Chapter 18 Disappeared
He doesn't come back.
Not the night after, or even the following five nights after that.
I feel a sense of loss at the thought of never having him close again, never smelling him, or touching him.
In a short amount of time he managed to crawl under my skin and scramble everything I thought I wanted out of my life.
I spend my days with Alette, we have meals together and she puts me through strength exercises so I don't lose any muscle mass while I'm resting my foot.
I leave my worn-in pointes just inside my bedroom door so I can constantly see it. This is the longest I've ever been without it ever since I started dancing in them, and I need to see the reminder of why I'm doing this.
One night I lie awake again.
Waiting.
The throb in my ankle has become so dull, I sometimes don't feel it at all.
But it takes me hours to fall asleep, because I'm still waiting for the sliding door to open.
It doesn't.
One thing is for certain. Black doesn't want me knowing who he really is.
The question is why?
Is he only playing with me for the chase?
Maybe it's as exciting for him as it was for me, and me wanting to find out his identity has taken away the element of surprise, and he no longer wants me.
Not even a text message.
I don't message him either, and I also don't hear anything from Ben.
My mother video calls me in the morning, and I didnt realise how much I actually missed her when I see her beautiful face.
"My baby!" She calls out, making me laugh. "Guess what, I'm flying down next weekend to see you!"
"Really?" I ask, surprised. "I thought you were too busy with fashion week."
"All my pieces are done. Plus, Dario is here so I don't really need to be here in person."
Dario is my mother's creative and business partner, and also Alessandro Moretti's very flamboyant brother and my other Godfather.
"So, there's this really great restaurant I was thinking of going to."
"Mom, I really don't want to go to a restaurant."
Going out means dressing up, and potential paparazzi following us wherever my mother is going, and I don't feel like that scene.
"You owe me one after abandoning me!" She pouts, making it hard for me to say no.
"I'm not allowed to wear high heels." That should deter her, because what is a woman without heels?
Instead, she scoffs and swipe her hand dismissively. "These days people are wearing sneakers to high-end events. I guess I can forgive you for one time."
"I never thought I'd see the day."
"I just want to spend time with my baby girl." Her voice softens, making me feel even worse than I already do.
"Okay, I will see you on the weekend."
I work out hard, and when my mother arrives in a swish of imported silk and designer handbags, I'm actually ready for something different.
"This place is nice!" Mom gushes about the resort. "Can you afford this? Do you need me to pay it for you?"
I roll my eyes at her. "You realise I have more money that I will ever be able to spend, right?"
I have a trust fund that I haven't even touched, I try to only live off what I get paid from the company.
" How in the world did I end up getting the most responsible daughter?" I'm engulfed into another hug. "You're so pretty, I could eat you!"
I missed her, too, and I end up letting her dress me up like I'm back being her little girl. She also decided that Alette should come out with us because she's been taking care of me so well. She looked as if she might pass out from excitement.
Luckily there's no paparazzi like I thought there would be when we get to the restaurant my mother wanted to go to. I have to say it's a good reprieve from the resort. I've been eating so healthy lately and no drinking alcohol, a glass of wine and a French fry wouldn't hurt.
I'm looking over the menu trying to find a suitable unhealthy meal, when my mother nudges me in the side with her elbow.
"Isn't that Miguel? Ben's brother?"
I look up, surprised, and she's right.
Miguel Cargill is entering the restaurant with a stunning blonde walking in front of him.
"Oh my, he sure is a looker." Alette whispers.
She's right, he looks utterly handsome in a dark navy suit and a white shirt that is unbuttoned at the top, giving a hint of his bronzed chest. Miguel has always been too handsome. Even though him and Ben look alike, there's something about Miguel that's just a little more.
The blonde sure is a lucky lady.
He looks just as surprised to see us, and pauses at our table when the maitre d leads him past us.
"Madison." He nods his head at me, those blue eyes intense as it seems as if he's looking through my soul. "Mrs Smith, this is a lovely surprise. What are you doing on my side of the country?"
My mother gracefully gets up to give him a quick hug, but my ass stays planted on my seat while I only smile politely.
Miguel is trying to overthrow Ben, I have to show him my support in his absence.
"I'm getting physical therapy at a center here." My eyes dart to the blonde who doesn't seem too interested to be here. "I'm Madison, Miguel's brother's girlfriend."
"Lucille." She smiles stiffly, and I wonder where the animosity is coming from. This woman doesn't even know me.
"Good luck with therapy." Miguel nods again before he steers the blonde away from our table.
"That is one fine specimen." My mother fans her face, making Alette giggle. "But why does he always look so strict?"
I stiffen in my seat, my head swinging back to where he's being seated a few tables over from ours.
I must surely be going crazy.
Because I swear I just smelled a faint hint of amber and musk.