CHAPTER 2

MÁLAGA

(17 YEARS LATER)

         Damiano Riccardo Chiaramonte didn’t do weddings or any other kind of ‘public circus’ gatherings.

         Hadn’t in years.

         He hadn’t wanted to be present at this one, either. But when one of your best friends is the groom, and the bride is her Royal Highness, Princess Charlotte Sophie of Lichtenstein, you know you have to say yes. And when the celebration is taking place in the ballroom of one of your five-star hotels, you know that you must be present.

         Damiano knew there was no way in hell he could have said no.

         And he also knew he would hate every single moment. He didn’t want to watch another happy couple make vows to each other for the rest of their lives. He didn’t want to see the way they looked at each other with hope in their eyes and dreams in their hearts. Maybe it was selfish, but he didn’t want to witness other people getting what he’d been denied.

         Ever since Alondra, his fiancée, had died two days before their own wedding, he has turned his back on all that. Even so, that didn’t stop his mother and his two annoying sisters from seeking ‘the one and only’ for him. They seemed to consider it their responsibility to point out eligible women for Damiano to meet. And why not, to marry?

         But Damiano had no interest in dating or marrying anyone. Since the women in his family didn’t seem to grasp that concept, he did everything in his power to stay busy and keep away from Italy most of the time. Nonetheless, he didn’t want to be too far away from his family, so Damiano moved his ‘office’ from Italy to Spain.

“‘You cannot miss this, Dami. You must represent your father and me at the wedding. King Benedikt is one of your father’s oldest friends from college. Come on, I’m sure it will be lovely,’” his mother had assured him yesterday afternoon. “‘ And who knows? Maybe you will meet the woman of your life at the party…’”

         That was impossible!

         He’d met the woman of his life and lost her right before starting their life together as husband and wife.

         So, Damiano had arrived at the last minute, then sat in the back, avoiding every single acquaintance in the church. When he heard the priest intone, ‘Do you take this woman…’ his throat had tightened. Damiano shut his mind off, determinedly focusing on something else rather than the happy couple.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

         Damiano breathed a sigh of relief. He would have escaped then, except the groom’s uncle had latched on to him before he could, determined to talk to him about a ‘good business’. At least there hadn’t been an offer to introduce him to one of the bridesmaids.

         Silently, Damiano had counted his blessings as he went along the receiving line, congratulated Count Jaime Felipe de Rivera, the groom, and kissed the glowing bride, wishing them only love and happiness on this wonderful journey together.

         After the dinner organized in the ballroom of the ‘Nirvana Hotel’, an establishment of his property, Damiano had propped himself against a wall near the dance floor where conversation would be difficult and no one would suggest that he dance. He’d been counting the minutes until he could politely leave the room and retire to his private suite when an eager young brunette had latched on to him.

“I am Stephanie of Nassau,” she’d announced breathlessly.

“Nice to meet you.”

         The woman looked at him as if expecting Damiano to know who she was. She was young, definitely stunning, and determinedly sparkling.

“I am Damiano, a friend of the groom,” Damiano added.

“And I am the bride is my first cousin,” she’d explained, forgiving him because he admitted he was a friend of the groom.  

“Great,” he replied politely.

         She started talking, but he wasn’t really listening. He was trying to find the perfect opportunity to leave that inferno. As she kept on chattering, Damiano contrived to look interested. At least she didn’t have marriage on her mind. He was absolutely sure of that.

         There had been an edge of fragile desperation to her frenzied chatter, and the way her gaze roamed the room, he thought she was desperate for someone to see her with him.

         Damiano didn’t mind who saw them together.

         Nothing was happening.

         Nothing was going to happen.

         Finally, she paused and focused on him.

“And what do you do?” she asked.

“I’m the owner of this hotel.”

“Oh… But you said you were Jaime’s friend…” she said, a bit confused.

“I am, but I don’t have a title. I’m just a businessman.”

         Her smile almost disappeared.

         Served her right for pawing him!

“I see… Are you at least Spanish?”

“No, I’m Italian.”

“Oh...”

         At that point, it was clear that she didn’t care a whit anymore. She had other things on her mind. Damiano decided to follow that path. He’d figured he might bore her enough that she’d go find someone more inclined to take her up on what she seemed to have in mind.

         Damiano began to think it might be a better idea to dance with her, step on her toes, excuse himself, and escape this merry-go-round. But it hadn’t come to that. He’d been saved by Thea Walker, one of his many ‘minions’. A less likely savior would have been hard to imagine.

         Thea was standing quite hidden in the back of the ballroom, watching the groom and the bride, hypnotized by the entire scenery of the function. At some point, maybe without noticing it, she took a step ahead into the light, and swayed a little, following the rhythm of the music.

         And she was smiling.

         She seemed like a different person. Her shyness just vanished.   

         He remembered when he saw Thea for the first time, walking across the lobby. The sound of her high-heels made him stop listening to what his private assistant was saying, and just admire the blonde vision, walking with determination toward her office.

         She never looked up, not once. Maybe she was just shy, he'd thought. But when a colleague called her, a huge smile appeared on Thea’s lips, a smile that transformed her into another being. And in that moment, Damiano felt something unusual for him, something he had never felt in years.

         Something similar to what he was feeling now.

         Well, the evening was getting very interesting now...   

         Without saying another word to Stephanie, he started walking slowly toward the gorgeous blonde, all dressed up in a black management suit. As always, she was the perfect picture of efficiency.

         She didn’t see him…

         Perfect!

         Just a few more steps and he’ll get next to her.

         But halfway there, His Majesty, King Benedikt of Lichtenstein, stopped him in his tracks. Grudgingly, Damiano had to put a hold on his plans to talk to Thea.  

“Damiano, thank you so much for allowing us to use your hotel for this amazing reception. I am so glad I accepted your father’s advice and had the wedding here, in Spain.”

“You are welcome, Your Majesty. There are friends, there is family, and then, there are friends that become family. You are definitely part of the last category.”

“You sound so much like Manfredi. I’m so fortunate to still have a true friend like your father. I was sad to hear that he and Gia couldn’t make it…”

“They wanted to, but papà (Ita. father) had some health issues. So, mamma (Ita. mother) decided it was better not to travel.”

“I see… Nothing bad, I hope…” the king said with preoccupation in his voice.

“His lungs again,” Damiano replied.

“After the wedding, I will call Manfredi. Maybe I’ll pay him a visit in Taormina.”

“Papà will appreciate that very much, Your Majesty.”

“Very well, then,” King Benedikt said and looked at the Royal wedding table. “Oh, I see that my wife requires my presence. I hate socializing, but I adore my Queen, so... Have a great evening, Damiano.”

“You, too, Your Majesty.”

         After a half-neck-bow, Damiano turned and searched for Thea.

         Their eyes locked.

         Instantly.

         She was looking in his direction. He saw confusion and mortification on her face. Without losing eye contact, Damiano walked slowly toward her, but Thea started backing off and, in a second, she left the ballroom.