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Below in the streets people pointed, fixed onCelebrity Breaking Newsthat flashed across the crowded streets. It had Alejandro’s name all over it, but it wasn’t about him. “No…” I whispered, “not like this…”
It was a photo of me and Parker.
Us on the dock.
Stuck in a kiss.
The kiss.
“How?” I asked inaudibly. Alejandro stood motionless, fixated on everything I wanted to confess, but still hadn’t. My own words, my own perspective, instantly stolen by a single image, amplified for all of New York to judge.
Alejandro turned around, his lifeless eyes void of any emotion other than disgust.
“Gemma?” his voice hardened as he said my name.
“Alejandro…” I reached for my neck.
The wrong wire snipped.
The damage done.
Chapter41
Gemma
“Goodnight.”
That was last thing Alejandro said to me, a stale and distant word that lacked the spark he shared while congratulating me with champagne last night. And after the restaurant,afterthe moment where he turned around and whispered my name, he said nothing else. All we shared was an agonizing silence.
Silence in the car.
Silence in the elevator.
Silenceallthe way up to the penthouse, where we eventually parted ways to sleep in separate bedrooms. It was in that moment, there in the spot where I once measured his body, where Alejandro released the disappointed word that tore me apart.
“Goodnight.”
And despite how angry he may have been, I knew better than to assume he was deliberately cruel. Alejandro’s silence wasn’t a grudge towards me, it wasn’t some juvenile cold shoulder. It was worse. It was a silence that could only come from when you don’t know what to say, so you say nothing at all.
I couldn’t believe what we both saw last night, realizing the only person somehow capable of releasing that photo would’ve been Camilla. She’d seen us and now was exposing everything: my guilt, my pain, my love. These thoughts stayed with me through the night, carrying themselves up to the morning as I opened my eyes.
“Hello Mrs. Rivers!” The spritely concierge greeted as I made my way into the living room. “Or should I say, Mrs. Rivera-Marquez?” He tapped his finger on the fresh copy of New York Prestige that sat atop the trays of food. I exchanged a smile to avoid being rude, but hesitated as I read the gut-punching headline.
“You can just call me, Gemma,” I replied, wondering if he could see the bags under my eyes as I looked up towards Alejandro’s room. I doubted he was still asleep, and the idea that he was waiting on the other side sent me into frenzied anticipation.
I signed the receipt under my own name, the butterflies absent from my stomach as the man left, wheeling the cart into the kitchen to set the table. Amongst the delivery was a sealed manila envelope and a fresh bottle of tequila,histequila. A little ribbon was tied around its neck, embossed withCongratulations.I stared at the envelope by the bottle, noticing Lina Castillo’s signature.
I wondered what she sent and if she had talked to Parker yet. Had he seen the news; did he even realize that we were in the middle of Times Square? I totally spaced on saying anything, still feeling completely blindsided as I decided to take out my phone and text him. I stopped immediately, hearing Alejandro come down the hall.
“Good morning,Preciosa.” He entered, clearing the air with surprising contentment.
I turned toward him, relieved at his sight, his body still wet as he wiped off shower water from his freshly shaven cheek.
“Um... good morning.”
“Sorry if I kept you waiting,” he tightened the loosely held towel along his waist, keeping it flush against his hips. “I’m glad you’re up though. We have a busy day ahead of us.”
“I know. I still need to take the suit to Ivanna, but I wish we had more time. We didn’t even get to do a final fitting, but with everything that happened, I—”
