Instead of letting herself be put in a position of being loved, she’d focused on her career. It was something she could control. It had been the safe choice.
And now that all three pregnancy tests showed positive, she felt more vulnerable than she’d ever been in her life. How was Franco going to react to the news? Would he blame her?
She shoved aside the troubling thoughts so as not to get emotional again and have her father ask questions—questions like what was she going to do next? She didn’t have any answers. It was all so new—so shocking.
She changed the subject. “Thank you for being honest with me. You don’t have to worry. I promise to have a life and a career.”
He reached out and squeezed her hand. “I just want you to be happy.”
“I will be.” She just wasn’t so sure about her happiness in the near future. “I have to go get ready for the party. Are you sure you won’t consider staying home?”
“Absolutely not. I need to go brag about what my amazing daughter has accomplished.”
At least Franco’s grandparents wouldn’t be there. He had been quite certain his grandfather would be too stubborn to go to a party and acknowledge Franco’s accomplishment.
She hugged her father. “I’ll see you later. And if you change your mind and decide to stay home, I won’t be upset. Just call me. I’ll keep my phone on me.”
“Stop worrying. I’ll be fine.”
And then Carla was gone. As she checked the time, she realized she’d spent more time with her father than she’d intended. And now she was late for the party.
As for telling Franco the news about the baby, well...it’d waited all day, so it could wait until tomorrow. Because the party was no place to tell him the news. And looking back on earlier today, it hadn’t been the time to tell him, either. It’s just that she’d been in shock and her first thought was to tell Franco.
But waiting until the morning wasn’t going to change the test results. As the instruction sheet had told her, a positive result was definitely positive. What was Franco going to say now that their fake marriage had become very real, with real consequences?
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
WHERE WAS SHE?
Franco had slowly worked his way around the room, twice over, and there was still no sign of Carla. He’d even tried her phone a couple of times. Every time, it had gone directly to voice mail. What was up with that?
Was she avoiding him? He didn’t think so. It’s not like they’d had a fight or anything. Sure, she’d been a bit more distant in the last day or so, but that was probably just due to exhaustion.
But none of that explained why he hadn’t found her yet. He’d stopped to ask her assistant, Rosa, but she hadn’t heard from her in the past hour or so, since she’d left the office. He recalled Carla’s pale complexion that morning. Perhaps she was sick. He was about to leave and go to the apartment to see if she was right.
As he headed for the door, Carla entered the room. He took long strides toward her. “Where have you been?”
She didn’t look at him as she smiled at the passing guests. “I had to check on my father.”
“Is something wrong?”
“No. I just wanted him to know that I would be fine if he stayed home.”
He was relieved to hear that nothing was wrong with Carlo. Not that he had any warm feelings toward the man who had lied about him and his family all these years, but Carla loved him dearly and what was important to her was important to him—
Wait. Had he just thought that? While Carla paused to say hello to the CEO of an up-and-coming tech company, Franco realized just how important Carla had become to him.
When Carla was free again, he knew this was his opportunity to draw her aside. He placed a hand on her upper arm to gain her attention. When she paused and looked up at him, he asked, “Can we speak now?”
Her gaze met his, but her emotions were closed off to him. “Not now. It’s a party.”
“I know something is bothering you. Does it have to do with the launch?”
She shook her head. “Everything is on track.”
“Then if it’s not business, it has to be something to do with me.” As someone passed closely by them, he quieted down and forced a smile to his face. “What have I done?”
Carla turned a smile in his direction—a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “This isn’t the place.”
Just then a flash went off in their faces. He’d forgotten about the media photographers covering the party. Franco wished they’d give them some privacy.
When Carla set off again, he fell in step with her. “But you were the one that insisted we speak earlier. I’m ready now.”
She came to an abrupt halt and turned to him. This time there was anger reflected in her eyes. In a hushed voice, she said, “And I’m supposed to drop everything because suddenly you’ve got time in your schedule for me? I don’t think so.”
He stifled a frustrated groan. “You took that out of context. I’m sorry I was busy earlier. You know how fast everything is moving.”
Just then a reporter approached them. The woman’s face was perfectly made up, and not a hair was out of place. “Do you have time for a few questions?”
“We were just about to go take care of something,” Franco said.
“But it can wait a moment or two.” Carla flashed the reporter her fake smile. “What would you like to ask?”
“Would you mind if I record this?” She held up her phone. “I just want to make sure I get my facts right when I go to write up the story.”
Carla nodded. “Of course.”
“You two have made quite the stir this year. First your sudden marriage. Where was it that you tied the knot?”
Carla spoke up first. “It was at Franco’s country estate in Lake Como.”
“That must have been so romantic. You know, to be swept off your feet and a secret wedding and all.”
“It was sudden, but we both knew what we wanted.” Carla elbowed him. “Isn’t that right, Franco?”
He was still pondering what Carla had on her mind. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good. Worry seeped into his bones as he pasted on a fake smile to match Carla’s. But whatever was wrong, he would fix it.
He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, just like happy newlyweds would do. “We just couldn’t wait to be husband and wife.”
“You two always look so happy, so in love. So what’s it like to work with your spouse?”
“It’s been great,” Carla said. “Franco is great at coming up with solutions for tricky problems.”
“And Carla is great with concepts and tie-ins.”
The reporter smiled and nodded. “This sounds like the beginning of many successful collaborations.”
“I don’t know,” Franco said with hesitancy.
“What he means is that we haven’t gotten that far. We’re just on the eve of launching this new campaign in all the Falco restaurants.”
The reporter nodded in understanding. “And what about on a personal front? Will there soon be any additions to your family?”
Franco didn’t hesitate to answer. “No. We’re happy just the way we are.”
When Carla didn’t echo his sentiments, he glanced at her. Her face filled with color. “We haven’t discussed having children.”
It was true. They’d never once talked of having their own children. Still, her answer was definitely not an affirmation of his words. It was not the answer he’d been expecting. And now there was this agonizing suspicion swirling around in is mind.
The breath caught in his throat. Was she pregnant?
For a moment, it felt as though the floor had gone out from under his feet and he was hanging over an abyss. This couldn’t be happening. Not to him. He’d always been so cautious—so very careful—until Carla.
/> Why had he instinctively trusted her? It wasn’t like this was his first go-around with an unplanned pregnancy. At least the first time with Rose it’d all been a ruse to get him to marry her. But Carla wasn’t like Rose. She wouldn’t intentionally get pregnant. Would she?
“I appreciate you both taking a moment to speak with me.” The reporter’s voice jarred him from his frantic thoughts. “Our readers will be anxiously waiting for word of a little Falco-Marchello to carry on such a delicious merger. Now I’ll let you get to your other guests.”
When the reporter moved on, Carla tried to slip away, too. But Franco was hot on her trail. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “We need to talk now.”
Just then Carla’s assistant, Rosa, approached them. Franco groaned inwardly. Why did they have to be at a party, of all places? Trying to find just a moment alone was virtually impossible.
This was his fault. He should have insisted on making time to speak with Carla earlier in the day—when they could have had this conversation in private, without worry of being interrupted.
Because what he was thinking right now just couldn’t possibly be true. There was no way Carla could be pregnant. But he also knew she could be pregnant. It wasn’t like they hadn’t enjoyed their marital benefits.
But in the beginning, Carla had insisted she took care of birth control. He’d believed her. Had he been too quick to believe her? Was it possible she’d lied to him? For what purpose? Was she that anxious to have a family that she’d do it at any cost?
With every outlandish thought that came to mind, his heart beat faster. His blood pressure had to be creeping into the red zone.
Desperate for a moment alone with Carla, he turned to her assistant. “Rosa, could you cover for us for a moment?”
“Um...sure.” Worry reflected in her eyes. “You aren’t leaving, are you?”
“No,” Carla said firmly. “There’s not a chance we’d miss out on this big night.”
“Something came up and I need to discuss it with Carla. No big deal.”
Rosa nodded in understanding. “I’ll see to things.”
“We’ll just be in the hallway.” Carla pointed to where they’d be.
And then Franco slipped his arm around his wife’s slim waist as they made their way toward the doorway that led to the back entrance to the building. He hoped it would give them the privacy they needed. Because he needed to hear Carla say that she wasn’t pregnant. She just couldn’t be pregnant.
What were the chances of that happening? The odds have to be minuscule. Right?
Once in the vacant hallway with the door closed behind them, Carla turned on him. “What are you doing?”
“What am I doing? What are you doing telling a reporter that we might have children?”
Her face was devoid of color. “That’s not what I said. I said—”
“I know what you said. What you didn’t say was that we aren’t having children, not now, not ever.” He paused, waiting for her to agree. Instead an ominous silence filled the void. “Carla?”
Her gaze was cast downward. “We should get back to the party.”
“Not before we clear this up.” His gut knotted as bile inched up his throat. “Carla, what did you try to tell me earlier today?”
“It can wait.”
“No, I don’t think it can.” It seemed as though she couldn’t work up the courage to say it, so he would have to do it for her. “Carla, are you pregnant?”
Her gaze met his. There was a whole host of emotions reflected in her eyes, from fear to anger. She didn’t say a word. She didn’t have to. It was written all over her pale face.
And then she wordlessly nodded.
His heart fell. His head started to spin. This can’t be happening. This was never supposed to happen. And yet it had happened, and he had no idea what to do about it.
No wonder she hadn’t wanted to tell him. She knew he never wanted a family. But with Carla, it seemed like one thing always led to another. They’d started out as in-laws, which led to chemistry on the dance floor at his brother’s wedding. That had led to a business dinner. From there she’d proposed a deal that he just couldn’t turn down. A fake marriage had led to a very real wedding night. That night had led to him seeing her not as one of those Falcos—the ones that had lied—no, instead he found her to be a caring, loving and generous woman. And now he didn’t know what to think about any of this. He couldn’t even formulate any words—
The door burst open. Rosa rushed up to Carla. “Carla, you have to come quick.”
“What is it?” Carla’s voice echoed her concern.
“It’s your father—” and then Rosa looked at him “—and your grandfather. They’ve gotten into a very loud and contentious argument in the middle of the party. It’s a disaster.”
“Oh no!” Carla turned an accusing stare at him. “You promised your grandfather wouldn’t be here.”
She didn’t wait for him to explain as she rushed in the door. He’d meant to tell her about his grandparents’ unexpected appearance, but when he’d grown worried about her unexplained absence, it’d slipped his mind.
Franco was right behind her. This night was supposed to be so perfect, so amazing, but it was turning into a disaster.
The sound of angry male voices boomed through the room. It was the first time the two men had confronted each other since the cheating episode. It appeared that time had not lessened their anger toward the other.
Carla worked her way through the thickening crowd as a number of people pulled out their phones to film the devolving event. Franco’s own personal nightmare was going to have to be put on hold until they separated the men.
“Liar!”
“Cheat!”
At last, Carla stepped inside the circle. “Papa, stop.”
“I...” Carlo Falco stopped speaking. “I...” Then he clutched his chest before collapsing to the floor.
A horrified cry erupted from Carla’s throat. She knelt by her father’s side. Franco grabbed his phone and called for an ambulance. It seemed like forever until he’d answered all the operator’s questions. Yes, Carlo was still breathing. No, he wasn’t conscious.
Franco knelt next to Carla. Time moved slowly. He’d never felt so helpless in his life. Carla held her father’s hand as she pleaded with him to hold on. The desperation rang out in her voice.
And when Carla finally turned her big brown eyes to Franco as the unleashed tears streamed down her cheeks, he felt as though his heart had been torn in half. He would do anything to fix this for her, but he didn’t know how.
“He’s going to be okay.” Franco didn’t know that, but he certainly wanted to believe it.
Before Carla could say anything, the crowd parted and the paramedics rolled a gurney into the room. They stepped back, giving them room to work. It took a few minutes to take his vitals and hook him up to oxygen.
Franco reached out to wrap his arm around Carla’s waist, giving her his shoulder to lean on, but she wordlessly pushed his arm away. He didn’t like it, but he understood that she needed to focus all her thoughts and energy on her father.
When they lifted the stretcher with her father, Franco said, “I’ll get my car and drive you to the hospital.”
“No.” Carla turned to him with more anger than he’d even known she was capable of feeling, and it was all aimed at him. “You stay here. You aren’t welcome at the hospital. This is all your fault. You and me, we’re over. My attorney will send over the papers.”
Each of her words were like arrows slamming into his chest. His fault? What? How?
By the time he was able to translate his thoughts into words, she was gone. And he’d never felt more alone in his entire life.
How had things been so right, so promising one moment and then so wrong the next? Now what was he going to do? His wife didn’
t want him in her life, and they had a baby on the way. It felt as though he was reliving his parents’ nightmare.
They’d both married for the wrong reasons, and then they’d both complicated matters with an unexpected pregnancy. He raked his fingers through his hair. What was he supposed to do now?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
SHE’D NEVER BEEN so scared.
Carla couldn’t remember exactly what had happened between her admitting to Franco that she was pregnant until she watched her father being loaded into the back of an ambulance. She vaguely recalled being furious with Franco but not her exact words.
She paced back and forth in the hospital waiting area. What was taking the doctors so long? She’d begged them to let her stay, but they’d insisted it was protocol for her to stay in the waiting area until they’d done their initial workup.
Please let him be okay. Please let him be okay.
She kept repeating the silent prayer over and over in her mind. With her head down, she kept moving. She couldn’t sit still. She was filled with pent-up anxiety.
A hand touched her shoulder.
She came to an abrupt stop and turned. She expected to find the doctor in his white coat, but instead it was her cousin. Gianna’s face reflected her own worry.
They wordlessly hugged each other. Part of her wished that it was Franco holding her, but she had too many conflicting emotions where he was concerned. And she couldn’t deal with him right now. It was just too much.
When they pulled apart, Carla swiped at her eyes. Gianna guided her over to one of the orange chairs. “Sit down. You look exhausted.”
“I’m fine.” She didn’t feel fine. She felt as though her life was being pulled apart at the seams.
“Have you heard anything?”
Carla shook her head. “They threw me out and told me to wait here.”
Gianna reached for her phone. “Do you want me to call Franco?”
“No.”
Harlequin Romance September 2021 Box Set Page 29