Keyonna spent Saturday by the pool, but later she went up to her room to prepare for an evening with Sergio. The hotel was holding a gala dinner, and Keyonna was looking forward to another night of drinks and more of the Italian cuisine.
And the company of course. Sergio was always fun to be around. He never hid his attraction to her but it was never obtrusive. He respected her immensely, she could tell and had never even tried to cop even a kiss. She found that very chivalrous and she wondered if, had she been totally free to be in a relationship, she would have liked to be with someone like Sergio. He was easy to get along with and always knew the right thing to say or do. There was no earth-tilting chemistry like she had with Nick but things like that could develop with more time and once she was over the rude shock of having her heart broken.
It was now more than a month since she’d arrived in the city. The cost of the hotel was making a huge dent in her finances but Keyonna was glad she’d had enough tucked aside to afford the stay even as she knew she couldn’t keep up the expense for much longer. She needed to get her shit together and soon. She had a business and a life waiting for her back home and she wasn’t going to let Nick take away her sense of self. Soon, she was taking the flight back to face whatever waited for her.
Keyonna had felt extra depressed earlier that day so as a lift she’d gone all the way with her appearance that evening. She wore a sassy black wrap dress that skimmed her toned thighs and clung to her curves. Her hair was in a sleek ponytail and she’d complimented her attire with gold accessories and strappy high heels. Her make-up was somewhat dramatic and yet flattering, giving her more of an exotic look.
Sergio’s look of deep admiration when he first saw her was enough to make her cheeks warm. He looked dashing himself; his hair nicely styled and his clothes as well fitting and stylish as ever. She couldn’t help but think they made a striking couple and felt many admiring looks sent their way as they settled to enjoy an elegant evening.
They were enjoying a particularly scrumptious course and Keyonna was so at ease thanks to the great wine and food that she could actually laugh at Sergio’s many anecdotes. She threw her head back with a deep burst of mirth and was still smiling as she felt Sergio’s hand squeeze hers. Her laughter died away though as she finally met Sergio’s eyes again and found them deepened with an emotion she daren’t define.
“Keyonna, I know I’ve said it a lot of times how beautiful I think you are and how much I feel drawn to you,” he said with frank warmth, “It’s been barely two weeks and my trip would soon be over, but somehow I sense there could have been a chance for us to see where this could lead. If only you…”
But Keyonna was distracted from hearing the rest of his words, because just then her eyes shifted to a point beyond Sergio’s shoulder to meet the fiery gaze of a blonde-haired woman.
It took a few more minutes for Keyonna to figure out where she’d seen that catty-eyed face before, and then she gasped inaudibly. Rachel Conte. Nick’s ex-fiancée. Keyonna watched with concealed horror as the woman excused herself from her male companion and walked from her table to stand in front of Keyonna. Rachel’s face was twisted in distaste.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Rachel yelled at Keyonna. “And who’s this?” She jerked her chin to Sergio, who was frowning quizzically at her sudden appearance.
Keyonna was just as taken aback by the attack and felt somewhat speechless. The younger woman was the last person on earth Keyonna would have wanted to run into again.
“Ah, so this is your new conquest? It wasn’t enough that you stole my ex-fiancé. Oh no, that wasn’t enough for you,” Rachel snarled furiously, her beautiful face a mask of hate.
Keyonna strove to keep her cool. She wasn’t about to lose it on this snotty bitch, not in front of the shocked looking Sergio and certainly not in the fine restaurant in front of the many glamorous guests. But damn if she didn’t want to punch Rachel to pulp for the way she was talking to her.
Keyonna wasn’t sure just how much Rachel knew about what happened; she hadn’t seen or heard from the woman since that night at Mark’s party. Not a word had ever passed between them, until now.
“Just one month after marrying Nick, you’re already messing around with another man,” accused Rachel with a sneer. “I was right when I told Nick you were nothing but a slut.”
“Now watch your tongue, ma’am,” Sergio snapped as he shot to his feet. “I’m not averse to taking it upon myself to throw you out for being rude to my companion.”