didn’t want her to know about, yet. Or maybe ever. After what she'd just told me, I might have felt guilty. But I didn't. I had looked at the circumstances and chosen my path. I had made my own decisions, and I didn't regret them. I just hoped I would have as much courage in facing my own future as she had shown in facing hers.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
ANGELA
“I’ll get it,” I said when the doorbell rang. The past few days had made me feel like I was constantly balancing on a tight rope, so after work I'd gone out for a quick jog. I'd just gotten back, my mind feeling clearer and my body more centered and relaxed from the exercise. I flung my face towel over my shoulder, took a sip from my water bottle, and reached for the door.
“Hello, Angela." I stepped back, almost dropping the water bottle. The last thing I expected to see was Antonio standing in my doorway.
So much for the mind-clearing run . Just the sight of this man caused a million thoughts to jumble up inside my head again. The one that finally came to my lips had more than just a hint of sarcasm.
“Antonio. To what do I owe this great honor?”
I saw the shadow pass across his face. And then, I felt slightly guilty. But only slightly.
“Nice to see you, Angela." He recovered more quickly than I did. "I’m sorry to just barge in without calling first. I came to fulfill my obligation. I believe we have some arrangements to complete.”
“Oh,” I said “Arrangements? I—I’m sorry, I—“
We stood there awkwardly for a moment longer, staring at each other. Just the sight of him left me speechless and senseless. He was so close I could hardly breathe, let alone think. And there were so many things unsaid, all pushing to come out.
“It’s all right,” he said quietly. “I understand. I want you to know I understand how much your sister means to you, how much you’ve… sacrificed for her. I'm prepared to make good on our arrangement.”
Oh. That arrangement. My eyes went wide and I shook my head in panic. “No, wait. Maria, she doesn’t—“
“Who is it, Angela?” Maria said from the kitchen.
I jerked my head around. Thank goodness she was in the other room. I looked back at Antonio, finally remembering my manners. I stepped away from the door, gesturing for him to come in.
"Please don't say anything," I whispered as he walked past me.
I caught the faint scent of sandalwood. The cologne I’d chosen for him at the perfume factory. Almost involuntarily, I took a deep whiff. Once again, memories from the cruise came spiraling back. I shut my eyes, willing myself to be strong, not knowing how I could deal with him in our house. Especially if he was being nice to me.
Standing there, I realized I probably didn’t smell nearly as nice as he did. And the house! I glanced around the living room and wrinkled my nose. Not too bad, but not really "company" ready.
I had planned to do some housework after today's run. Especially since Maria’s art had expanded into the living room, and the box of Dad’s stuff was still on the coffee table. At least I’d put the photos back into the envelope, but I was still mortified to have the always well-put-together Antonio Mancini visit my house when it was less than perfect. Considering the gorgeous mansion he lived in, I was embarrassed to have him inside my house at all.
Especially since he held the mortgage.
“Angela, introduce me to our guest,” said Maria, joining us in the living room. She gave me a ‘pull yourself together’ look and I responded with a helpless shrug.
“Maria, this is my boss, Antonio Mancini. Antonio, my sister, Maria."
"Oh, Mr. Mancini, so nice to finally meet you.” Maria wheeled her chair forward, extending her hand. Antonio grasped it warmly, raising it to his lips in a respectful, cosmopolitan gesture.
Maria did her best not to blush.
“Can I get you something to drink?” she asked, gracious as always, gesturing for him to sit.
Antonio made himself
Chapter Twenty-Eight
ANGELA
“I’ll get it,” I said when the doorbell rang. The past few days had made me feel like I was constantly balancing on a tight rope, so after work I'd gone out for a quick jog. I'd just gotten back, my mind feeling clearer and my body more centered and relaxed from the exercise. I flung my face towel over my shoulder, took a sip from my water bottle, and reached for the door.
“Hello, Angela." I stepped back, almost dropping the water bottle. The last thing I expected to see was Antonio standing in my doorway.
So much for the mind-clearing run . Just the sight of this man caused a million thoughts to jumble up inside my head again. The one that finally came to my lips had more than just a hint of sarcasm.
“Antonio. To what do I owe this great honor?”
I saw the shadow pass across his face. And then, I felt slightly guilty. But only slightly.
“Nice to see you, Angela." He recovered more quickly than I did. "I’m sorry to just barge in without calling first. I came to fulfill my obligation. I believe we have some arrangements to complete.”
“Oh,” I said “Arrangements? I—I’m sorry, I—“
We stood there awkwardly for a moment longer, staring at each other. Just the sight of him left me speechless and senseless. He was so close I could hardly breathe, let alone think. And there were so many things unsaid, all pushing to come out.
“It’s all right,” he said quietly. “I understand. I want you to know I understand how much your sister means to you, how much you’ve… sacrificed for her. I'm prepared to make good on our arrangement.”
Oh. That arrangement. My eyes went wide and I shook my head in panic. “No, wait. Maria, she doesn’t—“
“Who is it, Angela?” Maria said from the kitchen.
I jerked my head around. Thank goodness she was in the other room. I looked back at Antonio, finally remembering my manners. I stepped away from the door, gesturing for him to come in.
"Please don't say anything," I whispered as he walked past me.
I caught the faint scent of sandalwood. The cologne I’d chosen for him at the perfume factory. Almost involuntarily, I took a deep whiff. Once again, memories from the cruise came spiraling back. I shut my eyes, willing myself to be strong, not knowing how I could deal with him in our house. Especially if he was being nice to me.
Standing there, I realized I probably didn’t smell nearly as nice as he did. And the house! I glanced around the living room and wrinkled my nose. Not too bad, but not really "company" ready.
I had planned to do some housework after today's run. Especially since Maria’s art had expanded into the living room, and the box of Dad’s stuff was still on the coffee table. At least I’d put the photos back into the envelope, but I was still mortified to have the always well-put-together Antonio Mancini visit my house when it was less than perfect. Considering the gorgeous mansion he lived in, I was embarrassed to have him inside my house at all.
Especially since he held the mortgage.
“Angela, introduce me to our guest,” said Maria, joining us in the living room. She gave me a ‘pull yourself together’ look and I responded with a helpless shrug.
“Maria, this is my boss, Antonio Mancini. Antonio, my sister, Maria."
"Oh, Mr. Mancini, so nice to finally meet you.” Maria wheeled her chair forward, extending her hand. Antonio grasped it warmly, raising it to his lips in a respectful, cosmopolitan gesture.
Maria did her best not to blush.
“Can I get you something to drink?” she asked, gracious as always, gesturing for him to sit.
Antonio made himself
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