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“It will be a disaster.” I stare back at her stunned. “I can’t come.”
“Evelyn, I need you to come. These things always get intense, they’ll ask me questions about how things are at college and I’m not strong enough to answer them. If I have a guest, the interrogation won’t last. I’m begging you.” It’s clear that Violetta is used to getting her own way. She trusted me with such a big secret yesterday, and I can’t even think about how mad Raoul would be if he found out that she’d been screwing her Art Professor. If she’s already cleared this with Raoul, I guess there’s no harm.
“Fine I’ll come, but we have to make it clear that I'm there as your guest. I don’t want Raoul to feel uncomfortable. Or for your parents to worry about their plans for him and Briella Quinn.”
“Trust me, they won't suspect a thing,” Vi promises, jumping up for the couch excitedly.
***
The Burlusconi mansion is as grand as I remember it, and I can tell by Ludo’s face as we pull through the gates that he thinks me being here is a terrible idea.
“Why are you looking so nervous?” Violetta asks when the car stops outside the entrance.
“Ummm, perhaps it’s because I’m about to have dinner with one of the most dangerous men in LA,” I point out, trying not to sweat, Violetta insisted I wear this flimsy summer dress and I’m still far too hot.
“Oh, sweetheart, you have it so wrong. My father is an old man now, you're sleeping with the most dangerous man in LA.” She giggles before getting out of the car.
“Evelyn, how lovely to see you.” Raoul’s mother is waiting by the door to greet us. I return her warm smile before she races toward her daughter and gives her a huge hug. I wait awkwardly for them to finish, and when they do eventually break apart, Mrs. Burlusconi leads us inside to the dining room.
“We have to stop meeting like this.” Rhett struggles to get up from the chair he’s in to come toward me, but Violetta rushes to get to him first. Almost knocking him off his feet when she launches her body at his and wraps her arms around his middle.
“Careful,” he chuckles, looking at me over her shoulder as he squeezes her back.
“You are such an idiot getting yourself hurt like that.” She slaps him hard on the shoulder and forces him to sit back down.
“Good to see you too, lil’ sis.”
“No sign of Raoul yet?” she asks not so subtly, raising her eyebrows at me before she takes the seat opposite her brother.
“He had something to take care of at the ranch,” Rhett informs her, and I can’t help notice the look of discontent that exchanges between Vi and her mother. They both assume that I don’t know that that’s where Raoul entertains, and suddenly a sick feeling churns inside my stomach.
“It’s so good to have you home, darling, how long is it till you have to leave again?” Mrs. Burlusconi sits at the head of the table between her son and daughter. She’s glowing with contentment having them with her. It’s how a mother should feel around their children, and I can’t help feeling a little jealous of it.
A few minutes later, the small talk silences as Mr. Burlusconi marches into the room. He’s aged a lot since I last saw him, but he stares at me with that same scary glare he gave me the day I turned up here and asked for his help. I’ll never tell Raoul that he sent me away, or that he warned me never to show up here again. And suddenly I realize that being here is a terrible idea.
“Miss Evelyn,” he nods a greeting at me before he goes to his daughter and kisses her cheek.
“Where is Raoul?” He takes the seat at the opposite end of the table to his wife, leaving the space opposite me free for Raoul. Maybe he won’t come after all, perhaps he’s too busy at the ranch with girls who don’t have hard limits.
This dinner would be so much easier to get through without him here. But the thought of him doing things there makes me want to puke. I don’t know if I’m relieved or disappointed when I hear sharp footprints thud against the hardwood floor behind me.
“Sorry, I’m la…” Raoul stops mid-sentence, and a quick glance across the table to a guilty-looking Vi confirms my instant suspicion that he had no idea I’d be here.
“Evelyn, what a pleasant surprise.” He manages to gather himself, throwing a stern look in Violetta’s direction before stepping up to the table and taking the seat directly opposite me.
“Hello Raoul,” I nod at him politely.
“What were you doing at the ranch?” his father asks the question that's burning a hole in my head, as he waves over the housemaid to serve some drinks.
“Business, which we can discuss after dinner.” Raoul looks uncomfortable but I can guarantee it isn’t a scratch on how awkward I’m feeling right now.
“More like pleasure,” Rhett scoffs, slamming his palm hard into Raoul’s shoulder.
“Rhett, not at the table.” His mother scolds him the same way she used to when we were children, and I can’t help smiling to myself at the familiarity. “Apologies, Evelyn, you would think my son would have learned some manners over the years.” She looks at me and shakes her head.
Raoul scowls at his brother for a few seconds, before he takes a sip of the wine that's been poured for him, and when the housemaid gets round to me, I politely refuse.
“I’ll just take some water if that’s okay,” I request, I need my wits about me if I’m going to get through this.
