Chapter 19: The Danish Friend

Laura Conti's POV

"Umm, Laura, can I ask you a question," one of my students went to my office to ask about some questions on the specimen that we were discussing in the lab yesterday.

"Yeah, sure. What do you don't understand?" I said as I went to put my stuff away. It was my office hour right now from 11-12 PM. I was just working on some stuff about my research in Albania that I have decided to look at once more before submitting it to the Peer Review.

"It was about the hair that was stuck on her head that did not even budge when it had been buried for a long time. Was the hair follicle would deteriorate at that depth and level?" She asked as she was sitting next to me.

"umm, well it depends on how much pressure and how the sedimentary rocks would preserve it when it first getting buried in it. And if it was lucky enough to be preserved in a good way because soft tissue preservation was very rare and it is one of the specimens that we found that preserved in that condition. It was enough to say that it would be great to do some more research on that field, you might be considered going talk to one of the Paleobiology professors about those. I was limited on that information," I said to her as I offered her my colleague's email for her to reach out.

"Oh, okay. well, thank you for your help, Laura," she said before saying goodbye to me as she was having another class on Friday evening. Yeesh, who does that?

"Hey," Stella knocked on the door and went inside my office.

"Oh, hey. How is it going?" I said to her as I went back to finish my review of my papers. Stella took a seat in front of my desk as she was looking at me intently.

"what?" I said as I was looking at her briefly before continuing my reading.

"so, I heard from a little birdie that you'll have a date tonight," she said as she wriggled her eyebrows.

"where do you get that? I think that little birdie of yours is wrong," I said as I make some notes on my paper.

"huh, is that how you want to play. Okay, so riddle me this, where were you last weekend. I saw that you canceled your class and only returned on Wednesday," she said as she was skimming one of my books.

"Why should I tell you?" I asked, arching my eyebrows at her.

"exactly! You never told me when you were in a weekend gateway with that hot brute of yours," she said before I cleared my throat, trying to focus on my task.

"am I right? You ARE with him, aren't you? That's why you ghost me last weekend. You don't even pick up my calls!" Stella said as she was acting all surprised at the discovery. I rolled my eyes at her as she was always dramatic. She double-majored in English and Theatrical Arts and was an honor student at that.

"do you mind? I tried to concentrate here," I said as I worked on my reviews. Suddenly, my phone rang.

"That was him, is it? Let me hear it, let me hear it," she said as she wanted to take my phone.

"No!," I said before picking up the call. I did not even bother to look at the caller ID.

"Hello?" I said as Stella was trying to hear my conversation.

"Hi, this is Nathan White, Lucca's friend. We met during the party at Lucca's parents' house," the oddly familiar voice from the end of the line.

"ah, yes, Nate. I remembered. How is it going? Why are you calling me out in a blue?" I said as I was trying to avoid Stella's attempt of crushing me with her head.

"I just wanted to tell you that I found a lead on your father's death. It might be something that can help you investigate this case, or perhaps you want me to do that for you? I'm sure Lucca won't be approved if you went to this place.." He said before I interrupted.

"no, I'll go. Was it far away or just nearby my family's mansion?" I said as I was glaring at Stella. She pouted before taking her seat. I sighed before listening to what Nate wanted to explain.

"go ahead, Nate," I said as I looked at Stella. She mouthed at me 'is that a new guy? What about Lucca'. I gestured her to shut up before Nate spoke.

"so, I had a lead that was in Venice. It was the week before his death. The address to that is in Ponte di Rialto. He was meeting with a certain guy named Leonardo Ricci. Do you know him?" He asked me.

"No, I never heard that name before," I said before Nate sighed.

"well, I think I should inform Lucca about this," he said before I spoke up.

"No! You can't. Please, Nate. I want to check it out first before Lucca knows about this. Can you do that? It's my father's death. I want to know why first," I said holding my phone as I was walking back and forth in my office. Stella was looking at me as I was a mad person. Nate went silent for a while before cleared his throat.

"Okay, your call. But if anything happens, I will tell Lucca and don't you go there on your own. Is that to be understood?" He said with a serious tone.

"yes, I promised. I will not go there," I said as I finger crossed behind my back.

"good, I see you when I see you," he said before ending the call. I hang up my phone as I put it on my phone. I went to my seat before Stella looked at me.

"don't you have anything to do?" I asked her before reading my papers for the 4th time today.

"Hmm, I don't know. Don't you have somewhere to be?" She asked me before I looked at her. I looked at the clock and it was 4:30 PM.

"Shit, I'm late," I said as I closed my tabs and my computer before taking my handbag and my students' papers to grade over the weekend.

"I see you Monday,' I said as I was dashing through the door.

"Have fun with Mr. hot stuff!" Stella said as I was running through the hallway. I went out of the foyer and saw Lucca's driver was on stand-by.

"Ms. Conti," he said curtly. I got inside before he closed the door and drove off from my university.

Lucca Giovanni's POV

"Where is she?" I said to my security when Laura was not here at the party that my friend, Noah Vork from Denmark was hosting. I was waiting outside the hotel because I was afraid that Laura would be attacked by a creepy man again. I was checking my watch when Noah came to greet me.

"Hey, so where's your bride?" Noah asked me as he took one Champagne that was passing by the waitress.

"I don't know. She said she will be here in 15 minutes. Maybe it's the traffic," I said to Noah, trying to calm him down as well as my nerves.

"well, let me know when she's here. I can't wait to see the woman who has tamed Giovanni," he said before went to greet some of his guests. I texted Laura where the hell was she. She replied that she was pulling up at the entrance. I looked around for a familiar car of mine. Then, there it was. I went down the stairs to pick her from the car. Her designated driver wanted to open the door when I told him I got it. I opened the door and there I was, stunned to move around anymore.

Laura went out of the car and took my offered hand. What I did not know that she was wearing a silver dress that was flowing on her body, accentuating the right curves of her body and it was strapless. She wore a shawl on top of it but it did not hide her creamy, pale shoulders and collarbone. I can feel that every man in the party would stop and stare at her. I was angry at that thought. Without thinking, I pulled Laura closer and kissed her on the lips, claiming her like my own as I want the men to know she only belongs to me. Laura was shocked at the attacked but she immediately recovered from the shock before snaking her hands around my neck and I can feel her erected nipples were grazing my chest. man, I need a lot of control tonight.

"My God, get a room, Giovanni," a familiar voice barked behind me. naturally, I needed to stop the kiss before I abandoned this party and went home with Laura. I perked for the last time before turning toward my friend.

"I presume this is the lady that will be your wife next week," he said before looking at Laura.

"Rart at køre dig, Ms. Conti," he said as he kissed Laura's knuckle before winking at her.

"Are you flirting with my bride, Vork?" I said as I was holding my anger in because he was my friend. But if he did, then I don't mind knocking him out.

"what? Are you out of your mind? Taking what's yours? That would be a bad move. besides, I see that you shop at my jewelry. How fascinating!" He said as he ushered to get into the hotel.

"Yeah, Lucca insisted to support his friend," Laura said as she went to hold at my arm, but I knew she can't stand straight after our little kiss.

"did he? oh, what a wonderful thought coming from a Giovanni. Where you find this girl? No wonder you're hooked," he said before went inside the hotel with us. I smiled smugly at him before pulling Laura closed to me by the waist.

"you will found your own soon, Vork," I said as I looked at Laura.

"yes, I hope so," he said sadly before beaming out onto his guests and hosting the party.

"you know what, he seems familiar," Laura whispered at me.

"what? Where could you have seen him? He just got here yesterday," I said as I lead Laura around the party.

"really? Hmm, maybe I was mistaken then," she said before going into the lobby.