The Marriage Mistake(74)
Carina clung to him and decided not to delve any further.
• • •
“Are you and Carina having problems?”
They met in the study. The large windows looked out over the formal gardens and the sound of buzzing bees and streaming water floated through the open screens. Michael handed him a glass of cognac and they settled into the oversized leather chairs. The room gave off an aura of calm and serenity, with ceiling-to-floor bookshelves, red art deco lamps, and the baby grand piano against the far wall. The smell of leather, paper, and orange wood polish filled the air.
After Carina broke the news to her brother about leaving, he’d asked to see Max privately after work. Max agreed, knowing it was time to clear some things up. Too many lies had been told and he was getting sick of it. “Why do you ask?”#p#分页标题#e#
“She’s the heir to the family business. I didn’t give her a hard time because I figured she needed to get the art thing out of her system. Now she wants to work with Alexa at the bookstore and I’m worried. I intend to pass La Dolce Maggie on to her as my second in command. It is her legacy.”
His throat tightened. Blood was blood, and he didn’t have it. No matter he worked his ass off and made the company a success. He may be welcomed as family, but would never be called family, even though he married Carina. If Michael didn’t want him to take the helm, it was time he looked elsewhere. Built something of his own. But damned if he’d let his friend mess with his wife.
His voice nipped as frosty as a chilled bottle of Moretti. “Get over it, Michael. She doesn’t want to work for the bakery, and she’s not going to.”
Michael waved his hand in the air, used to getting what he wanted. “You can help me convince her.”
“No.”
Michael stared. “What?”
He uncurled himself from the chair and closed the distance. “I said no. She’s happy painting. And guess what? She’s amazing. Carina has talent and passion and she’s been told too many times it’s just a hobby by all of us. She’s finding out who she is and I love watching her. And if I’m not good enough for you because I don’t have your precious blood running through my veins, it’s time I moved on.”
Michael jerked as if hit. “Scusi? What are you talking about?”
“Give your precious bakery to Maggie, or to your children. I’m done hoping I’ll be enough.” A crazy laugh escaped his lips. “Funny, I think I finally see how Carina has felt all these years. Trying to measure up but just missing the mark. Leave her alone. Let her be who she wants, without us telling her what we want.”
Michael placed his glass on the coaster and stared. “I never knew you felt like this. Why haven’t you said anything?”
“I wanted to be enough without relying on our friendship.”
His friend threw out a tirade of colorful curses. “All this time I counted on you to be there and never questioned your role. Because you are family, Maximus. My brother, my friend, my right-hand man. You being involved in the business was never in question. I just never thought to put it in writing. Mi dispiace. I will correct this.”
The simplicity of his acceptance stunned him. All this time, and it had nothing to do with not being good enough. Just the common male trait of barreling forward and forgetting to make his feelings known. The dream of everything he worked so hard for shimmered in front of him. All he needed to do was reach out and take it.
Time to put everything on the table.
“I slept with your sister in Vegas.”
The words rang out like a tire blowout in the middle of church.
Michael cocked his head. A sharp birdcall rang through the open window. “What do you mean? You were married in Vegas.”
Max shoved his hands in his pockets and faced the man he loved like blood. “Before we were married. We had a one-night stand.”
Michael unfurled himself from the leather chair and crossed the burgundy oriental carpet. His dark features remained smooth, but a cold fury gleamed from his eyes. “You slept with her before you were married? On a business trip I sent you on?”
“Correct.”
“But you loved her enough to get married?”
“No. Your mother found us the next morning and convinced us to marry.”
His breath hissed from his teeth. “You never even loved my sister? Treated her like one of your cheap lovers when I trusted you?” Michael’s voice dropped with warning. “I want all the details.”
“No.”
He jerked back. “What did you say to me?”
Max held his ground. “It’s no longer your concern. What happens between Carina and me moving forward is our business. I owed you the truth, but I’m not helping you change my wife’s mind about the company. She needs to find her own path, and I’m backing her all the way.”