Book 2: What Happens Here - Chicago (What Happens Here Series)

Chapter 65 - Valentina

After ending her call with Roger Martin, Valentina sat shocked and stunned by what he'd reported to her. Ethan had proposed to that CAGNA!!! NO WAY IN HELL!! FOUR YEARS! FOUR YEARS Valentina had devoted her time, effort and energy into trying to show Ethan how good they could be together, and all of the reasons why he should not hide or run from what she knew he felt for her. And despite all of her best efforts, Ethan had proposed to this MALEDETTA STRONZA and thought she would allow it?! Oh...he was very much mistaken!

Once Roger had sent her the video of Ethan proposing to Jasmine in New York City during their little weekend getaway, Valentina had been enraged once she'd reviewed it. No amount of counting to ten or attempting to control her breathing had helped her to rein in her anger. In fact, as she'd watched the video for the 20th time in less than 30 minutes, her rage and anger had begun to boil over, and she'd broken almost every item made of glass and or crystal that she'd owned, which was of no real consequence to her. After all, she could afford to replace those things, and she had una governante, that was hired to clean her home daily, so Valentina decided to leave the mess for the help to dispose of.

As the video had played, and while she'd listened to Ethan's vomit inducing proposal through the surround sound speakers that she'd had installed throughout her home several years prior, she had screamed at the top of her lungs each time he'd said, "I can't imagine my life without you in it baby, because from the moment I'd laid my eyes on you, I knew that you were the woman that I was meant to spend my life with."

How dare he say that! How could he see this Cagna ONCE, and in a nasty ass bagno hallway in an airport no less and fall in love with her at first sight?!! She had known Ethan for four years and they'd even shared an intimate moment in the shower during his visit to Italy, and although he'd overreacted to her presence, his body's reaction to hers could not be denied. Regardless of the words that Ethan continued to speak in denial of his feelings for her, his body's reactions to hers nullified them because there was no way that he could hide the way he truly felt about her. Of that Valentina was sure.

After closing her eyes, and exhaling a few short calming breaths, Valentina opened them and went to grab her cell. The plans that she'd had for Jasmine Ellis needed to be pushed up, especially now that things appeared to have changed drastically where Ethan's so-called feelings for Jasmine were concerned.

Scrolling through her contacts, Valentina paused on the number that she was looking for. Hitting the send button, she waited the two rings that it took for the deep male voice on the other end to say, "Hello Valentina." Smiling, she said, "I have a task for you, and I need it completed today." There was a slight pause on the other end of the line, before the male caller replied, "Tell me what you need."

Several hours after she'd ended her call, Valentina received a text message that said, "It's done", and a huge smile spread across her face as she tilted the glass of 2003 Chateau d'Yquem that her zio, Carmine had gifted her with when she'd been promoted to her current position of Senior Vice President within their family's company. She had not had an occasion to indulge in the wine before tonight, but after receiving news that Jasmine Ellis would soon be out of the picture, was definitely something to celebrate.