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Heloathedher shame.
As they arrived at the headquarters of Romano Holdings in EUR District they were both simmering with rancour as they slipped into the private entrance. Mia had on dark glasses and carried the suit carrier, more to shield herself, as they took the back stairwell up to the first floor in order to avoid the lobby. But finally, just before eight, she sat in Dante’s office.
She sat on a low sofa as Dante dropped his clothes without thought, opened up a panel and produced a shirt. ‘Choose a tie for me,’ he said, as he dashed into the shower.
What, was she his wardrobe assistant now?
She was rattled and unsettled at being back here. Though they had used the side entrance, she had seen the pack of press outside the main one, and she was nervous too that his family were here.
She chose a gorgeous aqua tie, but as Dante dressed hurriedly, he rolled his eyes at her selection and produced a grey one instead. ‘I’m not going to a wedding.’
‘I know you’re not,’ Mia said, ‘because you haven’t shaved.’
And despite their filthy moods they shared a smile.
‘I’d better go up.’ He was to meet his family in what had been Rafael’s private suite on the top floor. ‘You’ll be okay?’ he checked, and gave her a quick kiss. ‘There’s the kitchenette...’
‘I do know,’ Mia said. After all she had worked here, albeit briefly, but her sniping at being back here stopped when she saw his tense features. ‘Good luck with your family.’
‘Thanks,’ Dante said.
‘Will you come and tell me how it went before you go to the board meeting?’
‘I’ll try,’ Dante said, and then rolled his eyes, not so much at her, more at the grim morning he faced.
Mia showered and she rolled her eyes when she realised the dress and shoes were the ones she had worn the very first day she had met Dante.
She should have run a mile! Mia told herself, but knew that she lied.
Was it worth it? She asked Dante’s question.
Yes, because she loved him.
It was a relief to stand there in the still silence of his office and admit it out loud.
‘I love him.’
But she learnt something else as she started his Newton’s cradle and watched the balls go clack, clack, clack: love made you brave.
She would not be his casual lover, neither would she be seen on his arm until he grew tired and moved on to the next woman.
Dante Romano had better raise his game.
Love was love.
It hadn’t ended because Rafael had died.
If anything, it made it more precious, and Dante watched as his siblings choked out the same regret he held.
‘Why couldn’t he tell us?’
And love was love, because although he was angry at his mother, Dante chose not to judge or reveal her part in all this. Instead he borrowed Mia’s words. ‘Perhaps he didn’t want his sex life brought up in a meeting.’
‘But why go through all that with Mia?’ Ariana asked.
‘He was dying,’ Dante said. ‘Mia gave him a chance to hide in the hills and live out his life in some peace.’ And he would be grateful for that for ever.
Ariana’s heart was torn and she was angry at her mother too, aghast that the perfect image that her family had portrayed had now collapsed like a house of cards.
