Chapter 28 Does he know who you truly are, Rosalina?
CHAPTER 28
Does he know who you truly are?
Scarlett – Point of View
I pull myself together in the restroom, step out and run into Dante Ricci, one of the richest billionaires in New York. Somehow, we start talking, and I am oblivious to his schemes.
Eve is eager to connect herself, and I can’t blame her. Luckily, Dante answers all her questions with a warm smile. I have always thought Billionaires have no morals, but here he is, with a dashing smile.
“Oh, you’re such a lovely person, Dante.” I smile, warmly.
I know I look beautiful. I know I have a wonderful body. This is a body I carved with my own hands. I work out a few times a week. I eat only when I’m hungry. I am careful about what I put in my body. I don’t drink or smoke.
This body was my selling point, so I take good care of it. Secretly, I like it when men look at me. Look at me. It gives me a sense of power, but now, I am stuck and tied to Roman.
“You’re here with Sterling?” He asks as we walk towards the bar.
I nod, my expensive ring catching the light.
“Ah, there he is.” Dante smiles, and I follow his gaze to the bar where Roman stands.
My stomach sinks at the look in his eyes, so cold and devoid of emotion. I know immediately that something is wrong, and it has everything to do with the man beside me.
Dante drops his hand from my waist, grazing my ass in the process, and I inhale sharply, stepping away from him.
My gaze clashes with his, and unease fills me.
I am used to men touching me, but only with my consent. There is something depraved in Dante, and I realise it too late that I have been a pawn in a game.
I feel even worse when I realise there is a woman with Roman. A beautiful, tall and slender woman.
Jealousy coils in me like a snake.
What have I walked into?
Rick, Caleb, Russell and Rue are watching us, something guarded on their faces. Eve and I share a look. Unease fills me to the brim.
“Roman. How wonderful to see you.” Dante speaks, his tone sharp and dangerous like a viper.
How did I misread him? He sounds so full of spite.
“Can’t say the same about you, Ricci,” Roman responds lazily, and I shiver when our eyes connect.
“Come here, Scarlett.” He orders by curling his finger, and I look at him.
He is daring me to refuse him. He will punish me if I do. From the look on his face as he stares at my body, I have a feeling I’ll like the punishment. Maybe we’ll finish what we started at the club. As enticing as that is, I am his for the next two years, so I walk to him, maintaining eye contact as I do. He pulls me to him possessively and presses his lips to my ear.
“Good girl,” He murmurs, and I almost melt. Almost.
Remembering how it felt when my hand grazed his dick, I lean into him, pressing my body against his. His fingers dig into my hips, and he warns, “Careful or I’ll fuck you right here, with them watching. I’m sure you’ll like that.”
I grin at him, unable to help myself. “Maybe,” I wink at him.
“Why don’t you just get a room?” The woman, whose name I didn’t care to know, says bitterly, and I glance at her.
“Why don’t you fuck off?” Eve sneers, and my eyes widen in shock. I’m more proud than shocked, and it seems Roman is, too.
“Well, if you’ll excuse us, we have somewhere to be.” Caleb declares and leads Eve away. Roman and I fall behind them; his hold on me is firm. It gets firmer when Dante calls, “Hope to see you soon, Scarlett!”
Roman curses under his breath, but he doesn’t look back. Instead, he says slowly just for me to hear. “One strike, Scarlett.”
Irritation flares in me, and I want to talk back, but I don’t, mostly because he whispers, “There they are. Win them over.”
I follow his gaze and see a group of people, men and women. My heart pounds immediately. Eve stays behind with Rick and the bodyguards. Roman leads me ahead, not giving me a moment to let everything settle. His hold is firm around my hips, and my heart pounds harder.
“The mystery woman.” A man says, smiling at me as we slowly immerse ourselves in the group. They are all dressed elegantly, and scream of luxury.
“Not so mysterious, anymore. Everyone, this is Scarlett, my fiancée.” Roman announces with pride.
I slip into my role like a dress and flash a grin.
“We were starting to wonder if you were real.” A redhead woman says softly, and everyone laughs.
I wait a beat, then speak, “I am real. Roman has a tight hold on me. He worries I’ll slip away.”
“Of course, he worries. Look at you, you are so out of his league.” One exclaims with a grin.
“Tell us, did he pay you for this, or are you just utterly in love with him?” Another tease.
Roman stiffens, but I handle it properly, “I assure you, I am head over heels in love with him. He is sweet to me.”
They seem to believe me, so the conversation continues. Roman doesn’t let go of me, holding me firmly as he talks about stock, finance and politics. His ruthlessness shows, but they don’t see it. All they see is me, how protective he is, and how there might be hope for him.
“What do you, Scarlett?” The redhead woman, Marjorie, steers the conversation.
Irritation flashes over Roman’s face, but it is gone in a second.
What do I do? How am I supposed to answer that when I do nothing?
I look at Roman, eyes wide, and he responds effortlessly, “She is dabbling in Interior design. You should see how she transformed our bedroom.”
The praise in his voice makes my cheeks flush.
The conversation continues, and my gaze drifts across the room, only to see Dante. He is staring at me with his dark eyes and a depraved smile.
He is looking at me like he knows something.
My skin crawls with discomfort, and I look away.
“Excuse me,” I say to the group, press a kiss to Roman’s cheeks, then walk away.
My heart pounds with every step I take because of the gazes burning into my back.
I ignore them and step onto the balcony, sucking in air.
I breathe slowly and press my cold hands to my face. I feel so out of place here, lost, even. Roman has led me into a lion's den, just to leave me there.
I stiffen when I hear someone.
I turn around, and my heart sinks.
Dante is standing there, a glass in one hand, and a gun in the other, a gun aimed at me.
“Does he know? Does he know who you truly are, Rosalina?”