Page 93 of Valentino

“That’s fucking bullshit,” he murmurs. “And you know it.”

“No. I don’t know it,” I fire back. “Because you have given me nothing and I…I was the fool who was waiting for you. I was the one who was on the sidelines.”

“I tried and you had a boyfriend,” he spits.

“When did you try?” I scoff. “When did you try?”

“At the party.”

“Ha,” I huff. “You put your hand on my leg. Is that trying?”

“You had a boyfriend.”

“I did. But I would have left him for you in a heartbeat if you had bothered to even look my way. You did not try at all, Valentino, tell the truth. I was there, I remember.”

“Don’t fucking start.” He gets up. “I wasn’t ready back then.”

“So you expected me to wait…until one fine day when you’ve slept with every beautiful woman in the world…for you to decide if you liked me or not?”

“I had nothing to offer you. I was broke with not a cent to my name.”

“I didn’t care what you had. I wanted your heart, you idiot.”

“Yeah.” He nods. “You’re right, I am an idiot.”

“What does that mean?”

“You wanted my heart so much that you decided to give yours to my best friend.” He throws his hands up. “That’s so romantic, Anna. I’m glad somebody won the raffle ticket of Anna’s heart.” He smiles with a shake of his head. “They should write a book about your grand gestures.”

“You had a girlfriend,” I snap. “You were getting married.”

“Ha,” he cries. “I was never getting married to her.” He marches out of the room; I angrily flick the blankets back and storm after him. “So this is all my fault now?”

His eyes drop down my body and it’s only now I realize I’m in a skimpy nightdress. “Get dressed,” he demands.

“Listen.” I put my hands onto my hips. “I get it that things have changed between us, but I want it to be absolutely clear that it was you…. Who didn’t want me. So don’t you fucking dare throw it in my face that he used me to get to you.” His silhouette blurs. “I am the one he used, Valentino. He used me to get to Francesca and I...” I throw my hands up in defeat, “…fell for it…. So yes, I agree with you…I am an idiot. And now…I’m being an idiot again.” My voice cracks betraying my hurt. “Because you are using me to get to him.”

His jaw clenches as he stares at me, and it’s what he doesn’t say that confirms my suspicions.

I was right all along.

Something snaps inside of me and I want to hurt him like he hurts me.

“You know what, my heart hurts.” I put my hand onto my chest. “I find myself in between two powerful men. Former best friends. One of them I imagined a future with, and the other tricked me into believing that he loved me.” My eyes well with tears. “But you do share one defining quality.”

His jaw tilts to the sky, angered. “And what’s that, Anna?”

“I’m looking for the kind of love that sinks its teeth into me and never lets me go…and neither of you are capable of that. Because in Carlo’s and Valentino’s world women are just flesh used for orgasms, and the only thing that matters is money and revenge.”

We glare at each other, animosity bounces between us.

“Fuck you,” he sneers.

“No thanks. Get…out.”

CHAPTER TEN

VALENTINO