The Billionaire’s Prodigal Wife – Chapter 35
Mackenna sat in her office on Tuesday and groaned as her leg cramped under her desk. She leaned down and massaged her calf, cursing herself for showing off so much on Sunday during her hike. She was paying for it now two days later with muscles protesting every move she made. Her only consolation was the other four members of her hiking party were in far worse condition than she was.
Alessandro had called her the night before from his hotel room to call her a masochist and then to tell her he was resting in the jacuzzi tormenting her she had a stand-up shower and no place to soak. At no point did he make any s****l inuendo to share his tub and Mackenna admitted to herself she missed when he flirted outrageously with him. More than once, she told herself this was what she wanted to combat the sadness she was feeling.
Today he’d offered the use of his car so she and Savannah could go check out a couple of condominiums in the area. He had meetings he was attending remotely and wouldn’t need the car. He was giving her space and respecting her boundaries.
ecognized his number. “Alessandro, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
eep getting a charley-horse in my calf. I’m so grateful for my ballet flats today.”
rely expecting he would tell her there was no use since he expected her to return to Milan. Instead, he had voiced his encouragement of the move and offered the use of his vehicle and his legal team for contract review if needed.
a pretty decent mood.”
rthinking, and you will be agreeable but I’m trying to aim low,” his chuckle was teasing. “I am outside. I will be there in a few minutes.”
wn the corridor with an annoyed look on his face. “Another crowd out there?”
s,” he motioned for her to precede him into her office. He waited until she was seated and then he took a seat opposite her.
I have a proposal for you and while I very much want you to accept it, I fear you will yell at me and throw me out of your office.”
e point then. Rip the bandage off as it were.”
ly allowance.” Instantly he noted s
id trying to remain calm.
married you signed a prenuptial agreement. Do you remember?”
sisted on it, and she hadn’t been offended in the least by the suggestion.
e failed, and I know you agree.” He saw her bite her lip and look away uncomfortably. “You wouldn’t have left the country and filed a divorce if it hadn’t failed, correct?”
re than it should.
r each month we have been apart.”
is words. “It is admirable. I understand why you have had to live as you have. I know you were trying to save the money
divorced?”
though,” she shook her head.
ke advantage of it.”
nable to come up with a single argument against his words.
at now,” he saw her open her mouth, but he spoke quickly to cut her off, “and it would allow Nuncio to sleep better at night.”
” she commented sarcastically, “bring my best friend and my brother from an
an I
s there to think of?” he moved his shoulders in his jacket as if he were trying to stay calm and not provoke her.
ust never,” she rubbed her forehead in confu
His smile was easy as he nodded. “I know. You married me for my body,
request,” he said suddenly once he realized she w
ike the idea of leaving you and Savannah without a car. I know you won’t use a car service. With the press around all the time, if you’re exiting a secured parking garage to a
was making sense and it irked. “Why are you going back to Milan?”
time ago and of course it’s in a sketchbook I don’t have.”
etchbook?”
day.”
question Mackenna.”
but couldn’t stop herself. “Will you go to her?”
lce right now. The last thing I need to do is fire her in the heat of the moment. She is a valuable asset to the company. She is being managed by lawyers and my VP, but I am maintaining my distance.”
lf where she’s concerned.” Mackenna’s voice was clogged with emotion.
then ask it of me. We cannot repair anything without trust.”
eally overwhelmed.”
then. “Well, all I need is you to agree to a car and a de
ently, aware he was leaving in the morning to fly back to Milan.
ent,” he took her word as affirmation she agreed to his offers and before she could correct him, he was making his way out of her office. “My accountant will call you shortly. I’ve given him your number already. He’ll need y
g she wouldn’t see him again for at least four days made her heart ache in the most maddening way. She wasn’t supposed to care about what he was
t, since the night he’d simply sat, drank tea, and read books with her, she was acutely aware he was trying. While she knew he was taking baby steps, part of her missed the throw-her-over-the-shoulder caveman antics he was
t he would have ordered it done and insisted she comply and to hell with the consequences. Today he had been respectful, considerate and spoke his thoughts without losing his cool.
king information.
aring incredulously at her bank balance when Savannah poked her head into her office to collect her f
nking app.
e a huge mistake?”
every month we have been apart, plus interest.”
our bank account.”
ïve I thought it was about protecting him from me. Never dawned on me it worked both ways. I’ve never given it another thought until he showed up her
esn’t it usually only
“if the marriage failed” and he gave me a copy, so I went through it. It’s in Italian and my reading of the language isn’t great but it seems to be correct.”
curiously. “I feel like you should talk to a lawyer or an accountant or somethi
cked. “I should.” She looked at her friend suddenly. “I’m paying off your student loans.”
roles were reversed you would do it.”
d thousand dollars in student debt.”
e. “Alessandro told me you and I should get a place a business professional, and a doctor would be expected to live in.”
e shouldn’t get a place together because he wants you back in Milan?”
was as stunned as she was. “So, let’s look at places befitting a doctor and a busi
Neither of them moved.