15. Valerie

Chapter fifteen

Valerie

2 p.m.

The time I started getting ready.

A divine shower: a hair wash, shave, exfoliate–the works. Dried off, did my full skincare routine, applied body moisturiser, and applied my first round of perfume too.

4 p.m.

The time I started trying on dresses because the only correct order to get done is: dress, hair and then make-up.

Ambrose, or rather his credit card, generously bought me plenty of options for tonight, all from brands I haven't even looked at since my days in Paris. I tried to stick with the ones I've heard that the Vitales have shares in, which thankfully for me, was nearly every single one I used to love.

The only limitation was Ambrose's text to me saying the event had a theme which was ' Enchanted Eden Affair '. Which to say the least has thrown me for a tailspin trying to figure out what is considered both black tie, but also suitable for a garden party. The fact that he hasn't told me where the event is happening is not helping much either.

6

The number of pairs of shoes currently lying on my floor.

The dress Ambrose's credit card bought is hanging perfectly against my cupboard inside a garment bag while I try and sort out which shoes would work with it. Some are either too casual, too high, too formal, or simply not good enough. I'm supposed to be standing on Ambrose Vitale's arm, paid or not, there's no way I can walk in looking like I got shipped home from my soon to be ex-husband's house. Even though that's exactly what happened.

Appearance is everything to these people, and I need mine to be perfect.

8 p.m.

On the dot, I hear my doorbell ring, telling me that he's here and my stomach drops so quickly it feels like I'm on one of the roller coasters that Antonio and I would ride again and again at the fair when we were younger.

"Val!" Karyn's voice rings up the stairs. I hurry to grab my purse and the last few things I need to throw into it. My heels tick down the stairs as I descend, and so does the lip gloss that slips out of my hands and tumbles down the stairs, rolling to a stop next to a pair of all-black wingtips.

A tattooed hand reaches down to grab it, and I swallow before I will my eyes to trail up from the floor.

His black slacks are crisp, the front seam pressed to perfection, the white of his shirt nearly blinding, but stopped enough by the black suit jacket atop of it. It's unbuttoned. A gold chain along with a tattoo peaks out, and then I make my fatal move and meet his eyes.

The green that stares back at me is enough to knock the air completely out of my lungs. It isn't the colour, but the way his eyes are drinking me in. They're darker than their usual shade of jade green.

Karyn clears her throat and I jump, not realising she is still in the room with us. To be fair, I didn't realise there was anything else in the room other than Ambrose himself.

She's been glued to my back ever since I told her that Ambrose asked me to go to this dinner with him – I did leave out the details of him paying me, because I still feel a bit dirty at the thought of being paid to be a man's date. It's clear that it is a huge event, and I of course had no idea it even existed before the email notification popped up on my laptop at work.

"Thank you," I say, and take the gloss from his hand. The interaction gives me a few seconds to admire the spider tattoo on his hand, its thin legs stretching out to the edges of his hand and before I can take in any more detail, he pulls his hand back.

"Are you ready to go?" he asks with an amused smirk on his lips. I nod, and smile awkwardly at Karyn who is staring back at us as if she's seen a celebrity.

"Oh shit, I'm sorry, Ambrose. This is my cousin, Karyn. Karyn, this is Ambrose," I say, realising I never introduced them as I was too caught up in my haze.

"A pleasure." He flashes his perfect smile, and I swear there's a Karyn-sized puddle where she was standing.

"Don't wait up, I've got keys," I yell over my shoulder as Ambrose holds the door open for me and then closes it after.

"You look beautiful," he says so lowly I have to do a double take to see if the words did come from him. His apathetic expression doesn't help either. It's only when I say thank you and he nods, that it's confirmed.

A man in a black suit opens the car door, he gestures for me to get into the backseat.

As Ambrose enters behind me, my eyes land on a pocket square in the perfect shade of pink to match my dress. I smile and tap it lightly causing him to stare at it.

"Nice pocket square, I like it."

"I figured you might," he smiles smugly. My legs feel like jelly under me and suddenly, it feels like I'm about to overheat, even though nearly my entire back is exposed.

The drive is comfortable, Solex is playing through the speakers and I hide a small smile to myself, realising how much he enjoys their music .

Natalia doesn't usually like to tell people they're related because she has, on a few occasions actually, had people pretend to get close to her, in hopes of getting closer to Leo.

"So, is Adriano bringing a date?" I ask, trying to make conversation.

Ambrose simply nods, the top of his hand running along the stubble that's been growing out on his chin for the last few days.

"Are you okay? You seem.." I trail off, trying to find the right word. "Tense?"

"I am. It's a major event in our industry, and the fact that Antonio and Augustus aren't here makes the whole evening a bit more…complicated."

Reality clutches me by the throat and stops a breath in its tracks. I've spent the entire day running around, essentially playing dress up, not for a second considering how serious this could be for not only Ambrose, but for the entire company and myself as well.

This event will place me directly in the media's spotlight and in the perfect location for Mattheo to see me.

I look over at him, he's playing with the chain around his neck.

"So, where exactly is the dinner?"

He looks over at me wide-eyed. "So, you know about the CFP dinner, but you don't know where it's held?"

I furrow my brows again, not realising just how big of a deal this is. "No, I don't. I've also lived in Paris for the last six years of my life, so forgive me for not playing ‘Keeping Up with the Finance Bros.'"

A grin tugs at his lips now, his hand falling still on his lap.

"Well, sweetheart, I thought you'd do more research before jumping at the chance to be my date."

"Technically, the only jumping I want to do is off a cliff, but you are rather good at bribery."

The grin spreads into a smile. "Touché, sweetheart."

"Besides, I did do my homework. The CFP annual dinner is essentially where a bunch of rich guys meet up to show off to other rich guys, and at the end of the night, they all donate money to a charity of a rich guy's choosing."

"Yes–I guess that's exactly what it is." Ambrose frowns slightly before he bursts out laughing. "We aren't going to show off though, we're going to secure investors and the only way to do that is to kiss their ass."

"So, if you're going to be kissing ass all night, why am I here?"

His eyes cast over to me and trails down my entire body. "Well, I do have to show off a little, I'm the CEO of Vitale Holdings after all."

"And this has nothing to do with falling stocks due to your ever-changing love life?" I know it isn't something I should have brought up because there's only one way I would possibly know that.

"I swear with Antonio in my house, I may as well have a direct line to the media."

I chew on the inside of my cheek, and my entire face heats up from embarrassment. I'd rather have him think Antonio cannot keep secrets, than ever let him know the real reason I know is because Karyn and I spent the entire evening last night doing a deep dive on all things Ambrose Vitale.

Let's just say in the last ten years Ambrose has been everything but a stable CEO that people would want to invest into. Between the parties, the girls, and that one criminal charge in London, I'm not surprised Vitale Holdings is struggling to secure investors.

"Your brother's inability to keep a secret aside, you still haven't told me where we're going."

"I don't have to." My eyes snap up to the sudden roar of noise surrounding us, and I notice the swarm of paparazzi. "We're here."

Ambrose straightens his suit jacket, gives me one final look, a flash of his perfect smile and steps out of the car.

Between the noise, the flashes of light and the heat pooling in between my legs from his smile alone, I'm frozen in my spot. No common sense willing me to move until my door is opened and Ambrose is staring at me now, with concern lacing his features.

"It'll be okay, sweetheart. Just take my hand and smile. "

I place my hand in his and he guides me out of the car. Before I'm even fully on my feet his security team flanks us as we head towards the start of the red carpet.

Great, there goes any chance of escaping.

It was supposed to be a silly little dinner, with silly little rich boys. Tell me why my arm is now interlocked with Ambrose Vitale's, as he guides me to a gigantic red carpet that extends up what looks like the staircase to heaven.

Reporters, photographers and media of all kinds line both sides of the staircase as cameras flash at a blinding rate.

My arm tries to slip out of his grasp, my nerves causing me to want to straighten my dress out. We haven't even stepped onto the carpet yet, but the paparazzi roar his name like a lion starved for years.

I actually feel bad for the couple ahead that seems to be forgotten as soon as Ambrose steps up.

He grabs my hand in his before looking down at me with concern. He leans down to my ear and whispers, "Stop fiddling and relax."

He is good, better at pretending than I thought he would be. He looks down at me with the most endearing smile, as if the words that left his lips weren't a borderline threat.

His fingers thread through my own as a woman with an earpiece and clipboard guides us to the start of the carpet, and gestures for us to start the ascent.

I'm okay, it's okay. It's just stairs Valerie, you've climbed stairs before. Sure, there are hundreds of people and a hundred more cameras watching you right now, but that doesn't matter, you can do this.

Can I?

My heart sinks. There are so many different media outlets here, there's no way Mattheo won't know my exact location after this is published across every online magazine and newspaper.

Ambrose gently squeezes my hand and runs a thumb over my knuckle. My head snaps up and my heart wants to break out of my chest, run back down the stairs and all the way back home. With the way those green eyes are looking at me, I swear I'm the most important person in the world to him.

It's pretend, Valerie.

Once we reach the first landing, he pulls me into his side and turns to face the one side of cameras.

Our hands hang awkwardly between us, like a couple of little kids who are holding hands for the first time. I play it off as best I can, smiling gently at all the flashing lights.

I lift both our hands so that his hand is near the opening at the back of my dress, but as I'm about to let go and leave his hand there, he grips mine even tighter, willing me not to let go.

I stare up at him but he seems unfazed. Yet something about the gesture is a crack in his ever-perfect facade

He's nervous.

The camera flashes increase, and I realise it's because of how I'm looking at him. There are screams of his name and requests for him—or rather us—to face in certain directions. Almost as if he can tell it's getting all too overwhelming for me, he gestures for me to follow him and we continue up the stairs again.

The next and final landing goes much smoother, with us only staying for a few minutes this time before heading towards the entrance.

The Luminé, where the dinner is being held, is so beautifully decorated that if I hadn't been here before, I would have sworn that somewhere between the stairs and the front door, we were magically transported to ancient Greece.

Tall ivory pillars run along the walls all decorated with delicate fairy lights and branches of greenery. The simplicity of the decorations only highlights the architectural beauty of the museum.

A large water feature is on central display, flowers of all kinds and small candles float gently in the pond below. The rich truly know who to hire to convey a perfect theme. The sunset cascades in through the large windows, casting a warm glow that highlights the flowers strategically arranged throughout the room.

"Val," Ambrose's voice breaks my trance, and he offers me his arm, which I take and continue staring around at the beauty of the opening hall.

A server offers us a flute of champagne and Ambrose takes one and gives it to me.

"Thank you, are you not drinking?" I ask, taking a small sip of the drink. Bubbles tickle my nose, and I scrunch it up.

"Not a fan of anything bubbly." He shrugs, and returns his attention to the direction we're walking.

"Oh, my God, this makes so much sense!" I gasp, and his head snaps down to look at me.

"What?"

"That's why you have a constant stick up your ass, what kind of monster hates bubbly things."

He rolls his eyes in annoyance. "The only bubbly thing I hate right now is you."

As we step out into the courtyard all the air leaves my lips. It's quiet, and only a few other guests are moving around admiring the statues.

"I'll be right back, I want to find out where Adriano is." He walks slightly to the side, leaving me alone with my thoughts and boy oh boy, are they running a mile a minute right now.

Walking around the small courtyard, I can feel people's eyes on me. The chill that creeps up my spine was inevitable, this feels all too familiar to the events Mattheo would drag me along to. The ideal setting to put his "perfect wife" on display. Eyes from every angle ready to judge, but right now, I'm only worried about a particular pair of eyes finding me.

My phone vibrates in my purse. I unlock it to see a text from Karyn.

Karyn:

You're on the TV.

My cousin is on TV.

Also, your dad is so confused

Me:

Why am I on TV? We just got inside?

Karyn:

It was of the two of you on the runway, everyone is talking about Ambrose Vitale's new girl. Apparently you're the first girl he's been seen with since he got back, and all the news outlets are assuming it's something serious since he kept you out of the public eye for so long…

Me:

Poor papá is probably wondering what the fuck is going on.

Karyn:

Don't worry, I'll fill him in.

I giggle at the message, knowing my father is one of the worst people when it comes to gossip because he wants to know everything and can barely keep a secret.

Ambrose returns to my side and places a hand on my exposed skin, it feels like someone lit a flame on the surface of my skin and left it there to burn. "Let's go meet up with Adriano," he says emotionlessly, and I nod.

The entire gala is being held inside the Sergio Verrelli Art Wing. A local artist, that has made it huge in the last few years. He's everything I dream of being when it comes to being an artist. Unapologetic, raw and real. My art is a comedy show in comparison.

While his work screams its intentions and meanings, mine only whispers it.

I wander around the exhibition while Ambrose and Adriano speak briefly about work. They really could talk forever, and I'd be happily entertained for the rest of the evening.

"Was your exhibition anything like this?" a male voice asks. I don't have to turn my head to know who it is, but I do, because the question catches me so off guard coming from him.

I stare up at Ambrose in surprise, but his eyes remain locked on a painting of the city centre here in Tevici

"How–how do you know about that?"

The corner of his lips tilt up in a smirk, "What kind of fake date would I be if I knew nothing about you, sweetheart." He graces me with his gaze, and suddenly I feel suffocated under it.

His green eyes pierce mine in a way that makes me want to take several steps back, because it is simply too intense to hold.

"No." I focus on the painting again. "It was a success, but I didn't enjoy the evening."

That evening was the night I realised how doomed my relationship with Mattheo was. Between him getting stupidly drunk and them making a scene in front of the entire crowd. It was possibly the best and worst night of my life. Not to mention it was filled with people Mattheo felt were important and no one I actually wanted there.

The heat on my cheek burns from Ambrose's gaze. He's waiting patiently to hear why, or what happened to make me say that, and I guess I do owe him some sort of a response considering I said that.

"It was good, I had something going on outside of the art itself, so I couldn't enjoy myself." I offer him a small smile that he simply raises a brow to.

One thing I appreciated about my new strange relationship with Ambrose is he takes things for what they are. What you give him is what he'll accept without prying any further. He nods and draws his attention back to the painting.

Watching him, a small part of me wishes for once he would pry. That he will ask, because then at least I'll know that he is interested.