The Italian Billionaire’s Nubian Queen

“Wait, please. I will have a car sent immediately to pick you up. It will be there within 25 minutes, at current traffic conditions, but I’m afraid that inconvenience is inevitable. Ms. Benjamin, if you’re not telling me the truth, I might as well tell you right now that both of our careers will be over.”

“I’m telling the truth.”

“I hope so, because I’m taking a risk. A much bigger risk than you could appreciate, possibly. Please wait.”

So Alyssa waited, wondering what she could expect. She soon saw a man holding up her name and she rushed over. She only had a bag. She hadn’t stopped to pack much. She hopped in the car and sat there, fidgeting, as she was driven through roads and past sights that she was sure she would’ve found intriguing and charming under different circumstances.

She was driven to a mansion where the most efficient and possibly the most sophisticated woman she’d ever seen was waiting for her. Alyssa put her at about forty, and she immediately wanted to be Claudia when she grew up. It had to be Claudia.

“Ms. Benjamin, I have a hot bath and change of clothes waiting for you. And, unfortunately, possibly something of an ordeal. In thirty minutes, I will have the car here to take you to where Matteo is. You will need to get there and change his mind about his plans for tonight.”

“What plans for tonight?”

“He plans to announce his wedding date. It will be difficult if he makes that announcement, to walk it back. The publicity will be bad, and there might be cause for a legal challenge from Gabriel Colombo. If you can’t change his mind…”

“To Martina Totti?”

“Yes.”

“Does he… Is he…”

“Ms. Benjamin, I cannot tell you how he feels. You must decide that for yourself. But you must know that I do not back losers. I do not waste time on lost causes.”

If that was all the encouragement she would get, then she would take it. At least she had no time to worry. She had no time to take in Matteo’s home, either. She was sure it was beautiful, but other than that…

“You will have to hurry. I will get Sofia to come and assist you with your hair. She is quick and very good.”

Alyssa nodded. She focused on each task as she bathed, dried herself, put on the dress—a long, burnished gold dress that left her shoulders bare and was slit up her thigh—and let Sofia do her magic on her hair, piling the curls up high to tumble intriguingly down her neck, framing her face with soft tendrils.

Alyssa did her own makeup, glad that Brianna had taught her well. By the time Claudia came in to get her, she was ready, and too keyed up to wonder too much about what would come next.

“Shoes. You look good, Ms. Benjamin.”

“Please, call me Alyssa. I don’t feel like Ms. Benjamin right now.”

Claudia nodded.

“You look terrified. Don’t look so terrified. I don’t back losers, remember? Now, you will be taken to a party where you will find Matteo and Martina together. I will call Matteo on his private line as soon as you get there. This will give you a chance to get him alone. Follow him. Convince him. And make him happy.”

Alyssa nodded.

She was so nervous by the time she got there that she nearly stumbled, her legs trembled so much. She half expected to be stopped at the door, but she was allowed in, probably thanks to Claudia, and sent into the garden, lit by fairy lights, where the party was in full swing.

There were beautiful people everywhere, laughing, talking. But she had eyes only for Matteo. She searched, and she found him quickly enough.

He stood with the petite blonde beauty who still wore that ring on her finger. Alyssa had been right. It did wink and sparkle. Alyssa had to fight the urge to throw up from nerves.

Right on cue, she saw Matteo reaching for his phone. He excused himself and headed away from the crowd and the music, into what looked like a small maze.

Well, that was her cue.

Alyssa followed, reminding her heart to keep on beating, reminding herself to keep on breathing. She stumbled, gave up on her shoes and pulled them off, carrying them and hurrying into the maze. She didn’t know what guided her feet. Maybe it was fate. But she found herself taking the right turns, and she saw him, in front of her.

“Claudia, this was not urgent.”

He was about to hang up and leave.

Alyssa took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and stepped forward.

“Matteo,” she said, softly, and he froze.

He looked up at her, disbelief etched on his face.

“Alyssa?”

“Yes.”

 “What are you doing here?”

Alyssa took another deep breath. Well, this was it.

“I’m here because I… Because I love you.”

She stood there, waiting, trembling. She needed him to tell her that he loved her, too. She needed him to tell her that she wasn’t too late.

She couldn’t be too late.

“I’m announcing my wedding tonight.”

“I know. I heard. I… Matteo, please, don’t. Please don’t. I love you. I came here because I love you. I don’t know what else I can say. I kept trying to figure out what I should say on my way here, in the plane, in the car, everywhere. But I have nothing else to say. I love you. It doesn’t mean I agree with what you did. It doesn’t mean I will do everything you want me to do. So maybe I’m all wrong for you, maybe Martina will be easier. But I love you. Nobody will ever love you as much as I love you.”

She’d laid her heart bare. She’d poured everything she had out there. She waited, and she nearly wept in relief when he walked to her, pulled her into his arms and kissed her, long and passionate, as if he would never let her go.

“Matteo,” she whispered, as he kissed her again, and again, as if they were alone in the world.

“You came. You came to me.”

She held on to him and kissed him again, feeling alive again until the tears turned into sobs.

“Matteo.”

“It’s all right. Everything will be fine,” he promised, and she had to believe him.