The Billionaire’s Prodigal Wife (Mackenna and Alessandro)

Chapter 11

The hard plastic soles of her shoes clicked angrily on the tile flooring of the corridor leading to her office and she tried to tell herself although today was already Tuesday and she hadn't seen or heard from Alessandro since last Thursday, she wasn't upset at all. It was not the reason when Derrick had met her with a cup of coffee at the doors of the hospital this morning, she'd had to force herself to smile at the man when a week before she would have been thrilled with his attentions.

It didn't make sense to her. She'd spent the last five days knowing he was in and out of the hospital visiting Dulce and the last five nights dreaming

of him. She had thought the weekend away from the hospital would have helped her but just seeing him again on Thursday had made her miss him as much as she'd had when she'd left him initially. With Savannah working all night both Saturday and Sunday, she'd sobbed into her pillow until the early hours of the morning uninterrupted.

How could it feel, after all this time, she was a child seeking his approval, needing his love, wanting him to choose her? He was spending time with Dulce and hadn't even come to see her once.

She slammed her purse onto her desk angrily. She flung herself into her chair and turned the power of her computer tower on. She grabbed a stack of forms and began sorting through them. When she came across Dulce's file, she had the urge to throw them across the room and scatter them like confetti in a windstorm but instead she opened the folder and began sorting through the different documents detailing the procedures and daily billed items. She grimaced at one particular item. The woman had refused to have the water the hospital provided and so had demanded some obscure water company from Europe send her water and bill the hospital

directly. She entered her password onto the screen and then pushed her palms into her eyes and gave an annoyed shriek. She hated the woman.

-I would think if you were this frustrated at the beginning of your day then perhaps you should go back home and pull the blankets over your head Alessandro's voice carried over the quiet of the office. She glared at him, despising how her heart lurched at just a glance of him leaning in her doorway. -Your protégé is a pain in the backside. I've had to set up twelve new companies in our system to deal with her insane demands

-Dulce is used to having the world cater to her Alessandro shrugged and moved into the

office uninvited.

-She's in a teaching hospital not a five-star hotel Mackenna grimaced at her screen and -You are not sleeping Alessandro commented quietly as he took in the dark circles under

her eyes.

-It's none of your concern,II she retorted. He said nothing as he sat into the uncomfortable chair in her utilitarian office. A lesser man would have shriveled up at the way she looked up at him in irritation. Unfortunately for her, he was made of stronger stuff than most, -What are you doing here?II

-I wanted to see you From what he'd gotten out of Dulce in the last twenty-four hours, he was lucky Mackenna hadn't already married someone else. When he'd left Mackenna's office on Thursday he'd simply left the hospital and returned to his hotel to think. However, when he'd returned to see Dulce on Friday and had asked her to tell him what she had said to Mackenna. She had denied saying anything. It was only Sunday morning when he'd finally gotten her alone without her mother and sister hovering around and the nurse's completing paperwork and he'd made it clear he was done messing around she confessed she'd told Mackenna they'd slept together but she'd told him she'd said it jokingly and Mackenna had laughed with her. Then yesterday she'd spilled the truth. She'd not only told Mackenna they'd slept together but she had elaborated on the stories with such flair it was near impossible to

believe Mackenna hadn't left him long before she'd had. If he'd been in her shoes, he'd have

burned the world down for his apparent infidelities, especially since he'd always mocked her for her accusations thinking her merely jealous. He'd left Dulce's room so incensed at her betrayal of their friendship he knew he had to leave before he did something which would have cost his company millions.

-Well have you seen enough, or shall I strike a pose for you?II She asked sarcastically.

He knew now the cold hard way she was dealing with him was simply the way she was reacting to the pain of his infidelity. Mackenna, I'd like for us to have dinner

-No She didn't even bother to glance in his direction as she began entering the information for the new billing. She groaned and lifted the

receiver on the first ring of her telephone. -Mac Keebler She answered the question from an insurance company about another patient and she noticed Alessandro simply waited patiently for her to finish her call.

-I truly do not like your name shortened Alessandro pushed his fingers into his hair. - Mackenna is a lovely name

-I agree. I was named after my paternal grandfather who was a lovely man, and I love my name. However, nobody here knows who is on the telephone if I introduce myself as

-No, actually you do not. You could come home and everything you need would be provided for you and you could stay home and take care of our children

-Or you could get it through your thick skull hell will freeze over before I return to living as your dirty hidden secret when you flaunt your bimbo all over the world

-A dirty secret?II He asked incredulously. Is this what you think?II

-Alessandro, I gave up years ago trying to figure out what you think and now I no longer care She paused, unless you finally are thinking I'm right and the best thing for me is for you to sign my divorce papers and give me my freedom She saw his look of disgust and shrugged. Can't blame a girl for dreaming

-Well at least you have dreams, II he said smartly and saw her lips tugging as she tried not to smile at his words. I too have dreams

-Do you?II She asked trying not to respond to his easy attitude. -I'm sure I don't want to hear them

-Yes, for example, I have dreams of you not wearing those ugly shoes you have on ever again

-What's wrong with my shoes?II She looked down to her flat black ballet slipper type shoe. They were comfortable and easy on her feet.

-They're flats, II he looked at the blazer she wore, and at least a size too big for you. You need heels to show off your shapely calves. Also, you've dropped too much weight. You should be showing off your curves, not hiding them behind a bulky jacket and a straight skirt

She looked down at her outfit and grimaced, knowing he was right but hating him for pointing it out. I had bought new clothes but they're in my room at Nonno's. Someone chased me out of the country and all my prizes were left behind

He ignored the taunt, -how old is the jacket? It looks as if you purchased it in the clearance bin of a thrift shop specializing in eighties throw-backs

-Ouch She made a face at him. Not all of us have designers at our beck and call

-Come home and you will He grinned and linked his fingers behind his head and stretched his elbows wide. I will personally design and entire collection for you

-No, you'll be at Dulce's beck and call and I'll be sitting in the middle of a lonely bed waiting my turn. No thanks. I'll take my eighties throw-back thrift store special over that any day She saw his smile disappear and she turned her head back to the screen. -Don't get too minutes to set up billing

He wasn't giving up. I'll go when you agree to dinner -You don't eat dinner,II she flicked her eyes in his direction. They both knew what she meant.

-No, you're right. I don't eat. I feast His eyes were big and golden as he teased her and when a true smile pulled on her lips, he almost crowed with victory, but he kept his cool. Do you want to feast with me?II

There was nothing she wanted more, she realized as she shook her head and lied. No. I don't. Your version of dinner and mine differ greatly

-Oh, I'm not sure. I think we're both thinking the same things Her eyes met his for a halfsecond and he knew he was right. He leaned onto her desk. -Coward

-Damn right She straightened her spine and kept her eyes averted. There are some things I know I am not strong enough to handle and dinner with you is one of them

Now what was that

-Challenge yourself He dared her. He reached out and pulled her pencil from where she had just put it between her teeth while she typed on her keyboard. If you want something to slide between your teeth, I can give you something better than a pencil to put there He saw her head slowly turn and he dug into his pocket and pulled her hand forward and slid a stick of gum in her palm. filthy mind of yours thinking?II

She couldn't help it. She laughed aloud at his antics as he flirted outrageously, and his wide smile and chuckle made her laugh harder. -Alessandro Demarco Benedict Giordano, get out of my office before I have to physically remove you

He reached out and tugged a tendril of her hair. I love when you call me by all of my names

-You're incorrigible

-Agree to have dinner with me and I'll leave you in peace He walked around her desk and rubbed her shoulders. -Mackenna, your shoulders are so tense. I can help you relax -I'll relax when you get out She tried to push his hands off her shoulders, but he lowered his head and kissed her hand. -Alessandro. Quit it -Dinner He whispered in her ear.. -Fine! I'll have dinner with you Her thighs squeezed tightly as his breath blew over her neck. She tried to push him away, but he was laughing, and his laughter coated her skin and He laughed and kissed her cheek. -Okay. I am going but I will see you this evening for dinner. I'll be at this door right here to pick you up at five sharp

-I'd like to go home and shower first She furrowed her brow. -Working in a hospital, I never know what I'm coming into contact with

-Forgive me if I don't trust you won't hop a plane to Alaska if I don't come and get you. I'll take you home so you can get cleaned up He smiled as she looked up sharply at him and he pressed a hard kiss to her mouth. Five o'clock

-Okay She spoke quietly as his tongue ran over her lips. He tasted of nicotine and coffee, and she had a sudden craving for more. She pulled her head back and looked into his eyes. It is just dinner, right?II -Just dinner. We will talk just as you asked He stroked her cheek gently his eyes serious and intent on hers.

-Okay She repeated the only word which seemed to make sense in her head, intoxicated by his presence. -Five o'clock

He paused for a moment and then kissed her lips quickly before rising and walking away from her. She watched through heavy-lidded eyes as he turned at the door and winked at her. Once again, he had woven his spell around her, and she was powerless to resist him. His easy-going relaxed manner had always won her over. When he flirted with her his hold on her Nas immeasurable in comparison to when they fought or argued. He had done everything he could in the few minutes he'd been with her to ensure they didn't argue. The more she considered it, the deeper the line between her brows grew. It was clear he was playing a different game and she had fallen right into his plans.