If Loving You is Wrong

26: Just Business

Antonio stared at the text message in front of him and his entire stomach fell out of his ass.

She knew!

How on earth had she found out?!

Even as he thought it, he knew exactly how and cursed himself that he hadn't thought that Leo would spill the beans sooner.

The questions though, was how it had come up in conversation anyway.

Very few people knew of Olivia's situation so they very rarely spoke of it . she had been seen so infrequently over the years, if ever, that she was barely ever spoken about now.

He'd preferred it that way as the years went on because he'd run out of things to say; "Shes doing well" didn't quite cut it any more.

"Is everything okay?" Antonio looked up at Olivia,

"What?"

"You were in the kitchen a long time and you seem a little distracted...is everything okay?"

Antonio looked back down at his phone and closed the message before plastering a casual look on his face and looking back at Olivia.

"I'm fine...just some emails that need my attention."

Olivia nodded as best she could in her position and sent him a small smile which he returned.

Since their encounter in his bedroom the other night, Olivia and Antonio had come to somewhat of a truce.

He'd sent Liana the message saying he wanted to end things because of that truce. He'd promised to love and cherish his wife until the end of their days and now he knew she still loved him, he felt even worse for having betrayed her. He had wanted to cut all ties with Liana and go back to being the husband he'd been before, namely a trustworthy one.

It was only now, as he thought of Liana's reply burning in his pocket that he knew that could never happen.

He was tainted now and forever would be with the blood of his indiscretion as well as the impression that Liana had left on his heart.

He wouldn't go as far to say that he loved her, but in the short time he had known her and the intimacies they'd shared, why was he finding it so hard to let her go.

She was right, he was getting what he wanted.

Liana had given him his way out; he could commit to Olivia again without the hassle of breaking up with Liana but still he hesitated.

He didn't want to let Liana go even though he knew he should.

She had to know his side, she had to know that he'd tried to avoid her, that he couldn't help himself; that he'd been drawn to her from the moment he'd laid eyes on her in that restaurant in Abu Dhabi.

"Are you sure, you're alright? You haven't touched any of your breakfast." Olivia said again, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Antonio shook his head,

"No, I mean...yes, I'm fine I'm just thinking some things over."

"What things?"

"The emails I just mentioned," Antonio began. "I have to go away for a few days, maybe a week."

"Really, where?"

"Aldovia. The case I'm working on is focusing on their royal family and it would be a lot easier if I were based there...will you be okay for so long...it might get extended at a moments notice."

Olivia was clearly upset by this but she put on a brave face and said,

"Business is business...just promise me something."

"Anything Olivia,"

"We'll go to your parents for a while. I like the house there and we can...spend some time together."

He knew it had cost her a lot to say it and so he got up from his chair and went to stand by her chair. He turned her to face him and with a delicacy he hadn't shown towards her in a long time, Antonio gently kissed his wife on her soft lips.

When he pulled away, he gently stroked her face and she closed her eyes dreamily,

"Id forgotten how beautiful your kisses made me feel...even in this chair, it still works."

Antonio's heart constricted,

"I need to go...I'll let you know when to get ready for my parents." Olivia nodded,

"Thank you,"

"Mrs Barnes!" Antonio called out, "My briefcase please!" Antonio picked up his phone and sent an email to Tina asking her to get him on a flight to Connecticut as soon as possible.