Carmine makes a surprised sound. “Sir? I’m not sure I understand.”
“Leave the card alone. Whatever my wife wants, my wife gets,” I tell him and hang up the phone.
During the meeting, I pull up my banking app and track Cleo’s shopping spree in real time. She doesn’t let up until about five p.m., when I get another text from Sandro telling me that they’re on their way home. I wrap up the meeting, say a quick goodbye to my aunt, and get on the road.
When I walk inside the house, Sabina accosts me with questions about some contractors.
“Where’s Cleo?” I interrupt.
Sabina frowns. “I’m not sure. I think I saw Tiny bringing some bags into the living room after they returned.”
That’s where I find her. My wife is perched on a sofa by the window, a magazine in her lap, and a sea of shopping bags stretched out on the floor before her.
Sabina is still talking to me and not paying attention to where she’s going. She nearly trips over one of the bags. “Oh my—”
I grab her elbow to steady her. “Careful.”
The house manager gasps as she takes in the scene before her.
Cleo yawns, sits up, and reaches for the small red box on the coffee table. “Welcome home. I’ve had such a long day.”
The room is so full with her things, I can’t even see the carpet underneath. She must have been waiting for me to come back so that she could see my reaction. I keep my expression carefully neutral as she hops over the bags and stops in front of me.
“Guess what?” she asks.
“What?”
There’s a wicked glint in my wife’s eyes as she shoves the red box at me. “I got you a gift.”
I take it out of her hand.
Cartier.
Ah, yes, the last stop on her rendezvous today.
The expression on her face suggests she’s hoping to piss me off with her spending spree. What my wife doesn’t know is that I don’t give a flying fuck about her spending my money. I have plenty to spare. She’d have to establish a relationship with a yacht broker to really make a dent in my net worth. But I’m not going to make it clear just yet that all her effort was wasted. She’s glowing with barely suppressed excitement, and it’s fucking adorable.
I fix my face into my usual cold mask and open the box.
“It’s a tourbillon in a platinum case,” she croons. “When I saw it, I immediately thought of you.”
I tilt the watch, examining the intricate craftsmanship. “Why’s that?”
She drags her fingertip over the edge. “Cold, precise, calculating. Don’t those words ring a bell?”
“I’m flattered. You shouldn’t have.”
She spreads out her arms. “I felt bad getting all of these things for myself and nothing for you. I hope I didn’t overdo it.”
I close the box with a loud snap. “I got a call from my accountant after lunch.”
Her eyes spark. She looks so fucking eager. I don’t think anyone has ever been this excited about the prospect of me losing my temper. “Oh?”
“He was very surprised at the amounts on the transactions. You spent more than a million dollars in one afternoon.”
She grins. “Oops. I warned you I like to spend money.”
“You did.” I step closer and wrap my arm around her waist. “I told him whatever my wife wants, she gets.”
The smile on her face melts right off. “You did?”
“Anything to make you happy.” I lift the box with the watch. “Put it on?”
A notch appears between her brows. She takes the watch out of the box and undoes the clasp. I offer her my wrist, and she slips it on.
“You’re not angry?” She can’t even keep her disappointment out of her voice.
I tighten my arm around her waist. “Why would I be? Looks great,” I murmur, glancing down at the watch. We’re so close her nose is practically brushing against my jaw. Her breasts are pressed against my chest, and when I look down her shirt, I have to suppress a groan. God, I can’t wait to fuck her.
“Have someone bring the bags up to our bedroom,” I command Sabina.
Cleo makes a weak attempt to pull away from me, but I don’t let her. I hold her firmly in my arms until the maids appear and start taking the bags away.
“A gift this beautiful deserves a thorough thank you, don’t you think?” I ask when we’re alone.
Her eyes widen. “Hold o—”
I crush my lips against hers and slide my tongue inside her mouth.