“I’m sure you’ve been good,” he says to me.
“Better. Now that your face is all bruised.”
Francesca gasps. “That is no way to talk to a gentleman.”
“He’s no gentleman.”
“Well, I have known Matteo since he was a boy. I know a gentleman when I see one. You clearly do not.” She motions between us. “There’s something going on here. What is it?”
“None of your concern,” I say with a tight smile.
“Everything to do with my nephew’s wife is my concern.”
“Francesca,” Gianna says softly.
“What?”
“Maybe be nice to Kira.”
Francesca stares at her niece in shock. “Why would I do that when she’s been nothing but horrible to me?”
Gianna can only shrug and duck her chin again.
Matteo smirks in my direction and it takes everything inside of me not to stab the fork next to my hand right into his eye.
“A good wife doesn’t talk to other men,” Francesca scolds me.
“You’re the one who invited him to sit down.”
Francesca ignores my dig and turns to Matteo. They talk about family and the weather and life. I zone most of it out but my eyes never leave Matteo. I will not let him do anything to me. Never again.
“Are you ok?” Irina whispers in my ear.
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t seem fine.”
“I’m fine,” I say in a tougher tone.
Irina, fortunately, drops the issue.
Throughout the meal, Matteo keeps flicking his eyes at me and smirking like he’s won. I can only glare back at him.
After what feels like forever, he finally stands up. “Thank you for the meal, ladies. But I have work to attend to.” Work that no longer involves my husband.
“What a nice man,” Francesca sighs, watching Matteo walk away. Her pleasant expression turns to cold the second she places her eyes onto me. “I don’t know what you’re up to, Kira, but I don’t like it.”
“I’m leaving,” I announce.
“Stay, please,” Irina says but I know I can’t stay here and listen to Francesca a moment longer.
I leave the tea room and enter into the hallway but before I can reach the lobby of the hotel, someone grabs my arm. Turning around, I see that it’s Francesca.
“Let me go,” I say hotly, tugging my arm away.
“I saw the little looks you and Matteo were giving to each other. I didn’t want to say anything in front of everyone else for Matteo’s sake but you have to tell me the truth. Are you having an affair with him?”
Her question takes me aback so much that it feels like an eternity before I can answer. “I am not having an affair with him.”