Page 148 of Grumpy Boss of the Year

I want to pull away. I don't want him to be the one to comfort me, but I can't because I still love him and I still crave his touch. His warm body reminds me that I'm not alone for once in my life.

"I hate you," I say against his chest. He takes a deep breath.

"I understand," he whispers next to my ear as he strokes my hair. "I understand, and I would hate me, too. Please just let it out."

And I cry. I cry for what must be hours until no more tears will come and I feel numb and cold inside. I can feel his heartbeat racing next to mine, and he's still stroking my hair.

"It's going to be okay," he whispers in my ear. "I promise."

I relax against him for a few moments, and then he whispers, "I love you, Elisabetta. I would do anything for you."

Something in me snaps. I push him away. “Please leave. I’m not shrieking any longer. I’m not angry or mad. I’m just tired. I’m spent. I’m done.” He looks at me with a sad expression, and I offer him a small and somber smile. "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you eventually did, but I want to be alone."

"I want to be here for you," he says. "I want –"

"No," I say shaking my head. "I need to be by myself right now."

"What's going to happen with the engagement?"

"I don't know,” I say honestly. “I mean, I think it's over, don't you?" He stands there and I push him. "Get out please."

He nods and steps out of the bed. I watch as he reaches down and grabs his boxers and his T-shirt and puts them on. "Please know I'm here for you for anything."

"For anything?" I nod and watch as he unlocks the door and walks out. I lie there, staring up at the ceiling. The room feels like it's moving. Everything feels like it's turned upside down. I close my eyes to try and regain my equilibrium. I can feel the tears wanting to come again. I'm confused, I'm hurt, I'm angry, and I feel even more alone in this strange room, in this strange country and a place where I'm just surrounded by lies, by people who don't tell me the truth, and all I want to do is be back home. I want to be in my own bed with my own things and my own space. I just want to be there. I close my eyes and click my fingers, wishing that I had magic, but nothing happens. My eyes fly open, and I stand and look outside the window. I'm grateful to see some stars in the sky. I just stare and look at the moon. "God, if you're listening to me, why?" I call out, almost waiting for an answer.

I see a man pushing a bicycle down the street, and as he gets closer, I can hear that he's singing something to himself. It's Italian, and I don't understand Italian, but the sound is sultry and sad. I wonder if it's a love song about someone that broke his heart. I see there are some flowers in the basket at the front of his bike, and as he gets closer to view, there's a smile on his face, and the tune has changed. It's one of happiness.

He's most going home to his wife, I think to myself.I bet he doesn't lie to her. I bet she doesn't lie to him. He has someone.I stare back at the sky, at the stars and then at the moon, almost wishing that aliens would come and carry me away. I feel cool, devoid of any emotion, empty inside. I don't know what to thinkor feel about the information I've been told. "I should hate Liam, as I said, and part of me does hate him for him keeping the secret, but I hate my father more. How could he have me believe that my mother was dead and yet he got to spend his life with her?"

I can feel tears coming again, so I walk over to the bed and climb inside. I close my eyes and try to think of sheep, but it doesn't work. I grab my phone and think about playing a game, but I know that I'm not interested in that. I decide to call Skye.

"Hey," she says, "sorry, I was just going to bed. Is everything okay?"

"No," I say softly, "it's not."

"Oh my gosh! What's wrong? What happened? Did Liam call off the engagement?"

"My mom's alive, Skye."

"What?" she shrieks, and a small smile crosses my face.

"Yeah, that's exactly what I thought when I heard."

"I don't understand what you mean. Your mom's dead. She's always been dead. I mean, since I met you, you told me."

"I guess I was wrong. I was lied to, and she's alive, and I don't know what to do. I—" My voice cracks, and I burst out crying.

“Oh, my darling, I'm so sorry," Skye says into the phone. "Do you want me to fly over there? I can catch a flight tomorrow morning. Maybe I can even find one right now."

"No, no, I don't want you to do that." I take a deep breath. "It's just nice hearing your voice. I don't know if I've ever really told you this, but you are the closest person to me in my life. I trust you with everything. We might not be blood sisters, but you are my family, and I love you and I appreciate you, and I just want to say thank you for being my best friend."

"Oh, you're going to make me cry, Elisabetta. I love you so much. You are my everything. You know that, right? You knoweven though I love Kingston, you will always be so special to me, and I will always be there for you."

"I know."

"How did Liam take the news?" she asks, and I let out a bit of a laugh.

"He is the one who told me."

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