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.

was still standing and

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 being

the entire content of the bottle

everything expensive and classy.

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

to your little friend. She’s mad. But you looked uncomfortable, and

little friend Melody,” Timothy said taking a seat and shaking out the napkin slowly, then placing it on his knees. “She’s my ex.

you a

“Stunned?”

can’t stand the

you love

a life outside her circle of almost two days. Melody just needed to accept that she was attracted to a man who hated

with someone else. That was

It made sense. He wanted to show her that he was over her. “What did she do to you? What made you not want

of the same

said to him as he walked past

looked at her as if

did I say?” she asked Timothy in

what he

Just because he’s going to pick it up and it’s his job? Isn’t there a thank you

his reaction,” Timothy stared at her, holding the menu between his long, tantalizing fingers, the kind of fingers

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

“What?”

that

not feeling him

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

she focused on looking at the

she didn’t understand a

“Melody?”

“Yes?”

understand anything do

ask if you

already know the answer,” that had a double meaning, and it was

the menu and placed it on

wasn’t going to put

money and

meaningless

might not be financially stable, nor did she have the support of her parents or her sister, but she was not going to denigrate herself and put up with their mistreatment.

get something straight. You want me to be your wife. For some strange reason you’re still interested, after knowing that I’m related to the man who embezzled from you. Why? Why do you want me by

caused enough to talk about in that restaurant full of strangers and rich

her, more than she would have thought, to

she was, an idea

else behind it

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

this was something of convenience, something mutual. Do you think I’ll be tied to you for more than six months?” when she had imagined herself married, she had thought it would

played for years with dolls, where she veiled them and carried them down the aisle. Uttering words of

this was not like that at

mean 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 care about anything. “You...At times I

and she didn’t prompt

They were better off.

seem to have come here plenty,” she said remembering the

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

she wasn’t going to deny it. There was no point. It was crystal clear, while she denied it,

that said it

was like having an

she thought she was, the quicker she was stabbed from

I’ll throw that new bottle at you,” though she was starting to smile too.

you being jealous of a

name?” she

pay any attention to her. Her threats are empty.

told you I’m afraid of her? If you want to give her my address. I’ll wait for her there with a bucket of hot water

laughing and she told

smiling and uninhibited. Not all grumpy like he had come to be.

quite something,

to call

you going to tell me what happened with your parents? Why don’t they support you and get involved in your pregnancy?” he suddenly became serious and waited for her answer. He was tense, she could tell by the way a thin vein

wondered how big that vein could

shiver ran down her spine and her eyes dilated. “I’m curious what you think when you stare at

want

do. I assure you I do. There are

least she’s hiding something, the

Melody off guard, and she threw a coughing fit. “Get me

regained her composure and shied away from Timothy’s

one had ever called her that in