She nods sadly and thinks for a moment. “Would you get involved with a man like him?”
“Yes.” I reply without hesitation. “If I loved him, then yes, I would. Nothing would stop me from pursuing love.”
I’m in love with his boss.
She nods as she weighs up my words. “You know, I really wish you and Giuliano weren’t related.”
My eyes shoot up to her, did I say that out loud? “Why do you say that?”
“Because you guys were so great together, seeing him in Ibiza must have been bittersweet for you? Did it bring back any memories?”
I want to blurt out and tell her everything…I don’t want to keep this from her, but I know that I can’t. I can’t risk anybody knowing about us at all.
Not now, not ever.
“He’s just a good friend, that’s all. We have a history and I did enjoy his company in Ibiza, it was great to see him again,” I reply.
She smiles and takes my hand in hers. “Thanks for hanging around with him while I got to know Carlo, the fact that you were prepared to do that for me means a lot.”
Guilt fills me. I’m a terrible person.
I smile sadly. “What are friends for if not to be the awkward wingman.”
She glances over at me as if surprised. “Was it really that awkward?”
I shrug. “Maybe it’s time for me to move home to Milan too.” I sigh.
“So, you can secretly date your diplomat and I can openly date a hitman?”
I giggle. “That sounds very….” I frown as I try to find the right words.
“Ridiculous?” she offers.
“Yeah, that’s it. Ridiculous.”
“Hey, maybe if you’re not going out with your diplomat on Saturday night you could come out with Carlo and me, we could get Giuliano to come. Carlo mentioned inviting Valentino and his girlfriend too.”
A smile nearly creeps onto my face. “Yeah maybe.” I act casual. “Hopefully I’ll be on a date though.”
“What’s his name?”
“Who?”
“The diplomat.”
Oh crap, that’s right, what is his name? “Massimo.”
She raises her eyebrow, her interest piqued. “Hot name.”
I smirk, for a fake guy I guess it is.
*
I lie in the darkness under the covers, phone in hand, he’ll call me soon to say good night.
He has every night this week and it’s been the highlight of my day, it brings back memories of when we met all those years ago, secret phone calls and stolen kisses.
Young and forbidden love, when we thought we could have it all.
We didn’t just think it, we knew it, or at least thought we did.
I go home to Milan on Friday and I should be having second thoughts and doubting my life choices, but the truth is I can’t wait.
I need to see him so badly.
My phone vibrates in my hand, and I quickly swipe it open. “Hello.”
“Hi, Chesk,” his deep voice whispers, Emotion overwhelms me. How can hearing someone’s voice mean so much?
“Hi.” I smile. “You’re late tonight?”
He exhales heavily. “I had a meeting on, I ended up leaving early so I could call you.”
I smile into the darkness; I like that he left early.
“Two days,” he whispers.
Excitement swirls in my stomach like never before. “I can’t wait,” I murmur.
“What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you see me?” he asks.
“Hug you.”
“Oh.” He acts disappointed.
“Why, what were you hoping I would do?”
“I don’t know, drop to your knees and suck my dick or something.”
I laugh. “Dream on.”
I totally will.
“Is it just me or has this week gone incredibly slow?”
“So slow.” I remember something, “Oh Anna asked me if I wanted to go out with her and Carlo on Saturday night, they were going to ask you and Valentino and his girlfriend.”
“Val won’t go.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s furious that Anna is with Carlo.”
“What? Why?”
“He’s always had a thing for her, went ballistic about Carlo sleeping with her in Ibiza.”
My mouth falls open in shock. “What?”
“Was raving on that he’s not in her league.”
“But doesn’t he have a girlfriend?”
“That’s what I said to him.”
“Well, what did he say to that?”
“Just that he had her reserved and I knew it and I should never have given Anna to him.”
I screw up my face in disbelief.
“He was seriously fucking ropeable, didn’t speak to me for three days.”
“Jeez.” I think for a moment. “He mustn’t be in love with his girlfriend then.”
“That’s the stupid thing, he is. He’ll marry her for sure.”
“So, what you’re saying is that he wanted to keep Anna on ice in case he was ever single.”
Fucking men.
Giuliano chuckles. “Who knows? Let’s talk about you being on your knees again.”
“How come our late-night calls always end up as phone sex?”
“Because it’s you, and I haven’t had sex in a very long time. Not to mention that you have the sexiest voice of all time.”
I smile into the darkness, I like that answer.
“Just so you know, we aren’t getting out of bed on the weekend,” he adds.
Bring it….
“Ugh, sounds terrible.”
Friday, Milan.
The car pulls into the underground parking lot of my building and the cars behind us park. The guards retrieve my luggage from the trunk and the bellboy loads it onto a trolley. It’s Friday afternoon and after the longest week in history, today, I get to see him.
“I’ll take it from here,” Antonio says.
While the other three men stand around, Antonio gets into the elevator with me with the trolley of luggage. I scan my key; the elevator doors close and we begin to travel up. He’s the only one who ever comes into my homes, I don’t like anyone else to see my private living quarters.
The elevator doors open and we arrive at my private foyer, I scan my fingerprint and the door releases with a click. This place has so much security that it’s like a spy movie.
“Thank you, just put the bags here by the door.”
“You don’t want me to carry them up to your room?” he asks.
“No. That’s fine.” I smile. “I have washing to do, thanks anyway.”
He unloads my suitcases from the luggage trolley. “Is there anything else I can get you, Miss Ferrara?”
“No thanks,” I reply as I look around. “I won’t be leaving again tonight, you can retire.”
“There will be the usual men downstairs if you need anything,” he replies.
“Thank you, have a nice night.”
“See you tomorrow,” he says as the elevator doors close behind him.
I turn and look around my penthouse, I love this place.
Secluded and private.
The guards are able to wait downstairs, they don’t need to be so close that I can see them. I forget they are even around when I’m here.