Chapter 25: Chapter 25

FRANCESCA

Leo and Evelyn came back to London, their pride bruised.

At QB Enterprises, life went on as usual. No one had a clue about the messy divorce unfolding behind the scenes.

A week after I socked Leo, I was leaving QB for a quick shower before my extra shift at the club. That’s when my phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Miss Barton?”

“Bridget?”

“Uh, yes. Miss Barton, I—”

“Bridget, I’ve told you to call me Frankie.”

“I couldn’t possibly. I—”

“Hand the phone to Christian.”

“Sorry, what?”

“Hand the phone to Christian.”

I hadn’t spoken to Christian since that night in the limo.

Beth had mentioned that he’d flown back with her to London for moral support during the hearing. I didn’t even know he was back. But from Bridget’s tone, it was clear he was, and he was back to his usual bossy, dominant self.

I chuckled as I heard Christian’s muffled voice on the other end of the line.

“What do you mean she said to hand me the phone?”

“Exactly that, sir.”

“But I pay you to make my calls.”

“I understand, sir.”

“Did you tell her about tonight?”

“She didn’t give me a chance.”

“Honestly, Bridget, you can’t even do this simple task.”

I whistled loudly into the phone, interrupting their conversation.

“Sorry for the wait, Miss Barton. Mr. De Luca is in a meeting. He’s asked that you be ready at seven. He wants to take you to dinner.”

“No.”

“No?”

“No?” Christian’s voice echoed. “Bridget, hand me that phone.”

“But, sir, you said—”

“I know what I said. Hand me the damn phone!”

I heard the phone switch hands, and I was tempted to hang up just to see his reaction.

“Francesca?”

“Yes, Christian?”

“Why do you always have to be difficult?”

“Did you enjoy your trip to London? I didn’t know you were back.”

“Ah…you’re punishing me. That’s why you won’t have dinner with me.”

“No. I have a shift at the club.”

“It’s Tuesday.”

“I know. I picked up an extra shift. Candy is sick.”

Christian sighed.

“Save me my booth.” I could hear the amusement in his voice.

“I’ll have a scotch waiting.”

***

“Are you sure this is okay?”

“Absolutely!”

“Frankie, I can afford my own place.”

“I know you can, but you’re new to New York, and you need someone awesome to show you around,” I argued, and Beth rolled her eyes.

The movers brought in the last box, and we collapsed onto my couch.

“Why is moving so exhausting?”

“I think the jet lag isn’t helping you.”

“Kitten?” Christian’s voice floated in from the doorway.

“In the lounge room!” I called back, and Christian walked in carrying several bags of Chinese food.

“Oh, Frankie, you should marry this one.” Beth grinned, snatching the food from his hands and dashing into the kitchen.

Christian bent down, pressing his lips against mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he lifted me effortlessly off the couch.

“How’s the move going?” Christian asked, pulling back slightly.

“Beth has a lot of stuff.”

“I can hear you!” Beth laughed, returning with three heaping plates. “Christian, what time should we head to QB tomorrow?”

“Beth, I told you. I quit. I can have my personal assistant show you—”

“Nope.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said no. I’m not letting you quit.”

“I don’t think you have a say in this.”

“What happened to sweet Beth?”

“She got screwed over,” Beth muttered.

We hadn’t talked about the divorce since Beth arrived. Leo had walked away with practically nothing. He had voided his own prenuptial agreement.

“I need you, Chris. I don’t know the first thing about running this kind of company.”

“Then sell it,” Christian said, his face impassive.

Beth looked at him, shocked.

“Christian.” I tried to pull away from him, but Christian held me tighter.

“I’ll give you one day at a time, Beth. I’m not promising anything.”

“You’re not selling your share,” Beth said firmly.

“God, woman.”

Beth just smirked before standing up from the couch with her plate.

“Does seven work for you?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll leave you two alone. See you in the morning.”

I put my plate on the coffee table and turned in Christian’s lap, making him groan.

“Easy, kitten.”

“Why don’t you want to help Beth?”

“It’s not about helping Beth, Francesca. The whole fallout with Leo made me rethink things.

“I want something that’s my own, and my father has been talking about me taking a bigger role at De Luca Corp.”

“In Italy?” I tried to pull away, but Christian held onto my waist, making sure I couldn’t move.

“I’m not leaving you, kitten.”

“But it’s in Italy.”

“Initially, yes, but there’s nothing stopping me from moving things here. I can be wherever you want me to be.”

“You’d move an entire business for me?”

“I’m not leaving you, Francesca. You’re mine.”

“I love you, Christian.”

Christian’s eyes go wide, his hands clutching my waist tighter.

“I-I—”

He silences me with a kiss. When we finally break apart, he’s grinning. His smile is bigger than I’ve ever seen it.

“I love you, Francesca Barton, so fucking much!”

We don’t make it to the bedroom, which would be fine if I still lived alone. But my new roommate, Beth, finds us in a less than decent state.

“Bollocks!”

Beth’s posh English accent jolts us awake, and Christian, ever so gracefully, tumbles off the couch.

“Seriously? Is this going to be a regular thing?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

Christian and I answer simultaneously.

“I’m so sorry, Beth.”

“I’m not.” Christian chuckles, snuggling into my neck, our naked bodies pressed together.

I elbow him in the gut, and he just laughs harder. “I apologize for the way you found us, Beth,” Christian says, mimicking her accent.

“Thank you, Chris,” Beth says, rolling her eyes. “Are you coming into the office today, Francesca?”

“Actually, I am. I have a meeting with Myles, and we said we would do lunch.”

“What?” Christian sits up straighter, revealing more of himself to Beth, who quickly looks away.

“Great!” Beth says, ignoring Christian. “Could we all do dinner tonight?”

“I can’t. I’m working at the club tonight. But you could come.”

“Dinner at a strip club?”

“Gentlemen’s club,” Christian corrects.

“I know James would like to see you again, and I could still eat with you; after all, I know the boss.”

“Perfect. Okay, I’m going to make some coffee, and both of you need clothes.” Beth practically skips off into the kitchen as Christian lays back beside me.

“I don’t want you working at QB anymore.”

“What?” I scrunch up my face in confusion.

“I don’t like you working with Myles.”

“I can strip and dance on a pole, but working with Myles is where you draw the line?”

“Kitten, you know if I had my way, you wouldn’t be working anywhere.”

“Christian…”

“I know, I know.” Christian stands, not bothering to cover any part of his magnificent body. He smirks as my gaze drops. “See something you like, kitten?”

“Meh.” I shrug, and Christian actually growls. I laugh as Christian pulls me from the couch.

“Don’t even think about it!” Beth yells from the kitchen.

“What?” Christian and I ask in unison.

“Don’t you dare have sex while I’m in the next room!”

“You didn’t mind last night,” Christian mutters.

“So help me God, De Luca, I’ll punch you in the balls!”

***

“Here she is, your favorite all-American girl! Cheer!”

James does my introduction like always, and I shimmy out onto the stage. My gaze automatically falls on Christian, and I feel myself blush as his eyes travel over my curves.

The crowd cheers and whistles, but all the while, my eyes are on Christian.

I love dancing at the club. I’ve loved it since the moment Marty gave me the job, but right now, it feels like no one else exists, like Christian De Luca and I are the only two people left on the planet.

My dance comes to an end, and I freeze when Christian stands, walking toward the stage. James’s voice echoes through the club’s speakers.

“Our owner and almighty boss would like to say a few words to our gorgeous all-American cheerleader.”

My brow furrows in confusion, and I can’t look away from Christian’s smirk. Finally, he reaches me, and once he’s on the stage, he drops down on one knee.

“Christian…” My eyes widen, and my face heats. I don’t have a mirror, but I’d bet money that I’m currently the color of a beetroot.

“~Cheer~, you are the most amazing, most infuriating, and most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.

“I think I fell in love with you on that flight to London, or maybe it was during the countless times you called me out and put me in my place, but whenever it happened, I knew it was all-encompassing.

“I can’t live without you, please don’t make me. Make me the happiest man in the world. Marry me?”

Christian holds out a small duck-egg-blue box with possibly the biggest diamond I’ve ever seen. The rock is so big I can’t even make out the band of the ring.

I look from Christian to the ring and back again several times. I barely hear the crowd getting restless over the pounding of my pulse in my ears.

“H-how much?”

“I don’t think that’s the answer to my question, kitten,” Christian whispers softly.

“Too expensive,” I murmur, and Christian shakes his head.

“Hurry up and say yes, Cheer! We don’t have all night.” James’s voice interrupts our moment. I find myself rolling my eyes at James before turning back to Christian.

“Cheer? Marry me?”

I can only nod before Christian sweeps me up into his arms. The crowd cheers as Christian carries me back to his usual booth.

“There you have it, folks. Cheer is officially spoken for. To celebrate, Mr. De Luca has said the next round is on him!”

The whole club cheers, and Christian glares over at the bar.

“You bought a round for the whole club?” I ask, and Christian scoffs.

“I certainly did not.”

I fight back a laugh as Beth comes over to the table with James trailing after her like a puppy. James places a tray of drinks and food down on the table, never taking his eyes off Beth.

“Here you are, Ms. Walker. Let me know if I can get you anything else.”

“Thank you, James.”

“New York’s been missing out without you. It’s been a dull two months,” James says, welcoming Beth.

Beth giggles in response, making James blush. “James, you’re too kind.”

“Bet you ten bucks they’ll be hitched within a year,” I whisper to Christian, who chuckles in response.

“You’re on.” Christian pulls me onto his lap. “I got you a little something to celebrate our engagement.” He brushes my hair away from my neck, peppering kisses along the sensitive skin behind my ear.

“Already? How’d you know I’d say yes?” I tease. Christian reaches behind him, retrieving a brown paper bag. His other hand ventures between my thighs, covered in sheer stockings, and I stifle a moan.

~Oh, the things he does to me.~

“Go on, open it.” He places the bag on my lap, his lips continuing their journey across my shoulders, neck, and back.

I reach into the bag and pull out a book. The cover is instantly familiar.

“The first ~Harry Potter~?”

I examine the book more closely and notice the author’s name. Instead of J. K. Rowling, it reads Joanne Rowling.

“Is this...?”

“A first edition,” Christian whispers into my ear. I spin around in his lap to face him, cupping his face in my hands and pulling his lips to mine.

We break apart, gasping for breath, and Christian rests his forehead against mine.

“I’m relieved you like it. I was sure you’d give me hell over the price,” he murmurs.

“I absolutely love it, but you better believe we’re going to have a talk about this.”

His expression is a mix of surprise and amusement as I slide off his lap and strut over to the bar to pick up a tray.

Score one for Francesca. Christian, you’re at zero.