Chapter 141

Lucky

My phone rings, it is already nearly mid-night. Who’d know that gown shopping would be so exhausting. I can’t let you know which gown I have settled for. In the end I tried on several more and have made the decision which I think Nico will be happy with too.

From now, all fittings will take place at Nico’s mansion and I am super excited that our wedding is in just a few weeks’ time. Momma and my father leave for New York in the next day and I am hopeful that Nico will return to Atlanta.

I place my romance book down that I am engrossed in and realize that the female lead’s story is not too dissimilar to mine. Arranged marriage, enemies to lovers and would you believe it - a dark, mafia romance with an utterly morally gray male lead character. Very fitting.

His gorgeous face appears on the screen. “Princess, I miss you,” he tells me as he adjusts how he is sitting. It appears he is still in his office.

“Are you at work? It’s practically midnight.”

He smiles; it makes my heart melt. “I am at the office but only for a while. I went out for a meal with Tony and Dario but had some paperwork to finish. I want to get out of here and then hit the sack. Tell me about your day, sweetheart? How as the gown shopping with your mother?”

He is always thoughtful and asks about my day. I love that he cares enough to ask.

“Well, it was fun. Big fun actually. I have chosen the gown and the fitters will come round with it in a week after they have made the adjustments. I’m really happy with it. Oh, Nico I cannot wait to be your wife.” I tell him as I position the mobile on the side table and turn on my side, propping myself up on my elbow for comfort.

“Good, I’m glad you had a lovely day. And what else is news?”

He leans forward; I can see the veins in his arms that I love so much. His sharp jaw has that sexy look going on with some stubble. Girls do love a bit of stubble, right?

“Not a lot of news this end. Tomorrow we are going to spend time together in the rose garden and then we might go to the theatre in the evening. There is a production of Swan Lake. I’ve not been to the ballet for years.”

He smiles; it lights up his face taking away the broody appearance he often sports.

“That sounds like a perfect day. Make sure you have the guards with you. Incidentally, I heard from your father,” he tells me.

“Okay,” I reply. I hope my father hasn’t ratted on me. I’m his daughter for goodness’s sake.

“He tells me that you have been asking questions. You’re a naughty girl, Lucky and when I get home, I am going to put you over my knee and spank your cute ass. “

Now that makes my stomach flutter and my heart pick up. “I had to know what was going on. He wouldn’t tell me an awful lot, Nico.”

“Good, you don’t need to worry yourself about my side of things. I have a team of people, Lucky plus Tony and Dario are joining us.”

I feel slightly put out that I am not able to do more for Nico. He interrupts my thought when he says, “however, I wanted to tell you that I have come up with something for you. Since you are keen to be involved in the Santangelo business.”

Excitement threads mildly through me. “Like what? Seriously?”

He nods and leans back against the sofa he is sitting on. Behind him is a large window but it is too dark to see the skyline. I can only just about make out lights from the distance. I already know in daylight the view across Manhattan is impressive.

“I want to open the best hotel and casino in Arizona. It needs someone at the helm who is going to be business savvy. They need an eye for detail and to give it some huge pazazz. It needs to be bigger and better than anything Vegas has to offer and Arizona put together. I’m talking a big budget investment of over fifty-million dollars.”

My mouth drops open like I am catching flies. “Okay, so you want me to hire someone and do the interviews for you? Is that what you mean?” It’s not exactly what I was hoping for but you know, I’ll take whatever I can get from Nico to help him with the legit business side of things.

He chuckles, it’s all deep and throaty that does something to my insides. Just looking at him so handsome and sexy, with his shirt undone a few buttons and his sleeves rolled up makes me want to dive through the phone and crawl into his lap. His look is topped off by his gold Rolex hanging casually around his wrist. SEXY!

“Princess, it will be your project.”

I let out an ear-piercing shriek. “Me? Seriously? You want me to head the build, design and literally everything? Are you sure?”

His smile is filled with warmth and tenderness; man, he is so damn sexy right now I want to ride him like a cowgirl.

“Yes you. However, you will need to team up with Dario,” he tells me. Then I frown.

“He doesn’t even like me. We don’t get along, Nico. You already know that.”

I flump myself down on my back, my head still turned to be able to see Nico on the screen.

“I know and that is why this is the perfect opportunity to bring you both together to work on something jointly. I think with your vision and his smarts you could be a winning team. Dario will know enough of the business to be your right-hand man.”

“Ah, so I will be in charge.”

I watch as Nico moves slightly on the sofa. He pinches the bridge of his nose. Not a good sign, nonetheless it’s hot.

“You will be equal, Lucky. I need this venture to be a success; we can’t step out of budget. Dario and you will be working alongside each other as a team. He wants into the business just like you do. This is something that I have wanted to make happen for a while now and we want to hit Arizona like a storm. Do you think you can make that happen, Princess?”

The tenderness in his voice when he calls me Princess has me telling him yes.

“For you, Nico anything.” Even though I know how hard it is going to be to work alongside Dario. It’s going to take a miracle to get Dario to trust me with anything. There is no hiding the fact that he has not accepted the Gianluca family into the fold.

How could he when our families have been at each other’s throats for years?

“Thank you, sweetheart. It means a lot to me. You are a strong and capable woman, Lucky. If anyone can pull this off, you can.”

His words make my heart swell. Finally, someone who trusts me and will place all their confidence in me.

“Now,” he says as he leans forward resting his elbows on his knees. I can see the tatts running up his arm and would love to be able to trace my fingers up them right now.

“Angle that mobile so I can watch you finger fuck your cunt!”