Page 69 of Masked Hearts

“Then I suggest you stop flirting with two married women and get back to work.”

The bartender’s eyes flash wide as he looks down at Val and me and then over our heads again. It dawns on me that he’s looking at something other than just Ambrose, and from the sudden presence I feel behind me, I realise Antonio must’ve joined him.

“We’ll take two double whiskeys, a single block of ice in each. Since you clearly don’t have enough work to keep yourself busy.” Antonio’s voice is cold as it comes out, and I’m sure the bartender is wishing he could be anywhere else right now. He disappears relatively quickly.

“We’re not married yet.” Valerie turns to face Ambrose.

“That fucker doesn’t need to know that,” Ambrose says in a voice that sends chills down my spine.

“And here I thought you two would be too consumed by Leila’s beauty to even notice us,” Valerie fires back. I look between her and Ambrose nervously. I never expected her to just point it out so directly.

A beat of silence follows before a smirk cracks onto Ambrose’s face. “Are you jealous?” Ambrose asks. Valerie simply scoffs before walking out towards the seating, leaving Antonio and me alone as Ambrose follows after her.

I try my best not to meet Antonio’s eye. When the bartender returns with drinks, Antonio reaches over me to retrieve his, allowing his arm to linger around my shoulder in an almost possessive manner. “I suggest you make a special delivery of that one before he gets you fired, just because he can,” Antonio barks, and the bartender scurries after Ambrose.

“Are you jealous?” I repeat Ambrose’s earlier phrase, still not meeting his eyes, but now looking in the direction the bartender left. He is quite attractive by normal standards, but is nothing compared to Antonio.

I feel a tug on my chin as Antonio hooks a finger and forces my eyes back to his. “Yes, I am.”

It’s a simple statement, one that’s dark and commanding, but most of all, it’s honest. And for a split second, it completely shatters my ideologies around this marriage being fake.

I swallow down the lump that forms in my throat. His eyes scan mine, and I’m too consumed by their usual colour to try and figure out what he’s looking for. Emotion flashes through them briefly before his features return to their usual apathetic state.

“Let’s head out for the soundcheck,” he says, still holding my chin. I nod in his grasp before he finally lets go.

The soundcheck was so much fun; I quickly realised that I actually knew a few of Natalia’s songs, but never realised that it was her who sang them. A few fans were allowed into the venue to watch the soundcheck, and she engaged with them all so well that I could just tell she was made for this. The interaction and level of performance she puts on for even just the sound check is so natural, so effortless, just perfect.

The sky is now painted a beautiful mix of yellow and orange as the warm day slowly melts into night. The stadium is packed to the brim, and even the hospitality box that we’re in has slowly filled up.

Antonio’s phone rings, and with one displeased look, he excuses himself to answer the call. It’s easy to assume who the caller is purely based on his reaction, and I presume the reason for him wanting to take the call away from us is for Ambrose not to hear whatever stupid task my father is going to have him doing.

In his absence, I throw back the last of my drink as I watch the stadium buzz to life with excitement as Amelia, the opening act, comes out.

Someone drops into the seat next to me and I nearly jump, only to notice another Vitale brother is occupying it.

“Hello, my beautiful family, how are my favourite people doing?” he asks, leaning over me to meet Ambrose and Valerie’s eyes, as well.

“What are you doing here? You are supposed to be at a meeting in Tevici right now,” Ambrose barks, irritation clear in his expression.

“Don’t get yourArmanipants in a twist. They rescheduled for tomorrow, so I decided to pop in for some quality family time,” Adriano says.

“Yeah, and to see Nat,” Valerie says in a hushed tone, but Adriano must catch wind of it by the way he glares over my head.

“Where’s Gus?” I ask, diverting his attention to me before he can fire any comments back.

“In Milan with Sel,” he says, returning his focus to the stage.

Almost on cue, Amelia wraps up her performance and starts hyping up the crowd for Natalia.

Just as the lights turn down, Antonio returns and appears looking less than impressed. He barely greets Adriano before meeting my eyes; they hold an apologetic expression.

“We have to go, your dad wants to meet back at the apartment,” he says, and I suddenly feel everyone’s eyes on us. I pout. Leaving now is the last thing I want to do, especially to just be paraded around in front of my father.

“She can stay and we can drop her off after the concert,” Valerie offers, and I watch as Antonio weighs up his options.

“Okay, fine,” he hesitates before moving to leave.

I’m on my feet a few seconds later, and he freezes. Honestly, I’m unsure of why I stood up, but something in me compelled me to do it, and now that I’m standing, I fear I have to commit to the thought that lingers in my mind. “Let me walk you out,” I say and he nods awkwardly before gesturing for me to walk first.

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