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Somehow, we end up on opposite sides of the room and as Matteo reaches for a glass of whiskey, I note it hardly even touches the sides, which shows how affected he is. Was it Mario or was it Diana? I have a sinking feeling it was her and I’m not sure of my emotions right now.
“I need to use the restroom.”
I choose the only place I can go where privacy is guaranteed to go over what happened and bring my thoughts back in line. Matteo appears angry at that and snaps, “Can’t you wait?”
“No.” I pull my hand roughly from his and stare at him with a mixture of anger and pain, noting how the fury only intensifies in his eyes as he nods to Cesare.
“Stay with her and make sure nobody enters that restroom but Abigail.”
Matteo turns away, leaving me feeling like a used dish rag.
I have gone from euphoric to desperate and want to sob my heart out because I’m fast realizing I am merely a pawn in a greater game that makes me feel used. Matteo doesn’t want me, not really. He loves Diana. That was so obvious and is using me to get back at her. The other woman said she is his girlfriend. Why would she say that if it wasn’t true and will he carry on with her when his use for me is over?
Suddenly, I feel like a fool. Everything comes at me and knocks the shine from my soul. He’s using me. I’m only a distraction and what I felt earlier has been destroyed in a matter of minutes.
Cesare appears almost sympathetic as he escorts me to the restroom and I’m surprised when he says in a low voice, “Don’t read too much into it.”
“Into what?” I snap back, hating how harsh I sound, and he whispers, “He’s reacting to the situation. Mr. Ortega has spent a lifetime hiding emotion and when he’s hit hard in all directions, he uses aggression and anger as a defense. You are good for him, Mrs. Ortega, because you drag that from inside him and he hasn’t figured out a way to use it yet. Don’t judge him; he’ll work it out.”
We reach the restroom and I say coldly, “Maybe I don’t want to hang around while he decides what he wants.”
I’m surprised when his hand reaches out and prevents me from entering the restroom by holding onto the handle as he says darkly, “Don’t do anything stupid. Mr. Ortega is your way out of a very bad situation and the only one you can trust.”
I glare at his hand pointedly and say with a soft hiss, “Thank you for your concern, now if I may...” I nod toward the door and with a sigh, he steps back, allowing me inside.
As I head into the room, my heart bangs mercilessly inside me and I lean against the tiled wall, grateful to be alone to process my thoughts.
So many things happened so quickly I’m struggling to catch up. But I realize one thing, I am destroyed. I know that already because there’s a dull ache inside me that’s replaced my earlier euphoria. Above everything, it was Matteo’s reaction to Diana that I can’t shake, and I am weak with disappointment that he still holds feelings for that woman. She didn’t even acknowledge me. It’s as if I was invisible and they only had eyes for one another.
I’m so preoccupied I don’t even register I’m not alone until a familiar voice whispers from a cubicle that I didn’t know was occupied.
“Abi.”
I spin around and my eyes fill with happy tears when I spy my best friend Clarice staring at me in disbelief.
“What’s happened to you?”
In two steps she is by my side, and I fall into her welcome arms and sob on her designer gown, my mascara streaking the fabric.
“It’s a mess.”
“What is?” She strokes my hair, and it’s so good having someone with me who only has my interests at heart.
She tugs me down beside her on a bench under the window and whispers words of comfort.
“It’s ok, you can tell me everything.”
I don’t even think twice, and the words spill out in a rush, tripping over themselves to be heard as I tell her everything that happened since my first meeting in Matteo’s office.
When I finish, she whispers, “Oh honey, you poor thing.” She strokes my hair and appears as upset as I am.
“What are you going to do?”
I lean back and wipe my eyes with a tissue, unconcerned with what a mess I must look like right now.
“I don’t know. My mom will kill me because I’ve done something so bad she will never recover socially. Then there’s Matteo. I’m his wife now and I’m not even sure he wants me.”
“I can’t believe it.” She shakes her head in disbelief.
