The Billionaire’s Prodigal Wife
Chapter 43

By Friday Mackenna was exhausted. She was not sleeping and all of it had to do with the fact Alessandro had not returned her call and Nuncio had no updates for her. Whatever was happening in Italy, in the House of Giordano, was not hitting the news.

She sat in her office with her head buried in her hands when a knock on her door made her look up in surprise. “What’s up?”

Savannah’s expression was serious, “Nuncio called me. There was a statement from Alessandro’s company this morning. It was their official statement with him and Dulce delivering the message.”

“What did they say?”

“Well,” Savannah took a seat, “you’re probably not going to like it.”

“Just spill it please.” She felt her heart aching.

Her friend opened her phone, found the article, and read it aloud.

“The House of Giordano would like to address the events which have recently transpired and subsequently reported to the press. Salvatore Giordano was arrested this morning on multiple counts of blackmail, coercion, attempted murder, and murder. House of Giordano is cooperating with the authorities and providing all information requested of them at this time. We will not be responding to any requests from the press at this time. We request respect for privacy regarding the matters at hand until the authorities have completed all inquiries into the matters at hand.”

Mackenna felt her sick to her stomach. “His grandfather?”

Savannah gave a slow nod, “Yes, his grandfather.” She stared at Mackenna. “The photo all over the world is Alessandro and Dulce standing on the front steps of their offices holding hands as a united front.”

“I see,” she took a slow breath and exhaled.

“Are you okay?”

“I don’t know.” She answered truthfully. “I knew he never liked me. I mean the feeling was mutual. He’s a cold-hearted cad who slapped his wife and cheated on her with a multitude of women, but I never thought he hated me so much he’d blackmail someone to kill my baby.” She swallowed the bitter knot in her throat and then held out her hand. “Can I see the photo please?”

“Do you really want to, Mac?” Savannah gingerly held her phone out to her.

“Yes,” she used her fingers to enlarge the photo. “He looks tired.” She sighed, “and he’s definitely holding her hand.”

“He is,” Savannah whispered as she accepted her phone back.

“Well, that’s that.” She placed her palms on her desk and stood up. “At least I know.”

“What are you going to do?”

“There’s nothing for me to do,” she stated bitterly, waving at the phone in her friend’s hand. “He never called me, he never reached out and he publicly made his choice. It’s done. It’s over.”

“I’m so sorry Mac,” Savannah whispered. “I thought for sure he would choose you over the evil bitch.”

She shrugged, “I said it before and I’ll say it again, she is everything I’m not. He only wanted me because I rejected him and left. I was nothing more than a conquest. I have no way to compare to her.”

“You don’t still believe they were lovers?” Savannah shook her head. “I mean, he denied it so many times and then there’s the whole thing of her kissing me.”

“No, I believe him. They aren’t lovers but I’m guessing it does the company good for them to portray they are. What’s the adage? There’s no such thing as bad publicity?”

Savannah stood up and hugged her friend tightly. “I’ll got to get back down to the trauma unit but if you need me, even just to scream at, come replace me.”

“I’ll be okay,” she said feeling strangely calm. “I knew it was coming so I just need to move forward with my life, right?”

She watched as Savannah left her office and then stood up to follow her out of the office. “Tabitha, I’m just going to run for a coffee. If anyone is looking for me, I’ll be back in fifteen.”

“Sure,” her assistant barely glanced up and Mackenna would have bet an entire week of paycheque she was reading the tabloid about her boss.

As she entered the cafeteria, she ignored the whispers and stares and moved to grab a coffee. She felt a touch on her shoulder, and she looked behind her to see Padma standing there. “Hey Padma. How are you?” She gave her a hug.

Padma hugged her tight. “I’m all right, great actually. I’m taking Derrick to meet my parents tonight.”

“Oh, how exciting.”

“My mother originally hated him because he’s not Indian but then I when said he was the head of orthopedics, it all changed,” she laughed with a glint in her eyes. “I probably should have led with his career instead of his ethnicity.”

Mackenna giggled at her new friend. “Derrick’s a great guy. There’s no way they won’t love him to bits. I’m so happy for you Padma.”

“Thanks Mac, I appreciate hearing it from you.” She shifted on her feet. “Everyone told me he had eyes only for you.”

Mackenna grinned as she paid for her coffee. “Ha, pretty sure his eyes haven’t left your a*s since you shook it at him at the club.”

“What about you? Any word from Alessandro?”

“He and Dulce gave a joint statement this morning on the front steps of Giordano House.” She swallowed the bitter pill and forced a fake smile to her face. “At least now I know.”

“I’m so sorry Mac,” Padma squeezed her bicep.

“Not sure why everyone keeps saying it. It’s a good thing, right? I can finally move forward with my life, just as I had intended. It’s cost me a lot but, in the end, I know I’m strong. I got through the last three months; I can get through anything.” She gave her friend a grimace, “though I feel my counselling session on Monday morning is going to be very much needed.”

Padma laughed at her words and gave her another squeeze. “If you need anything, anything at all, you just need to ask.”

“I know. Thank you, Padma.”

She took her coffee and made her way back to her office happy for her friend but sad on the opportunity she had missed. She could have been the one moving forward with someone as great as Derrick Portman. Instead, she was stuck in a hellish purgatory until she decided on her next steps.

She finished her day forcing herself to stay focused on the work in front of her, grateful of the complexity a couple of new files had brought. It kept her from dwelling on the things she had no control over. As she was leaving the hospital, she decided to stop by the trauma unit.

She waved at Savannah, “I’m heading home. Are you pulling a double tonight or are you off at seven?

“So far, I’m off at seven.” She was washing her hands at the sink.

“I’ll send Nuncio back for you,” she offered and then stopped. “You guys should go out on a real date.”

“No,” Savannah shook her head. “We are not leaving you alone tonight.”

“Savannah, you can’t stay with me every night and really, I have no tears left to cry. Romeo and I will order in some takeout and watch a movie on our new television.” She forced the smile. “Please, I need things to be back to normal and you going on a date on a Friday night is normal. I’ll be safe in the apartment so there’s no need for Nuncio to babysit me tonight.”

“I don’t know Mac,” Savannah bit her l*p, obviously conflicted.

“I’ll send him back with a duffel bag and you can get changed here and go,” she gave a grin. “You should wear the new blue dress you bought.

“Are you sure?” Savannah was absolutely torn.

“Yes!” She clapped her hands together. “I’ll even call and make a reservation for you at the steakhouse you like so much.” She waited until Savannah dried her hands and then took them. “You guys have been amazing for me, and you deserve a night away from my moping and I need a night away from you two making out when you think I’m not looking.”

Savanna laughed. “We do not.”

“You definitely do. I’ll see you in the morning. Have fun.”

She walked back to the hospital lobby, as she walked, she called the restaurant and made a reservation for eight for Savannah and Nuncio. She then found Nuncio waiting by the security office. “I’m all set.”

He grabbed her and gave her a big hug. “Are you okay?” he held her gaze with a concerned look.

She patted his chest, “yes, I’m fine. I was just making a dinner reservation.”

“You want to go out?” he was surprised.

She laughed outright, “no, not for me. You and Savannah are going out for dinner to act like an actual couple instead of my babysitters.” When he opened his mouth to protest, she shook her head. “No Nuncio, you’re going. You’ve been on call with me for twenty-four hours a day for weeks. You both need a break. I’m not going to succumb to a broken heart while you’re out. I’m going to cuddle with Romeo and watch a movie. You’re going out.”

“There’s no arguing with you is there,” he questioned her quietly.

“No, and if you bring her back home before one in the morning I promise you, she will dump your a*s and I’ll encourage her. Do something fun. Dinner is at eight, so you’d better hurry and get me home so you can come get her at seven and give her time to get changed.”

He gave her a k**s to the cheek. “I’ve never had a sister Mac, but I’m sure if I did, you would be exactly what I’d want.”

“Thanks Nuncio,” she blushed at his words. “Let’s go home.”

When she got home, she moved and pulled Romeo’s food from the fridge and dumped a glob into the dish. “Sorry buddy, I know you hate this stuff,” he wound through her ankles, and she laughed. Since the day she’d had the panic attack on the balcony he’d been her shadow when she was home. He followed her everywhere, purred when she touched him and slept on the foot of her bed. She leaned down and stroked him as he started in on his food and whispered, “I’ll slip you a piece of chicken when my takeout order comes.”

Nuncio was coming out of Savannah’s bedroom when her food order arrived and Mackenna let out a low whistle. “Looking fine my friend,” she winked at him and pointed to the bag on the kitchen island, as she opened the door to take her food order. “Take the bag to her. Also,” she tipped the driver the security officer at the front doors had let up at her command and then closed the door, “if you want to score brownie points with Savannah there’s a cabaret club she really likes. You’ll have fun there.”

“What is a cabaret club?”

“It’s a club where you watch the dancers on stage,” she grinned as she took her phone and sent him the link via messaging. “It’s risqué and bawdy but it’s funny and I know there was a kid she admitted to ICU today, so she needs a good laugh. They’ll hold tickets for you if you call them.”

He clicked the link, and his eyes grew round. “This is um,” he swallowed at looked back to Mackenna. “You’ve been there with her?”

“Yeah, it’s a lot of fun and I promise, you will laugh but if you don’t enjoy the view, you are dead inside,” she gave him a smirk, “there’s lots to see of both sexes and you will enjoy it. Just keep it down when you get home. I don’t want to know how much you enjoyed it if you get my drift.”

He slapped her bottom as he walked past her and shook his head. “Okay, I’m leaving. I’ve left Ari, the new guy, downstairs at the front door. If the doorman doesn’t know who is trying to come into the building, then he will ask for credentials or confirmation of where they are going. You’ll be safe here but just in case someone gets past him, do not open the door for anyone. Nobody. Understood?”

“Yes, I’ll be fine. Go.” She pointed to the door. “My Chinese food is getting cold, and you’ll be late to Savannah if you don’t go now.”

“Are you sure about this Mac?” He paused at the door.

“Yes,” she waved him off. “Go.”

When he left, she walked and locked the deadbolt of her steel door and then grabbed her food and headed to the living room. She and Savannah had picked out a beautiful white leather sofa facing the huge television hanging on the wall Nuncio had insisted they needed. She popped her food on the glass coffee table they’d picked out and started digging through the bag with one hand while she turned the television on with the other.

She sat cross-legged on the sofa and found the movie streaming service Nuncio had set up on the television and started going through the movie titles. No romantic comedies, no romantic movies at all, she grimaced as she plucked a piece of beef from her beef and broccoli dish and fed it to Romeo, grimacing when a droplet of gravy landed on the new white area rug. Romeo jumped down and cleaned the rug and she grinned.

She found a horror movie she’d watched as a kid and hit play. With luck, the numb feeling she had been holding onto all day would guide her through the movie and she wouldn’t shed one more tear over Alessandro Giordano.