Page 1 of Marry Me Not
CHAPTER 1
FABIANA
Where the hellwere the programs?
Not in my purse. Not in the trunk of the car. And definitely not by the check-in desk where they were supposed to be laid out in neat, perfectly spaced rows.
I popped out of the small storage room that I’d searched through just in case and brushed a strand of curly hair out of my face.
Goddamnit. I’d wanted tonight to be perfect. To go out on a high note. This was likely the last event I’d ever organize. The wife of a mob boss wasn’t expected to work, and if everything went according to plan, that was exactly what I’d be by next spring.
“There you are!”
I turned just in time for my sister-in-law, Cleo, to shove a champagne flute straight into my hand. “Don’t tell me you’re still looking for the programs.”
“I swear I had them on me when we left the house.”
Cleo hooked an arm around my shoulders and turned me toward the room. “Fabi, do me a favor and glance around. Do any of these people look like they’re wandering around lost?”
My gaze skimmed over the gallery space. There were about a hundred or so guests milling around, admiring my brother’s private art collection. The Rothko on the far wall was proving to be a hit.
“I guess they seem fine,” I conceded.
“Great. Now take a breath, relax, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.” Cleo looped her arm through mine. “Aren’t you glad you were able to wrap up your work in Switzerland early so you could stay in New York? It would’ve been a shame if you’d had to fly back to Europe tomorrow.”
I winced. “Yeah. So glad.”
The truth of the matter was that I’d been sacked, but Cleo didn’t know that. No one here did. The only break I’d caught on my way out of the UN events team in Geneva was that the reason for my abrupt departure was being kept strictly confidential.
I’d planned to give notice next month and tell everyone I was moving back to New York to be closer to family. Instead, my access had been revoked last Monday, and I’d been escorted out by security. Just remembering it made my cheeks burn.
But hey, at least I still had tonight.
Rafe had given me the kind of opportunity other people would kill for. Over the last nine months, I’d personally selected three pieces for his art collection. My art history degree hardly qualified me to make decisions involving millions of dollars, but he knew how much I loved art, so he’d told me to go for it.He’d also asked me to put my event planning skills to use and organize an exhibition showcasing the collection.
It had been the most exciting project I’d ever worked on by far.
Although, when I’d first told my twin sister, Elena, about it, she’d scoffed and called it my consolation prize. She’d said it was the least Rafe could do after summoning me back to marry a man I’d never met.
I took a sip of the champagne. “You really think it’s going well?”
“Everyone is raving about the Motherwell you acquired. And don’t even get me started on how many times I’ve heard someone say the collection has a clear thesis.”
Relief filtered through me. Thank God. My confidence couldn’t withstand another blow.
The crowd parted, and my brother appeared. He paused to shake someone’s hand before joining us, his expression softening the second he looked at Cleo. “There you are. I’ve been looking for you two.”
They shared a quick kiss before Cleo pulled away. “Tell Fabi it’s going well.”
His gaze moved to me. “It is. The thoughtfulness behind it has killed all the unfounded rumors that the collection is just a front for money laundering.”
A wry smile pulled at my lips. The rumors were definitely not unfounded, but they weren’t entirely true either. Sure, some of the collection had helped smooth out certain…financial matters for my brother, but his interest in art was real too—real enough that he’d funded the Foundation for Emerging Artists, the nonprofit exhibition space we were standing in tonight.
“I’m glad I could help.”
Cleo sniffed. “Do I smell food? God, I’m starving. I think the buffet is open.” She grabbed her purse. “I’m off. You two want to join?”
“I’ll find you in a few minutes,tesoro,” Rafe said. “I want to have a word with Fabi.”
