Chapter 9

Aiden

Picking the crystal decanter in my hand I launched it at the far wall. Right next to the window which I was lucky I didn’t hit. I wasn’t sure it would have broken thanks to the safety glass but did I really want to risk it?

“Are you done smashing things up or should I wait a while?” A familiar voice spoke from my phone on the bed. 

I turned to it and if I could have reached through the line and crossed the ocean between us I would have gladly wrapped my fingers around his throat and squeezed the laughter right out of his voice. 

Laughing at me even when I was in a good mood was a dangerous hobby , laughing at me in this rage was pretty much a death wish. 

“She said no.” I said again because I had a feeling he didn’t quite get it yet. Maybe he wasn’t really listening. So I would say it again and again until it sank into his thick head. “She fucking said no to having dinner with me.” I clenched my fists. “No one says no to me.”

His laughter bubbled up even louder than before. “Has the infamous Irish charm finally failed you brother?” He struggled to get the words out , he was laughing so much.

“It’s not a laughing matter Josh.” Standing in the middle of the ruined room I surveyed the damage I had done in the few hours since she had slammed the door in my face.

“Oh I think it is Aiden. And you will think so as well when you’ve calmed down. You underestimated her.”

I frowned, pinching the skin between my eyebrows. “She's just a slip of a girl.”

“No she aint.” I could almost see him shaking his head. “She’s Luca and Alice Morettis daughter. Do you really think she hasn’t been hit on by men her entire life. Probably men much more charming than you. The girl isn’t going to fall for you just because you tell her you didn’t bang the whore you got caught with.”

I groaned because I knew he was right. Alessia would have had men all over her, each one of them more interested in her connections than her and probably much earlier than was right.

Yesterday I had been her knight in shining armour. We had talked , we had the same interests or so she had thought and that’s why she had warmed to me. Because she thought we had something in common.

Now she thought I was a player who thought of nothing but getting my dick wet.

I had fucked up and she had kicked me to the curb as any self respecting woman would have done.

Fair play, one point to the Morettis. They had raised their daughter well. Unfortunately for Alessia I wasn’t in the habit of losing.

“Yeah.” Josh’s voice sobered. “Are you seeing clearly now?”

I grumbled my agreement. “Yeah.”

“Then what are you going to do? Flowers,begging? I’ve seen the pictures you sent and she’s a pretty little thing. Maybe begging would work.” He chuckled. “You know, get down on your knees and REALLY BEG.”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed. “Believe me that’s tempting but I doubt she would let me get that close. Honestly -“

“I don’t understand why you are even playing the game Aiden. Take her already. You have the money and the connections to get her here. Her family wouldn’t even know until you were ready for them to know.”

Flopping down on the chair. I sighed. I had a headache starting. A throbbing one that threatened to become more rapidly if I didn’t get it under control.

Funny thing was I knew it would be easier to do what he was suggesting. After all it had been the ultimate goal but now I had made contact I just couldn’t bring myself to stop the game.

I mean where was the fun of just kidnapping her when I could have some fun with her first. And taking her willingly was always going to be delicious than forcing her to love me. It would make her pain even sweeter.

“Yeah maybe.” I groaned because my head was now pounding away like I had drunk too much whisky. “Is everything ready for us to come home?”

“Of course it is. You left me in charge for a reason Aiden.” Josh sounded put out and I couldn’t blame him for that. He had a point. He was pretty good at getting things done. Even if those things were ridiculous.

“Then I’ll make the arrangement as soon as I have-“

“Won her heart?” He mocked.

“Fuck off Josh.” I shook my head.

“Can I give you a piece of advice?” He asked sweetly and I rolled my eyes. Josh was no more sweet and innocent than I was. 

“Sure. Let’s hear it.” I did want to hear this piece of womanly relationship advice from a man whose longest relationship had been a night.

“No more whores to your hotel room. Women don’t like it.”

Laughter burst from my lips. “How do you know what women like?”

“I know they don’t like sharing and I know they like the tongue thing. Do the tongue thing but on the Moretti girl not whores-“ he cackled. “Talking about whores.”

The laughter instantly died on my lips. “She’s been coming around?”

“Daily.” Josh sighed. “She really needs to talk to you. It’s urgent.” His voice dripped with sarcasm.

“How much did she want this time?” I knew why my ex was coming around and it wasn’t because she was in love with me. She had never been in love with me and I had never been in love with her. She had been a distraction, someone who had signed a contract and was meant to leave me alone when that contract ended.

Unfortunately or maybe it was fortunately for me she hadn’t got the memo.

“Or was it-“ sometimes I thought the worst of people because I was the worst sort of man.

“I transferred it straight into her account.”

I sigh rippled through my chest. So it was money then. Maybe sometimes I misjudged people but most of the time they were after exactly what I thought.

“She can’t keep showing up , especially not when I get Alessia there.”

“I know. I’ll sort it out, boss. You have my word.”

“Good, now I’m going to go. There’s a sauna in the spa that is calling my name.”

Josh’s silence filled the room for a second. “Headache?” He asked quietly.

“Headache.” I admitted. “Can you ring the hotel and pay for any damages from my account- make a donation or something if they start.”

“I’ll see it done Aiden.” Josh said quietly. “You go and sit in the heat for a while. I know that always helps.”

Yeah it usually did, I just wasn’t sure this headache would be over anytime soon. Not until I had Alessia and her family exactly where I wanted them.