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“Unless,” she corrected, “you’re lying and she’s upstairs?”
Shaking my head, I lifted my gaze to hers, sighing, “She isn’t here, Tanya, I swear.”
She continued exhaling deeply, “I started distancing myself from you because I thought you would freak out and walk away from me.”
Tilting my head, I placed my palms on her arms. “Baby, I would never walk away from you regardless.”
“You say that now.”
I pulled her into my body, wrapping my arms around her as I held her tightly against me. “At some point during all the sex, work, and spending time with you as friends, I fell in love with you.”
She inhaled sharply, beginning to cry with unsteady breaths as she buried her head into my chest.
“What the hell would I even freak out abou--,” I relented, but I fell silent when I realized why she was here.
I peeled myself away from her, my gaze locking on her. She slowly found mine through her tears. She sniffled several times.
“Y-yes,” she stammered, confirming my thought.
Gripping her arms, my eyes widened as I gasped, “You're pregnant?!”
She nodded, inelegantly smiling, unsure how I would respond.
“You have been avoiding me because you're having my baby?” I scowled.
She nodded once more. “I know it's dumb,” she sighed, “but I needed my best friend to be there for me first and it just--."
Placing my palms on her cheeks, I cut her off. “I don't even need an explanation,” I consoled. “You need to know that I’m crazy about you and nothing will ever change that.”
Throwing her arms around my neck, she pressed her body into mine. I leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. Her body relaxed in my embrace. I never knew if I wanted to be a father before today. I had never thought about it, but now with her, I wanted it more than anything in the world.
“I love you,”I whispered.
We touched down in London, having spent the last few hours of the flight in silence. Why did he have all that information on my uncle? Why did he think Felipe was my father? Furthermore, why did he look both upset and confused about all of it?
Once again, I was riddled with so many questions. Part of me was terrified, but a part of me felt safe.I wanted to believe that Valentino would not allow any harm to come to me, but I wondered what he had to do with my uncle. My mind burned with confusion as we both stepped out of the plane under the, still dark sky.
Still in silence, Valentino placed himself in front of me, taking my hand in his without saying a word as we plodded down the stairs. A long, black rug stretched toward four black SUVs. He led me to the closest one.
“Good evening, Mr. Greco,” the driver greeted us as he opened the back door for us.
“Buona sera,” Valentino murmured.
He ushered me into the car then walked around to the other side, sliding in.The entire ride was awkward and quiet between Valentino and me. Even the driver and Joseph sat quietly in the front as we rode through the roads of London. Normally, I would have enjoyed looking out the window, trying to catch small glimpses of the scenery and buildings as we passed. Right now, I did not have it in me to care. More pressing matters dominated my mind.
I was not sure how much time had passed because I was in my own world. The next thing I knew, Joseph opened my car door. I stepped out onto the sidewalk in front of a tall building. Valentino suddenly appeared next to me before Joseph led us to a side entrance and into an elevator.
Valentino placed his right index fingertip on the sensor. The elevator started to speed upward. Still in silence, he crossed his arms over his chest. Waiting impatiently, he stared ahead never making eye contact with me.
The elevator eventually came to a stop and the doors opened, revealing a magnificently decorated, modern penthouse with ceiling to floor, windows. It was the kind of apartment I would be scared to touch anything in. Just like his other house, everything had a place. At least the other place felt a bit more like a home.This place felt like a museum.
I was completely in awe of the costly artifacts throughout the open floor plan. Valentino did not seem shallow whatsoever, but he did enjoy the finer things in life. Money was no object to him.
I roamed around, slowly making my way to a row of windows. Looking out across what I could see of London was surreal. It was beautifully lit up in what was left of the nighttime sky. The reflection of the lights in the rain made for a perfect photograph.
Suddenly, I felt a chill come over me and shivered. Shortly after, a hand lightly grazed my arm and the presence of his body was behind me.I did not turn around to face him but continued to peer out the window at the wet, London night.
As I gently ran my fingertips up her arm, I sighed, “Can we talk?”
