This Means War

4| Payback is a Bitch

"Stai bene? Are you alright?" I could have listened to him speak all day. The man could make Adonis himself sink to his knees in adoration. I had never been one for crushing on men, yet here I was demonstrating the perfect example of a teenage fangirl. Get it together woman! I responded with a nod; opening and closing my mouth floundering for some actual words.

When I finally spoke, I wished I had stayed silent. "Wow..." Following the single syllable was yet another humiliating display of my rapidly diminishing intellect.

Clearly your vagina has been out of commission so long that it's now draining blood directly from your braincells! The snarky woman in my head jeered, gawking in disbelief. I was beginning to think she had a point. I'd fallen into the arms of possibly the most divine specimen to walk the earth and the best I could do was, wow. Analysing the situation from an evolutionary perspective, the impression I'd made within the first thirty seconds of arrival had undoubtedly eliminated me as a prospective mate.

Nathaniel cleared his throat a second time, growing increasingly impatient. Enrique released me gently. Casting another charming smile in my dumbfounded direction. He formally introduced himself. My cheeks flamed as I struggled to regain any foundation of speech whatsoever. Noticing my very obvious crash and burn, Nathaniel took over. "Mr. Amorosi, Nathaniel Hughes." Making his introduction, he extended a —seemingly professional— handshake. Enrique accepted his outstretched offering and suddenly the atmosphere dropped. Reinforcing his grip with a squeeze, Nathaniel broadened his shoulders. Enrique didn't so much as flinch, however, his features did display intrigue.

Finally having regathered my equilibrium, I introduced myself. "Pleasure to meet you Mr. Amarosi, I'm Nancy Williams." Inwardly sighing with relief, I shook his hand.

"Pleasure is all mine, signora." He replied smoothly. If I hadn't all but lost my dignity— from my pathetic display earlier—I just may have jumped the walking, European wet-dream.

Placing a hand on my lower back, Nathaniel took point again. The composure I'd gained earlier went up in flames. My body instantly responded to the small contact; blood rushed to my ears, my spine stiffened against his touch and my stomach fluttered. Nathaniel's proximity had me fighting for concentration. My skin burned beneath the subtle caress of his long fingers. "Nancy?" Gasping as my senses slowly returned, I met Nathaniel's furious gaze. "Would you mind showing Mr. Amorosi the blueprints?"

Snorting out a laugh— to fill the abrupt silence— I proved yet again that the intelligent woman I'd previously thought myself to be was nothing more than a horny, sex deprived teenager. When I still didn't move, I saw his jaw clench. I cringed. The absence of discord had only been an act for the benefit of our client; hatred still emitted off him in waves. "Nancy, Mr. Amarosi is waiting." He prompted, harshly.

"Please, Enrique is fine." Like the perfect gentleman, he insisted.

"Mr. Amarosi is fine, too." Nathaniel dismissed his polite offer, unleashing the asshole within.

I winced, looking between them. Enrique Prince Amarosi was the whole-damn package, yet here I was, hopelessly wet for a man that would take me to his bed only to suffocate me with a pillow. My mind reeled, as I stood before the perfect bachelor and still craved the brooding man beside me.

I'd become mostly numb to Nathaniel's hatred over the years because to an extent, I believed that I deserved it. Life was punishment enough, having been forced to watch the love of my life with another woman, let alone having played the single, most vital role in bringing them together. Anything else he could say or do paled in comparison.

I blamed myself for Amelia everyday; even more so, I blamed myself for sacrificing my love in order to give Amelia hers. How could I have foreseen the tragedies that would follow? I had needed him after the accident, but instead he made it a daily endeavour to remind me that I was the source of all his pain. I destroyed three lives with one lie, so I would endure his hatred for as long as it lasted. That being said, I drew the line at him taking his misery out on the rest of the world.