No Strings Attached

Chapter Thirty-Four

My head shakes fervently. "No, Giovanni. He needs to be held accountable for stealing from you. Are you crazy?"

"He won't be able to steal anymore. That's enough for me."

"Giovanni."

"My mind is made up," he tells me unwaveringly.

"I won't let you do this," I gasp, backing up, my feet unable to continue to sway. "Not for me."

"You don't have a choice."

I pull my hand from his, so we're standing facing one another. "He is a criminal, Giovanni. He has been using you for years this way. He went after your fiancée. I can handle whatever is thrown at us, I can."

He sticks his hands into his pockets. "Scarlett."

"I've prepared for this."

He glances to the side, at the people beside us before he moves forward, pressing his hand to my back to guide me further away from any ears. We stop beside a large pillar, an extravagantly vibrant plant towering behind my body.

"Don't tell me you've prepared for this. You are prepared for the torrent of hate that will come down on you? Your boss, you prepared to feel his wrath? No, I'm not going to watch you go through that shit, not when I can prevent it."

"He stole millions of dollars. Millions," I gasp quietly, leaning in. "I want him to fucking pay for it. I want him to pay for all of this."

"Some things are more important than vengeance, Scarlett," he says, deeply. "Sometimes pride has to be put aside."

I chuckle, placing my hands on my hips, my chest swelling with anger. "Giovanni."

"Did you actually think I'd let you take the fall for me? Honestly? That my money was more important than the years you've spent building your career?"

I stare at him, my lips pressed together tightly as he moves closer to me.

"Why the hell can you put yourself on the firing block and not me?" he growls. "We got into this together. I have found a common ground where we both end up with justice and we're going to use it."

"This isn't justice for you."

"You can't control this, Scarlett. You cannot control me, I won't let you, you know that. So, just accept this because it's happening."

I look down, breathing in deeply. I hear him exhale at the same time.

"I have to go. I need to speak to him as soon as I can, make sure this gets settled."

My eyes flicker to his, warily.

"Alright," I whisper with reluctance.

We stand in silence, neither one of us moving. It's unbearable to be this close and not be able to reach out to him, knowing he's angry with me.

"Dixon?" he whispers suddenly, his full brows angled with concern. I'm struck by the question, by the anxiousness present in it.

"No, he hasn't been around."

"Good... good."

I chuckle, weakly. "I, um, think he's too scared to meet your right hook again probably."

Giovanni barely smiles, looking down at the ground. The memories of that night, the fight and then the makeup are fucking painful to remember. I notice the discomfort on his face as he clears his throat.

"I'll let you know when it's done."

I nod as he turns, wrapping my arms around myself. "Okay."

I watch him go, his steps graceful as he exits the room, gaining the attention of a good majority of the guests as he goes. They stare at him in wonder, in a barely suppressed excitement, marveling at his beauty.

My chest is throbbing. The second he's out of sight, I hear a desperate sound escape my throat.

You want to go after him.

Go.

My feet surge forward.

I have no clue what I'll say when I reach him, no idea why I'm defying any better judgments to catch him before he leaves, but I can't seem to help myself.

I turn the corner, eyes searching frantically for him through the crowds of people entering and exiting the large lobby. I begin to fear I've missed him when a group suddenly dismantles, branching out in opposite directions and I find him walking down the steps to the doors.

I walk as fast as I can, not wanting to call out his name in front of all these people.

He exits the doors and I'm right behind him, entering the frigid night with nothing but a strapless gown on.

"Giovanni," I breathe, reaching out for him.

My hand stops in the air, my body freezing by the shock of sudden bright flashes.

Loud, deafening hollers.

"There they are! They're together!"

"GIOVANNI!"

"SCARLETT!"

"How long has this been going on?"

"Have you seen the pictures?"

"WHEN DID THE AFFAIR START?"