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“I need to discuss something important with you.” She took one of my hands. “Please listen to what I’m trying to tell you. Rocco’s fighting a losing battle.” She dabbed the corners of her eyes and dipped her head. “No one will give him money for his studio.”
Oliva was grieving Luca but shouldn’t lose her faith in her son. “He’ll get the money. Please don’t stop believing in him—”
“Listen, George called me,” she spoke over me and cleared her throat. “He’s the richest and most frivolous with his money. He told me they all love Rocco and met with him out of respect for him and Luca. But he’ll not give him another dime unless he’s made partner.”
Rocco had suspected as much but was sure he could sway them after the rewards season.
I huffed in frustration for Rocco. He’d been with them for almost two weeks, and they never intended to give him the money.Unbelievable.“They shouldn’t have wasted his time. Why is he still trying?”
She scoffed. “Don’t you know? He’s doing it for you.”
My brows raised. “For me?”
“Yes, for you. Rocco’s got a big heart, and he falls in love fast. He’s so in love with you, but I’m not sure where you stand. I know you care for him—”
“I do, Olivia. Rocco is an amazing man, and I care for him deeply.” I didn’t want to tell Olivia I loved him without first telling him.
“Did Paul explain why we’re going now? I bet he didn’t.”
I frowned but didn’t say a word.
She dabbed her eyes and blew her nose. “Paul hasn’t heard from Rocco today. He was supposed to give him an update. My Rocco never misses a meeting or call. I also called him several times, but he didn’t answer.”
My pulse increased, but I had to remind myself that Olivia still grieved Luca and probably felt anxious about death. So, I assured her, “I spoke with him yesterday. Please don’t worry. Rocco’s fine. He’ll talk to us after we land. Okay?”
She let me go, and I pressed the call button, and a flight attendant came.
“Water, please,” I asked for her. He left returning quickly and handing a bottle to her. I thanked him.
She gulped it down. “Our family’s on the verge of losing our fortune. The trust is winning their case on the will—”
“But Rocco said it’s fine—”
“He doesn’t want to worry you. If Rocco goes missing or anything happens to him, the board will meet and use the current will. They’ll remove the Marinis from power. The first time in history. And you, Adelina. Only you can help us.”
My stomach knotted. “How can I?”
“You pregnant would mean he’d get the two billion he needs now. Once the other investors know he has the money, they will give him the rest. Then the board members will back him, and he could take full command as successor.”
She made it all sound simple, but Rocco told me he didn’t want to be like his father, using children as pawns. He resented and hated it, and it would completely undermine his leadership.
I crossed my arms. “I’m sorry, Olivia, but I won’t go against Rocco’s wishes.”
She jerked her head back and turned away. “Money and legacy don’t matter to you, but they do to us. I…preferred getting you to help us by consent, but I will enforce our agreement regarding children.”
I stiffened. “What are you talking about?”
She lifted her chin. “There’s a provision in your marriage contract should anything happen to Rocco—”
“Nothing has happened to him, Olivia,” I interrupted.
“If he’s unavailable to answer to the board and succession hasn’t been sealed, it goes to his heir. You need to go off your contraceptives, get pregnant, and if you don’t—”
“I most certainly will not,” I snapped at her.
“And if you don’t, we will find a woman willing to carry his child.”
I glared at her.What the hell?“I’m Rocco’s wife, Olivia. How dare you.”Surely, Rocco wouldn’t be okay with that.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Adelina. But if you refuse, you give me little choice. I know you want Jacob to keep his new home. If everything turns over to Mr. Sears and the board of trustees, they can overturn all recent changes. You and Rocco would have to apply for consent once they take power. Do you want Jacob to have a board of people deciding each quarter about his care?”
I swallowed hard and turned my head away, unwilling to tell her how much her news affected me. Jacob finally had more autonomy in his home, job, and life. There was no way I’d let him lose, but what she asked was too much. Rocco would never trust me, and he would be right not to. “A child’s not a pawn. I’m not one, either. I can’t believe you’d be so cruel.”
“I don’t want to hurt you, Adelina. I had to make hard choices, too, at your age. Things change, but they’re always the same. Your decisions were never yours. It’s our fate, our destiny. The burden always falls on us women. You’ll do it or lose everything you have. I’m sorry.”
I turned away from her.
Rocco, where are you? I need you.