Rome for Always (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Collection)

by Angelo, Judy

  Lost in his dismal thoughts, he jumped when there was a tap at his door. Quickly, he slid his feet to the floor and straightened up in his chair. It wouldn’t do to have Mrs. Mullings, the matron he’d chosen as his temp, walking in to find her boss lounging like he was in his sofa at home. Despite his depressed mood, the least he could do was act like a professional while in office.

  “Come in,” he called out and Mrs. Mullings walked in, looking apologetic.

  “I’m sorry to disturb you, Mr. Milano,” she said in her gentle voice. “There’s a young lady here to see you. She doesn’t have an appointment but she insists that it’s urgent.”

  Rome’s heart leaped inside his chest. “Is it Arie?” he asked and when his assistant gave him a puzzled look he shook his head. Of course Mrs. Mullings wouldn’t know who he was talking about. She’d never met his fiancée. “Miss Angelis, I meant. Did she say her name is Arie Angelis?”

  “No,” she said with a shake of her head. “This lady’s name is Iyana Jackson.”

  The words hit Rome hard. His hopes had shot through the roof with the announcement but his visitor was not Arie. Worse, it was the woman who had destroyed his life.

  “What does she want?” he bit out, but the shocked look on Mrs. Mullings’ face made him tone it down fast. “Did she say?”

  “No, just that it was urgent.”

  “Send her in, please.”

  The woman nodded and went back to the main office. When she returned, the unexpected guest in tow, it was a subdued Iyana who came into the room.

  When Mrs. Mullings left, closing the door behind her, Rome waved Iyana to the vacant chair but his demeanor was far from welcoming. “I can’t say this is a pleasant surprise,” he said, regarding her with a look just shy of contempt.

  She sank into the chair, holding her purse on her lap like it was some kind of shield. “I’m sorry to barge in on you like this,” she said, her voice surprisingly quiet, “but I had to talk to you.”

  “About what? Don’t you think you’ve done enough?” Rome sat forward in his chair and rested his folded arms on his desk as he glared at the woman sitting across from him. “In fact, the last time you agreed to talk you did a damn good job of sabotaging my future with the woman I love.”

  She had the grace to look ashamed. “I know,” she said and dropped her gaze to her hands clutching her purse. “I’m so sorry.” There was a pause and then she looked up at him and the tears he saw glistening in her eyes made him frown in surprise. “I know I did a terrible thing,” she said, her voice trembling. “I know you’ll never be able to forgive me but I had to see you to explain why I did it.” She drew in a shaky breath then continued. “You didn’t know it but I was in love with you. I’ve felt that way for a long time.” She shook her head. “When you hit me with the news that you were engaged I was devastated. I knew all along that my love for you was an impossible dream, but still…” her voice trailed off and she dropped her gaze again, “you can’t stop a girl from dreaming, can you?”

  He didn’t answer. What the hell could he say? According to what Iyana was saying she’d been in love with him all this time and he’d been too daft to realize it. And the irony of it all was that her feelings for him, now coming to the surface, was what had sunk him like a stone.

  “I was jealous,” Iyana was saying. “So jealous I couldn’t see straight. That’s why I quit and that’s why I did what I did.”

  Iyana shook her head again, as if trying to free her mind of the memory. “There’s absolutely no excuse for my behavior. All I can say is, I’m sorry.” She gave him an earnest look. “I hope you don’t think I came in here to ask for my job back. I think we agree that would be impossible. I loved you from a distance but as an employee I should never have overstepped my bounds, not even emotionally. The problem was all on my end.” She sighed. "And now it’s time for me to accept reality and move on.”

  When Rome still said nothing she tilted her head to one side and on her face was a look of regret. “Is there anything I can do to make things right?”

  Rome didn’t have to think twice before he gave her his answer. After the stunt she’d pulled when he’d invited her to speak with Arie he would never trust her again. Maybe he could forgive but he would never forget.

  If there was any hope of salvaging his relationship with Arie he would have to do it himself.

  “No,” he said, his voice firm. “There’s nothing you can do. Absolutely nothing.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Five days and counting. Arie knew she was probably being an idiot, refusing to see Rome, but she couldn’t help herself. The truth was, she was scared.

  She loved him so much that it was easy for him to hurt her and with Iyana that was exactly what he’d done. How could she trust him to get close again? But despite her fear she was suffering terribly. She was dying to see him.

  She'd come into office early that morning, intent on losing herself in her work. That plan ended up being a joke. Instead of working, she’d stared at the computer screen then at the papers on her desk then at the telephone then at the closed office door. She’d got up and paced the floor. She’d gone to stand by the window where she’d stared out at the parking lot for several minutes at a time. After that she’d gone and flopped back down in her chair. She’d gotten up and then she'd done everything all over again, and it was all in an attempt to keep her itching fingers from grabbing the phone and dialing Rome’s number.

  Thank God she’d planned to swing by a banquet hall where she would be catering a wedding in the next two weeks. At least that would take her out of the office and provide her with some distraction that would hopefully take her mind off the man she loved…the same man who made her clench her fists every time she thought about his betrayal.

  She hopped up from her chair for the third time but this time it was to grab her purse. She would not linger a moment longer. Time to get some air.

  She was halfway to the door when the phone on her desk began to ring. She hesitated, feeling like she should ignore it, but then the dutiful side of her won out and she dashed back to her desk and picked up the receiver. It was Marilyn, the receptionist.

  “Miss Jackson is here to see you, Arie.”

  Arie frowned. “Miss…Jackson?” She couldn’t recall an appointment scheduled for this time. She didn’t even know who this ‘Miss Jackson’ was. “From?” she asked, hoping the company name would jog her memory.

  “She didn’t say. All she said was, she needs to see you urgently.”

  That made Arie raise her eyebrows. Weird. “Well…okay,” she said, her voice hesitant, but she hung up the phone and went to hook the strap of her handbag on the back of her chair then sat, making ready to greet her visitor.

  But when the door opened it wasn’t a potential client who walked through the door but the woman who had turned her life upside down. Miss Jackson was none other than Iyana.

  Arie stood and as soon as Marilyn had closed the door the words flew out of her mouth. “Why did you come here? What’s this about? Have you come to finish the job?”

  Iyana looked startled by her vehemence. She stayed right where she was by the door and put up her hands, palms facing forward. “Please, I’m not here to cause any trouble. If you’ll just hear me out, just for a minute, I’ll be out of here and out of your life for good.”

  Arie stared at her, the suspicion rising within. She didn’t trust this woman as far as she could throw her. “Go ahead,” she said, folding her arms in front of her. “Say your piece and then go.”

  Iyana looked uncomfortable. She probably took note that Arie hadn’t even bothered to offer her a seat but remained standing herself, watching and waiting. When she spoke her voice was hesitant. “I know you probably hate me and you have every reason to. I came here to tell you how sorry I am for all the trouble I’ve caused.”

  Arie’s eyes narrowed. “Did Rome put you up to this?”

  “No, not at all.” Iyana shook her head vigorously.
“He doesn’t even know I’m here. Please don’t tell him I came to see you. He hates me enough already. I just…I just had to see you to explain that he had absolutely no idea how I felt about him.” She drew in a deep breath then let it out with a heavy sigh. “I know I gave the impression that there was something between us but it was a lie. I only did that because I envied what you had. I was hurting so…I wanted you to hurt, too.”

  As Arie watched, Iyana drew her bag in front of her, as if protecting herself. “Rome is a good man. He doesn’t deserve to lose you because of me. He did nothing wrong. I just wanted you to know that.”

  For the life of her, Arie didn’t know how to respond. What do you say to the person who successfully screwed up your life, made you think the man you loved was a cad, and then showed up out of the blue to sing his praises?

  “I’m not here to ask you to forgive me,” the woman said, filling the awkward silence. “I just wanted to set things straight. Thank you for seeing me.” She turned to go but then she paused and turned to look back at Arie. “And like I said before, I think it’s best if you don’t tell Rome I came to see you. I doubt he would appreciate my dropping in on you like this.” She turned away again and took a step toward the door just as it swung open.

  “Arie, I’m tired of this. I have to see you.” Rome burst into the room, looking flustered and impatient. “Why are you avoiding m-?” He came to an abrupt halt, the words hanging in the air as his gaze fell on Iyana. His brows lifted in surprise then, just as quickly, they fell, gathering into a dark scowl. “You again? Haven’t you done enough? What mischief do you want to make now?”

  His gaze flashed to Arie. “Are you okay? Did she try to hurt you?”

  Then, before she could even respond he was back on Iyana, demanding to know what she was doing there. “Give it up, Iyana,” he growled. “Coming here to harass Arie is not going to make me love you. In fact, if you’re trying to make me hate you, you’re doing a damn good job.”

  With the fascination of an observer at a street brawl Arie watched as, with every word Rome uttered, Iyana seemed to wilt right in front of him, slipping deeper and deeper into despair. She stood frozen, staring at Rome in obvious shock and pain.

  All of a sudden Arie couldn’t take it. Right in the middle of the tirade she walked over to the crestfallen Iyana and put a hand on her arm. She looked over at Rome and gave a quick shake of her head, which meant he’d said enough. “There’s no problem here,” she told him. “Iyana and I were just having a little talk. Now make yourself comfortable,” she said as she steered the shell-shocked woman toward the door, “while we ladies finish our business outside.”

  And as they went out she slid a comforting arm around Iyana’s shoulder, knowing that Rome must think her the craziest woman on earth.

  ***

  A whole week passed before she was able to clear Iyana’s look of devastation from her mind. The woman had caused her pain but that didn’t stop Arie from feeling sorry for her. That was why she’d comforted her in the face of her fiancé’s fury.

  Of course, on the day of the incident as soon as she’d returned to the office he’d demanded to know what the exchange had been about.

  “The woman loved you, Rome. We both know that now. Mind you, she went about things the wrong way, but what you said,” she shook her head, “you were pretty tough on her. What she did was wrong but she’s human.”

  A couple of seconds passed as Rome seemed to contemplate her words but then he cocked his head to one side and this time he was regarding her with a hint of bewilderment. “You’re not angry with her?”

  Arie lifted her shoulders then let them fall. It wasn’t so much a shrug as a movement reflecting her own confusion. “I guess I don’t hate her. For a moment I put myself in her shoes and I thought, why wouldn’t she fall for you? I can’t be the only one who sees what a great man you are.” Then she smiled. “Not to mention, deliciously handsome.”

  That made Rome smile, too, the granite in his face softening. “So you’ve forgiven her?”

  The question made Arie think and, to her own surprise, the answer came back positive. “I guess I have. I don’t respect what she tried to do when she found out about me but I can’t hate her for it.” Then she shrugged. “Nobody’s perfect, right?”

  With a smile, Rome went to her and pulled her into his arms. “Except you,” he said as he dipped his head to give her kiss. “You’re one in a million.”

  That had made her feel good but even more important she was relieved that things were now back to normal between the two of them. Now they were one week closer to their wedding and, most exciting of all, Maya would be home at the end of the month.

  That evening Rome swung by the house as they’d planned. There was so much to do. They were preparing for a wedding and a family, both at the same time. Thankfully, the decoration of the nursery was already done but they still had to get one or two pieces, such as a changing table and a diaper pail, then they would be ready to welcome their daughter into her new home.

  Her fiance was all smiles as he walked in the door. “How’s my favorite girl?”

  She happily walked into his embrace. “How’s my favorite guy?”

  He kissed the top of her head then gently put her away from him and held out a brown box. “I’ve got something for you.”

  Her eyes lit up. “What is it?”

  He shrugged. “I have no idea.”

  She laughed. “You’re the one giving it to me. If anyone should know what’s in that box it should be you.”

  “But this box came from Amazon, delivered to my office this morning, with your name on it. You didn’t order anything from them?”

  “Nope, not that I can recall. And even if I did, why would I give them your office address?”

  Rome gave her a weird look. “You’d better stay here,” he said, heading off in the direction of the kitchen. “I don’t want you near when I open this box. Can’t be too careful.”

  “And what about you?” Arie began but Rome had already disappeared, leaving her standing there, uncertain and just a little bit scared.

  Seconds later he called out to her. Immediately she scurried off toward him, heart pounding just a little, but when she saw his huge grin her apprehension melted away.

  “What is it?” she asked, curiosity now getting the better of her. She went over to peer into the box but Rome saved her the trouble when he lifted out something soft and puffy and yellow and held it up high.

  “It’s for Maya,” he said. “Her first little blankie.”

  “From your parents?” She took the note he held out to her. She peered at it then read out loud, “I know what you did for me. Thank you for your forgiveness. Here is a gift for the little one. Wishing you safe delivery. God bless! Iyana.” Her gaze flew to Rome. “Iyana?”

  “Iyana,” he said with a smile. “It looks like she wants to help us welcome the baby home.” Then he chuckled. “One day she overheard me say something about the baby so I guess she put two and two together. Apparently, she thinks you’re pregnant. ”

  But that wasn’t what had caught Arie’s attention. She looked back at the note. “I know what you did for me?” She lifted her gaze and gave Rome a pointed look. “When I asked you to use your contacts to get her another job I didn’t want you to tell her. You said you wouldn’t.”

  Immediately, he lifted his hands as if in self-defense. “I didn’t. I swear. She must have guessed.”

  She pondered that for a second and then she nodded. “She probably did.”

  But then Rome broke into her thoughts. “Why did you do it, Arie? After what she did, why did you ask me to help her?”

  She smiled then took the blanket from Rome’s fingers and began to stroke its softness. “Iyana has a lot to worry about right now. You told me she’s caring for her sick grandfather. Now is not the time for her to be without a job.” She gave him a gentle smile. “I’m glad you were able to help.”

  “No, you did it.”
r />   She nodded. “We both did.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  When the day finally came for Maya to be delivered into Arie’s care she was as nervous as a kitten. What if the baby refused to come to her? What if she cried and clung to her nurse instead? It was only Rome’s constant reassurance that kept her from crumbling. She wanted this so badly. She prayed everything would be perfect.

  And, to her relief, it was. As if she remembered Arie from the earlier visit, as if she knew this was her rightful place, Maya settled herself in her new mother’s arms and immediately proceeded to pull on her hair.

  Rome laughed out loud. “I guess we know what fascinates her. As long as she’s got your hair to pull on, she’ll be fine.”

  The flight back home was a happy one, with Arie singing to her daughter during the times when she was awake. She kept tickling the baby’s legs and playing peek-a-boo. Sometimes she would entertain her with ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ and ‘This Old Man’. Other times she would just stare at her and smile.

  “She’s grown so much,” she said to Rome as he reclined the chair and watched them, a satisfied smile on his face.

  “She’s all of twelve months old now,” he said. “Our ‘big’ little girl.”

  “I know,” Arie breathed, as she stared at the baby in wonder. “Time flies so fast. Before you know it you’ll be beating the boys from our door.”

  That made Rome wince. “Let’s not even go there. Let me enjoy her childhood before you remind me about the teenage years. Not looking forward to it.”