Chapter 3. What’s your name
She didn't go back to the room they had shared since the beginning of their marriage, selecting to set out toward the library. Elizabeth realized that she could never sleep in that room again. Hours later, he came down the stairs for breakfast. He didn't have any early-morning meetings because it was a Saturday, so he tended to linger over his coffee and newspaper and mostly ignore Elizabeth. The morning was the same as usual,as though the previous night hadn't occurred. They ate their breakfast in the kitchen and the familiar setting created a misguided feeling of a comfortable home life. In any case, while Elizabeth was awkward and tense in the cozy setting, Anthony generally stayed as cool as a cucumber. Which was very normal. He rarely spoke to her or showed emotions. As a matter of fact the "conversation" of that morning was the most heated she had seen him. Although he had always made his disdain for her abundantly clear, he had kept his feelings to himself. It was in the way he avoided looking her in the eye, how he could kiss her without kissing her on the mouth, and how he could talk past Elizabeth when he had something to say. Elizabeth, who was always optimistic and foolish, was never good at hiding her feelings from him. Not since she first met him nearly three years ago. What a hopeless romantic she had been! How rapidly she had become hopelessly enamored. She recalled their first meeting vividly. He had come to their home for dinner. Her dad hadn't informed her much concerning their visitor with the exception that he was the child of an old colleague. In order for him to make an entrance, he had then left her to meet Anthony by herself. It had been one of many "tricks" used by her father, Micheal Clark, to keep his business rivals off guard at all times. He had done a lot of business deals in his home and loved getting them on his own turf. He would allow Elizabeth to mellow them with her regular warmth, and afterward he would plunge in when they least expected it and held nothing back. Elizabeth hadn't been aware of her job in her dad's haggling until she was nineteen; before that she had only been appreciative for the chance to assist her dad with engaging his business partners. Elizabeth was the perfect hostess when she met Tony: enchanting, sweet, welcoming and charming. However she was totally baffled by him. Anthony Lombardi had dove into their home looking horrid and deliberate, similar to a man prepared for the fight to come. Her presence in the massive entrance had surprised him. Her only accessories were a plain emerald pendant and matching earrings, her hair upswept into an elegant chignon, and a straightforward green sheath dress. When he saw her, he faltered and frowned in confusion. Elizabeth, on the other hand, had lost all composure for the first time in her life as she was completely captivated by the stunning man standing in front of her. She had not been able to say a word. His tailor-made business suit had given him a beautiful appearance, but his windswept hair had thrown off that appearance and given him a slightly wild appearance. That roughness was bolstered by the loosening of his tie and dark stubble. She wanted to know everything there was to know about him because he was unlike any other man she had ever seen. Tony had recuperated first. He had moved toward her until he stood directly before her. Elizabeth had shifted her head back to gaze at him in wonder, following each point and bend all over in interest.
"Hello, beautiful."
Her awareness had sent a shiver up her spine due to his voice, which sounded like dark velvet over gravel.
"What is your name?"
"E-Elizabeth."
She had been unable to steady her voice while speaking. He had smelled amazing and she had ended up leaning in his direction to take in his aroma. Elizabeth recollected each word, each inclination, each exchange that followed.