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I don’t say anything. I just continue to stare at them. I’m horrified. It’s been two weeks and not so much as a call on that stupid cell phone that he gave me, and now he’s back and he wants me to take pictures so that he can pretend to the world that we’re a happy couple, that everything is glorious and perfect. It’s bullshit.
“Tomorrow, we’ll be shopping for a wedding dress,” Jade tells me.
“As long as it’s black, I’m okay with that,” I retort.
Jade’s eyes light up at the thought of me wearing a black dress to a Catholic wedding, whereas Elio’s eyes narrow even further, and his lips curl at the ends in displeasure. “Tomorrow at ten,” she tells me. “I’ll pick you up, and we’ll make a day of it.”
“Great,” I reply, less than enthusiastic. I’d rather not be with her, but I guess I have no choice.
She grins. “Excellent. Now, Maria is on her way up with some dresses for you to try on, and her stylist will get you ready while Johanna gets the room ready for the shoot.” She claps her hands. “I’ll make sure they’re ready.” She enters the elevator again, all the while smiling brightly. I fucking hate it. I know she set me up, and now she wants to act as though nothing happened. I can’t do that.
As soon as the doors close behind her, Elio advances on me. “I thought I said no to having those women here?”
I look up at him. He’s towering over me, trying to be intimidating. The dark look in his eyes has my body shivering. God, what the hell has he done to me? Before that stupid kiss, I’d retreat from that darkness, but now, I’m staring at him, curious as to what he wants from me.
“You did, but I wasn’t sure whether to take that as a ‘Let me think about it no’, or not. They’re safe here, Elio. They can sleep without wondering if tonight some drunken asshole will find them and rape them. They don’t have to worry about finding a safe space to bunker down for the night.”
“That happen to you?” he questions, and there’s anger in his voice.
I blink, wondering what he’s talking about.
“Someone try to hurt you?”
“Not while I was on the streets, no. Portia and Nell kept me safe.” It’s not a lie. Without them, I dread to think of what could have happened.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a black box with gold trim. My breath catches as he opens it and pulls out a beautiful platinum band with a huge pale pink square diamond that’s nestled in the middle of the ring.
“Here,” he says gruffly.
I shake my head. There’s no way that I can wear that. It’s too expensive, too precious. “What if I lose it?” I whisper. “It’s too nice.”
“It’s yours. We’re getting married, Teagan, and there’s no going back. Now give me your hand.” His voice is hard, and I flinch at the tone.
I do as he asks, and he slides it onto my finger. The ring feels heavy. I’ve never worn any jewelry and having this as my first piece is making me nervous. “Please,” I whisper. “I can’t accept it, Elio. It’s beautiful. Without a doubt the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. But I’ve never had anything like this before. I don’t want to break, lose, or destroy it. I don’t want to taint it.”
This ring is pure and so damn beautiful that having it on my finger makes me feel as though I’m tainting it with my past. I shouldn’t have been given this. I shouldn’t be given something so expensive and precious.
“Look at me,” he snarls. “This is your engagement ring, Teagan.” His eyes are piercing as he glares at me. His nostrils flare, and his jaw clenches. “Whatever the fuck you’re thinking, stop. This is your future. Remember that.”
The elevator doors open, and Elio takes a step backward. He turns his back on me and slightly shields me from the people who enter the apartment.
“Well, let me see her,” a shrill voice says. I already don’t like her. There’s a dismissive tone to her words, and that fuels fire in my belly.
I step out from behind Elio and come face to face with a woman who’s beautiful, beyond gorgeous. Her blonde hair stops at her chin in a sort of blunt bob. She’s dressed in black slacks and a white blouse, although she forgot to fasten a few buttons, so I can see her black bra.
“Well, I suppose we’ll do our best,” she says. “I didn’t realize she was so… plain.”
I laugh. Jealousy is such an ugly look on people. “I’m sorry, I didn't realize everyone had to be so obvious with their attempts,” I say, pointedly staring at her unbuttoned blouse. “Now, why don’t you turn around and return to whichever rock you crawled out of?”
The bitch turns to Elio. “Really?” she huffs. “Are you going to allow this…” she waves her hand in my direction, “woman to speak to me like that?”
“You heard her,” he says angrily. “Leave, and don’t even think about coming back. Your work for the Gallo’s is done.”
Her mouth opens, and she stares at me with open hatred. But Jade grabs her arm and pulls her toward the open elevator before she can say anything else.
Elio whirls on me. “You do not listen to that bitch,” he growls as he steps into my space. “You do not take what she says in. You are not plain, far fucking from it. The bitch is just jealous.”
My stomach flips at his words, at the intensity in his eyes. Oh wow. Does he like me? I stare at him in complete wonder. Holy fuck, why am I reacting to him this way? Why is my stomach flipping and butterflies swarming?
