Reign A Romance Anthology - Nina Levine Page 0,94

tingle takes up in my stomach.

“Look!” she insists.

When I open my eyes, she holds up her phone so I can see a photo. And there he is, looking back at me from the screen in all his custom-suit glory.

“You don’t remember, but you will.”

My jaw tightens.

Blackmailing sonofabitch.

I signal the waitress for another drink while Imogen keeps cyberstalking my future “in name only” husband.

Just as my drink arrives, a stunning blonde appears at our booth. She is clutching a massive planner.

“Bella?”

“Yes.”

She thrusts an elegant hand at me. “My name is Anastacia. I’m Alessandro’s assistant.”

Cautiously, I accept her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

She smiles but it’s aloof. “Alessandro suggested I introduce myself since we’ll be spending some time together in the future.”

“Alessandro knows I’m here?” I glance around the room but can’t see him. “How?”

Her smile doesn’t waver, but it doesn’t reach her eyes either. “He owns this place.”

Of course, he does.

She glances at one of the CCTV cameras in the corner of the room. Cameras I’ve never noticed before.

“You mean he’s watching us?” I ask.

She looks amused as if my question was ridiculously silly. “No, he’s not here. He simply left instructions for me to introduce myself when you next came in. Our security team noticed you. I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

I glance at Imogen who is watching this encounter unfold with rampant fascination.

“No, not at all.” I indicate for her to sit down.

“It’s lovely to finally meet you. I have heard a lot about you.” She sits down but keeps the distance. “I was hoping we could schedule a time for your wedding dress fitting.”

“Sure,” I say. Although, there is a part of me still praying for a stay of execution.

“What about the other wedding arrangements?” Imogen asks her. “Can I help?”

“Oh, they’ve already been taken care of,” Anastacia replies, then turns to me. “When you’ve got time, I can go over them with you.”

“They’re already organized?”

Things are moving fast.

Too fast.

“Of course. I started organizing things the moment Alessandro told me about the…” She looks for the right word. “…arrangement.”

There is something decisively cool about her.

“Getting the botanical gardens wasn’t easy on such short notice, but when it’s for one of the most important men in the city, let’s just say the Lastrantonio name can make magic happen.” She opens her planner and removes a glossy pamphlet, then slides it across the table to me. “I was able to get you a fitting with Julianna Le Bon for next week—”

“Julianna Le Bon!” Imogen gasps. Her eyes flick to mine, excited because Julianna Le Bon is the fashion world’s current it girl when it comes to wedding couture, and if you want to get your hands on one of her gowns, then booking at least a year in advance is a necessity.

“When I mentioned it was for Alessandro Lastrantonio’s future wife, of course, Julianna was only too happy to squeeze you into her busy schedule.” She flicks her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “Oh, and I’ve arranged for Ken Winchester to design and arrange your hair on the day.”

Ken Winchester is the it boy of hair.

Julianna and Ken.

I have a feeling Anastacia could run the entire planet with her planner.

“Have you given any thought to when you’ll resign from your job?” she asks.

Her question catches me off guard. “Excuse me?”

She glances up at the CCTV cameras nervously, then her eyes dart back to me. “It was one of the conditions in the agreement.”

Beside me, Imogen’s mouth drops open.

While I can’t keep the edge out of my voice. “I’m not resigning.”

Before she can stop herself, Anastacia laughs. “But of course, you are. Alessandro is a very important man—”

“I don’t care if he’s Christ reborn, I’m not giving up my job.”

I love my job as a precious gem buyer for Ulvaeus Diamond Company.

I’m good at it.

And hell will freeze over before I give it up.

Anastacia’s cool eyes remain on mine. “Well, that is something you will have to take up with him.”

“Great. Let’s get onto that.”

“Now?” she asks.

“No time like the present.”

“That’s impossible, I’m afraid. Alessandro is in very important meetings all afternoon.”

She’s lying.

In fact, the way she keeps glancing at the CCTV cameras tells me that there’s a good chance he’s watching.

I stand up. “Where is he?”

“Excuse me?”

“Alessandro. I know he’s here.”

Her expression falters briefly, but long enough for me to know that I’m right.

Catching one of the CCTV cameras in my peripheral, I lift a middle finger to it and mouth the word asshole.

I look back to Anastacia.

“Take me