The Ambassador and Me: an unlikely love story (The Ambassador Trilogy Book 1) (10 page)

I tried not to laugh. My two uncles decided they would back my dad up if they had to by agreeing with him. It was like eating with the Soprano’s.

My mom was serving dessert when a sense of fear swept over me and I smelled why. The obnoxious smell of his cologne brought instant fear. Anthony was near me and I became irritated, shocked, and pissed off. My body began to shake uncontrollably inside. The sound of his voice made me want to vomit. He hadn’t been to our house since our breakup three years ago. Since our house was so big, we didn’t lock the doors and people we knew walked in, especially on Sunday. Anthony still thought he could do the same. I was afraid to turn around. I didn’t want to look at him. I hadn’t looked at him since that night.

Marco was the first to notice him.

“Anthony. What are you doing here? I thought you lived in California?

“Hey, Marco. I moved back to help my mom with my dad. He’s not doing so well with his MS. I wanted to see if Izz was here. The door was open, and I thought it would be okay to say hi.”

“She is but you don’t need to see her. Is there something I can do for you?

“Come on, Marco. I want to talk to her. I haven’t seen her in so long.”

My safe place was invaded by this idiot. All those nights I stayed in to avoid him seemed useless since he was standing in my parents’ house. I got the nerve to look behind me. He was wearing his basketball shorts and a t-shirt. He was tanned as usual, pumped up from lifting, and of course his barbed wire tattoos peaked out of his shirt sleeve. His hair was still in the blow up style. Looking at him, I don’t know what I saw in this guy. He was so immature and just like all the other guys I grew up with. I couldn’t see his eyes because they were hidden behind his usual sunglasses, which he wore all the time. My brothers came out from the kitchen as I walked up to him nervously.

He smiled as soon as he saw me. I on the other hand did the opposite. I couldn’t show any emotion to him. If I showed fear, which he loved, he would pick up on it. If I showed happiness, he would do or say something to make it go away.

“Hello, Anthony.”

“Izzy, you look beautiful.” He bent in to kiss me and I moved away from him. He would not kiss me again in his lifetime.

“Can we go somewhere and talk?” he asked.

“No. Whatever you want to say, you can say it here. I’m not comfortable going anywhere with you.”

He didn’t like that answer by the seriousness his face became. He was lucky I didn’t tell my family what he'd done to me.

“I’m taking over the funeral home. I wanted you to be the first one to know.”

“I really don’t care. How could you think I would give two shits what you’re doing?” Everyone looked at me, including Anthony.

My brothers kept a watchful eye on us. I told them bits and pieces of our relationship. They knew he liked to drink, humiliate me in public, and he cheated. I didn’t want to upset them with what happened that night. I hid it well.

Standing in his presence brought up that night I had worked so hard to forget; the night I almost died because of him. I was not going to go back two steps after I moved forward. I refused to let this asshole think that I forgot what he did to me. He was not going to think he could march back into my home and my life like nothing happened.

“You look beautiful. I heard you’re working for the government.” Of course, he heard. He was monitoring me and I was scared.

“Yes, I am.”

I didn’t know what else to say. With him standing in front of me, I wanted to leave. My fear of him was beginning to turn into hatred and anger.

“Izz.”

“Don’t call me that anymore.” I hated how he called me Izz.

“What are you too good for Izz now?”

“I prefer Isabella. That’s my name. I hated Izz and you knew that.”

He laughed that laugh that told me the insults would be coming soon.

“Listen. I have things to do. Tell you mom and dad hello. Please leave me alone from now on. I don’t have anything else to say to you.” I turned away from him and walked out of the room.

“Anthony, let’s go. I don’t like that you’re making Izzy uncomfortable.” Danny had his arms crossed to make them look bigger.

“Don’t you mean,
Isabella?
” Anthony laughed.

My dad heard him and came out from the kitchen wiping his hands on his apron. He, unlike my brothers, wasn’t as nice.

“What the fuck is going on here? Anthony, I thought I told you to stay the fuck away from Izzy and this place.” He loved Anthony before I told him how he cheated and how obsessive he had become of me.

“Sorry Mr. Piori. I wanted to tell Izz, Isabella, I’m taking over the funeral home.”

“Well, you did that. Let’s go. I’ll walk you out myself.”

My dad grabbed his arm and started heading to the door. My brothers and uncles started to follow, but my dad put his hand up to stop them. They were outside for quite a while and I heard him peel out of the parking lot.

My dad came back inside and his face was bright red. I could tell he was pissed off. He walked into the living room where I sat with my mom and sister.

“Izzy, I want you to tell me if that fuck bothers you. I want to know if you see his car or anything that is his anywhere near you. Let’s start locking this goddamn door! I’ve been asking you to do that for years and no one listens to me.”

I was visibly upset, though I tried my best to hide it. My mom knew better. She asked if I wanted to go for a walk and get some fresh air. We did and I felt somewhat better. We talked about Anthony and she knew there was more to the story. I just couldn’t tell her yet. Seeing Anthony brought back that horrible night. It was one of the worst nights of my life. It was a day that ripped me apart when I had to relive it. I just wasn’t ready to relive it yet.

***********

I left close to four and raced home as fast as I could. Avery was cleaning her room when I walked in.

“Hey, girl. What’s up?”

“Nothing. What are you up to? Cleaning is so unlike you.”

“Ellen is in charge of the battered wives charity event and asked if I could get some clothes together to give away. You know how I hate to part with my things.”

“I know, but it’s for a good cause. Plus, you get new things every day. I may have some clothes too, so let me know before you take it.” I sat on the edge of her bed.

“So, how’s the family?” she asked.

“The same as they were yesterday. Anthony stopped over and walked right in the house.”

She stopped what she was doing and took a sip of her water.

“Fuck. Did your parents wig out?”

“My dad did, escorted him out the door. Avery, he was so creepy. He had the look on his face he had that night. I started shaking and my mom and I had to go for a walk. Christ, I don’t want to ever see him again.”

“I wish he would have stayed in California. No one wants him here.”

“I need to keep away from him. I think he was drinking. He smelled like beer, but enough about him. I have a coffee date tonight with someone, so I’m going to get ready.”

“Coffee date, with the Ambassador?”

I smiled trying to control laughing like a little girl. I tried to duck out of the room and into to the shower.

“Get your butt back here! Tell me who. You are up to something with the way you’re acting.”

“It’s the Ambassador.”

“You slut.”

“It’s coffee.” I smiled, heading to the shower.

“My ass. Finally, you’re going to get some action. So this must mean you are going back to the job?”

“Well, maybe. Where’s Barbie?” I asked.

“She left.”

“How’s your ass today?” I smiled at her.

“Don’t ask. She likes to spank me, a lot.”

“Ha. I love it.”

“Maybe, the Ambassador likes a good spanking. Want to take the flogger she left here?”

Ignoring her I jumped in the shower and then dressed for my coffee date. Maybe being with someone else was just what I needed to rid my mind of Anthony completely. I couldn’t stop thinking about Fabrice all weekend. The way his lips burned on mine, how his greedy hands were all over my body with such expertise. The thought of it sent my clit throbbing as I stood under the hot water, contemplating using my vibrator to take care of my sexual hunger or saying fuck it and sleep with him. I didn’t have time for the vibrator, so the second choice sounded pretty good. I stepped out of the shower, did my makeup and hair, put on my new lingerie, and decided to wear a simple black t-shirt dress with silver jewelry.

“Wedges or stilettos, Ave?” I asked Avery sprawled out on my bed texting someone. I had a different shoe on each foot.

“Do that one foot thing you do.”

I lifted up one foot and lifted up my other. I didn’t know if I should put a biker jacket over it, cardigan, or blazer. I wasn’t sure if I should wear the regular stilettos I was used to or try a new pair of wedges I purchased. I loved how my legs looked in heels. I was a nervous wreck.

“Damn girl, your legs are hot. You have runner’s legs. I wish I did.” said Avery. She must have read my mind.

“Thanks. Well, what shoes?”

“I say the wedges. They make your thighs look more muscular.”

“Really? I thought you would say the stilettos.”

“No. Pepe will like the wedges.”

“Shut up. Don’t call him Pepe.” I couldn’t help but laugh at her.

“Wear your Chanel necklace. It will look hot with that.” She rolled off the bed and reached into my jewelry box. She stood behind me, took off my silver, and put on the necklace. We both looked at my reflection in the full-length mirror.

“Perfect,” she said, and slapped my butt.

“Are you sure? It’s coffee. I may be overdressed.”

“Damn sure, honey. You two aren’t going for coffee when he sees you look like this. He’s going to be all over you like a wet suit. By the way, leave the panties at home. Go commando. I heard men love it.” I rolled my eyes and headed out of the room. Avery followed me rambling on as usual.

“I would love to watch this whole seduction thing go down tonight, but I have to be at my parents for some shit fundraiser. I want details tomorrow whenever you get home.”

“Shut up.” I laughed.

“I want details, so take pictures.”

As Avery jumped in the shower to get ready for her fundraiser, I ran back into my room and took off my thong. Maybe I would go commando.

Chapter 8

A
t
precisely seven o' clock, Fabrice pulled up the driveway. I glanced out the window to see what type of car he drove. I wasn’t shocked when I saw a black BMW 7 series. I was nervous as hell to be alone with him again. Where could he take me where someone would not notice us in D.C? Did I want to go somewhere? Did I think this through enough?

I took a long deep breath, checked myself once more in the mirror by the door, and opened it with a smile.

“Hello, Isabella. You look beautiful this evening.” He handed me a large bouquet of flowers and kissed my cheek. His scruff scratched my skin. I smiled and held the door open for him. He astounded me.

“Fabrice, you shouldn’t have! They are so beautiful. Come in. Let me put these in a vase before we go.”

“Nice house. It’s huge. Do you live alone?” He seemed impressed by the vast size of our condo and the décor.

“No, I have a roommate. She and I have lived together since college. She’s the only person who can put up with me.”

I walked into our open kitchen and grabbed a vase out of the cupboard, filled it with water, and put in the bouquet. They smelled wonderful.

“Can I meet this brave woman,” he smiled.

“She’s not here. You would love her.”

Walking back up to him, I breathed in the scent of his cologne and admired his outfit. I was taken aback at the way he wore a pair of worn out jeans and a t-shirt with a vintage army coat. He looked relaxed, fuckable, and nothing like an Ambassador. In fact, I would have been fine with not going anywhere. He had to be as good looking under his clothes as he was with clothes on.

Once outside, he held the door for me as I sat down in the car. The exquisite smell of a new car hit me.

“New car?”

“Ah, yes. One of the perks of my new job. You like it?”

“No, Fabrice, I’m embarrassed to ride in it. Do you have a pair of sunglasses? This is one my favorites. I have a thing for high-end cars. I go to a car show each year with my dad just so I can sit in the expensive ones and dream. My dad has a BMW, but a five series.”

“In France I drive an Italian car, a Bugatti.”

“Nice. That is another one of my favorites. Everyone thinks because I’m Italian I would prefer a Lamborghini or Ferrari, but I’m not too crazy about them. I’m in love with the new Aston Martin that just came out this year and the Jaguar. I’m sorry. I’m babbling about cars. I just love them.” I ran my hand across the soft, leather seat, looking at the lit-up dashboard.

“No, I love it. It’s nice to hear a girl so passionate about cars.” He smiled at me and I couldn’t help but enjoy the ride. I noticed he was so sexy driving. His hand rested on the gearshift and it made me wet looking at his hand with his cufflink bracelet peeking out of his coat sleeve.