Ann’s POV
Indecisive on whether to go in or not, I stand awkwardly by the door until Vince moves away.
I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.
The incessant ringing of my phone stopped me from training; Tessa wanted us to meet. Aside from that, I thought Vince would be back within a minute or two. When I didn’t see him him, I decided to come and tell him Tessa wanted to see me.
I was about to knock when I heard her calling me a whore, and I stood rooted to the ground.
Vince’s face is contorted. He looks really mad, and I wish I could comfort him.
Not when he seemed embarrassed that I caught him arguing with his mother. Not when the topic of this argument is me.
I stroll in, debating on whether to say something or just get my towel and go back to my former room to take a quick bath.
After seeing how his features are tight with pure rage, I settle for the latter and move slowly to the closest to grab my towel.
“Are you heading out?” His question catches me off-guard, probably because I am surprised he knows what I intend to do or because he is the first to speak to me when I thought he wouldn’t.
Plastering a small smile on my face, I turn to him and nod. “Tessa called.”
She is staying at a hotel not too far from here. I asked her to take my room, but she refused. Vince spoke to Fernando on her behalf and he promised to offer her another position in his company.
She went back to LA and was only back two days ago, even though we hadn’t seen each other because of my training.
I can’t wait to tell her all about it. The excitement shoots through me each time I think about this whole thing.
I should be scared, but fortunately, I am not. Probably because of where I came from. As a teenager living in that horrible shithole, I had always dreamt of becoming so bold enough to face Isaac Rossi. I envisioned drilling holes with bullets into him and Carter. But then it seemed like a dream come true, and now, Vince is offering that exact life.
But then I can’t help but imagine what will be left after I have achieved that.
Vicente is staring at me intently. “Did you overhear our conversation?”
Obviously, I did.
“Yeah, but I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to grab a towel and tell you about Tessa’s call,” I reply quickly so he doesn’t get the wrong idea. He called me a spy once, and I wouldn’t want anything else to bring that suspicion back into his mind.
I am on the verge of returning my things to my former room. And I think it is my cue.
Vicente and I haven’t slept in the same room since the maids helped arrange my things. Most times, I imagined him being busy, playing the part of a Mafia boss, which makes me smile, but for two days now, I am beginning to think Vicente is actually avoiding sleeping in the same room with me.
There is only one bed, and that means one thing: we have to sleep on the same bed.
At first, it sounded absurd, but the truth is that we are married. But we don’t need to be intimate with each other if that is what scares him.
“Why are you smiling?” His tone takes a new turn, making me glance at him with a flushed face.
“I’m so sorry,” I turn to the closet and grab the towel. “I didn’t mean to smile. I just remembered something funny…”
“About me?” He demands quickly, curiosity setting in heavily on his brows.
I don’t want to lie, so I nod gingerly. “Yes.”
“What is it?” He leans backwards, his gaze soft, making relief wash through me. Maybe I should just tell him if that will help take his mind off the argument with his mom.
I smile and walk closer to him. “Promise you won’t feel bad.”
He looks surprised. “Why should I?”
Nothing catches him by surprise, but I am sure this will. I cock my head, eyeing him thoughtfully. “It seems you have been avoiding sleeping in the same room as me so I was considering having a change of room if this is really an inconvenience to you…”
He cuts me short. “That wasn’t what you wanted to say, Ann.”
“No, but it’s part of it.” I chip in sharply. He nods, urging me to go on. “I had a silly thought about it so it made me smile.”
“And what is that?”
I shrug indifferently. “Maybe you are scared of sharing a bed with me.”
“What?!” A burst of short laughter leaves his mouth as shock registers on his face.
I laugh, too, hoping I can help change his mood. “You need to prove me wrong, Vince or I will be forced to think you are scared of sharing a bed with me because you are scared shit of falling head over heels in love with me.”
His eyes grow wide, and all colour seems to drain from his cheeks, making me regret spilling that out.
Mentally, I slap myself.
This isn’t a love match. This is a sensitive topic.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. I don’t mind sharing a bed with you, honestly, if you are also fine with you. Besides, sharing a bed doesn’t mean we have to be intimate. It’s what normal couples do, sleep on the same bed to make it look like they are madly in love with each other. So I think we should do the same to make it look all real. Who knows, someone might burst in on us…”
“No one can do that. Well, except her,” he points to the door, signifying his mom. She is the only one who has the guts to do that. I want to tell him she is the one I am actually referring to, but I don’t want us to go back to that topic. He is doing this to make her stay off his back, and if she finds anything suspicious to prove that this isn’t a love match, she will keep pressuring him to annul our marriage.
I don’t have any issue with that. This marriage is meant to end eventually, but I can’t imagine the teasing look Isabel will have on her face when that happens.
That would mean she is the winner, and I am the loser for thinking I can keep Vince to myself.
“I have been so busy, that’s why I haven’t been home to sleep. There might be an attack from the Silicones anytime soon and we need to prepare ahead of them, so I am afraid you can’t leave the house for the time being. Tessa can come in anytime she wants. If you are worried about her, I can ask Fernando or one of the guys to bring her here.”
“Oh!”
I really have no idea why I thought he was avoiding me. Vince isn’t a coward.
About the Silicones, my mind reels back to Isaac and Mom. Will Vince plan an attack on Isaac soon? What about my mom? Should I tell him about her?
“I’m sorry you heard that.” He mutters, almost inaudible.
“What?!” I raise a confused brow.
“I’m sorry you heard her call you that and I couldn’t do a thing.” He apologized again, making me smile genuinely.
If it were someone else, Vince wouldn’t hesitate to drive a bullet through his head. He told me he doesn’t hurt women, but I am curious to know why he hit his own mother.
From what I have seen and known of Vince, he might be a hardcore and ruthless boss, but he has this compassion on the inside. I don’t know if he shows that to only me or the people who mean something to him, but I love that part of him.
It makes me want to open him up so I can see and know everything about this handsome husband of mine.
He rises up. “I should take a shower too. I have a meeting soon.”
I shoot to my feet instantly. “I should go take a bath too.”
I walk to the door, trying hard not to think about the topic of him taking a bath or imagining him naked.
“Ann?” He calls back when I am close to the door. I whirl around to see him smirking. “I am not scared of being intimate with you.”
My jaws drop, and he disappears into the bathroom.