The Billionaire's Sweet Revenge

TWELVE

Adrianna's blood froze—as did her mind.

He called me Adrianna...not Valerie!

Her heart ran a race with her breaths, trying to catch up. She loved the way he kissed her, the way he touched her, and she was caught up in the passion. She wanted this to happen—even more. But, why had he called her Adrianna? Did he know she wasn't Val? If so, how?

"What is it, amore?" he said in between deep breaths.

"I...I..." She swallowed hard, moistening her suddenly dry throat. Her mind was still blank with what she could say. Perhaps now was the time to confess, and yet, he already knew.

She licked her parched lips. "Gabe, you called me...Adrianna."

His Adam's apple jumped in his throat, and he pulled himself off her. Sitting against the seat, he raked his fingers through his hair as he stared straight ahead.

She scooted upright, not taking her gaze off him. Why did he look guilty? Obviously, he knew, but how? "Gabe? Why did you call me Adrianna instead of Valerie?"

Sighing heavily, he turned toward her. "Because that is your name, is it not?"

Panicked, her mind scrambled to think of something intelligent to say, but nothing came. "I suppose the question I should ask is why you don't think I'm Valerie?"

He frowned and scrubbed his hand over his jaw as he stared out the window. "I have never met your sister, but I have heard about her. She was going out with a friend of mine and had broken his heart." Exhaling slowly, he turned his head and met her stare. "When I saw you and your sister at the terminal, I thought you were Val. Even when you introduced yourself as Val. But then, the more I talked with you, and the more we kissed, I knew you could not possibly be Valerie Olsen. The Valerie I had heard about was self-centered. She would never stoop low enough to become a humanitarian...or a librarian."

"People can change, you know," she said as her voice cracked. "You admitted to changing."

"Yes, but Valerie is too cold-hearted to change. Not only that, but when you kissed me, and when I touched you, I could tell you were innocent. Valerie would not have had the same reactions you had."

It hurt to hear him say these things about her sister. Adrianna knew some of it was true, but he made Valerie out to be as bad as the wicked witch of the west. Adrianna knew differently.

"I'm sorry you hate her that much."

He shook his head, turned and grasped her hands. "I do not hate her. I hate what she did to my friend."

She studied his sincere expression. He didn't appear mad at her for switching roles, but there was something that still wasn't quite right. As her mind pieced everything together, she realized that he had thought she was Valerie even after they arrived in Italy. So if he hated her sister so much, why did he try and seduce her?

"Tell me truthfully, Gabe. What was your purpose of trying to seduce me on the airplane if you thought I was Valerie?"

His eyes rolled back as he released another heavy sigh. The expression on his face explained his embarrassment of being caught. She gritted her teeth. Perhaps it was a good thing they hadn't gone very far while making out. She had nearly given her heart to this man, only to find out what a jerk he was.

"Because my original goal was to seduce Valerie and make her want me...just so I could drop her and stomp on her heart as she had done to my friend." He rested his head against the back of the seat. "At the time, I had no idea I would start having feelings for the woman I proclaimed revenge against." He turned his head to look at her. "But I did. That is when I became suspicious. It was after you introduced me to your sister, Anna. The more time I spent with you, the more I liked you, because you were so very different from the model my friend had told me about." He reached out his hand and stroked her cheek. "That was when I realized you could not possibly be Valerie. You were too sweet, too kind. I did not know for sure if you were Adrianna, but deep in my heart, I hoped you were."

Her heart lightened slowly. Was he really telling her the truth? That meant he didn't want her because she'd said she was a model, but he wanted her because of who she really was. "I'm sorry I lied to you," she said in a soft voice. "It was my sister's idea. She wanted me to have a wonderful vacation and to live the life I would never have. I thought it was a good idea until you started coming onto me."

He chuckled. "I'm sorry that I wanted to avenge my friend."

She shrugged. "I suppose we should let Valerie and your friend work it out themselves, right?"

"That does sound reasonable." He cupped her face with both hands. "And I'm glad the truth is out between us. I did not enjoy calling you Valerie."

She chuckled as her heart flip-flopped. "I didn't enjoy you calling me Valerie, either."

He bent and kissed her on the lips, but then pulled away before she could participate.

"Perhaps we can do this another time. But now, I want to take you shopping for a gown. Will you let me?"

"Yes." She smiled fully, feeling slightly better. But she still wondered what her sister would say, knowing that Adrianna wasn't going to play her sister's role any longer.

* * * *

Gabe loved how he could enter a*****e anywhere in Italy, and they would practically kiss his feet to make him happy. All he had to do was snap his fingers, and they were at his beck and call.

This was the very thing that happened when he entered a dress shop, famous for evening gowns. The sales ladies were by his side in two seconds. He told them what he wanted, and they whisked Adrianna in the back to have her choose a gown.

He'd never felt like Prince Charming, not with any of the women he dated. Of course, they had all counted on him spending money on them, which he did very little. Adrianna was different. She actually argued with him about purchasing her an evening gown. In the limo ride here, she'd even suggested going to a used dressed shop. He shook his head. He would never take her there. She was much too special.

As he sat on one of the cushioned sofas to wait, he couldn't help but think of the conversation he had with Dante at the restaurant. After the initial upset from his friend, and pointing the accusing finger at Gabe for going out with Valerie, Gabe patiently explained to his friend that he'd met her on the plane ride here. He also made it sound like she was not Valerie, but her sister, Adrianna.

Dante had laughed sarcastically and shook his head, not believing any of what Gabe had to tell him. In the end, he just threw up his hands and told Dante to believe what he wanted. He even gave his friend the name of the hotel where the sisters were staying.

Once Gabe had returned to his table, he'd realized his mistake for trying to get revenge for his friend. Obviously, Dante just didn't understand.

A movement from the dressing rooms captured his attention. Wearing a floor-length, cherry red silk sleeveless gown with heart-shaped bodice, Adrianna looked like a princess. This gown was made for her. The silver beads around the edge of the bodice and as a belt around her waist, was perfect for her petite body. And the deep red material gave her a wanton appeal. Her wavy blonde hair hung around her shoulders, but he pictured her with it fashionably lifted on her head with tendrils around her ears.

When he realized she stood in front of him, he finally snapped out of his desirous fantasy of whisking her off to his bedroom, and...

"What do you think?" She lifted her arms away from her body.

It was then when he noticed the one-shoulder strap cloth that draped over her left shoulder and fell in a small train down her back. "You are absolutely stunning." He shook his head. "I'm literally at a loss for words."

She laughed softly. "I love how it looks on me." She patted the heart-shaped bodice.

"Whoever designed this dress must have had you in mind." He stood and rested his hands on her hips. "I really want you to wear this tonight."

"If you insist." She grinned.

"But now I worry that I do not own anything that could compare. I will look like a slob next to you."

"Stop exaggerating." She playfully slapped his shoulder.

"I'm not." He turned to look at the nearest sales clerk. "We'll take this gown. And I want matching shoes, as well."

"Yes, Sir." She bowed slightly before moving to the cash register.

Sighing, Adrianna leaned against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You really don't need to do this, you know. If you don't want to take me to the function tonight, I'll understand. Besides, I'm sure Valerie will want my company."

He arched an eyebrow. "Are you saying you do not wish to go?"

"No, but I just don't want you to think you need to buy this for me."

"No, mia cara." He kissed her forehead. "I really want you to have this gown."

She raised up and kissed his lips, briefly. "You really are my Prince Charming, aren't you?"

"That is my goal, sí."

"Well, then I'll wear it tonight, because I don't want to embarrass you in front of your friends."

"Never, mí amore."

She held his gaze for several seconds, before she turned and walked back to the dressing room. He found it strange how he couldn't wait to show her off. He couldn't wait for his associates to see that he had a beautiful woman next to him. And he couldn't wait for people to ask him about his date. He wouldn't hold back his feelings. He was proud of the feelings she instilled inside of him. He finally felt like it was time to make the next big step.

As he sat back in the cushioned chair, his phone buzzed. He withdrew it from his pocket and glanced at the ID. He rolled his eyes. Why was Dante calling him again?

"Marcelli," Gabe answered roughly.

"My friend, forgive me for jumping to conclusions, but you must know why I acted in such a way."

"I do know, and I forgive you."

"However," Dante said quickly, "there's something you should know. I called the hotel and asked for Valerie. The clerk told me she was out, but that her sister was there. I decided to go there to see." He paused.

"And? What did you see?" Gabe asked.

"I don't know how to tell you."

"Just say it," Gabe snapped.

"You are with Valerie. Her sister was the one in the hotel room. I saw her through a window."

Inwardly, Gabe groaned. "No, Dante. I'm with Adrianna. She confessed to being the other twin."

"Of course she did." Dante grumbled. "She knew you hated her."

"I have had enough of this conversation." Anger welled in Gabe's chest as he tightened his fingers around the cell. "I'm with Adrianna, and that's final."

Dante blew out a gush of air. "Gabe, listen to me. I know the difference between the sisters."

"Are you sure? Adrianna didn't act like she knew you."

"Well, I had only met her once, but Valerie told me the difference between them."

"And what is it?" Gabe asked impatiently.

"Valerie has a birth mark on the back of her neck. It's in the shape of a bird. I asked her about it when I noticed it on her one day. She says this is the only thing that's different between them."

"A bird?"

"Yes. You will know when you see it. I want you to see if the woman you're with has this birth mark. If she does, she's Valerie."

Gabe blew out a frustrated breath and shook his head. "Fine. I shall look. Now will you leave me alone?" He inhaled a fortifying breath and tried to calm his anger. "Dante, I said it before, and I will say it again. You really need to get professional help. You will be a much better person if you can finally get Valerie Olsen out of your mind—and your heart."

"Call me tonight, after you have looked on her neck. I tell you, I know what I'm talking about."

"Tell me, Dante." Gabe drummed his fingers on the armrest. "Were you able to see the birthmark on the woman at the hotel room?"

"Well, no...but she didn't look anything like Valerie. That's how I know."

Gabe breathed deeply and counted to ten. His friend really needed a psychiatrist. "I will talk to you later. Goodbye." He clicked off the phone and stuffed it in his pocket.

Adrianna came back out into the waiting area, wearing the casual dress she'd worn all day. Her face beamed with happiness, and it made his heart weak just knowing he was the reason she looked so glorious.

The sales clerk followed behind with the box. "I have put the purchase on your credit," she said.

"Grazie."

"Gabe," Adrianna said as she hooked her arm around his, "if you don't mind, I want to return back to my hotel to get ready. I'm going to have the hotel's beauty parlor fix my hair for tonight's occasion."

Grinning, he lifted a lock of her hair and rubbed it against his cheek. "Just as long as you have it up off your shoulders. I want to be able to kiss them any time I like."

Her face grew red. "You read my mind."

As he walked her out to the limo, he realized he was going to do what his friend asked. Although he knew this was Adrianna, a niggle of doubt still hung in his head. But he'd prove his friend wrong tonight. Then, and only then, would his friend see that he needed to let go of the grudge he had against Valerie.

At least Gabe hoped his friend would realize that.