Chapter 6 - The Rented Castle and the Saint-Claire Arrival
The rain poured down around us, soaking through my emerald gown and plastering
Enzo’s dark hair to his forehead, but I couldn't feel the cold.
All I could feel was the searing heat of his mouth against mine.
His kiss was not the performative, polite affection of a business partner; it
was demanding, hungry, and consuming. His fingers tangled deeply into the damp
curls at the back of my neck, pulling me upward until my toes barely grazed the
wet asphalt.
When he finally broke the kiss, his breathing was ragged, his amber eyes dilated
with a dark, untamed fire that made my entire body hum with electricity.
"Enzo..." I gasped, my hands gripping the lapels of his soaked tuxedo jacket.
"That wasn't for the cameras, Natalie," he growled in a low, fierce whisper
against my lips. "Never think that was for the cameras."
Before I could reply, Marco hurried over with a fresh umbrella, clearing his
throat loudly.
"Boss... Lady Eleanor Saint-Claire’s private jet just touched down at O'Hare.
She moved the introductory dinner up by twelve hours. She’s arriving at the Lake
Forest Estate at 10:00 AM."
Enzo stepped back, drawing in a long, controlled breath, the ruthless CEO
snapping instantly back into place.
"Get the cars ready," Enzo ordered. "We leave for Lake Forest immediately."
Two hours later, our convoy arrived at the Romano family’s ancestral estate in
Lake Forest—a sprawling, seventy-acre French chateau surrounded by manicured
rose gardens, ancient oak forests, and wrought-iron security gates.
The chateau was a masterpiece of limestone arches, soaring slate roofs, and
roaring marble fireplaces.
By 9:30 AM, I was showered, dressed in a conservative, cream-colored wool dress
with a modest pearl necklace, and standing beside Enzo in the grand drawing room
as the front doors opened.
Entering the foyer was Lady Eleanor Saint-Claire.
She was in her late seventies, impeccably dressed in a tailored Chanel tweed
suit, leaning on a polished ebony cane with an 18-karat gold swan handle. Behind
her walked her chief advisor—and standing right beside the advisor was Julian
Cross.
My heart plummeted into my stomach.
Julian had a smug, venomous smirk plastered across his face.
"Lady Eleanor," Enzo greeted her with a polite, aristocratic nod, extending his
hand. "Welcome to Lake Forest."
Lady Eleanor took his hand with cold, regal grace, her sharp gray eyes scanning
the room like an eagle searching for prey. Then her gaze landed on me—and
drifted to Julian Cross.
"Mr. Romano," Lady Eleanor said in a crisp, aristocratic French accent. "I
believe you are familiar with young Julian Cross? His firm handles our European
overland freight. He flew with me on my private jet from Paris to share some...
rather concerning information regarding your sudden engagement."
May you like
Julian stepped forward, adjusting his tie with theatrical confidence.
"Lady Eleanor," Julian declared, looking directly at me with malicious triumph.
"I can prove to you right now that this engagement is a complete, fraudulent
sham designed to deceive your board. Natalie Parker was my girlfriend until five
days ago—and she is deeply in debt, desperate for cash, and being paid by Enzo
Romano to play his bride!"
