The Ambassador and Me: an unlikely love story (The Ambassador Trilogy Book 1) (21 page)

“I hope you didn’t do it, Danny. That idiot isn’t worth you going to prison.”

“I didn’t. You have to believe me. I would tell you if I had. You know me.” He was right. He would have told me. He actually would have bragged to me about what he did.

“Will he live?” I asked.

“I don’t know and I don’t care. He was beat bad in the head with baseball bats. The bats were left and broke in two. I’m sure they can get fingerprints off them. Mom and Dad want to see you, so be prepared for the call.”

“I know. I will talk to them about it. I just hate reliving that night.”

I hated that there was more to the story than any of them knew. More than I could bare to discuss.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day Fabrice called me. I didn’t get out of bed till noon and left my phone off. If there was any news, I didn’t want to know. The less I knew, the better.

“Jesus, Isabella. I have called you all night! I almost came over.”

“I’m sorry. I turned off my phone and went to bed.” I lied, hoping to keep him out of the loop for a little while longer. We had unfinished business with Celeste we needed to discuss.

“Have dinner with me tonight.”

I was starved and it was early, so the offer sounded good. I needed to get out of the condo and I needed to see him.

“Sounds good. I miss you.”

I found myself pacing the condo again. I couldn’t sit still. I was preoccupied with worry about Danny and his connection with Anthony. I was worried about the pictures in Anthony’s car and if the detectives would be over to interrogate me. I needed time with Fabrice. I needed to tell him about Anthony.

He pulled down our driveway and I ran to his car. Earlier, we decided to go to my favorite place, a forty minute drive out of town. I wasn’t saying much and Fabrice seemed to be steeling quick glances at me. He knew not to talk to me until he sensed I had calmed down.

“Are you fine with going to a restaurant? We have some talking to do.”

“Honestly, I want to cook for you tonight.”

“Are you sure. You don’t act like you’re in the mood for cooking.”

“I’m so sure, Fabrice. I also need to talk to you.”

He smiled at me and turned the car around as we headed north to his house. I wanted to be surrounded by Fabrice and nothing that reminded me of Anthony.

As soon as we walked into the huge foyer, I kicked off my heels, put up my hair, and headed to the kitchen. Fabrice had stocked the fridge with more food, knowing how much I loved to cook for him. I made myself at home in his giant industrial kitchen. He told me to make whatever I was in the mood for. I decided to cook some chicken and jasmine rice with asparagus. Though not his favorite, he put on Frank Sinatra knowing it was mine. I dug into the fridge with a mission in mind.

I wasn’t hungry as I thought about my talk with Danny and what I needed to tell Fabrice. I questioned whether or not I should have told anyone anything. Would we be worrying about Anthony dying if I had not said anything? After dinner we both cleaned up the kitchen without talking much. I broke the silence.

“Fabrice, I have to talk to you.” I was drying the dishes and he was putting them back. He put the bowl down, came up behind me, and wrapped his arms around me. His hands pushed me into his warm, inviting body.

“Tell me anything, Isabella. I can tell something is wrong. Is it because I had to stay in Paris and we didn’t get to finish our conversation?” He kissed my neck, which caused me to rethink talking and head up to the bedroom. His lips were warm and wet and whenever they touched my skin it sent an ache between my legs.

As the picture of Anthony crossed my mind I snapped out of it.

“No, that’s the least of my worries right now. We can talk about that later. Let’s go sit down.”

Fabrice fixed us two drinks and I headed for the couch to curl up under the throw he keeps draped over the back. There was a fire roaring as I sat in front of it mesmerized by the dancing flames.

Once he sat, we both took a sip. I snuggled up next to him and started to tell him.

“Remember I told you about Anthony? He was the one that wanted to get married.”

“Yes, the boyfriend from college. Why, did you have a change of heart?”

“No, not even close. There is more to the story than what I told you.”

“What do you mean more?”

It was difficult to speak. My throat became dry. I took another sip of my wine and took a deep breathe.

“He’s not a nice guy. He hurt me.” Fabrice instantly tightened up after I said that.

“What, how did he hurt you, Isabella?”

I took another sip my drink. I told him what happened the night and how he tried to choke me. I also told him that my family had no idea until now. I also told Fabrice about the flowers that were delivered to the office.

Fabrice set his glass down, walked to the window, and stared out. His hands were in his pockets and he looked upset. I stayed on the couch and the tears started to come down my eyes.

“I’m sorry for telling you. I probably shouldn’t involve you in this. I don’t know what to do, and I’m so afraid of what my brother might do. He is out for revenge and he loves me a lot.” I was sick to my stomach and what little food I forced down seemed to be coming up.

“I wanted you to know since we are sort of a dating, or whatever this is, and if someone finds out I don’t want you to think I lied to you. You don't have to put up with this or me. You shouldn’t have to deal with this. And there is more.”

I could tell I was babbling. Fabrice looked at me.

“I don’t have to deal with this? I choose to be with you and if dealing with this is what I must do, then so be it. What do you mean there is more?”

“Fabrice.”

“I don’t appreciate violence against anyone. I have no patience for an idiot that thinks he can hurt a woman. Add you to the mix and I will kill for you.”

“Fabrice, please don’t talk like that. You are sounding like my brother, and that is not what I wanted.” I threw off the blanket and stood up.

His beautiful sapphire eyes looked as if they had turned to ice, his jaw was clenched, and his face was fiery red.

“Your brother is right. He needs to be taken care of- not tomorrow, not next week but today. You should not live in fear.”

“Well, he has been taken care of. In fact, he’s in the hospital in a coma right now. The police have been questioning people, and that’s not all.”

“What else?” he asked. He drank his drink looking at me.

“They found pictures of your house in his phone. He also took pictures of you coming to my house. I’m so sorry. I know this is going to hurt you. I had no idea he would do this to me. I plan on telling the detectives that you were coming over because of work. I will figure something out.”

I was regretting telling anyone. I knew I should have buried the secret with me and my therapist. I hadn't considered everyone going over the top. There was silence in the room and the only sound was that of the crackling fire. I could tell Fabrice was enraged.

He walked up to me and took me in his arms. I was shivering from either cold or fear, I couldn’t tell. His arms calmed me and I melted into him. His scent soothed me as I began to relax. I knew what I had with Fabrice was too good to be true.

“Don’t worry about that. I could care less if they say we were having a romance. We are, and I’m not afraid of anyone knowing. I just want this to be over for you. I want this Anthony to be gone.”

“I’m going to worry about it. I don’t want your career hurt by this idiot! You didn’t do anything for this to happen to you. I will take care of it. I’m not a weak woman. I’m strong and was raised to be strong. I don’t know how I let this happen, but it did and it is behind me now. I’m not the same girl he thought he could terrorize and hold down. I won’t let this happen ever again.”

“You don’t have to convince me. I know what kind of woman you are: You are strong, opinionated, and beautiful. You should have been treated like a queen. I wish whoever beat him up would have killed him. That is the only thing these type of men need. I can't get it out of my mind what he did to you. It makes me enraged.”

Fabrice was upset and I was afraid I had told him too much too soon. Maybe I should have waited awhile longer to see where this was headed. I hope I didn’t ruin where we were headed.

Chapter 14

A
ccording
to the clock it was getting late. Fabrice was not saying much as he held me in his arms tight.

“Fabrice, you can take me home or I can call a cab.”

He looked at me.

“Why would you go home?”

“This is not something you should be associated with. Maybe take some time to consider whether or not this is worth it. I understand.”

He let me go and shoved his hands in his pockets, still looking at me.

“I don’t need any time to consider any of this. You, my Isabella, are worth everything. Right now, I’m angry beyond belief. Not at you; I’m so angry that someone thinks he could hurt you, take advantage of you, and not worship you like you deserve.”

“Stop it, Fabrice! I’m not looking to be worshipped. I need to be treated with respect. He needs to leave me alone and get on with his life and possibly get help if he comes out of this.”

“You can’t feel sorry for him!”

“I don’t feel sorry for him. He’s messed up somehow. He doesn’t know how to treat a woman and it’s sad. I’m afraid he will treat another woman like he did me. He may be psychotic or a sociopath.”

“Dead is what he should be, Isabella.”

“Fabrice, don’t say that. You know you aren’t that mean. Who knows, he may be dead. He had his head bashed in with a baseball bat. They still don’t know if he will pull through.”

“You have no idea how mean I can be. I have killed for my country, and I have no problem killing for you.”

I gasped. I wanted to go back a couple of hours and not say a word to him. I had no idea he would take it so harshly.

“I’m just worried about the public.”

“Anything that has to do with you will affect me in some way. I have feelings for you, Isabella. Strong feelings that I couldn’t have for another woman. You are important to me and I don’t want you to be afraid or hurt. I also don’t want you to worry about these pictures or whatever this idiot had. I could care less. I have people that will take care of that issue and, right now, I want people to know I’m with you.”

I wanted to run back in his arms after he said that. My heart skipped a beat after he said he had feelings for me. I admit we'd had a lot of sex and it seemed that our whole relationship was based on that alone. I didn’t think he had any other feelings for me than that; I knew I had them for him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day I made it to work frazzled and out of sorts. I don’t remember getting dressed, putting on makeup, or doing my hair. I took the train in and went about my daily routine.

I checked my phone when I heard a text message. It was Fabrice wanting to meet me out front before I went in. I was to look for his SUV. The ride into work seemed to take twice as long, and as the train stopped I looked down and ran out before talking to anyone else.

Fabrice waited inside the SUV parked out front of our office. Ronnie, the driver, was waiting outside the back passenger door to open it for me as I walked by. I slid in and Fabrice was gorgeous as ever sitting there. He had his suit and tie on and a look on his face of concern and need.

“You have to keep your distance from me now. I know what you said last night, but I can’t worry about your career and deal with this right now. You don’t need associated with this in any way. He had pictures of your house on his phone and of us together. Right now, no one suspects we have something going on. I don’t want you involved in this. You didn’t ask for this.”

“That’s not happening.” He was matter-of -fact and using his power personality to make a point. A point I didn’t care to hear.

“I mean it, Fabrice. The press will be all over you if they find out you and I are... whatever we are.”

“You are going to question what we are after Paris? I’m in love with you, that is what we are.”

“You have to stay away from me for a while.”

“I refuse. It’s as simple as that. We also have a lot to talk about, like the Celeste issue that has not been discussed.”

I turned in my seat to face him and make him understand.

“Isabella, I will give you some time, but not much. I can help you find out who did this. I have connections.” He grabbed my hand and kissed my fingers. His lips were wet enough to make me wet. I kissed him and he grabbed my face in his hands. I wanted him right then and there.

“No, Fabrice. Please promise me you will stay out of this?” I begged looking deep in his eyes, so dark blue.

“I will give it a week and then I’m not waiting anymore. You have no idea what you mean to me and how much I will give up for you.”

He kissed me and this time it was sensual and slow. Wanting him more than anything, I melted. The tears stung my eyes as I thought about being without him.