The Italian's proposal

Chapter Fifteen

Melody

“You’re pretty sick if you think I’m going to stay with you in this place.” she didn’t touch the glass, she had always heard about alcohol hurting babies.

“Sick or not, you’re still going to marry me,” he said taking another sip of his wine. “Do you know what you want to eat?”

“I haven’t even seen the menu, and I’m not really hungry anymore,” and it was true, her appetite was gone. That lunch was turning out to be fatal.

“Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment. You must feed yourself for the sake of your child.”

“Don’t tell me what’s best for my son,” she glared angrily at him one more time and he smiled.

“From now on I am a part of your life Melody, we should run the party in peace, at least try to,” his voice was so seductive that Melody almost fell over.

Just as she was about to tell him where to stick his opinions a woman approached them.

She was stunning, luminous, moisturized skin, which you could tell from a distance she invested more than Melody earned at the coffee shop in going to spas and beauty salons, eyes as blue as two drops of water and her hair slicked back. She wore fitted to the body an apple green dress and stiletto heeled shoes almost as high as Melody herself.

“Honey, I didn’t know you were coming today,” the woman walked up to Timothy and planted a resounding kiss almost on his lips, not because this hadn’t been her intention, but because he turned his face away a second before. “It’s good to see you, mind you, I was thinking...”

“I’m busy. Are you blind?” he told her without even looking at the woman.

At least the bad mood was not just for her.

She was beginning to believe that anyone who crossed him would have an inconvenience with him.

“Don’t talk to me like that,” the woman pouted, and Melody wanted to slap her to stop her flirting.

Of course, she had no say there.

Timothy looked genuinely uncomfortable, though, to the point that she even felt sorry to see him so desperate. He gave her a furious look that changed her perspective on him a bit. He was eager to get out of the plastic blonde and she could tell.

“Excuse me, but if you can’t tell, we’re trying to get lunch,” she interjected tapping the woman’s hand, which was on the white tablecloth, so she could get her attention. She was wearing long, well-painted, pale pink nails. Even in that she was perfect.

“Easy dear, you’ll get on with your interview right away,” she said dismissively.

Melody clenched her fists. She didn’t give a damn about being pregnant, if she had to fly on top of that smug, arrogant woman, she would, she would rip out every hair on her head.

“Melody’s not on a job interview, Gia,” Timothy retorted coming to her defense. Which she was grateful for, because if he left it to her, she would easily end up beating her.

In her life she had seen many people who thought they were superior because they had more money than others, because they had a college degree, or because they had fancy cars. For Melody there were things that money couldn’t buy, and that woman lacked a few.

From the way she looked at Timothy, she could tell that the blonde was more than just a friend or employee, she looked at him with greed, with sensual heat. That irritated her because she could never have anything like that with Timothy. Because now he despised her. For a foolish thing, for not speaking up sooner.

But that didn’t stop the jealous woman in her from taking control of the situation.

“Will you sit with us? We’re finalizing the details of our wedding,” she gave her a fake smile, just as she was. Timothy looked at her and almost dropped his jaw in surprise. “Shall we find you a chair? I’m sure they have one stashed away somewhere.”

“Marry her!” the woman exclaimed, looking at Timothy. “You’re marrying that!” she pointed at Melody and that threw her off balance.

She got up from her chair making a clatter from the sudden movement. Fuck people staring at her. She needn’t put up with the offenses of that malicious, created woman.

“It’s time for you to go,” Melody told her. Although she wasn’t as tall as the blonde, if it came to it, she could give her one hell of a hair-pull. “Looks like you’re spare.”

“You’re not going to tell me what to do,” she retorted, smiling without getting the gesture in her eyes. “You’re not going to marry Timi, he loves me. We’ve just had a little difference.”

“Gia, go away,” this time it was Timothy who stood up from his chair and watched the woman with a look on his face. “Leave my fiancée alone. I don’t need, nor do I want anything coming from you. I think I’ve made that clear to you for months now.”

“This is a phase, honey. This will pass. Can’ t you see what a ridiculous, glib woman she is? You’ll trade me for that? Ridiculous!” the woman pointed her perfect two-hundred-dollar manicured fingernail at her again.

May the angels help her.

Melody grabbed the bottle on the table and without any finesse whatsoever poured it over the plastic blonde.

“You look like you could use a drink to loosen you up,” she set the bottle on the table and folded her arms. “Oops, looks like you got a little wet.”

The woman shrieked hysterically and looked at her as if she was going to turn into a demon from the underworld.

“You! You’re ruined! You hear me? Ruined!” she went off letting out an airy snort, walked past her and if Melody didn’t move a little bit, she’d shoulder her.

What an unbearable woman!

“Somebody get this poor lady a napkin!” she cried when she saw all eyes were on them.

A sense of triumph swept over her and gave her the courage she needed. She didn’t care what people thought.

At least not everyone.

But she did care what a blond-haired, blue-eyed man, the same one who kept his eyes on her, thought.

She sat down again and took the drink she earlier denied. One drink wouldn’t hurt her baby.

still standing and

a little jumpy,” and it was true. She felt a little nervous and her hands were shaking. She never did anything like this before. Not that she was cautious and thoughtful, not at all. She was known for

content of the bottle

branded, everything expensive and classy.

anywhere. I’m where I’m supposed to be,” the comment surprised and delighted her, but

I did that to your little friend. She’s mad.

a seat and shaking out the napkin slowly, then placing

saw you

“Stunned?”

yes. I can’t stand the

you love her,” she

had a life outside her circle of almost two

that he was in love with someone else. That

Melody kept talking. It made sense. He wanted to show her that he was over her. “What did she

he called the waiter over and ordered another wine of the same type. A young janitor mopped up

him as he walked

at her as if

I say?” she

That’s what he gets paid for.

garbage man’s turn to pick it up, you’re going to go spreading waste all over the street? Just because he’s going to pick it up and it’s his job? Isn’t there a thank you for those who don’t

That’s why his reaction,” Timothy stared at her, holding the menu between his long, tantalizing fingers, the kind of fingers a

she felt he was going to say something to her, but he shook his

“What?”

sure that kid is

feeling him

his eyes what she already knew. He didn’t care if her son

understood, she focused on looking at the

didn’t understand a word

“Melody?”

“Yes?”

understand

if you already

to be honest with me, even if I already know the answer,”

menu and placed

going to put up

she need the money and

she going to put up with his meaningless and untruthful offenses? No. Of course

of her parents or her sister, but she was not going to denigrate herself and put up with their mistreatment. She wasn’t that

by your side if you think I’m so worthless?” guilt of hormones or whatever it was, her eyes

in

she would have thought, to have Timothy look down on

she was, an idea popped into her

else behind it

that you will be,” he replied sternly and without warm fuzzies. “Look on the bright side. You’ll have a good position in society. My family is quite well known,

thought about that? I thought this was something of convenience, something mutual. Do you think I’ll be tied to you for more than six

person. She played for years with dolls, where she veiled them

not like

to hurt you. This is too much...” the apology touched her heart. She knew he wasn’t like that, she felt it in her heart. But she didn’t understand why he acted like he didn’t

didn’t continue, and she

They were better off.

to me. You seem to have come here plenty,” she said remembering the blonde bathed in red

you jealous of her?” he laughed for the first time since they’d arrived at

funny,” she wasn’t going to deny it. There was no point. It was

that

like having an enemy living

she was, the quicker

though she was starting to smile too. “How can you laugh at that?

you being jealous of a

name?” she

her. Her threats are

you want to give her my address. I’ll wait for her there with a bucket

told

all grumpy like he had

something,

you not to call me by

don’t they support you and get involved in your pregnancy?” he suddenly became serious and waited

big that vein could get if he

grabbed her hand, and she felt his warmth. A shiver ran down her spine and her

want to

assure you I do.

hiding something,

beautiful face. All of you are, cara,” the compliment caught Melody off guard, and she threw a

later Melody regained her composure and shied

called her