Page 154 of Valentino

“Thank you.” I take it off her and throw it around my shoulders as I walk out of the front door where Marco is waiting. “Hello, Anna.” He nods. “Val.”

“Hi, Marco.” I smile.

“The car is this way.”

“Thank you.”

I follow him out to the car park and Valentino follows behind in silence and I can feel the animosity oozing out of him.

You know what? This isn’t okay.

I’m perfectly fine to leave alone, he cannot demand to come with me, then be sulky because I’m being a burden.

I get into the car and slam the door,

He gets into the back seat beside me. “What is your problem?” he sneers.

He wants to fight and damn it, so do I.

You are my problem….

“There is no problem.” I fold my arms in a huff.

“Really? Because you’re acting like there’s a fucking problem.”

I gesture to Marco with my eyes.

He glares at me and then drags his attention out the window as we pull out from the curb.

The car ride home is made in complete silence, and once Marco pulls up out the front he turns to us. “Will you be needing the car again tonight, Anna?”

“No, thank you.”

Valentino gets out and opens my door; he glares at me as I climb out. The look he gives me is filled with hatred…. My blood boils.

Don’t. You. Dare.

We walk into the foyer, then through to the elevator and ride up to the top floor in silence. I open the door as he stands dangerously close behind me. “Do you mind?”

“Not at all.” His eyes hold mine and he steps forward toward me bringing us only millimeters apart, his gaze drops to my lips.

I have no idea what’s going on with him…. Or me, but damn it, it kind of feels like a hard round of sex might fix everything.

Stop.

“I need to go to bed.” I step back from him, my heart racing in my chest, turn and walk up the hall, into the bedroom and close the door behind me. I lean up against it.

Clunk.

Something heavy in my jacket pocket hits the back of the door.

What’s that?

I put my hand into my pocket to feel something hard, what is this?

I pull it out to see a phone.

An older phone, the type that opens. I flip it open and it lights up with a text.