The Italian's Fake Fiancée

45

Suddenly Leo didn't feel like defending himself again. To hell with the company. To hell with all of them. When had he ever won against Rosa? She was always one step ahead of him. Maybe he doesn't deserve the company, Paige, any of it.

His sudden withdrawal brought about a moment of reflection and both Carlo and Flavia began to have doubts in his favor. And in that silence, a gentle voice spoke out.

"I believe him." Leo looked up, it was Paige.

"You believe him in what? Try to be a little more clear *bambina-child*." Carlo quipped.

"I believe him when he said Lolita threw herself on him."

"How so, my dear. Is there something you know?" Flavia asked.

Paige nodded her head. "Back in California, women were always after Leonardo because of his money and status, and they did do anything to get what they want. On one occasion one had even stripped herself naked because she wanted me to find her like that so I will break up with my Leo." Her eyes misted and flavia"s heart went out to her.

"Poor child." Twisting her necklace in her hand. Flavia covered her mouth with one of her hands while Alberto and Carlo remained quiet.

Leo stared at the glassy look in Paige's eyes and wondered at it. He knew she was just saying that for the benefit of his parents, but did she have to cry? It bothered him so much because he hated seeing her like this. He pulled his gaze away.

"What they didn't know was that our love was strong and it would take more than seducing him to break what Leo, and I had."

As she said this, Paige walked up to him and fisted the front of his shirt with her two hands.

Automatically, Leo's hand went behind her back, and he breathed her in. She was finally in his arms. He wanted to tell her there was nobody he wanted in his arms but her that everything was a lie, but she was crying.

That misty eye had finally let down rain. With his thumbs, he wiped her tears from her eyes. And she raised her face and stared at him with watery eyes and then lifted on her tiptoes and kissed him soundly on the mouth.

Leo felt that kiss down to the tip of his toes. It was the first time she was kissing him on her own accord. That was what made it different and so damn good he wanted to hold her down and prolong the kiss, however, Paige had a mind of her own and soon turned away from him, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand and smiling at his parents.

"I presume the same thing is happening here," she said. "That Lolita is trying to create doubt, but what I failed to understand is why. Perhaps its resentment."

"How can you be so sure?

Startled, Paige turned sharply. "What?"

Rosa, who had just come back from helping Lolita inside the house, folded her hands under her breast and gave Paige... gave his woman a deathly stare.

"How can you be so sure that Lolita wants something from my brother?" Hearing that Leo wanted to pounce on Rosa.

Rosa lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. "Maybe he picked her up all on his own." Right before his eyes Paige's expression wavered.

Seeing that Leonardo snapped with great irritation. "Don't put such ideas into her head."

Rosa smiled at him and gave him no more attention. All her attention focused on Paige. "Besides, if you knew he was innocent of all the accusations, why didn't you speak up all along why keep quiet, and stay there like a wallflower."

"Rosa!" Leonardo blustered finally having enough, and the woman had the nerve to smile at him.

Turning his attention to the expression on Paige's face, Leo wanted to swoop in and save her before Rosa tore her into two, however, something inside of him told him not to and he kept still.