I knew I was incapable of doing what Lily was asking of me. The man hadn’t wanted me to see him in the hospital, how would he react if I tried to butt my nose into his business? I knew nothing about what he went through, except what Lily had told me, and most of it, I didn’t want to hear.
Knowing how much pain he was in, how grueling his recovery had been and would continue to be, caused my own pain. My heart ached for him. But not only for his pain. My heart ached for him because even though I’d never admit to anyone—not even him—I loved Mylos.
When I thought about my future, or when my mother pestered me about when I was going to give in and marry Paolo, I could never see it happening.
I could never marry another man, knowing that in my heart, Mylos was my one true love. From the beginning, fate kept us apart, maybe to warn us we could never be. But my heart didn’t listen. Even if I never saw him again after tonight, I’d love him until the day I died. It would be unfair to let another man think he could own even a sliver of my heart.
I sat up when I heard a knock at my door and looked over at the time. I must’ve drifted off. The party would be starting in an hour, and I still had to get ready.
“Un momento,” I hollered, straightening my clothes and my hair as I walked toward the door. I opened it without looking, stunned for the second time today to see Mylos on the other side.
“What are you doing here?”
“I…um…never mind.”
“Wait!” I called
out as he rushed down the hallway toward the elevator. I followed, but the door closed behind him before I got there. I stalked back to my room with clenched fists only to find the door had closed behind me. I was locked out.
With a growl, I padded my way, barefoot, back to the elevator, drumming my fingers on my arm. I took it down to the main floor and walked over to the front desk. The line was ten deep.
I stood there, just having rolled out of bed, no shoes on my feet, fuming.
“Damn you, Mylos,” I muttered under my breath as I impatiently waited for the line to move. A couple who had been at the front, turned and walked toward me. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“Paolo?”
“Pia? What are you doing here?”
“I’m in town to visit a friend.”
“What a funny coincidence,” he said, running his hand through his hair. The woman hanging on his arm appeared unamused.
“Hello,” I said, looking directly at her, even though she refused to make eye contact with me; she was too busy looking at my toes.
“Sorry. Pia, this is Donnatella. Donnatella, Pia.”
“Hello,” I said a second time. She gave me an icy nod, but didn’t speak. Perhaps she was mute.
“What are you doing here?” Paolo asked a second time, looking down at my feet like the woman hanging on him had.
“As I said, I’m in town to visit a friend.”
“No, I mean in the lobby.”
I squared my shoulders. I had no reason to be embarrassed in front of these people, but I was. “It’s a long story, but I was locked out of my room.”
Donnatella shifted her hand so the light would hit what had to be a ten-carat diamond ring.
“Congratulations,” I said, looking back at Paolo. “When is the big day?”
“Not for a few months,” he answered, sheepishly.
“Well, congratulations again.”
“It was nice to see you.”
I breathed out a sigh of relief when he walked away, only to tense up when I heard him say my name again. “Is there anything I can do? Talk to the manager?”