Protecting The Princiepessa (Complete)

~ Chapter 28 ~

Ignazia stepped out of the bathroom once she had finished her makeup. Her robe kept rubbing her back and causing her to squirm at the cuts that were there. In some ways, she was thankful that the dress was an open back so that the cuts could breathe. However, she was also certain she was going to get asked questions and she had no clue how to answer them or even how to avoid them. Adriano was escorting her to the hotel tonight and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that either given last night.

Last night had been amazing, and when they finished, he had carried her to bed, much to her amazement. He laid her down and when she would have showered, she didn’t; she just curled up and went to sleep. When she woke this morning, she had a text from him that he had a couple of things to do at the club and that he would see her in time to pick her up. So, she had the whole damn f*****g day to dwell on what they had done and dwell she did! She sure enjoyed it, but she also lied, at least to herself. She wanted more, and that was a problem!

She had laid the dress out before she jumped in the shower and now, she eyed it. It was still gorgeous, and she still felt amazing in it, however, she had a new appreciation for it knowing that Adriano had gotten it. And as she looked it over again, she couldn’t help but smile because memories flashed through her mind of the wall and their scene. Of course, she wasn’t so certain that he wanted another go as she did. And something told her that he wouldn’t act on it anyway.

With a sigh, she slipped the dress on, surprised to find it was slightly loser, and then curled her hair and pulled it over the side, letting it fall over a breast. Once done, she slipped on her heels, slipped on the simple jewelry, and topped it off with a sweet yet subtle perfume smell. She twisted and turned in the mirror, loving the look, and again, had to smile. She looked good, different, and she even felt different. She wasn’t sure what her father’s plan was tonight, but if he were to state that she was his, well she’d look good being by his side at the very least.

“Wow, you look amazing.” Ignazia lifted her eyes from herself in the mirror and to the man who stood in her doorway. “I love the simple, yet regal look you managed to achieve.” She turned around and smiled at him.

“Thank you, Adriano, I’m glad you like it.” He smiled and held his hand out for her.

“I changed at the club; had taken my outfit in case I was running short on time. Are you ready to go?” he questioned.

“Yes.” She walked over and grabbed his hand, and he led her out to his car. She slipped in and couldn’t fight how uncomfortable it now seemed between them, and she hated it. Sure, she’d want more, however, not at the cost of their tentative friendship. “Adriano?” she questioned, holding her hands in her lap.

“Yeah?” he asked as he guided his car back out of his garage.

“I don’t want things to be uncomfortable between us because of last night. It happened and it shouldn’t be an issue, don’t you agree?” He chuckled as he drove down the street, casting a quick glance in her direction.

“Going to be blunt and open about it, huh?” he asked her.

“Well, yeah. I don’t see a reason to not be open about it. We are adults, right?” Her brows wrinkled in confusion over his question. Sure, she got men wouldn’t talk about it and he may just want to wave it off, and though that bothered her slightly, she was okay with it. But she wanted to make sure they didn’t have future problems over it.

“Yes, we are, but that doesn’t always mean that others handle things in an adult fashion.” Izzy tapped her nails on the handle beside her before turning to look at him.

“You don’t mean us, do you?”

“Look Ignazia, there’s nothing strange between us. What happened, happened. I think both you and I are aware that it’s been brewing and it’s good we got it taken care of.” He passed her a glance as he drove down the street and she shrugged. She couldn’t agree more with him, she just had to be damn good at fighting the oncoming attraction. “As far as talking about it, yes, there are many ladies I know who wouldn’t dare talk to a man and be open about it. So, it’s nice to have someone want to discuss it rather than throw a fit over it.” Izzy covered her mouth but the laugh came out. She knew whom he was talking about, and she couldn’t blame him.

“Noted,” she told him. “Personally,” she continued, shrugging, “what’s the importance of throwing a fit, does she gain something from it?”

“She thinks she gets her way. However, I tend not to give in to her a lot, and it pisses her off. We fight a lot.” She turned to look back at him, a brow raised. That was news to her, not that she was surprised. Of all the couples she could see together, she could never understand how the hell those two ended up together. Again, that was not a love engagement, so she would assume that it was a business gain of some sort, but she couldn’t quite place why. And given their history, she wasn’t sure Adriano would open up anyways if she asked.

So, she stored that in the back of her mind and focused instead on the surroundings. Her eyes jotted around at the buildings, and she realized they were heading downtown. She shook her head as her mind trickled back to another time and sighed.

“Should have known,” she muttered.

“What was that?” She finally tore her gaze away and looked at him again.

“Someday, when I’m not on the way to something for my dad, I’ll have to share all about the time I was here.”

“That’s interesting, but your dad doesn’t know?”

“Oh, Adriano, something tells me he knows but never said nor did anything about it. I highly doubt that mom would let me come to New York for some field trip and not tell my dad.” She saw his brows crinkle and she had to laugh, but she wouldn’t go beyond that, not right now. He let it go as he pulled up to the hotel and she saw the throngs of people, making her stomach flip. “Do we have to pose?”

“No, and I don’t, although Sara does. You’ll be bugged after the event anyways.” He parked and the valet opened her door but before she could take his hand, Adriano was there, offering his. She smiled as she took it and climbed out.

“Protection or wanted to?” He sat her hand on his arm before smirking.

“Maybe a little bit of both?” he answered. She couldn’t help but smile to herself over that. Because maybe she just liked having a bit of it both ways as well. He escorted them past the crowds of interviewers and photographers, and she sent him a silent thank you. She knew that it wouldn’t last, but for the moment, it worked. “Here,” he told her, handing her the envelope that her name on it; the invitation that she didn’t even know she had.

“I still need it?”

“Everyone gets one, his kids included.” She pulled out the card and handed it to the doorman who nodded and stepped aside to allow them to enter. Her eyes glanced around, taking in the interior and then the crowds and crowds of people, all of them oozing their wealth.

“Wow,” she mumbled under her breath. This was not her scene by a long shot, and certainly a far cry from the “fancy” events she would go to with her mom. “How many people realize what he is?” Adriano chuckled at her quiet question as he made his way over to her dad.

“Many people do, but when it comes to these types of events where money is the only answer, everyone just turns a blind eye.”

“I can see why,” she said just as they walked up to her dad.

“There you are, Ignazia. My, what a vision,” he told her, kissing her cheek. His eyes danced from her to Adriano and back and she squirmed a little under the questioning gaze. “You do look lovely and Adriano, you picked out a nice dress for her.” She smiled her thanks, a tinge of redness brushing her cheeks. She wasn’t one to endure many compliments, so she turned her attention to her stepmom and gave her a hug. “Ignazia, what happened to your back?” her dad said.

“Being who I am, I slid against the wall when I was laughing over something.” She watched as her dad’s eyes narrowed slightly before nodding. But she caught the fact that her dad’s eyes zeroed in on the spot that was still on Adriano’s neck. It wasn’t proof that it was from her, however, the look her dad gave Adriano and then her spoke loud enough and she wasn’t sure what to make of that, or even what to feel about it.

“Adriano?” her dad said, and he turned to face his boss.

“Yes, sir?”

“Make sure you stick close to Ignazia tonight, please, no matter what.” Adriano gave him a look before nodding.

“Always, sir.”

“Good.” Ignazia glanced between the two and moved over to Adriano, gently taking his arm.

“What was that about?” she whispered, and he shook his head at her.

“Just stay close, I know what your dad is up to,” he told her, covering her hand on his arm.

“What is…” but she got cut off as her dad turned to her.

“Ignazia, come meet Mayor Johnson; Royce, meet my daughter, Ignazia.” And there was the bomb drop.