Page 159 of A Diamond Deal
‘That’s none of your business.’
‘You are still my wife.’
She whirled around then, fury spreading through her. ‘Don’t be such a jerk. I’m not your wife, any more than I am a doctor. Wanting something doesn’t make it happen.’
His jaw shifted as he ground his teeth. ‘You are my wife, to the rest of the world. Wherever you go, you are under my protection.’
‘You’ve made me wealthy,’ she pointed out. ‘I can hire my own damned security, Massimiliano. I don’t need anything from you,’ she said, tilting her chin defiantly. ‘Except the one thing you’ll clearly never give me.’
‘You are acting like a child.’
She glared at him. ‘And you’re acting like an asshole. I know which one I’d rather be.’
She stalked to the door and wrenched it inwards.
‘At least take my car—’
She sent him a withering look. ‘I wantnothingfrom you. Got it?’
Chapter Fourteen
HE HAD HISsecurity follow her cab. If she was going to be delusional about the very real risks her public profile presented, then that was her choice. But for Massimiliano’s part, protecting her was now a requirement. He’d created this situation. There was no way he’d let harm befall her because he’d failed to care for her.
His conscience was already groaning under the weight of their argument, her accusations. His mind reeling with accusations she’d made that he didn’t want to address, sentiments that were swallowed into the ‘no-go’ segment of his brain, protecting him from analysing them further.
Amelia went to a hotel in the city. Once he had the name, he called and made sure the room was charged to him. While she was right—he’d settled a decent amount on her—he didn’t want her using her money for a situation that was his creation. He also sent a security team to stay at the hotel, to wait in the foyer in shifts, so they could accompany her when she went out. He needed to know she was safe.
The next day, he had her clothes and accessories packaged up and sent to the hotel. He’d thought of doing it himself, but the moment his hand had glanced across one of her silk dresses, and he remembered her wearing it, he’d stalked out of the wardrobe and outsourced the task instead. A glimpse into the fantasy life they’d had threatened to rock his certainty that he’d done the right thing.
He’d partly been expecting some acknowledgement of the clothes, though. A text, a call.
And he’d craved that. He missed her like hell. Only the knowledge that he’d done what was right kept him from calling her himself.
Just to hear her voice.
The third day after she left, she texted.
Seriously, this is stalking. Get your security guys to go away.
He frowned. Why couldn’t she be reasonable? How could she fail to see his duty was to protect her, no matter what?
Are they bothering you?
He waited, gut churning, as he stared at his phone, hoping she’d say something back. Anything.
The next day, he got another text.
Massimiliano, you cannot ride roughshod over my wishes. I’m a big girl. I’m prepared to take the risk of being on my own. Call off your team.
And when they were still guarding her the next day:
If you respect me, even one iota, you will do as I say. I’m a grown woman. I can make my own decisions.
He replied:
This is a mistake. You’re vulnerable.
It’s my mistake to make.
