Page 45 of His Obsession
“Of course.” She smiles. “Would you like a tour of the house? Or maybe I can make you something to eat?”
“That’s okay,” I tell her. “I can just make myself something.”
She frowns at this. “None of Mr.DeLuca’s guests usually use the kitchen.”
The way she says it makes clear she’d very much prefer they stay out of it. Who am I to take work away from her?
“Well, in that case, do you have the ingredients for grilled cheese?”
She smiles and invites me to sit at the kitchen island. Her name is Adelina, she tells me, and she shares all about working for Sebastian. She’s been with the family for twenty years and became Sebastian’s personal chef five years ago. I nearly burst out laughing. Who the hell has a personal chef?
Another panic attack threatens, but I push it away as Adelina serves me the grilled cheese.
After that, I head upstairs and crash. Snooping can wait. My body is wrecked from the insane stress of the last few days. I need a break.
Unfortunately, I’m riddled with nightmares. I wake in a cold sweat and realize it’s already dark outside. I must have been more tired than I thought. I grab my phone and find a wall of messages. Nico checking in to see how it’s going at Sebastian’s and promising to come over tomorrow. Gia asking how telling Sebastian went. Tessa asking where I am, multiple times. I do feel bad about that.
My stomach growls, and I know I need to eat, even though my body feels like lead. When I open my bedroom door, I find a tray of food waiting and a bottle of water. I’m touched from the kind gesture, whether it’s from Sebastian or Adelina.
I scarf down the food and go right back to sleep. When I finally wake for real, it feels like I never slept at all. Morning comes pale and unfriendly through the curtains. My mouth tastes sour. My stomach turns the second I sit up.
I make it to the bathroom and throw up hard enough to bring tears to my eyes. God, I’m not going to get used to this pregnancy thing any time soon.
I shower, get dressed, and head downstairs, still shaky. In the kitchen, I find a tray set out on the island with plain crackers, a pot of ginger tea, a sliced lemon, and a little dish of honey.
“Good morning, Ms.Moretti,” Adelina says cheerfully, walking into the kitchen. “Mr.DeLuca mentioned you might feel nauseated this morning.”
Again, I’m unexpectedly touched. Then incredibly annoyed. I know it’s not fair, but I hate how well he anticipates my needs.
“If you’d like me to make you something else, I can do eggs or toast.”
“No, this is good. Thank you.”
She nods and disappears again.
I eat two crackers standing at the island and sip the tea slowly enough to keep my stomach from revolting. It helps.
I grab another handful of crackers and walk out the front door expecting to leave in my car. Instead, a black SUV idles at the base of the steps. The driver climbs out the second he sees me, blocking my path.
“Ms. Moretti.”
My stomach drops again, though this time it has nothing to do with pregnancy.
“Mr.DeLuca asked me to drive you.”
“That’s okay,” I say, waving him off. “I can drive myself.”
“I’m under instructions to stay with you today,” he says, making it clear I don’t have a say in the matter.
Then Sebastian steps out the front doors behind me, dressed in a dark suit that probably costs more than my rent. His tie hangs loose in one hand, hair still damp from the shower.
“You’re not serious,” I say to him.
He pauses. Then he looks from me to the driver and smirks in that annoying, knowing way of his.
“This is for your own protection, Valentina,” he says calmly. “Please don’t argue with me about this.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my car,” I remind him.
