“Is he okay? What’s wrong, Rome?”
Shaking my head to clear my mind, I speak, “He brought something here for me. Before we . . . before we decided what it was we were doing, I asked him to do me a favor.” I’m not proud of asking him, but I had to. I couldn’t get involved with someone who couldn’t be honest with me.
“Okay.” She drags the word out slowly, and I know she’ll be angry I had someone look into her, but I’m angrier that she didn’t tell me the whole truth.
“He had his family’s private investigator look into you for me.”
“What?” Her gasp is filled with shock, and the look on her face changes from worry to anger. “How could you do that?”
“I needed to know what you were hiding. I’ve been—”
“No, Rome. You had no right to do that. I told you about my past.”
“And yet, you forgot to mention you’re married!” My voice booms against the walls, bouncing around us, filling the office like a looming storm about to crack through the space between us.
Elisabet’s brows furrow as I glare at her. She looks even more shocked now than when I admitted to looking into her past.
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t fucking play games with me, sweetheart,” I bite out, handing her the folder.
Elisabet rises, picking up the item, and flipping it open to the first page. She doesn’t say anything as she flips between the documentation. Her expression remains neutral while I study her. I’m tense, my muscles rigid as I watch her.
Moments later, she lifts her gaze to mine. “This isn’t true.” Her voice is confident. She’s so sure that whatever is in that file isn’t believable.
“And how am I meant to believe that when it’s clearly in black and white?” I speak, my voice coming out raspy with emotion. I’m tamping down the anger, the fear that she’s lying. I realize as I look at her that I don’t want it to be true.
“Rome,” she says my name on a pleaded whisper. “If this were true, I would never have agreed to us. Yes, I was fearful at first, but I told you everything about me. I’m not a liar or a cheater.” Her eyes gloss over with emotion. I notice how she shakes, her body trembling from whatever she’s feeling. Is it fear? I don’t know, but I push to my feet and round my desk.
“Stand.” My order is met with those wide, sparkling eyes, but she obeys. “I needed to see it for myself.”
“See what?” she asks, her lower lip trembling, and I lean in to pull it into my mouth, biting down on the plump flesh. My hands land on her hips, and I pull her closer. The folder with all the pages inside falls to the ground as she wraps her arms around me.
“I wanted to see your reaction.” The heat of my breath on her ear causes her to tremble. She presses her body against mine tightly, but I push her away again. “I want you to leave. No questions, no arguments. Go back to the store. Get it ready to open.”
“Rome, please,” she pleads. “It’s not true. I’m not married. I never—”
“Listen to me. I want you to do as I say. Walk out of this office, and don’t turn back. Don’t contact me.” Her brows furrow. I can read the agony on her face. It’s so clear, so evident that my words are slicing through her like a blade.
Her mouth opens, but I press my finger on her lips. “No.” My voice is cold, chilling me, and I’m sure her too in the process.
And I know nothing I do now will change my feelings.
Space.
It’s the only thing I need.
I watch as she walks out of my office, and I know what I have to do.
Chapter 26
Elisabet
My heart is attacking my ribs at a violent rhythm. I wanted to know where and how Rome got that information. But more so, I need to know why Marco never told me about it. Since Rome isn’t listening to me, perhaps I should get Marco to call him, to tell him it’s not true.
I never once married anyone. I never signed anything. Surely, I would know if I did or not. My hands are trembling when I grab my cell phone and dial Marco’s number. The lump in my throat threatens to choke me.
“Tesoro,” the deep timber comes through the line, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “What can I do for you?”
“Why is there an official marriage certificate with my name and yours on it? I never married you, I never said my vows, and I certainly would remember if I did.”
After a short bout of silence, I’m met with his familiar chuckle. “You’re quite the sassy one talking to me like that,” he informs me coolly. That’s one thing about this man. He doesn’t get ruffled. He’s always been so relaxed, even when in my father’s company, and my dad could have a priest cursing.