My Forbidden Love

Chapter 48

Olivia's pov:

The next afternoon, Jack gets ready for the party with me in my room, and we are alone for the first time since Alessi and Natalia arrived.

"So, what's this all about, Jack? Why are they here, really?"

Jack sighs and looks at me seriously.

"Something's up, Olivia. They wouldn't be here if it wasn't. Don Bianci - my grandfather - he hasn't sent anyone to check on my dad since mom died. We must seriously be in hot water if he's sending Natalia and Alessi here together."

Don Bianci - finally I have a name to put to Alessi's father and Natalia's boss.

He is an incredibly wealthy and powerful boss in Italy - and Kent's father in law. If he's getting upset with Kent.....

"This could go really well, or, or it could go terribly. A lot rides on what happens tonight. Alessi and Natalia want the whole family together so they can get a real picture of what dad is doing. And then, whatever they learn. They'll decide to either support him in whatever way they can, or......"

"Or what?"

"Or they will replace him. My grandfather has a great deal of capital invested with my father. Dad is boss and grandpa generally lets him do what he wants, but if they decide that dad is seriously messing up....."

"Do you think your grandpa would kill Kent?"

Jack doesn't answer but his face gives me the answer to my question.

"Is there anything we can do to help?"

"Just.... Make dad look good. Which, I think, means presenting a united front to uncle Alessi and Natalia."

"United front. By which you mean....."

"It would be better, Olivia, if we were.... engaged. And nobody knew, at all, about..... whatever is going on with you and dad."

I sigh, nodding in understanding.

"But you know that us pretending to be engaged for appearances doesn't..... actually change anything."

"Olivia. You should let it change. Let me change it for you. We can go back to what we had -"

"Jack. Even if I wasn't..... with your dad....... You and me? It's not fair to either of us."

"Olivia, I've said it before - we could be so good together -"

"What about Jerome, Jack? It's not fair to Jerome either. Tell me, do you love him?"

Jack pulls away from me, turning his back, but I can see the tension in his shoulder.

I'm still waiting for Jack to turn back to me when the door opens.

"What the hell are you two doing?! You're not even dressed!?"

Kent gestures towards my towel.

"Olivia! You have about twenty seconds!"

I just roll my eyes at him and head for my wardrobe.

I pull the elegant dress I've chosen over my head and zip it halfway up my back, unable to reach any further. Then I hurry back out into my room.

"Can one of you...."

I walk swiftly over to them and hold the front of the dress with my hand.

Then I turn and indicate to the zipper, looking over my shoulder at them.

Both Kent and Jack step forward to do the job but, realising it simultaneously, they both stop and glare at each other.

"Oh for fuck sake! It's just a zipper!"
I say getting annoyed at their pathetic behaviour.