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Di CESARE PREGNANT MISTRESS - Chapter 36
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By the time she entered the lift her heart was pounding. She must be mad, she told herself. Alexander would have to leave for the airport soon, and she would only be able to see him for a few minutes. Would he be pleased when he learned of her decision to stay on at the Villa as his mistress? Or would he already have had second thoughts? Her stomach clenched. What if he had changed his mind and no longer wanted her?
She had a vivid mental image of how he lifted her into his arms and made love to her with raw, primitive passion in the shower the previous morning and her nervousness lessened. He hadn’t tired of her yet—and who could say, the little voice of optimism in her head whispered, how long his hunger for her would last?
‘Signorina Stewart!’ Alexander’s butler, looking as smartly dressed as ever, despite the early hour, could not hide his suprise when he opened the door.
‘Hello, Salvatore,’ Stephanie followed him down the hall, her heart sinking at the oppressive silence of the apartment. ‘I hoped to catch signor Di Cesare before he left.’
The butler shook his head. ‘He had already gone to the airport.’ His usually impassive features softened slightly at her obvious disappointment. ‘Sit down and I will bring you a cup of tea, signorina.’
Stephanie gave him a weak smile, but as soon as he had gone she stared bleakly out over the river and felt silly tears sting her eyes. Alexander would be back at the weekend, she tried to console herself. But part of the reason for her mad rush to Florence was because she had wanted to tell him she would stay with him before her nerve failed. They would have to make up for lost time when he returned, she decided firmly, a smile curving her lips as she considered on how five nights of abstinence would sharpen their hunger for each other, and how they would probably spend the entire weekend in bed.
It seemed pointless to linger in the empty apartment, but as she stepped into the hall, on her way to tell Salvatore not to bother with the tea, Alexander’s bedroom door opened and a woman emerged.
‘ Chi sono voi? Who are you?’ she demanded haughtily, in Italian and then in English.
Stephanie stared at the woman, wondering why she seemed familiar. And then realisation dawned. She was the woman from the newspaper—Alexander’s cousin Donata.
‘My name is Stephanie Stewart. I…work for Signor Di Cesare,’ she explained quietly.
‘Is that so?’ Donata’s perfectly shaped eyebrows arched upwards.
The newspaper photograph had not done Donata justice, Stephanie conceded, studying The young Italian woman’s glossy black hair, which tumbled around her shoulders, and her slanting dark eyes. She was seriously beautiful, and Stephanie felt a flicker of unease when she strolled into the hall, fastening her robe as she moved—but not before Stephanie glimpsed the skimpy black lace negligee she was wearing. It was obvious from her sexily tousled hair and the sleepy yawn she hastily hid behind her hand that she had spent the night in the apartment. But why was she coming out of Alexander’s bedroom, looking like a smug sex-kitten who had gorged on cream?
‘Stephanie Stewart?’ Donata shrugged her shoulders uninterestedly. ‘Are you a new maid? I’m sure you weren’t here on my last visit. And shouldn’t you be wearing a uniform?’ She demanded, glancing at Stephanie’s colourful cotton skirt and strap top. ‘Just because Signor Di Cesare isn’t here, it is not an excuse for standards to drop. You can run my bath and then get changed.’
‘I’m not a maid. I’m an interior designer and I’m currently working on Alexander’s Villa.’ Stephanie struggled to ignore the woman’s rudeness, dredging up a smile that wasn’t returned. ‘I…need to go over a few things with him regarding some of my designs.’ She invented a valid reason to explain her visit.
Donata’s eyes had narrowed when Stephanie had used Alexander’s Christian name rather than the more formal Signor Di Cesare, and she said mockingly, ‘This early in the morning? You’re very keen, Miss Stewart.’
Stephanie felt the betraying flare of heat scorch her cheeks, but ploughed on. ‘I thought I might catch him before he left for his trip.’
‘Well, you’re too late. Alexander left twenty minutes ago, and he was running late then. I’m afraid we overslept…’ The woman’s mouth curved into a coy smile. ‘After an energetic night.’ She paused, her brilliant gaze noting how the colour leached from Stephanie’s face. ‘Oh, dear—you’re not another of Alexander’s little girlfriends, are you? I really must learn to be more discreet.’
Nausea slopped in Stephanie’s stomach and made a mockery of her determination to remain calm. ‘What do you mean? I know who you are,’ she said, more strongly. ‘You’re Alexander’s cousin.’
‘Second cousin,’ Donata corrected her softly. ‘My father and Alexander’s father were cousins, and I am a Carerra, but I am Antonio Di Cesare’s great-granddaughter, and eventually, of course, I will take the Di Cesare name—when Alexander and I marry.’
‘When you marry?’ Stephanie parroted. ‘Are you saying you are engaged to Alexander?’
Stephanie felt a curious buzzing sensation in her ears and she gripped the edge of the bureau. Years ago, when her ex-husband had admitted he was having an affair, she’d been sure she would never again feel such a raw sense of betrayal. But this was much worse. The idea that Alexander could be planning to marry his stunning olive-skinned cousin, with her knowing eyes and cruel smile, made her feel physically sick.
Donata shook back her silky curls and stretched languorously. ‘It’s not a formal arrangement at the moment, but there has been an understanding between us for years. I’m not sure if you know anything of Alexander’s history,’ she continued, glancing speculatively at Stephanie, ‘but after his father banished him he moved to the US and stayed with my family. My father, Fabio, has never made any secret that he would love to have Alexander as his son-in-law,’ she continued, ‘and Alexander is very close to Fabio, so…’ she shrugged her shoulders and smiled maliciously at Stephanie.