No Strings Attached

Chapter Forty

Even my skin aches. How is that possible?

When he begins to shift, I'm walking again, refusing to let him catch me staring at him. Trembling, I approach him, holding my bag with one hand, exerting pressure on the strap. Giovanni turns as the man he was talking to stops to look at me. Giovanni's eyes instantly find mine, dark and broodingly telling, and I feel my chin lift higher, desperate to retain my control of this situation.

"I'll come by before it's time," the man says just as I reach them, departing quickly. Giovanni doesn't answer him.

"Hello, Scarlett." His voice immediately sends shivers down my spine. I cannot tell if it's a good thing or really bad thing. I feel sick either way.

"Hello."

"Thank you for coming."

"Of course," I reply mechanically, looking past him, towards the door.

He's staring at me. I can feel his gaze.

I grit my teeth together. "Where do I go?"

"Just inside here. I've managed to secure a private trial. No reporters present."

"He must be glad for it."

When he doesn't answer, I meet his eyes with reluctance. It's strange to see him fidget, but he glances both ways, messing with the cuff link to his shirt.

"How are you?"

I smile, nodding. "I'm great."

He just stares at me, his eyes traveling over my face. "I heard you landed the Maynard deal. I was going to email... to, um, congratulate—"

"But, it's you I have to thank, right?" I ask condescendingly. "I mean, you did go to him first."

He looks down, having the decency to appear uncomfortable. "I wanted to do something—"

I begin to walk, not wishing to hear his excuse. "Thank you, Giovanni."

"Scarlett."

His hand clasps my own to stop me. I turn back to him slow, my face stiff with anger.

"Scarlett, it was the only way."

I pull my hand from his grasp, my body naturally reacting to the soft feel of his hands, remembering so much I want to forget. "Don't... touch me."

I turn my back, storming towards the doors without a backwards glance. The seats are already full in the courtroom. I make my way up to the front, trying to get the intoxicating smell of his body out of my senses. I take a seat and stare up at the ceiling.

Soon this will all be over. You'll be flying back to New York where Carlos and Rebecca and Ed will meet you for dinner. This trial—Giovanni—will be far away where they can do no more harm.

When I look back down, the room is hushing. Giovanni is taking a seat at the plaintiff's table. The judge is now approaching the bench. The courtroom falls silent as Giovanni's brother is led out in handcuffs and a dark blue uniform. He looks younger than I imagined he would.

To think this is the first time I'm actually seeing this man face-to-face...

He stares at Giovanni, standing at the defendant's table and then glances to the other side of the room. There is a woman and a young girl seated behind Giovanni. I don't have to guess to know they are his mother and sister.

It's the first time I'm seeing them too. Lola isn't here.

My gaze drifts towards Giovanni, who is staring into the desk before him, clearly wrapped up in his own mind. I'm transfixed by the way his brow furrows in thought, how his lips rub together contemplatively.