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talie

“I thought you only stayed in the city on weekends,” I muttered, stepping out of the car once Damian opened my door.

“I usually do,” he responded. “But I thought it would be easier to stay here while you adjust to being home. Don’t you love the city?”

I rolled my eyes. “I did. Until being forced to stay here.”

It had been nearly a week since I’d been back, and tonight was the first time I was going out with Damian.

Though it wasn’t by choice. Last night, we were supposed to go to his parents for dinner, but business interrupted that, so we were meeting at a restaurant tonight here in the city.

To say I was dreading it was an understatement.

Being in Christian’s presence was as bad as being with my own father.

“At least you’re out of my apartment.” His hand landed gently on my lower back as he led me toward the restaurant. “You haven’t left in days.”

“I went shopping for clothes. Since all you got me was lingerie.”

He chuckled. “I’m still waiting for you to model it for me.”

My smart retort was lost when I spotted the name of the restaurant. My steps faltered, my lips parting in surprise.

“You chose this place?” I questioned, suspicion in my voice.

“You think I forgot what your favorite restaurant is?”

I didn’t have a chance to respond when the door opened, and a host smiled at me warmly, ushering us in.

“Welcome to La Casa ,” he welcomed us. “Good evening, Mr. Valentin. Your table is ready. Your guests have already arrived.”

“Great,” Damian muttered under his breath, before his pleasant demeanor was back in place. “Thank you.”

His parents were already here, and I was sure my husband knew his father hated to be left waiting.

We hurried inside, following the host to our table.

A warmth spread through my chest as I glanced around.

The decor and homely atmosphere were still the same as I remembered.

I used to come here for dinner every chance I got.

Not only me, but Damian too, along with all our friends.

“Mr. Valentin, it’s good to see you.”

A man stepped in front of us, moving to shake Damian’s hand.

I eyed him curiously before taking note of my husband’s expression, who looked happy to see the man.

Instinctively, I relaxed before realizing what I did.

My heart hammered against my ribs as I plastered a smile on my face when Damian introduced me.

Why was I looking toward Damian when someone new appeared?

Because I trusted his intuition even after all this time?

Well, damn . That would be something I would never admit to him.

“Talie, this is Lorenzo. He owns La Casa .” Damian’s voice was warm and pleasant. Lorenzo was a friend to him.

I shook Lorenzo’s hand, returning his bright smile. He looked like he was in his late fifties, his dark brown hair was speckled with gray. Wrinkles surrounded his kind eyes and mouth with a short beard covering his jawline.

“I love your restaurant,” I told him warmly. “It used to be my favorite place when I was younger.”

“Used to be?” he asked with a small laugh. “What changed? I hope it wasn’t the food.”

I chuckled. “I’ve been gone at school. I’m sure I’ll be here often since I’m home.”

He nodded before turning his attention back to Damian. “Would you like your usual wine sent to the table?”

“No, thank you,” Damian said quickly. “My father prefers scotch.”

“Of course.” Lorenzo stepped to the side. “Enjoy your meal.”

I was positive I wouldn’t since I’d be in Christian’s presence, but I didn’t voice it as Damian’s hand returned to my lower back. While we made our way toward the back of the restaurant, I realized our table was away from the main crowd.

“Oh, Natalia, it’s so good to see you.”

Gina stood up from the table, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug.

I returned the embrace, forcing a smile on my face as she pulled away.

Gina Valentin—Damian’s mother. She was a sweet lady, but a woman I never wanted to turn into.

She lived to please Damian’s father. It was her entire life, and while she always seemed cheery, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was all a facade.

Gina squeezed my arm before going to give Damian a hug. Her black hair was cut short, hanging just past her ears. I was pretty sure her natural hair was wavy, but she always wore it bone straight. Her face was thick with makeup, and wrinkle free thanks to the Botox she had done regularly.

“Yes, it’s good she’s finally home,” Christian spoke up, barely giving me a glance. “It shouldn’t have taken this long to have a family dinner now that you’re back.”

“She’s been settling in,” Damian said with a polite smile. “We were planning on having you all for dinner soon. She’s barely been back a week.”

A week? It felt much longer. Though I’d been avoiding Damian as much as I could. Which wasn’t hard since he was gone most days. I nearly followed him one day, wanting to know if he was going to his club. I was more than a little curious about his business.

A waiter came to the table with a bottle of scotch and two glasses with ice. Christian didn’t so much as mutter a thank you as the man poured his drink.

“Two sangrias for the ladies,” Christian ordered while checking his phone. “We’ll have the caprese salad and oysters for an appetizer.”

Damian didn’t say a word as he pulled out my chair.

I sank down, ignoring my growing annoyance at Christian.

Would I not be able to order my own dinner too?

Gina took her seat across from me, her smile never leaving her face.

Everything about her seemed so exhausting to me.

She never said anything wrong or had a hair out of place.

She was perfect in every way. I was sure it was different behind closed doors.

“Tell me, Natalia. How was your time in Europe?” Gina asked, making polite conversation.

“It was great?—”

“It was a waste of time,” Christian cut in at the same time. “Prancing around as if you aren’t married to my son.”

The cold vigor in his voice had my stomach twisting painfully. Damian stiffened, his stare on his father. Christian had never been a fan of me, but now I had a feeling he would never let me forget how I’d left.

“We both decided it,” Damian gritted out. “It’s in the past now. No need to bring it up.”

“Then someone should tell that to your mother.” Christian lifted his eyes from his phone to look at Damian. “When will you two be going home to Connecticut? You haven’t been at the office all week.”

“Saturday,” Damian answered before taking a sip of his scotch. “Talie and I wanted time to spend together in the city.”

“I want you at the office on Monday,” he demanded before his gaze swung to me. “You will be doing what is expected of you as the wife of a Valentin.”

I bit my tongue, resisting the urge to interject. Nothing I said would change anything.

“No work talk at the table,” Gina said nervously, her smile cracking slightly. “I don’t get to see my son often enough.”

Christian ignored her, starting up a conversation about one of their clients. Damian didn’t interrupt, even though his posture was rigid. I sipped my sangria, glancing at Gina apologetically when her face fell slightly.

“Jude is trying to set a meeting with that woman,” Christian continued, talking about business. “We need investors for the new apartment building.”

“Her name is Georgia,” Damian retorted before sipping his whiskey. “If you’re taking a meeting with her, you should probably learn her name. She’s one of the top entrepreneurs in the city. If you don’t respect her, she won’t give you the time of day.”

“My dad is buying another building?” I asked. It wasn’t so much that I cared, but I’d rather be part of the conversation than sit here in silence.

My face flushed when my father-in-law flat out ignored my question. Damian shot him a look of annoyance before answering.

“He’s planning on buying Charleston Tower.”

I pondered that as the appetizers arrived. The building was in the heart of the city in a very desired area. I was sure it was going to be an expensive venture, which was why my father wanted investors.

My eyes darted to Damian as he shook his head when his father offered him an oyster.

I swallowed my amusement when Christian glared at him. He hated being told no about anything, even something as simple as his son not accepting the food he ordered.

But my husband? He detested seafood. Avoided it with a passion.

Even the smell of it turned his stomach.

Something he never told his father because complaining wasn’t a thing in our households.

One time when we were kids, Damian tried a bite of escargot and literally puked.

I was almost positive the texture of seafood repulsed him too.

Damian served me some of the caprese salad before filling his own plate. I picked at it, my appetite growing nonexistent the longer Christian talked. What made it worse was being unable to enjoy my favorite restaurant.

“Excuse me, I need to freshen up,” I said, pushing out my chair. “I’ll be right back.”

“Do you expect us to order for you?” Christian asked with irritation.

I smiled frigidly. “You did so well with the appetizers and the drinks. My input clearly isn’t needed.”

Damian cleared his throat, his eyes filling with warning as he glanced at me. Doing anything to piss off his father would not bode well for either of us, but I couldn’t help it. I was losing control keeping up this charade of a happy wife. And it hadn’t even been a week.

I hurried away from the table, hearing Christian say something about needing to make a call.

My eyes drifted to the full tables, watching everyone enjoy their food and each other’s company.

My heart panged as I rushed toward the restroom.

Was this my life now? Going to dinners I absolutely detested?

I went into the bathroom, relief sliding through me to see it empty. Resting my palms on the sink counter, I sucked in a deep breath. Until the door creaked open.

“As my daughter-in-law, you are held to certain expectations.”

My veins filled with ice as I snapped my head up to see Christian standing in front of the now-closed door.

“This is the ladies?—”

“I’m aware of what room I’m in,” he interrupted sharply. “But I decided a private conversation was needed.”

I swallowed thickly. “A conversation about what?”

A shiver rolled down my spine as I attempted to keep my face blank. Fear slowly crept over my limbs as he strode closer. This man scared me more than my own father because I didn’t know what to expect from him.

“Your father expressed his concern.”

“Concern about what?” I asked, managing to keep my voice steady.

“Your listening skills.” His voice was cold and menacing. “Since you’re home, you are expected to do what’s right by your husband and our families.”

“Of course.” My voice was a notch higher, my pulse thrashing.

But it wasn’t fear of him. It was red-hot fury.

Who was he to control my life? I refused to spend forever like this.

But I was smart enough not to argue when I was alone in here with him.

“I’ll do whatever is needed of me. I grew up in this life. ”

He grabbed my arm when I attempted to slip past him. My eyes darted to his, shooting him an icy glare.

“You are my father-in-law, not my husband,” I snapped, my self-control lapsing. “You have no right to put your hand on me.”

“I want to make sure you remember how this life is,” he growled, his grip only tightening.

“We have eyes and ears everywhere in this city, along with the surrounding states, Natalia. You will not bring shame to our family or businesses. Do you think your father and I are stupid? We know you two didn’t marry for love all those years ago. ”

I barely managed to hide my shock, but he still chuckled at my muted reaction.

“Luckily, your union only strengthened our business,” he continued. “But you made that decision, and whether you want to stay with Damian or not, you do not have a choice. Your nuptials are until death do you part. Understand?”

I jerked a nod, not trusting myself to speak. He released me before stepping to the side.

“Keep this conversation to yourself.” His voice was filled with a dark threat. “Go back to the table.”

I scurried away, pushing open the door, my chest heaving from his words. While Christian had always been someone I avoided, he had never sought me out to talk to me privately. I would make sure it never fucking happened again.

“Everything okay?” Damian questioned as I sat back down next to him.

“It’s perfect,” I muttered bitterly.

My pulse was still racing as I took another sip of my drink.

I could feel his stare on me, but I didn’t look at him as his mother told a story about her friends at the club she frequented.

A few minutes later, Christian returned to the table with a fresh glass of scotch.

He took control of the conversation, asking Damian something about work.

Lorenzo appeared, holding a plate. “Here you go.” He set the food down in front of me. “Creamy Carbonara.”

My heart stuttered. “Thank you.”

I glanced at Damian, but he was already digging into his lasagna, clearly intent on rushing this dinner. Something I was more than fine with. I picked up my fork, staring at my food. My stomach fluttered with something foreign as I snuck another look at my husband.

After five years, Damian still remembered my favorite meal.