Chapter 36
A R I A N A
I pulled the hood of my sweatshirt lower over my face, I was wearing a pair of Natalie’s old jeans and sneakers, nothing like Mrs. Russo, I looked like a normal, scared girl.
The lobby of Russo Corp was huge and shiny People in expensive suits rushed everywhere as I walked to the big reception desk, my heart pounding.
A woman with perfect makeup and a cold smile looked up. “Can I help you p>
“I need to see Dante Russo,” I said, my voice quiet.
“Do you have an appointment?” she asked, already looking back at her computer screen.
“No… it’s urgent. Please, just tell him p>
She cut me off, her eyes scanning my cheap clothes with a look of disgust. “Mr. Russo is a very busy man he doesn’t see people without an appointment, especiallynot… random, common visitors.” She said the last part like I was something dirty she’d stepped in. “It’s best if you leave p>
Panic rose in my chest I couldn’t leave I had to do this now, it was either now or never and I wasn’t going back without the divorced papers being signed.
“Please,” I tried again. “It’s really important p>
She didn’t even look at me this time. “Security can show you out if you’re causing a disturbance p>
That was it, I had enough of people pushing me around… this woman wasn’t ready to listen to me and I was in no position to argue with her, so I turned and ran towards the elevators.
“Hey! Stop!” the receptionist yelled, I heard her high heels clicking on the marble floor as she chased after me.
I didn’t stop, I slammed my hand on the elevator button for the top floor, luckily the doors opened just as she reached me.
“Get out of there!” she screeched.
I jumped inside and pressed the close button. Her angry face disappeared as the doors shut.
I let out a sigh of relief my whole body shaking by the time the elevator dinged at Dante’s floor I rushed out into the hallway and ran to his office door, not bothering to knock, I just turned the handle and threw it open.
Dante was sitting at his giant desk, talking on the phone.
He looked up, angry… ready to pounce on who dared to barge into his office but as our eyes locked, his face turned stiff, as though he’d seen a ghost.
The receptionist came running up behind me, out of breath. “Mr. Russo! I’m so sorry! She just barged right past me! I tried to stop her p>
Dante’s eyes were still locked on me as slowly put the phone down.
“Get out,” he said, his voice low.
The receptionist looked triumphant. “You heard him! You need to p>
“Not her,” Dante said, his gaze never leaving mine. “You. Get out. Now p>
The woman’s mouth fell open as she stared for a second, then quickly turned and left, shutting the door behind her.
Now it was just us.
The divorce papers feeling heavy in my hand.
The silence in the office was heavy, Dante just stared at me, not saying a word, he didn’t even look at the envelope I was holding.
My hand started to feel weak, mustering up enough courage before I stepped forward and slid the papers across his big, shiny desk.
“I am ending our marriage,” I said, my voice sounding small in the huge room. “I have ended things with my father, I do not work for him anymore, so our marriage… it is not necessary now…It is over, I’ve already signed my part, so it’s just your signature left before everything is finalized p>
Dante’s eyes finally moved from my face, they looked down at the divorce papers on his desk then his gaze snapped back to me but he wasn’t looking at my eyes, his eyes were stuck to my neck.
I had tried to hide the bruises with Natalie’s hoodie, but the collar had slipped a little.
Dante stood up slowly from his chair my heart began to race as fear prickled my skin.
What now?
He walked around the desk toward me I wanted to step back, but my feet were frozen.
He stopped right in front of me his eyes dark, dangerous. He reached out a hand, and I flinched, thinking he would hit me, like my father but he didn’t, his fingers were surprisingly gentle as they touched the collar of my hoodie before he shifted the fabric aside.
His whole body went stiff, his eyes roamed around my neck were my father had choked me, dark, ugly bruises revealed, the skin was still swollen and tender.
Dante’s jaw clenched amuscle ticked in his cheek as he spoke, his voice was a low, angry growl.
“Did he do this to you p>
I pulled the hoodie back up, covering the bruises my face felt hot with shame. “It is none of your business, It does not matter anymore p>
“LOOK AT ME!” Dante snapped, his voice so loud it made me jump sending shivers running down my spine.
He looked furious, but not at me his eyes were burning with a rage I had never seen before.
“Did your father do this?” he asked again, each word sharp and hard.
I couldn’t lie.
I just nodded, looking down at the floor as a lone tear escaped, rolling down my cheek.
Dante didn’t say anything for a long time he just stood there, breathing heavily, looking at the bruise he had uncovered.
Then he did something I did not expect again.
He reached out and very, very gently touched my swollen cheek, where my father had hit me, his touch was so soft it made more tears come.
“Did he hit your face too?” he whispered, his voice rough.
I could only nod again, crying silently.
Dante’s hand dropped.
He closed his eyes for a second, like he was in pain, and when he opened them, they were different, the anger was still there, but it was mixed with something else.
Something that looked like hurt.
He picked up the divorce papers from his desk, I thought he was going to sign them but he didn’t, he just held them and he looked from the papers to my bruised face.
Then he slowly, deliberately, tore the papers in half.