Page 19 of Untamed Billionaire
“Maybe another hour,” she whispered back, setting her wine glass back down on the table. “Why do you never drink?”
He shrugged and picked up his water, sniffing it first. “Because the first night at your mother’s house, she put syrup of ipecac into my wine.”
Chloe’s gaze was confused as she stared at him. “I’m sorry?”
He grimaced, pushing the broccoli around on his plate. He really hated broccoli! “Remember that Bingly guy who drank our wine?”
“Yes.” She paused, biting her lip as she thought back to that night. Was it really only three weeks ago that she’d met Marco for the first time? “That night when he threw up all over the dining room after everyone had left?”
Chloe cringed, shuddering at the memory. Marco laughed softly, but there was no amusement in that sound. “Yep. I smelled the syrup in the wine. That’s one of the reasons I didn’t drink it that night.”
“No way!” she whispered right back. But then she started to think about that evening. Mr. Bingly had been guzzling everyone else’s wine and…well, he’d seemed fine, if inebriated. It had only been after he’d chugged Marco’s wine that he’d…!
“Oh my!” she covered her mouth with her fingers, too stunned as the truth came to her. “She did it!”
He nodded and leaned to the right so a member of the wait staff could take his plate. “Would you do me a favor?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” she agreed, more than ready to do anything for him now that she realized her mother had tried to embarrass Marco that evening.
“I’d like you to eat everything on your plate during the next course.” He stopped and looked right at her. “You’ve lost weight and you’re looking very pale.”
Chloe hesitated, biting her lip as she glanced down at the empty space in front of her. “I have to fit into my wedding dress. My final fitting is tomorrow.” She finally lifted her eyes, pleading with him to understand.
Marco looked at her, his eyes intent. “Did the dress fit you when you tried it on the last time?”
“Yes, but…”
“Then it will be loose on you when you try it on tomorrow. I guarantee that you have lost weight. I thought you said that the dress couldn’t be altered again except for the hem.”
“That’s true but…”
“Then eat something,” he urged. His hand came up, his thumb caressing her cheek. “You’re too pale, Chloe.”
“My mother says that…”
“Do you really believe your mother? She’s jealous because you’re about to be the center of attention on our wedding day. She’s sabotaging you, Chloe. She’s jealous and trying to make you as miserable as she is. Don’t let her.” He paused for a moment, taking her hand and squeezing her fingers gently. “Just eat. For me, if not for yourself.”
She stared up at him for a long moment, then nodded. “Okay. I will.”
“Good.” He took her hands, squeezing them again before lifting them to his lips to kiss them. “You’re beautiful, Chloe. If I convince you of nothing else during our relationship, I want you to believe how truly lovely you are. Not because of your weight, but because of who you are; the gentleness, the hope that lives on inside of you, despite the constant battering of that hope by your abusive mother and the neglect of your father.”
Chloe was stunned by his words. Not just the intensity with which he conveyed them to her, but the sincerity in his voice. In a massive breach of manners, Chloe leaned forward and kissed him. It was just a light brush of her lips against his, but in that moment, everything felt right and good.
When she opened her eyes, she looked into his and said, “Thank you!”
Unfortunately, the intimate, private moment had taken place amidst a dinner party in their honor and a round of cheers and clapping interrupted that tender moment. Chloe looked around, startled by the abrupt noise. Marco took her hand and kissed the tips of her fingers in a very romantic gesture, then he lifted his hand as if to acknowledge the room’s cheers. But Chloe merely shifted on the uncomfortable dining chair, wishing they could leave. She wanted to be alone with Marco. She wanted to show him how much his words meant to her.
In that moment, Chloe glanced to the right and there she was; her mother glowering in distaste. Chloe was startled by the intense hatred directed towards Marco, but she didn’t understand why her mother felt so strongly towards Marco. Had he said or done something that had offended her? Of course, offending her mother could mean anything from sipping one’s wine at the wrong moment to wearing the wrong color slacks to a social event. Her mother’s world revolved around being absolutely correct at all times during any sort of social activity. She loved her position as a society matron, as a powerhouse within the Charleston hierarchy.
But when her mother’s eyes caught Chloe’s, the hatred was instantly hidden. Her mother pasted on a bright, happy smile and began clapping as well. That was definitely odd, Chloe thought.
A moment later, servants stepped into the dining room to serve the next course and Chloe banished her mother’s mercurial moods from her mind. Chloe wasn’t going to let her mother bother her. Not tonight. Six more days. Just six more days!
Chapter 6
Charles Forsythe stepped into Marco’s office, a jovial expression on his face.
“Good morning, Charles,” Marco greeted the older man. They did the normal handshake and then Charles turned to introduce Marco to several other gentlemen who had followed Charles in.
