Choices We Make: The Moretti Brothers Series (19 page)

*****

Over the next couple of weeks Victoria worked with an attorney to move forward with her plan to help Dominic, unfortunately her plan failed, before she was able to bring it to full fruition.  The attorney ran into issues before he could make the deal happen.  Because of this and other issues with the attorney, she had to fire him.  Victoria now had to ask Marco for help to clean up the mess the other attorney made.  She was pleased to find out that Dominic was able to broker a deal with another company interested in investing in his software.  Dominic was excited about the progress his company and that excitement spilled over into his relationship with Anna.  They seemed to be closer than ever.  Victoria thought back to the day after Christmas when Anna came over and she overheard her giving Dominic a tearful apology for the way she had behaved and promised to do better because she wanted their relationship to work.  A few nights later Victoria laid in bed crying because she could hear them making love and she knew she had lost him.  After that night Anna appeared to be more understanding and very tolerant of the living arrangement. 

Anna was there almost every day, which irritated Victoria to no end.  She needed to move.  She couldn’t stay there, knowing that there was another possibility that she would hear, the man she loved, make love to another woman again.  She began to put a plan in place, so that when she talked to Dominic, he would protest, but in the end he would not try and stop her.  She waited for him to come home from the office.  He walked in the door alone, “thank God,” she said silently. 

“Nick, can I talk to you?”  He walked in the living room.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” he said as he kissed her on the top of her head. 

“I’m fine but we need to talk.” He sat on the sofa beside her and pulled her feet into her lap and began to rub them, it was almost automatic how he catered to her needs. 

“So what’s up?”  She pulled her feet away.  There was no way she could talk to him clearly when he was touching her.  He touches reminded her of the two weeks together and it also reminded her that he belonged to someone else.  He looked at her strangely as she moved her feet.

“I’m moving back home.” 

“What are you talking?  No you’re not; you are staying here until our babies are born.” 

“No I’m not, I’m moving back home tonight.” 

“The hell you are, I thought I made myself very clear that I don’t want you somewhere I can’t get to you if something happened.” 

“You don’t own me Nick, I am moving tonight and you will have to deal with it.  I’ve hired a service that will be there with me.  I spoke with your mom and sisters and they all agreed to come by and check on me and I also have Monica and Jackie, so I am covered.” 

“And what about me, I didn’t hear you mention me in that equation, or don’t I matter anymore?” 

“Of course you matter, but you and Anna are trying to rebuild your relationship and I don’t want to interfere with that.” 

“Bullshit, you moving has nothing to do with my relationship with Anna, so what is it?” 

“It’s because I’m in love with you.  Because when you touch me you set my body on fire, because I want you all to myself and I can’t stay here another night and listen to you make love to another woman.”
She screamed in her head, unable to vocalize it. 

“I asked you a question Victoria.  Why are you really leaving?” 

“You and Anna need privacy to work on your relationship, and I don’t need to hear you two making love.” She said softly before getting up slowly and walking up the stairs.  She needed to get away from him before the tears started.  

Dominic sat there stunned at her revelation.  He and Anna began a physical relationship again but he didn’t think they could be heard.  Truth be told, the couple of times they made love, he was thinking about Victoria and got so turned on that he used Anna as a release.  Now because of his carelessness, Anna thought their relationship was getting stronger and Victoria was moving that much further out of his reach. 

He turned to follow her when the doorbell rang.  He looked up the stairs, then walked toward the front door.

“Hi baby, I brought Chinese for three.”  She said with a smile that did not reach her eyes, as she raised the bag.  Anna decided that she needed to accept this living arrangement until she convinced him to get engaged again.  She didn’t like the way he looked at Victoria or the way he catered to her like she was his woman.  She knew she needed to do something now because it would just get worse after the babies were born. 

“Anna, did you hear what I said?” 

“I’m sorry baby, what did you say?”

“I said you can put the food in the kitchen.   I’ll be right back, I need to talk to Victoria.” 

She frowned as she walked toward the kitchen “What now, does the princess bitch need a backrub?” she spewed softly as she walked to the kitchen.  Dominic rounded to stairs two at a time.  He reached her room and knocked softly of the door.  Victoria quickly wiped the remaining tears before telling him to come in. 

“Vic….” He looked into her eyes and could see she was upset.  He moved closer to her.   “I’m so sorry, this is the first time that anyone else has lived in this house with me, It was insensitive and thoughtless of me not to think you would not be able to hear…” he paused not wanting to say it “other activities going on in this house.” 

“I’m the one who is sorry, it was impolite of me to mention it, you are Anna are a couple.”  He looked around the room and noticed it was completely void of Victoria’s belongings. 

“You’ve packed already?” 

“Yes, Fran is picking me up and Francesco and Marco agreed to move the rest of my stuff.” 

“So you and my entire family are plotting against me?” he said with a weak smile.  He loved that they treated her like part of the family even if he didn’t agree with it. 

“No Nick, they don’t want you to worry and neither do I.   I’m going to be fine, I’ll call you every day if it will make you feel better.” 

“I would feel better if you stayed here.” 

“Nick, please don’t fight me on this.  I need to leave and you need your privacy.   Besides, I need to prepare for the birth of our babies and that may mean selling my condo.” She said as she smiled.  He started to respond but decided against it. 

“Well at least let me drive you home.  I can call Fran and tell her I will take you.” 

“Didn’t I hear the doorbell earlier?” Victoria said.

“Shit, I forgot Anna was here.” 

“Go be with Anna, Fran will be here soon.”  She reached up to kiss him on the cheek and he turned so that their lips met.  He kissed her softly then deepened the kiss using his tongue to gain access to her mouth, she opened freely and their tongues danced in unison. 

Victoria pulled back.  “I’d better go.”  She said softly leaving Dominic standing in the room alone.  As soon as Victoria reached the bottom of the stairs the door rang and the door opened. 

“There you are sis, you ready to go?”  Fran had starting calling her sis as a joke saying that she wanted her to be her sister in law and the name stuck.  Fran could see that Victoria was distracted.  “Is everything alright?”  Just as she asked Dominic came down the stairs. 

“Vic we need to talk.”  He said reaching for her arm.

“We don’t need to talk, I have to go.” She said as she backed away from his touch.  Fran looked at both of them strangely; she knew something was going on.

“We need to talk about what just…” Anna entered the foyer wanting to know what was going on.  Dominic looked over at Anna, then Francesca and decided not to continue. 

“We will talk later Victoria.”  He said as he kissed her on her forehead.  She walked out the door with Fran on her heels.

“What the hell was that about?” 

“Nothing, Fran, let it go.”  How could she explain that she was just thoroughly kissed by the man she was in love with and was leaving him there with another woman.  If he wanted her he would have made a move, but he didn’t. 

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Over the next month Victoria had more people in and out of her condo than she did when she was living with Nick, even Dominic’s father had come around and would make frequent visits with Annette.  Victoria was fat and tired of carrying the babies.   They were due in less than a month, and she wanted them out.  She was on total bed rest and was going stir crazy.  Fran and Monica were taking turns staying with her so that she was never alone.  Dominic was working long hours and his time was stretched between Anna and Victoria.  He still made sure that he spoke with Victoria every day, even if he was not able to make it to her home.  He really tried to make the relationship between him and Anna work but it was different, he was different.  He felt like he was moving backwards with her and he knew he needed to end it. 

*****

Jackie was excited about the babies and was looking forward to the extravagant baby shower she had planned.  Since Victoria was on bed rest and her condo was not large enough to hold the type of baby shower Jackie wanted to plan, she had an idea to have a teleconference baby shower.  Most of their clients and her entire office wanted to participate.  Victoria didn’t think it was such a great idea.  She thought it was over the top, but Jackie had planned the entire event and she didn’t want to hurt her feelings.  The day before the baby shower Jackie had a ninety-inch screen installed in her condo.  Jackie also made sure that food was delivered to every site participating in this event and well as at the condo.  The baby shower was held on a Friday afternoon so that there wasn’t too much disruption to the workweek.  Jackie had everyone’s gift shipped to the condo which was a major undertaking in itself.  Luckily she asked her staff not to contribute a gift but donate to their favorite charity instead and asked her client’s offices to contribute one gift, but that didn’t stop others from sending their own.  Jackie had thought of everything except how much Victoria hated attention drawn to her. 

Because of limited parking in the building, Marco had begun picking up and dropping off Fran and Monica.   She sat in her living room with Fran, Monica and Marco looking at her the huge screen and all the gifts spread across her living room and she began to cry.  They all looked at her as she looked around the room. “This is so over the top.  What am I going to do with all this stuff?” she said as she waved her hand and tried to talk through the tears.  She stood “and look at the monstrosity,” she said while pointing at the huge screen.  “This is too much, I should have never let Jackie talk me into this.  This is so pretentious, even for Jackie.”  She sat back on the sofa in defeat. 

Monica walked over, sat down and put her arm around her.  “You have become such a freaking cry baby.” They both looked at each other and began to laugh.  “Now just suck it up, you know Jackie is not my favorite person, but she did put a lot of work in making this happen, so tomorrow you will be gracious, smile and enjoy yourself, even if you hate it.” Monica scolded. 

Fran sat on the other side of Victoria.  “Yeah, and this shower will be practice for the Moretti family baby shower.  You haven’t been to a shower until you’ve been to a Moretti baby shower.”  Fran said as she also tried to get Victoria to smile.

The next day the shower went off without a hitch.  Dominic was there with her the entire day, and the gifts she received were amazing.  One of her clients, Mark Dylan, took extravagance to a new level with his contribution; he purchased three extremely expensive cribs with matching changing tables. Dominic was not happy, remembering him from the first time he went to Victoria’s office to confront her about the pregnancy.  There was something about him that Dominic didn’t like. 

In spike of the complaining, Victoria actually enjoyed herself.  She was able to see and talk with clients and employees that she hadn’t seen since being placed on bed rest. One of her clients even teleconferenced in while traveling in China.  They didn’t play the traditional baby shower games but her secretary Liz, did read all the cards aloud as Victoria opened her gifts. 

After the baby shower, Dominic made sure Victoria returned to her room and got in bed.  “I don’t know how you feel about the cribs that were purchased by your creepy client but we are returning them.” He said as he helped her in bed and pulled the covers over her.

“That’s not nice Nick, he’s harmless, he just likes to show people that he’s a big spender.” 

“The gifts were too expensive and inappropriate and I will not allow our babies to sleep in them, so please give me his number so that I can have a conversation with him.” 

“Nick I don’t want you hurting his feelings, I’ll call him.” 

“Fine, but they go back tomorrow.”  Victoria sighed as she watch Dominic walk to the door “Good night Vic, I’ll see you in the morning.” He closed the door and headed into the living room where his sister was sitting on the sofa. 

“I’m out Fran, I’ll see you tomorrow, but call me if she needs anything.” 

“Okay Nick, I think I’m going to bed in a few.  Is Victoria comfortable?” 

“Yeah, I made sure she was in bed.” He said as she kissed his sister on the cheek.  Remember, call me you if she needs anything.”  He said as he exited.

I heard you the first five times you said it.  Fran said jokingly.

Since Victoria had been on total bed rest, Dominic made it over to his parents for Sunday dinner only one time, but Anna had been attached to him since the holidays, attending Sunday dinner with him and becoming a fixture at his house.  She sat in living room of Dominic’s parent’s home when she heard Marco take a call in the foyer.  “No, we can talk Vic, he’s in the dining room, Calm down Vic, it’s going to be okay.  Yes okay I will call you from the office tomorrow.”  Anna ears perked up when she heard Marco mention Victoria’s name. 
“So what’s going on with you two, that whore is trying to mess with both brothers.  I knew little miss perfect was using Dominic and soon he will know it too.”
She thought as she smiled. 

*****

The next week was extremely busy for Dominic, a major deal he was working on completed.  Dominic sat back in the chair in his office.  The tracking software he developed had launched flawlessly and had created a buzz in the industry. His quiet anonymous life was about to change, the world would not only know who Dominic Moretti was but it would also get out how wealthy he was, he needed to talk to Victoria.  

Everything with his business was moving amazingly well now, so he needed to get a handle on his private life.  He had made a decision to completely break it off with Anna and tell Victoria his true feelings for her which were… what?  He thought.  Every time he’s around her his heart races and when he’s not around her she is constantly in his thoughts.  It was never like this with Anna.  He concluded that he loved the woman carrying his babies; he was in love with Victoria and wanted to spend the rest of his life taking care of her and their children.  His children, wow in a few short weeks he would be a father. 

His thoughts instantly made him want to call Victoria.  As he reached for the phone, it rang. 

“Hey baby, I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner with me tonight.”  Anna said in her sexy voice. 

“Not tonight, I’m going over to check on Victoria and I will probably have dinner there.” 

“Ohh, okay.” 

He could hear the disappointment in her voice.  He could not keep dragging this out.  He needed to end this relationship.  He did have feelings for Anna, but there was no comparison in how he felt for Victoria.  He couldn’t even bring himself to have sex with her again after Victoria told him she heard them making love.  “I do need to talk to you.  I’ll come by your place when I leave Victoria.” 

“Okay, I’ll make you dessert,” she said excited.

“I’ll see you later.”  He hung up the phone and he knew he was doing the right thing.  The day moved by swiftly.  Dominic was anxious to talk to Anna. He went by Victoria’s to make sure she didn’t need anything.  She was feeling uncomfortable but resting, Monica was with her so he headed over to Anna’s house.  Anna opened the door wearing a seductive nightie.  “Hey baby.”  She stood on her toes to give him a kiss on his lips.  “Have a seat, do you want something to drink?”  “No, I’m good.” he said as he walked over to the sofa and sat. 

He was dreading this conversation but knew it needed to happen.  Anna poured herself a glass of wine and sat beside Dominic lifting his arm and placing it around her shoulders as she snuggled into his chest. 

“So what did you want to talk about babe?”  He lifted his arm from around her shoulders prompting her to look at him.  “Is something wrong?”

“Yes. I don’t know how to say this other than straight out.  I need to end this relationship.  This isn’t working for me.   I’ve tried to give it a chance, but I don’t feel the same way I did before you left.” 

Anna was in total disbelief.  She thought things were going well between them.  They weren’t perfect because of the bitch having his babies, but she thought it was getting better. 

“Baby don’t do this to us, give it a chance, I know we’re meant to be together.” She pleaded 

“I tried Anna, but it’s not working.”   He stood.

“Is it because of that bitch?” She spat. 

“Careful Anna!”  He said in a portentous tone.

“Why do I have to be careful?  She’s the whore who is seeing two brothers.”

“Don’t be spiteful Anna, it’s not becoming,” he said, inwardly a little thrown by her comment.  He walked towards the door.  “Take care of yourself Anna.” 

“Please don’t do this Nick, I love you and I know I can make you happy.”  She said softly. 

“It’s over.  Goodbye Anna.  He reached for the door handle. 

“That whore should have lost those babies.  If I had known she going to the hospital I would have turned your phone completely off instead of silent.”  He turned and stalked towards her, as Anna jumped back in fear.  “Don’t ever come near me or Victoria again.”  He said with venom in his voice.  He had never hit a woman in his life but he needed to leave before that changed.  He suspected that she had tampered with his phone but tried to give her the benefit of not being that deceitful. 

“Ask your little angel, what she has been doing with your brother Marco, behind your back!”  She yelled as he closed the door behind himself. 

Dominic sat in his car thinking, 
“What the hell was she talking about?”
  He dismissed the thought and headed home.  The next day Anna’s comments were still playing in his head and he decided to swing by Marco’s office before going to work.  Dominic walked into Marco office and was greeted by his secretary Lisa. 

“Hi Lisa, is Marco around?” 

“He should be back in about 5 minutes, if you want you can wait in his office.” 

“That color looks nice on you Lisa,” he said causing her to blush, as he walked into his brother’s office.  He stood and looked out the window and started thinking about Victoria.  He sat at Marco’s desk and picked up the phone to dial her number when he hit the wrong button and it showed the recent call log.  There were a quite a few calls to and from Victoria’s number and a message on his desk to call Victoria. 
“What the fuck is going on?”
  Marco walked in and saw his brother sitting behind his desk looking dazed, with a message in his hand that he knew was from Victoria.  “Nick?” 

“Just tell me what the fuck is going on Marc.  Now!” 

“Calm down Nick.” 

“Don’t fucking tell me to calm down.  You need to start explaining now Marc!  Please tell why you have the mother of my children on fucking speed dial!”  He spewed. 

“I think you need to talk to Victoria.” 

“And just what am I asking her, are you fucking my brother?” 

Marco looked at his brother, the thought that his brother would think he would touch a woman he knew his brother was in love with had never entered his mind. 

Now it was Marco’s turn to get angry “Nick, you need to rethink what you just said.” 

“What am I to think, huh Marco?  You tell me.” 

“You should be thinking that I would never, not ever go behind my brother.”  Marco said as he approached his brother.  Marco was so angry, how dare Dominic think that he would cross that line.  Both men were nose to nose.  “You need to fucking check yourself and talk to Victoria. I’m done with this conversation; now get the fuck out of my office.”  Dominic grabbed Marco by the throat.  Marco looked him in the eye.  “Think carefully about your next action big brother because there is no going back.”  Marco said as he had a firm grip on Dominic’s hand.  Lisa walked in the office, saw the brothers and let out a loud gasp.  Dominic looked over at Lisa and let his hand drop. 

“This isn’t over Marco.” 

“You bet your ass it’s not over.” Marco said in a low menacing tone.  Dominic brushed past a confused Lisa. 

“Lisa, give me a few minutes please.”  Marco said as he walked over and sat at his desk.  Marco needed to calm down.  Never had he and Dominic had so much as a scuffle.  They were always side-by-side, in fights, but never at each other.  A smile slowly crept on Marco face.  His brother had it bad for Victoria, but they needed to work that shit out for themselves.  He walked over to his hidden bar, poured a drink and called Lisa into his office.  

*****

Dominic sat in his car, visibly shaken by the entire incident; he and Marco never fought.  Victoria was making him crazy and he needed to talk to her now.  He called his office and said he would be in late as he drove towards Victoria’s condo.  He arrived and used the keys that she had given him.  No one was in the living room so he went to the bedroom in search of Victoria.