Chapter 34
Daniella
It’s beena couple of weeks and I have moved in with Antonio. I’ve been beside myself. Who would have ever thought I’d be engaged—to anyone—let alone AntonioMichaels?
It was hard, but I finally admitted that I love him, doing so the day he proposed, and every day since. Love has been something difficult for me to embrace. It’s hard for me to trust that someone loves me since my own parents abandoned me as a child. Likewise, it’s hard for me to accept love, too afraid to trust anyone could ever loveme.
But thanks to Antonio, that’s all changed now. And like all brides-to-be, I’ve been perusing bridal magazines, searching for the perfect dress. The date hasn’t been officially set yet; Antonio has left that up to me. Stacy and Emma are going nuts, both excitedly helping me decide on where to hold theceremony.
“How about a destination wedding? Bermuda…on the beach.” Emmabeams.
“No. What about something intimate, like at home?” suggestsStacy.
The two both shout, “I’ve got it!” at the same time, once again sounding like they are the same person, as they both grin through the screen viaFaceTime.
I laugh. “Calm down, you two. And hold that thought until another time. I’ve gotta get off this call. I’ve been lounging around too much today. Antonio and I have a dinner datelater.”
“Oh, okay. Have lots of fun,D!”
“Yeah, what she said. And just call us later,” saysStacy.
I clean off my desk; papers are scattered about since I’ve been working from home today. Antonio had meetings and I didn’t want toattend.
I shower and pick out a cute black dress to wear with the pink high-heeled strappy stilettos that I wore the day Antonio and I bumped into each other on theMetro.
The TV blares in the background and as I’m just about to blow-dry my hair, I hear Antonio’s name mentioned on theTV.
Curious, I walk out of the bathroom and then stare at the 55-inch screen of the TV that hangs over the fireplace in thebedroom.
TMZ has just come on and they are leading with a story aboutAntonio.
CraveMeCEO, Antonio Michaels, was spotted a couple of weeks ago shopping for an engagement ring. Could it be because his 30th birthday is quickly approaching and he needs to get married by then, in order to keep his heftyinheritance?
Shock riddles through my body and I suddenly feelcold.
I ease onto the edge of the bed and try to swallow the thick lump now lodged in mythroat.
What. The.Fuck.
What do they mean heneedsto get married by the time he turns thirty or he loses hisinheritance?
He’s never mentioned any of this to mebefore.
Can it be true?If it is, does this mean he’s using me to keep his fuckinginheritance?
My phone buzzes. It’sStacy.
Ugh. I don’t really want to talk rightnow.
I roll my eyes. “Hey,” I say, my eyes still glued to theTV.
“Are you watchingTMZ?”
“Yeah,” I say, barely able to speakintelligently.
“I figured. Hun, don’t believe what you see on their report. You know firsthand how sometimes these shows spin thetruth.”
I feel tears well up and my heart speeds up. “Yeah, but Stacy…suppose it istrue?”
