Her Shameful Secret

“I’m Antonio,” he had said, and offered his hand.

She had hesitated at the sight of his expensive cufflinks. It had only been then that she’d noticed he wore a designer suit. His silk tie had probably cost more than her round-trip ticket to Italy. She didn’t know anyone who had that kind of money.

Be careful of the rich ones. Her mother words had drifted in her head. They only want one thing from women like us.

Isabella had smiled. She had decided that it was okay because she was after the same thing.

She had reached for Antonio’s hand and felt a sharp tingle as her skin had glided against his. She hadn’t been able to hide her gasp of surprise. When she had tried to pull away Antonio had wrapped his long, strong fingers around her hand.

Instead of making her feel trapped, his touch had pierced through the gray numbness that had settled in her when she had nursed her mother through her final illness. Her breath had locked in her throat as he’d raised her hand to his mouth.

The earthy colors of Rome had deepened and the sun had turned golden. The blaring sound of traffic had faded as Antonio had brushed his lips against her knuckles. She had known that this man would be the highlight of her vacation. She hadn’t expected to fall in love—and into his bed—with such wild abandon.

She hadn’t expected that she would never be the same again.

Isabella jerked her mind to the present as she saw Antonio disappear from the stairwell with her backpack. Everything she owned—her passport, her money—was in there.

“Wait!” she called out, and hurriedly followed him. She rounded the building and saw Antonio striding down the block. Isabella ran after him. “Antonio, stop!”

He walked to his sports car—a menacing-looking machine that was as black as night. He punched a button on his keyring and the small trunk popped open. Isabella watched in horror as he tossed her backpack in and slammed it shut.

“Give me back my bag,” she said as she reached the car.

“You’ll get it after we visit the lawyers.”

“You don’t understand, Antonio. I have to work.” She gestured at the café on the other end of the block.

“Who cares?” He walked to the driver’s side. “This is more important.”

Spoken like a man who had never had to scrape by or go hungry. “I’m already going to get in trouble for taking an unscheduled break.”

“Unscheduled break? You made a run for it and you weren’t planning to return.”

“I can’t afford to lose this job.” She rubbed her hand over her forehead as she tried to maintain her composure. “If I get fired I lose my room.”

He glanced up at the broken rusted window of her room. “It won’t be that big of a loss.”

Isabella put her hands on her hips. “Maybe not to you, but this job is the only thing that is keeping me from becoming homeless!”

Antonio’s eyes narrowed. “Is this about money?”

“What?” She stared at him across the car.

“Of course it is.”

“It’s about my livelihood,” she corrected him through clenched teeth. Antonio wouldn’t understand about that, having been born into wealth and status. She needed her job because she had no other form of support or resources. Why couldn’t he see that? “Listen, let’s make a compromise. I will go to the lawyers with you once I finish my shift at the café.”

Antonio took another look at his watch. “That’s unacceptable.”

“Seriously? How is that unacceptable? You asked for a favor from me and I just agreed to do it.”

“We both know you are prolonging the inevitable and will try to avoid it. Although I find it very curious that you aren’t asking how much money you will get. Unless, of course, you already know.”

“There’s nothing curious about it,” she said as she folded her arms protectively around her. “The only thing I know is that any money will come with strings attached. I don’t want anything—especially if it means dealing with you or your family.”

Antonio chose to ignore her comment. “I’m not willing to wait around and watch over you until your shift ends.”

“Do you even know how to compromise?” she asked, tossing her hands up in frustration. Of course he didn’t. The world bowed down to him. Just as she had done, once upon a time.

“This is what I know,” he said as he slipped on his sunglasses. “The will was read three days ago. The contents will soon become public.”

Isabella frowned. “What are you talking about?”

He opened the door and sat down in the driver’s seat. “It won’t take long before the paparazzi find you.”

She jerked her head back in surprise. “Paparazzi? What would they want with me?”

“You’re kidding, right? The woman who slept with the Rossi brothers has wound up with a fortune.”

She stared at him with wide eyes. “There is no need to make it sound so salacious.”

“I’m just telling it like it is,” he said impatiently. “Now, get in.”

Isabella hesitated. Giovanni had left her a fortune? That couldn’t be right. Antonio must be exaggerating. If only she could accept the money. But even if she did it would take ages to go through the legal and financial systems and get the cash she so desperately needed.

What would happen to her after she’d signed the documents? She had no home, no money and no protection. She had been working for months to raise the money to get back to California and she didn’t think she would make enough before the paparazzi found her. Could she ask Antonio for help?

She bit her lip as she weighed the pros and cons. Could she ask him? Was she willing to stoop that low? Antonio could easily afford the price of a plane ticket, probably had the cash in his wallet, but it felt wrong.

Antonio leaned back in his seat. “What do you want?”

She took a deep breath. “I need a plane ticket to Los Angeles. For tonight.”

He nodded sharply. “What else?”

She was already regretting her request. She didn’t want anything from Antonio. His presence reminded her of the poor choices she made because she’d been in love. She had fought for him, for them, and he had discarded her without a second thought. As much as it pained her to think about it, her mother had been right. She hated it when that happened.

“That’s it.”

He tipped his sunglasses and studied her face. “I don’t believe you.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” she replied. “But I mean it. I don’t want anything else.”

“That will change soon,” he said as he started the engine.

“Maybe I didn’t make myself clear. I shall consider this a loan,” she said as the car purred to life. “I’ll pay you back once I get settled.”

“It’s not necessary.”