Page 39 of The Strength Of A Woman

“You found him?”

Her voice is quiet, filled with wonder.

I smile.

“When I almost lost my hope. Yes. He refused to talk to me in the beginning, but he eventually did.”

“And?”

“I told him about the party in Taormina. He said he wouldn’t come.”

“That’s it?”

I nod.

“Why was it so important to talk to him?”

Sucking in a long breath, I move closer to her.

“Because other than you and Rory, I have no one to talk to about these things. Although it’s not quite clear to me how all this will work in the end, I’m trying to get his support.”

She arches an eyebrow at me.

“I’m hoping to get some help from him. His word against Giorgio’s means something, not like mine. I have no doubt the man they picked for me is a terrible choice. I’m trying to get out of that, or at least have Callum negotiate the terms of my departure, not my grandfather.”

I dip my eyes to the skirts.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll need to put this red skirt on.”

8

LEILANI

Dinner is uneventful.It’s a big table since we have guests. It’s mostly people I don’t know.

I already resent how my family has changed the dynamics of this place.

Without them here, I’d be on the terrace in the back with a platter of seafood and a glass of wine.

The lights would be dim.

The breeze would be wistful and melancholic like the place, and my mind would wander as I’d peer into the dark, thinking about him.

The lights dancing along the shore would feed my soul.

I’d imagine him and me having dinner, chatting over a glass of wine, discussing important matters, without forgetting to be flirtatious from time to time.

None of that is possible now.

The lights are bright, the crowd is loud, and the entire staff moves around, catering to our needs.

Servers constantly bring platters of food to the table as if feeding an army.

Rory’s eyes meet mine as we’re probably thinking about the same thing.

Both smiling, we focus on our desserts.

Ten o’clock comes and goes, and I think nothing of Julian’s threats when he walks onto the terrace with a girl on his arm.