “What a charmer,” I teased.
We just had a dinner and coffee “date” that I enjoyed immensely, mainly because James had absolutely nothing to do with the Scions. We’ve been talking more and more lately, mostly on the phone, though sometimes I went to La Terra or he came to Valesca to hang out. Thankfully, he no longer tried to make a move on me, though he still flirted like crazy of course. I actually considered him a good friend now.
“I’ll talk to you later, then. Have a good night,” James said.
“Good night!” I waved to him before shutting the door of his car and treading the now familiar path to my guesthouse.
My parents were due back Sunday, which was just two days away, and I haven’t seen them or been home in so long it weirded me out a bit to think about it. Honestly, I am not too thrilled about having to see my dad again, because something still didn’t sit right with me about our little “keep quiet” arrangement.
I was so busy thinking about what was going to happen when my parents come back that I didn’t even notice Rico standing directly between me and the guesthouse. When I did notice, I let out a startled shriek and instinctively backed away.
“You sure spook easily,” Rico drawled, stuffing his hands inside his pockets as he eyed me.
I gulped, trying to appear calm and unruffled. I don’t think I succeeded. “Well, you know, I’m a girl alone at night. I’m just being cautious,” I laughed nervously, trying to edge around him.
Rico stepped to the side, blocking my way. “It is pretty dangerous for a girl to be out by herself so late at night,” he agreed, his eyes flicking over my dress. “Hot date?”
“I just went out with a friend. Actually, I’m really tired. I think I’m going to go to sleep.” Once again, I tried to sidestep him, and once again he blocked me.
“Why don’t I walk you back? Our security’s pretty good, but you never know.” He smirked.
Fear washed through me. “It-it’s ok. I’m sure I’ll be fine,” I stuttered.
�
��Scared to walk with me? What, do you think I’m going to rape you?” Rico’s voice was light, but his expression had darkened. He took another few steps until he was standing right in front of me, while I stood frozen by fear. “You know, you’re really hot,” he whispered. Now that he was so close, I could smell a trace of alcohol on his breath. “No wonder my brother’s with you so much. What do you two do all alone in the guesthouse, hmm?”
He ran a finger down my arm, but I was unable to answer. I couldn’t even speak. It was like my brain at shut down at the worst possible moment. Holy crap, he wasn’t going to sexually assault me or anything, was he?