9 CHAPTER 9

It has been two days since the whole late incident and office drama went down. So far, since I have been working here this has been the best two days. Enzo has not given me unnecessary work; he hardly looks for me. He sends his secretary to me if he needs anything instead of telling me himself. If you think of it maybe he is trying to avoid me after what happened in his office, but it’s not like I did it on purpose. It just happened that my top buttons were open and because I was kneeling he was getting ‘a front-row view’ of my cleavage. If he can’t deal with it, then that’s his business.

I have an appointment today with the doctor. We are going to talk about mama’s surgery payments since I have the money. The only problem is that the meeting is today. I don’t know if Enzo will allow me to go if I ask him for the rest of the day off. I could go without asking him because it’s actually around my lunchtime. But what if I am not done before lunchtime is over and Enzo notices my absence. ‘I am so dead’. I think its best I ask him for the day off. If he asks why I will tell him the reason, even though that is the last thing I want to do.

I walk to his office and knock on his door and wait for a response.

“Come in.”

“Good afternoon, sir,” I say, walking into his office.

He seems to be doing something on his laptop. He does not even look up to see who walked in. ‘What if I was here to kill him, what will he have done, ASSHOLE.’

“Sir, I came to ask you something.”

“Hmm,” he says still not looking up

‘He is really not going to look at me? Is it because he is ashamed to look at me after what happened the other day? Oh my God, I feel like a slut right now. Like all those women that throw themselves at their bosses. I have to explain to him that I am not that type of woman. I can’t have him having the wrong impression of me.’

“Sir, I came to ask if you could give me the rest of the day off?”

“Why do you need the rest of the day off, Miss Luciano?” he says, finally taking his eyes off his computer.

‘Finally, I can see those beautiful green eyes of his. What am I saying? That is not what I came here for; I need to focus.’

“Sir, I need to go to the hospital. I have an appointment with the doctor.”

“Miss Luciano are you sick?” he asks, suddenly looking concerned about me.

‘Which I find weird because the Enzo I know will never care about me; he is a devil with no heart.’

“No, sir, I am not. I am just going for a checkup, that’s all.” I say lying because I can’t have Enzo knowing mama is sick. To me him knowing does not feel right, so it’s better I lie to him.

“Oh, okay, then you can leave, but you have to be here first thing tomorrow morning to finish up the work for today.”

“Thank you so much, sir. I will be here first thing tomorrow morning,” I say and begin walking out when I remember, I have not cleared the air about me being a slut

“Sir, there is one more thing I would like to say.”

“I am listening.”

“I know you are avoiding me because you think I threw myself at you the other day. When I knelt down and begged for your forgiveness not to fire me. I did not know my buttons were open, and my uhm-hm-hmmm were displayed to you. I am sorry if I gave you the wrong impression of me. I did not mean to.” I say feeling much better to finally say that.

“I have known you almost all your life, and I can never have the wrong impression of you, so don’t worry about it. I know it was a coincidence that your buttons were open while you were kneeling” he says with a smirk on his face.

“Thank you, sir,” I say and walk out of his office.

I walk to mine to grab my handbag and be on my way to the hospital

I am sitting in the hospital waiting room for my turn to see the doctor who is in charge of mama’s surgery. I wait for at least 5 minutes before my turn comes.

I walk into the doctor’s office. He stands up to shake my hand before we both take our seats to discuss the next step.

“Hi, my name is Katherine Luciano. I was here about a month ago with a patient named Christine Luciano. She is my mother and the last time I was here you told me she has cancer. I have the money to pay for her surgery. I would like to know how soon the surgery can be done.”

“Miss Luciano, there won’t be any need for the surgery.”

“What are you saying?

“The thing is the report I read to you was the wrong report. Your mother fainted because she did not eat in the morning and was stressed out. I have been trying to contact you to let you know, but the number we have in our records were not getting through. I am assuming you changed your number.”

“So, what you are trying to tell me is that my mother does not have cancer? Can she also stop with the medication? And yes, I changed my number and forgot to let the hospital know.” I say wondering if I am hearing properly.

“Yes, she is fine, as long as she does not stress herself too much, you have nothing to worry about. Please don’t forget to have your number changed at the hospital office in case of another emergency.”

“Oh my God, this is the best news I have heard this whole month, thank you so much. I will change my number at the hospital office as soon as I am done with you here,” I say while I stand up and shake his hand before walking out.

I feel like the luckiest person in the world right now. I don’t have to work for Enzo anymore. Only thinking of it makes me feel so happy like they just told me I won the Lottery. But if I try to quit, Enzo will not allow me because the last time I tried, he made it pretty clear that he is not letting me go anywhere. And what about the money he has already paid me? What if I make him fire me, that is a good idea, but the question is how? Because he already hates me, so making him hate me is not an option. Then there is nothing I can do. I guess this is my life then, working for the devil, but I can’t give up. I must think of something.

I check the time on my phone it’s 3:00 p.m. I still have a lot of free time on my hands. I decide to make a surprise visit to mama at work. I catch a cab and take it to mama’s office.

I walk into the building where mama works. I say hi to the receptionist before taking the elevator to the floor where mama’s office is. I bought lunch on my way so we could eat together while I break the good news to her.

I step out of the elevator and walk to mama’s office. I knock on the door before entering.

“Hi mama,” I say smiling while walking in

“Hello, dear, to what do I owe this surprise?” She says smiling back at me.

“I have amazing news to tell you, mama,” I say keeping the food on her table.

“Oh, you brought lunch and what could that be?” she says noticing the paper in my hands.

“See for yourself,” I say, handing her the hospital report.

“Are you serious? I am not sick?” She says with a lot of shock and happiness on her face.

“YES! Mama, you don’t have cancer” I say smiling while tearing up a bit.

“Thank you, God, thank you, God,” she says, smiling while tearing up too and hugs me. We break apart from our embrace when her secretary walks in.

“Sorry to disturb, but Mss Luciano your flight leaves in two hours. You have to leave for the airport now, if not you might miss your flight.” her secretary says

“Alright, thank you Emma, please just make sure I have everything I need,” Mama says

“Alright, ma’am,” Emma says walking out

“Mama, you are travelling?” I say shocked to be finding out just now.

“Yes, I was going to call you just before you walked in,” She says, walking to her desk to pick up some files and put them in her handbag.

“Oh, where are you going, and how long will you be gone?”

“I will be gone for two days or more, I don’t really know because it’s an emergency trip to Chicago,” she says picking up her handbag.

“Alright, no problem, be safe. When you get there, don’t forget to message me. Please take your lunch with you,” I say handing her the lunch I brought for her

“Thank you, honey, see you when I get back,” She says hugging me before walking out the office

“You are welcome,mama, bye,” I say hugging her back and walking out behind her.

I am outside mama’s office with no place in mind to go to. I think I will go back to the office and finish up since I still have a lot of time.

Thank God I came back to the office because you won’t believe the amount of work I had to do. I am done working by 8p.m. I have been waiting for a cab for the past hour. I decide to walk since I can’t get a cab; it’s not like it’s that late at night.

I am walking down the street when I feel someone following me, but every time I turn back I see no one behind me and trust me, I am not paranoid. When I feel something I am always right. I think it’s a gift but that is not the problem right now. Who the hell is following me and why is it that every time I turn back, I don’t see anyone. I decide to increase my steps and walk faster. A slick black car pulls up in front of me. Because it’s dark, I can’t see who is inside the vehicle.

‘Oh my God’ What if I get kidnapped like all those mafia novels I read. A sexy car pulls up in front of you and the next thing you know, you are thrown into the trunk of the vehicle. Then you wake up in an abandoned building with a dangerous, sexy man that looks like he can kill you in a blink of an eye.

The driver’s door opens and someone gets out, but because of fear my legs aren’t doing the smartest thing they should be doing in such a situation. Which is to run like my life depends on it. The streets are dark, so I can’t make out his face. From the way he is walking it is enough to tell me that this is a man of power. He opens the passenger’s door, and the light from the car reflects on his face.

‘OH MY GOD, you won’t believe who it is, IT’S ENZO’

“Get in,” he says while he opens the door for me.

Without saying anything I quickly get in, because of the shock that maybe the person following me all this while was Enzo. It won’t make sense though, why would he follow me on foot then later come up and tells me to get into his car? He goes back to the driver’s seat and starts the vehicle immediately without saying a word.

“Why did you pick me up? Is something wrong? Why are you going this way. I doubt you live around here?” I say as soon as we take off at full speed. It is scaring me a bit, but I decide to say nothing because of the serious look on his face.

“Right now I can’t say anything. I need you to trust me and listen to everything I say,” he says while taking a few glances at my face. I nod my head, not knowing what to say.

I won’t lie despite all the things Enzo has done to me in my life; there is one thing I know. He won’t kill me, so for this time I am going to trust him. Maybe he knows that someone was following me, that’s why he came to pick me up. But when you think about it, how would he even know someone is following me? Is Enzo into some kind of business that I don’t know of? I hope he has not done anything stupid to put his life in danger or mine.

Because of the rate of the speed he is driving, the car comes to a halt very quickly. I look out the window to see we are already at my house. I open my door and step out. Before I can turn back and say thank you for the ride. I look up and see Enzo standing on my door step. I walk up the stairs and open the door. Before I even invite him inside; he steps inside and starts looking around like he is looking for something. That is not even what is funny to me right now, who the hell gave him permission to enter my house and search it like a cop. I am about to ask him what he is looking for when he speaks up.

“Where is your mother?”

“She travelled out of town.”

“Good,” He says as he walks upstairs and comes back with a few wires in his hands.

“Where did those come from, and why is it good that my mother is not around. Please, could you explain things to me? I am so confused right now.”

“Right now is not the time to explain, but you have to trust me. When the time is right, I promise you I will explain everything to you. But for now, I have to stay back and make sure you are safe.”

“Why do you need to stay to make sure I am safe?”

“All I can tell you now is that I have a lot of enemies. They will do anything to hurt you to get to me. As long as I am alive I can’t let that happen.” He says as he picks up his phone and starts barking in Italian to the person on the line. He walks out of the living room and into the kitchen.

Oh my God, this means I am not safe; mama is not safe either. Let me call her and find out if she is alright. I grab my phone from my bag and dial her number. Once she answers, my heart stops beating madly.

“Mama, how are you? I hope everything is fine? How is Chicago?” I say while pacing up and down the living room.

“Kat, why are you asking all these questions? Is something wrong? Why do you sound so scared, did something happen? And to answer your question, everything is fine dear.”

“Nothing is wrong,mama. I just wanted to make sure you are fine.”

“Alright, dear, I won’t push you to talk right now, but I know something is wrong.”

“Thank you, mama. Have fun in Chicago.”

“Bye, my love.”

“Bye,” I say, hanging up the phone as Enzo walks back into the living room.

“Do you mind if I stay over to make sure you are safe?” he says while he steps in front of me, leaving little distance between us.

He wants to spend the night over to make sure I am safe. Even though he is mostly annoying, arrogant, ruthless and mean toward me; knowing that he wants to spend the night over makes it hard for me not to fall for him.

“Yes, of course, you can. Let me prepare the guest room for you,” I say while I make my way up the stairs to get the guest room ready for him, which is actually my room.

I am done arranging my room for Enzo. I walk back downstairs to inform him.

“The guest room is ready, follow me this way.”

He does not say anything and just follows me up the stairs. I walk over to mama’s room after showing him the guest room, aka my room, but he does not need to know that.

Oh, my God, I forgot to get my pyjamas before showing him the room. Meaning I have to walk back to my room to get it. I walk back to my room, and I knock on the door. I hear faint come in and step into the room. I walk in to see Enzo only in his boxers. And boy is he drop dead sexy. I could stand by the door all night just looking at his body. I can imagine how it will feel to have my hands all over those abs of his. I am sure it will feel amazing. I wonder if there is anything like too sexy because if there is, he is too sexy. Damn he is so sexy! Trust me, words can’t even describe it.

“Wow, I never knew a woman could gawk over my body for so long,” he says with a smirk on that handsome face of his.

I hear Enzo’s voice, and that’s when it clicks that I must have been staring for a while for him to say that. I feel so ashamed of myself right now. I can bet he will soon find out that I am attracted to him. Trust me, who wouldn’t be. But I can’t give him the satisfaction that I was gawking. I just love it when I kill his ego.

“Who said I was gawking, trust me I have seen better,” I say even though I know that is a lie but still say it to kill this man’s ego.

“Keep telling yourself that, you might believe it soon,” he says, clearly seeing through my lie.

I don’t say anything, so as not to embarrass myself more. While I try to remember the reason I came here. I look around, wondering why I came.

“If I may ask, what are you looking for?” Enzo says

Oh, I remember now,

“I came to get my pyjamas for the night,” I say recalling the reason why I came.

“I thought you said this was the guest room, or do you keep your pyjamas in the guest room?” he says with a smile on his face. He already found out it is my room.

“I kind of lied about there being a guest room. It’s actually my room. I am sleeping in my mom’s room; I am sorry I lied to you. I did not think you would feel comfortable if you knew it was my room.”

“It’s alright, Bella, you don’t have to apologise for it and knowing it’s your room makes it more comfortable for me, actually,” he says with a beautiful smile on his face.

“That’s great. I am happy to know you are comfortable in my room. I will get my pyjamas and be on my way.”

I walk to my closet and get my pyjamas before walking out of the room. I did not allow him to see what pyjamas I carried because my pyjamas include shorts, tank tops and short gowns. It’s always been mama and me, so I never cared to buy long pyjamas, but right now I am starting to hate the fact I don’t have long ones.

I couldn’t sleep all night. I have been tossing and turning in bed all night. I can’t sleep knowing that my boss, who is a very sexy man, is sleeping in the room next to me. And not to mention I am attracted too, and maybe I even like him. I turn to the clock on the bedside table; it is 1:30 a.m. I decide to go downstairs to make some tea before trying to get back to sleep. I have to be at the office early, so I need to get some sleep.

I walk to the kitchen and boil some water for tea. I make the tea and sit on the kitchen stool.

I bought tea to help me sleep at night when I started having some strange dreams. It started after I got back from Italy.

I see myself between the ages of five or six and I see a man standing with a boy around the age of ten. He is saying bye to me in Italian while I board a plane with mama. It’s weird because I feel like it’s not just a dream. I feel like it’s a memory—like it happened to me some time ago—but I can’t remember.

The part which scares me the most is what I keep shouting. I keep shouting these two words, as I am dragged away, ‘Papa’ and ‘grande fratello.’Grande fratello means big brother in Italian. I need to find out if my dream could be a memory. This will mean I have an older brother, and I am Italian. My father must have been Italian, for me to be having the type of dream that feels like a memory.

The most unusual thing is when I went touring in Sicily and visited some places, I felt like I knew those places. Like I had been there before. Which is weird because I can’t remember ever travelling to Sicily before? I think I have to ask mama about my father Maybe she would be able to explain to me why I am having these types of dreams.

I am brought back from my thoughts when I see a sexy body walking down the stairs into the kitchen. He is looking sexy as ever in just his boxers and vest. I am probably sure he just wore his vest because he was leaving the room. And because I don’t have clothes that would fit him. You can’t blame me; it’s only mama and I that live here. Right now, I wish he wasn’t so sexy; maybe I won’t have to force my eyes away from his beautiful body.

“Why are you up, Bella, you should be sleeping.” The sexy body that is Enzo, says.

“I couldn’t sleep, so I came to make some tea to help me sleep. And you, why are you up?”

“I heard something so I came to make sure it was not a stranger, but you should get some rest before tomorrow” he says, looking around the kitchen maybe still checking if someone is here other than me

“Oh”

“Yeah and since it’s just you, I will go back to bed but, Bella, you should get some sleep before tomorrow. You will need it.” he says and walks out of the kitchen, leaving me surprised.

Did the Lorenzo I have known almost all my life show that he cares for me, without a snarky comment spoiling it? Trust me; he has made me feel like I mattered before and every time the feeling comes crashing down when he acts like the asshole he is. Even the fact that he is in my house because he wants to keep me safe still feels unreal to me. I can’t believe it, that’s why it makes it hard for me to still hate him for all the bad things he has done. All the little ways he shows he cares for me makes me feel very special and loved. Something I have never felt from a guy except William, which is pure brotherly love. So it’s different from what I feel for Enzo. I take my tea and walk back to my room and try to go back to sleep. I pray I wake up on time later this morning, not wanting to receive an earful from Enzo if I am late.