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“Thank you.” I walked toward the door but before I got there I heard Enzo's voice coming from the darkened alcove.
He scoffed at whoever he was speaking to. “You've got it all wrong. There is nothing between that girl and me.
“She's your fiancée,” an unfamiliar male voice challenged.
“For now.” Enzo sounded so different. “In truth, I'm just paying her to be by my side but I'm not planning on actually marrying her. She's a nobody. She doesn't come from money or a prominent family, so she doesn't even offer that. I'm just keeping her around until I can find someone better.”
“And I’m supposed to believe that you’d go to all that trouble for what?”
“I wanted to shake my playboy reputation,” Enzo spoke casually. “Having a steady girlfriend was a good way to do it.”
“I don't believe you. She's attractive, beautiful even. So, she doesn't have money? That's not enough of a reason for me to believe that you're not really going to marry her.”
“She's a prostitute, a whore. She's good at pretending but she's not marriage material.” Enzo’s words cut like a knife, echoing the fears in my own mind from the moment I’d realized my feelings for him.
I couldn't stand to listen any longer. Tears welled up in my eyes and a sob threatened to escape, so I quickly turned on my heel and hurried toward the front entrance while trying not to bring too much attention to myself.
Vittoria, Mia, and Matteo stood with a group of people by the front entrance. Not wanting them to notice me, I turned back, glancing from side to side, trying to find a way to escape quietly.
I spotted another door similar to the one that Enzo had been standing by. I wasn't sure what it led to, but it had to be better than breaking down in the middle of the ballroom. I hurried out the door that led to a small corridor. There were bathrooms down the hall and a glass door that opened up to a side parking area. It was the perfect way to slip out without anyone noticing.
I stepped into the frosty night air and breathed in deep. I leaned on the wall, placing my hands on my knees as I tried to steady my breathing. I was an idiot. How could I have been so stupid as to actually believe that Enzo cared for me at all? He was playing me so that I would act appropriately to help him fool Ludovic.
Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I hiccupped as I tried to reign in the pain and anger that bubbled over. Just as my legs threatened to give out under the weight of my heartbreak, a car pulled up and to only add to my humiliation, a handsome gentleman stopped in front of me and rolled down the passenger side window.
"Ciao, signora.Are you alright?"
"Sì. I'm fine. Thank you," I choked out through my tears.
"Pardon me for saying so, but you don't reallyseemfine. I hate to see a woman cry. Is there anything that I can do?"
I hesitated for only a moment.Enzo would be pissed if I left, but why did I still care? After everything he'd said about me, why did I still get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I thought about disappointing him?
"Actually, yes. Is there any way that you could give me a ride? I just have to get out of here."
"Of course. Hop in."
Chapter 22
Enzo
I was busy making my rounds while Aurora danced with Matteo, when Ludovic approached with his wife.
"Lorenzo,Ciao. I saw you and your beautiful fiancée on the dance floor earlier. You two truly are an incredible pair."
"I'm afraid I can't take much of the credit in that regard. I have no doubt that she is my better half." I chuckled.
"Speaking of better halves, I would like to introduce you to mine. This is my wife, Chiara." Ludovic proudly indicated the elegant woman beside him.
"A pleasure," she said warmly.
"The pleasure is all mine. I'm so glad that the two of you could make it."
"We were grateful for the invitation," Ludovic added. "Where is your bride to be?"
"She should be around here somewhere. I left her dancing with Matteo.” I glanced around the ballroom but didn't see Aurora anywhere. I spotted Matteo with Mia and a few others by the front door. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go find my bride-to-be.”
Ludovic and his wife nodded their approval before I left them.
