The Temporary Wife: Chapter 17

I lean back in my chair, my eyes on Valentina through the glass walls that surround my office. Fragments of last night flash through my mind as my head throbs painfully. I can’t remember the last time I got truly wasted. I hate losing control, yet that’s exactly what I did last night.

What the fuck did I do? What the fuck was I thinking? It’s all fucking Zane and Ares’s fault. They should’ve kept me at poker night, but instead, they filled my head with thoughts about Valentina and some other man that she’d end up marrying. The fuckers even called me a driver to take me to her place. They should’ve known better, and the same goes for me.

Valentina has been acting normal all morning, and she even handed me some paracetamol and water with one of those annoying smiles on her face and a sweet sticky note, yet I can’t shake the feeling that I did some irreparable damage to our relationship. If I had a chance to retain her at all, I definitely blew it last night.

I hesitate for a moment before pressing one of the buttons on my desk phone. I watch as she rises from her seat, my eyes roaming over the tight red dress she’s wearing today. There are no big deals that we’re negotiating today, and she hasn’t confronted me about last night. If she was going to, she would’ve done it already.

So why?

Why is she wearing red?

“You called for me?” she asks, her face perfectly expressionless.

I rise from my seat and walk around my desk to lean against it. She stands in front of me, her gaze unwavering.

“We need to talk.”

She raises a brow and nods. “What is it you’d like to discuss?”

I study her face for a moment. “I’d like to apologize for the way I behaved last night. I never should’ve gotten as drunk as I did, and I certainly never should’ve shown up at your house in that state.”

She looks into my eyes as though she’s searching for a hint of insincerity, but then she nods. “That’s quite alright,” she tells me. “We’ve all had our fair share of drunken moments. You’re not exempt from them.”

I raise my brow and stare at her, confused. That’s it? That’s all she has to say? “I meant it,” I tell her, my voice soft. “I won’t let you go.”

Valentina crosses her arms and stares me down. “Why? Why do you insist on tying me to this job? It’s not unnatural to be resistant to change, Luca, but you’ll be fine. I’m not walking away abruptly. I’ll find and train a replacement.”

I clench my jaw and reach for her, wrapping a strand of her hair around my finger. “No one could ever replace you, Valentina. No one knows me the way you do. I’d be a fool if I ever let you go. Windsor Finance would never sustain the loss of you. I wouldn’t.”

I see her waver and hold my breath for a moment, scared to say anything that’ll ruin the progress I know I’ve made with her. “Luca,” she whispers, her gaze softening. “I…”

The moment breaks when my office door opens, and I pull my hand away, letting Valentina’s hair slip through my fingers. I look up with barely restrained anger, only to find my sister-in-law grinning back at me.

“Raven,” I say, my anger draining away. She might be my brother’s wife, but she’s always been like a sister to me. Even now, I can’t find it in me to be annoyed with her.

“There you are,” she says, her gaze settling on Valentina. “You forgot this.” She holds up a bag with her brand’s logo on it, and I frown. “These shoes go with the dress you’re wearing. I want you to look perfect on your date tonight.”

Valentina’s eyes widen, and I tense, my stomach dropping. “Date?” I repeat, my tone carrying a hint of danger. “What fucking date?”

Valentina turns toward Raven with a smile, clearly intent on walking toward her, but I wrap my hand around her wrist and keep her in place. I pull her back toward me, and she stumbles, falling into my arms.

“Luca!” she admonishes as she straightens and pushes away from me.

“You’re going on a fucking date?” I ask, my voice simmering with anger. She looks away, but I grab her chin and turn her face back toward mine. “Answer me.”

“It’s a private matter,” she snaps, instantly making me regret the words I uttered when Natalia came to my office.

“Who is it?”

She grits her teeth and glares at me. “That’s none of your concern.”

“You don’t have time to go on a date tonight,” I tell her, racking my brain to come up with an excuse. “I need you to double check the information we’re supplying to the auditors.”

“I’ve already done that.”

“The budgets for our next quarter need to be adjusted.”

“I’ve already finalized those and had meetings which each department head to discuss them.”

I pause. “I need detailed meeting minutes for every single meeting we’ve attended this week.”

She raises her brow. “I’ve already emailed them to you.”

Frustration crawls up my spine. Why the fuck is she so good at her job? “I want to see the plans for Salazar Finance’s IPO.”

Valentina frowns. “That isn’t due until next month.”

“I want it now.” That’s at least a week’s worth of work. She’ll have to work overtime to get that done, making it impossible to go on her date.

She crosses her arms and stares at me for a moment. “Very well,” she says hesitantly. “I suppose you’re in luck. I’ve already drafted the plan. I’ll put the finishing touches on it and email it over within an hour.”

“W-what?” I stammer.

She smiles at me in that polite way I despise. “Now, if that’s all, I’ll go ahead and grab some coffee with Raven before I get back to work.”

She turns and walks away, her stride confident. What the fuck is happening? In all the years we’ve worked together, I’ve never once heard of her dating anyone.

The door closes behind her, and I stare at it for a moment, my thoughts reeling. What the fuck do I do? I can’t keep her from going on that date.

I hesitate for a moment before picking up my phone and calling our Head of Security, Silas Sinclair. He picks up almost instantly.

“Windsor,” he says, his tone as monotone as it always is. I’ve never seen him act animated around anyone but his wife. I have no idea what Alanna sees in that wooden block of a human.

“Silas.” I hesitate for a moment. “I need you to find out where Valentina is going tonight, and with who.”

He falls silent for a moment. “Have you tried asking her?”

I hate this guy. He’s so fucking irritating, but he’s the best at what he does. “Of course I’ve fucking tried, Sinclair. She wouldn’t tell me.”

He sighs, clearly irritated by my request. “Have you considered that it might just be none of your goddamn business what Val does in her private time? Aren’t you engaged, anyway? Congrats, by the way.”

I clench my jaw. “I don’t pay you to question me.”

“You don’t pay me at all,” he replies. “Your grandmother does.”

I run a hand through my hair and stare up at my ceiling. I finally understand why Ares hates Silas so much. “I need a name and a location.”

Silas sighs. “My wife isn’t going to like this. She’s friends with Val, and you know it. Don’t do anything fucking weird. If you do, and Alanna finds out, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

This motherfucker. He has no loyalty to anyone but his wife. He’s as rich as I am, so he can’t be bought either. I hate people I can’t control, and Silas Sinclair is a wildcard.

“The restaurant is called Marsella. She’s going on a date with Theodore Miller.”

I end the call with barely restrained fury. Theo Miller. One of our portfolio managers? I’ll be damned. Fucking asshole.

I sit back in my chair and stare at my computer, hesitating for a split second before sending an email to HR. I smile as I read back the contents.

Effective immediately, I’m enforcing a no-fraternization rule. Dating within the company is expressly prohibited and will be grounds for immediate termination. Please send out a company-wide email.

Valentina might be willing to walk away from her job, but Theo won’t.