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What was with him? Was it because Antonio had seen his grandfather this happy before, four marriages ago? And was it because when the old man was heartbroken after his young wives extracted enough out of him and decided it was time to leave him in the cold, that he was the one to pick up the pieces for his grandfather? It was Antonio who had to talk his grandfather out of killing himself after each wife cheated on him with a younger man then left him in the dust, requesting alimony in the process, wasn’t it? It was Antonio who was taking time away from work to take his grandfather fishing, golfing and scuba diving to bring him into a different world and teach him that there was more to life than being married.
Antonio swallowed hard. He sat and leaned back in the leather executive chair and pondered what to do next. His grandfather was right in some regards. His men could not find a damn thing wrong with Shelly, at least not yet. Her character was reportedly impeccable. So then why did Antonio carry this sick feeling in the pit of his stomach about her marrying his grandfather? And why did Lucy Evan’s face flash through his mind?
Not her again.
Antonio picked up the phone on the desk and dialed. He knew what he was going to do to fix this situation. He was going to call Lucy Shillerton. He glanced at the antique clock in the study. He knew she often worked late at the office. His men informed him of that when he was checking out her background. It wasn’t too late but what if she had already left the office? God, he hoped not. He wasn’t about to call her at home.
CHAPTER NINE
The following evening, Lucy sat down in the office at Dream Weddings Inc. Earlier that morning she was stoked when she got into her office and saw there was a missed call from the Romero residence on her caller ID. At first her fingers hovered over the dial pad of her phone. She was contemplating calling the number back but how sad was that to call back a number?
Oh, why didn’t he leave a message? Whoever it was.
Perhaps it was an error. Perhaps they really didn’t need to speak to her after all.
So she didn't bother to call back since whoever it was didn’t leave a voicemail. Still, she wondered if everything was okay with Toni.
Or, dear God, was it Antonio trying to reach her?
Lucy's heart thumped hard and fast in her chest again. Just by thinking about oh-so-sexy Antonio.
No. It could not have been him calling. Why would he?
Lucy was not about to raise her hopes to a false high only to come crashing back down in a balloon of embarrassment. He was just not that into her and there was nothing she could do about it.
End of discussion—with self.
“Well, I’m leaving now, Lucy,” Maxine called out before walking into Lucy’s cluttered office.
Maxine had already gotten dressed to go to the ball from her office. Luckily they had amenities at the loft office complex including a plush gym that included shower facilities and ample change rooms. Since she had been working with Lucy late at the office, she had no choice but to bring her gown to the office to change into later. They already arranged to have a limousine pick them up at six o’clock.
“Are you sure you’re not coming?” Maxine added. She looked vibrant in her yellow beaded empire-waist strapless evening gown that was accentuated by her lovely diamond custom necklace with matching earrings. Actually, she looked more like a bridesmaid than a guest at a formal dinner party.
Lucy thought to herself, Maxine really deserves to meet someone special at the ball, but knowing Maxine, she probably will find someone. Maxine was always the go-getter type who could strike up a conversation with anyone and come away with a new friend.
Lucy, on the other hand, would take a lot of convincing. She could be fierce in the office and while hitting the books and in the classroom but in social situations, like formal dinners and dances, she was a wallflower, a bashful soul who would much rather fade into the background.
“You look very nice,” Lucy offered, sifting through papers. She then picked up several files from her desk and shoved them in the nearby filing cabinet.
“Thanks,” Maxine spun around in her dress as if showing it off at a runway show. “I hope Mr. Right thinks so, too.”
Lucy smirked. “Now, how do you know you’ll meet Mr. Right tonight, Maxine?”
