LOGINI chuckled, staring down at the empty glass shot before me. It’s crazy how loyalty and honesty don’t count in today’s world. I’ve always been a good girl, and yet I was betrayed by the people I trusted and loved the most in the world.
I honestly had no idea why I thought I could cover up for the ladies who were trained to entertain very important guests.
“I don’t remember telling you my story.” I attacked.
The moment I got here, I spent a good amount of time in the restroom, crying my eyes out, before I finally came to sit by the counter for drinks.
Harry gave me an obvious look. “This is a club. Happy people come here; sad people also. So I can tell what’s up with you. I bet someone is going to replace you after you take your leave.” He gestured to where I was seated.
“Wow!!! Men must really be dickheads!”
“If you say so! But why do you even think I’ll choose you!”
“Because I am a virgin.”
Harry stared at me as though I had horns in my head.
“You are really untouched, and you let me waste my time in engaging in conversation with you?”
“You’ve had quite a number to drink, how come your speech is still clear?” He added.
“I’m a good girl, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to do the bad stuff.”
Harry parted his lips to say something, but I guess words failed him.
I had no power over the words that were rolling off my tongue. All I knew was that I was tired of being trampled on and, most importantly, I needed something to take my mind off this betrayal.
“Don is not having it. He said he’s going to leave in five minutes.” The staff from earlier said, looking worried as hell. “Did you get through to Nancy?”
“We need to act fast. Our job is at stake.” He panicked.
I could feel Harry’s eyes on me.
I continued to stare at the empty glass shot before me, pretending I had no idea what was going on around me.
“Are you sure you are up to the task?” Harry directed at me.
“I don’t do business with people who look down on me,” I answered, still not looking into his eyes.
“Look, sorry if I was harsh! Don is our biggest client. We only give him the best.”
“Then good luck with finding him the best!” I picked up my purse, then was almost getting off the stool when his voice came through again.
“Why go home and continue to sob on your couch when there’s an opportunity to have the time of your life?”
I finally looked into Harry’s eyes. “So now you believe in me?”
He shrugged! “Don is not into men, so there’s little I can do. I let you have a good time with a man anyone would die to have. In return, you help me keep my job.”
I rolled my eyes as I got off the stool.
“Don’t be a sucker! What better way to get revenge against your ex than screwing someone richer, hotter, and sexier than him?”
“Don doesn’t do virgins!” I mocked.
“You can take your leave. Let him know that someone will be there in a few.” He said to the staff who obeyed.
“You didn’t have to say that out loud.”
I arched a brow at the dude before me.
“Keep that between us. Don doesn’t have to know.”
I folded my arms. “And who says I’m in?”
“I don’t trust people, but I’m going to give you a chance,” Harry said, but before I could say a word to defend myself, he disappeared from my face.
“Asshole!” I mumbled as I opened my purse, trying to see if I still had some cash in there to take a taxi home.
Sadly, there was nothing there—just my phone, which I had run out of battery on.
“Perfect!” I huffed! I spent all my money on alcohol, and here I was. Stranded.
“Let’s go!” That familiar voice said, bringing me out of my thoughts.
It was Harry who was now standing beside me with his apron discarded.
“Huh?”
He grabbed my hand and let me out of the bar through a “staff only” door.
We got into the dressing room, and then he let go of my hand.
A lady in a very short dress and wine hair approached us. “Her dress is perfect, but please do something to her face and hair. Simple but classy. You got just one minute.”
Before I could have a say, the lady called Mary pushed me into a chair and began to work on my face. Through the mirror before me, I could see Harry standing behind us, watching Mary closely.
Mary was done with my face in no time, then she moved to my hair, fixing the curls as fast as she could.
“All done, Boss.” She said to Harry as she turned the chair around so I could face him.
“Better! Let’s go.”
“Huh?!” At this point, my reality dawned on me.
What the hell did I agree to?
“You have only one option. Getting the job done.” Harry said sternly. “I also do not forgive easily, so think twice before you ruin things.”
“You’re threatening me?” I said in disbelief. I was literally helping out here. Shouldn’t he be more grateful than commanding?
“I’m just being realistic, Amore. I need you to channel the betrayal into something positive. Make the best of this night. Look back and have no regrets!” Harry said, then took slow steps toward me. “I think I know your type, and it’s time to bring to life all the fiery and beastly desires that you’ve buried inside of you! Forget about me and my job. Go in there and make yourself proud. This is all about you.”
I swallowed painfully.
“After what felt like forever, Harry brought me before a door. “Don is all yours! He doesn’t need to know this is your first time. Bon appétit!” Harry reminded, then disappeared in a flash.
My heart began to race as I stared at the door before me. I was trying so hard not to think of the consequences of what was about to happen. I agree that I used to be a very calculated person, but where has that gotten me? I was done playing by the ethical rules of life. Even though it was just for tonight.
I heaved a silent sigh as I connected my hand to the door handle and pushed the door open.
ISABELLE The guests arrived in waves after that. Children in party clothes who immediately located the bouncy castle and made their priorities clear. Familiar faces from Matt’s world, from mine, people who had watched this year from different distances.Heather arrived with a box wrapped in pale ribbon — baby shoes, soft white leather, the kind that were almost too beautiful to put on a child’s feet. She found Mia before she found me, crouched down to her level and stayed there for a long moment just looking at her, like she was taking something in. When she finally stood and caught my eye across the room she pressed a hand to her chest and shook her head slowly, and I understood exactly what she meant.Richard arrived with Sofi and Henry — his youngest, a face I recognised from photos but hadn’t met — and it was Matt who went to the door, who shook his father’s hand and then turned to make the introductions properly. Henry was tall and a little uncertain in the way of someone droppe
ISABELLE I stood at the bottom of the stairs and just — looked.Our living room had been opened up completely, the furniture shifted back to make space, and what was left in its place didn’t look like a room anymore. It looked like somewhere a child might remember for the rest of her life. Pale gold and white everywhere — in the balloon clusters that floated at different heights, in the ribbon that caught the light, in the Miabanner strung in script above the fireplace. The long table along the wall held the food: a chocolate fountain, a popcorn stand with little striped bags, a candy corner in glass jars, trays of small sandwiches cut into stars. The drinks were in a separate station, tall and bright, with juice in glass dispensers and tiny cups set out in a line.And at the center of it all, on its own stand: Mia’s cake. Four tiers. White fondant with gold detailing, hand-painted roses climbing the side, Mia in pale gold at the top with a single decorated crown.Through the garden
EPILOGUE One year laterShe woke up the same way she always did.Not crying — Mia almost never woke up crying. She woke up talking. Little sounds first, then actual words, then full volume conversation directed at no one in particular, completely unbothered about whether anyone was listening. By the time either of us made it to her room she was usually already sitting up in her crib, very busy, very pleased with herself.This morning I heard her before my eyes were open.Matt was already gone from his side of the bed. I lay there for a moment listening — his voice low through the monitor, then hers, then his again. A pause. Then Mia laughed — that bright, sudden laugh — and I was already getting up before I knew I was moving.Her room was soft with morning light when I pushed the door open. Matt was on his feet with her, Mia up against his chest, one hand spread wide across her back. She had her chin hooked over his shoulder, looking around the room like she was conducting an inspect
ISABELLE We were most of the way through the meal when Matt reached for his phone on the side of the table.“Do you know about the situation in the living room?” he said.I looked at him. “What situation?”He opened his phone, found what he was looking for, and turned the screen toward me.It was the CCTV feed. The living room corner — except it wasn’t really a corner anymore. It was a territory. Boxes stacked on boxes, bags lined up in rows, wrapped things in every size and color, ribbons, tissue paper, items that were clearly not small and had not been easy to move. It went further back than I expected. It went significantly further back than I expected.“Matt,” I said.“I know.”“That is—”“I know.”“For one baby.”“For one baby.” He set the phone down between us. “Apparently everyone had two carts running the whole pregnancy. One for a girl, one for a boy. The moment she arrived, they just — sent everything.”I looked at the screen. “Everything.”“Everything.”I thought about Luc
ISABELLE We got back to the bedroom, and she was asleep.I smiled before I could stop myself. Mia on her back in the bassinet, one fist curled up near her cheek, chest rising and falling. Just — there. Ours.We moved around the room without a word. Slower than usual. Quieter. I didn’t decide to do it, and I don’t think Matt did either. It was just the new thing now. There was a baby sleeping, and so you moved like that.Matt opened the closet, and I walked in.Simple. That was all I wanted. I found underwear, soft trousers, one of Matt’s oldest T-shirts that had migrated to my shelf months ago and never left. I was reaching for it when something in the top drawer of the jewelry cabinet caught my eye.The bracelet.Gold, thin, simple. Matt had given it to me the same day as the car — the small engraved date on the inside of the band, Mia’s due date. I remembered the moment he fastened it. I hadn’t taken it off for weeks. Then one morning near the end of the pregnancy, my wrists had sw
ISABELLEThe first thing I noticed was the quiet.Not silence — Mia had already made it very clear in her three days of life that silence was not something she did. But quiet. The kind that meant Matt had gotten to her first.I opened my eyes slowly. The room was still dim, early light just starting to press through the curtains. I turned my head toward the sound.He was standing by the window. Mia against his chest, her tiny face tucked into the curve of his neck, his hand spread wide across her back — like he was making sure she knew exactly how much of him was there. He was rocking. Slow and even. And he was singing.I stopped breathing.Matt Moretti was singing.Quietly. Slightly off-key. Completely serious, like this was a boardroom presentation and Mia was a very difficult client he was determined to win over.“Take my hand… take my whole life too…”I pressed my face into the pillow.I could not laugh. I could not make a single sound. I bit down on the inside of my cheek so hard







