CARMELO
I was such a dick. It was too much. Of course, it was too much for her to take in one go. First, I ignored her existence and then showed her that she was my entire world. Who wouldn't be confused and shocked, you dumbass?
I fist my hand, not wanting to punch the wall and shock her out of her sleep. Her even breath filled the room and calmed my mind. I pulled the sheets and tucked her nicely before picking a chair and sitting a few inches from her. This was the second time she had a breakdown because of me. I would never let this happen ever again. And I would never forgive myself for causing it.
For someone who has been stalking her for years, I didn't know that she had anxiety. That was because I didn't want to meddle with her personal life and only focused on what could get me to know her better. I'd tried to consult my doctor on what to do to cure her and he said there wasn't any quick answer to it but that didn't mean it was impossible. The man said I was supposed to listen to her, connect with her even with small talks and make her feel heard. He said to never make her feel alone. What he didn't know was that, with me, Chiara would never feel alone. I will be in her space so much until she hates me. The goal was to love me but if she hates me, it means she at least feels something for me, right? Anyway, my woman would never feel alone.
But I meant every word I'd said to her. If my world was a ship, then she was the sailor. I went wherever she went. I did whatever she did. And that had been going on for so long, but I couldn't approach her. The what-ifs clouded my mind whenever I'd braved my heart to. I watched her from afar and behind my monitor. Our families were rivals after all. But I cared less about them. I learned from her and studied her for so long. That was until she introduced herself to me.
I still remember the day we quarreled about her treating my jewelry tenant badly because according to her his designs were mediocre. However, upon close investigation, it turns out the tenant was harassing his female assistant too. And just for the record, I chased him from my mall and replaced him with a better one, as she suggested in between our word sparring.
Even then, I couldn't confess to her. At least she gave me a way to get close to her even without her knowledge. The moments spent with her, whether on intentional or unintentional encounters, were the best moments of my life. I felt like I could breathe fresh air again whenever I was near her. So, I dived deeper and deeper for her. Falling harder each time than before.
I noted down everything that she liked and disliked in my journal. And with time, I started to practice them. Hell, I lived and became them. Trying to perfect myself into the man that she would be fine and comfortable being with. I wanted to be worthy of her more than anything.
I learned a lot about her, including her favorite colors. And when I returned home, I changed the entire interior design of my house. My family thought I had gone crazy when they visited and saw the sudden change. What they didn't know was that I was crazy for her. Many people would have different definitions of what I felt for her. Some would say I was madly in love, and some, I was obsessed with her. But what I felt for her in my heart and mind, in my bones, and in my skin, was far deeper than any of those two terms. Far greater and bigger, and stronger.
I sucked in a deep breath. Looking down at her perfect, long lashes. Her cheeks had quite a lot of freckles. My lips curled as I took them in. Her lips, nose, and sharp eyes that always hypnotize me. She was so fucking perfect.
A soft knock on the door made me frown and shift on the chair. Then light footsteps entered the room. "What is it?" I asked her in a low voice. "Urgent call from Conti Casa Reale" "Tell Freddy to take care of everything and inform him that I won't be going to the office for a week," I said. It was silent for a while before she finally spoke, "Yes, boss." Storm left and shut the door.
I gave zero fucks about what was going on at the company right now. How could I leave her when she needed me? I didn't have the heart to. My smile was renewed the moment I gazed at her peaceful face again.
She is fierce, unruly, untamed, and let me be called crazy to say this, but that is exactly why I found myself falling for her. She is just a woman in her own world, doing her own thing, the way she wanted. And I am the man who was ready to serve her kingdom. She is a woman who found her voice and never hesitated to raise it before anyone. She is the ONE that I love, my woman. A fucking badass! I mean she was raised in the Mafia so how could she not be.
She stirred in her sleep, and I leaned closer. Those beautiful, groggy brown eyes settled on me, holding me in a chokehold. "What happened?" Her voice was low when she uttered. "You fainted." I rose and went to pour a glass of water for her. "How weird. I just keep fainting nowadays." She murmured. When I returned, she was trying to sit. I grounded my feet so hard, not wanting to violate her demand. She said no touching, so I wasn't going to touch her.
I placed the glass on the nightstand when she was done before resuming my position on a chair a few inches from her. I'd give her that until she was ready to keep me close. And once I held her in my arms, I had no intention of letting go, ever.
"How do you feel, love?" I asked. She eyed me before facing the ceiling, and a long sigh left her tempting lips. "Like, I have been kidnapped by some bastard, and he won't even give me a minute alone." She uttered. I stood up, causing the chair to screech behind me. I've been called a lot of things by women, but bastard wasn't one of them. "I'm sorry. This bastard will leave you alone now, but I need you to think of something." I uttered. "What?" she asked, yawning, and soon her eyes became shiny with slight tears.
"I want you to remain here. Please give me a chance to prove myself to you. And I want to do it the right way, so please… think about it." I added, but she only stared at me. I turned to walk out. If space was what she wanted, space was what she would get. Anything for my woman, anything. Well, except for letting her go. That's where I drew the line.
"I'll ask Marina to send your food up here, although I would love it if you came down and had lunch with me. Use your phone to reach me for anything. My contact is already there." I gestured at the new phone I'd gotten for her after she crushed the other earlier after speaking to her family.
I shut the door when her reply didn't come and leaned by it. Rubbing my chest, I let out a silent breath. My heart was racing just from her gaze. I'd run into her a couple of times, but still, her eyes never ceased to silently command my body and mind. I was hypnotized by them. I walked away just in case she opened the door and caught me there like a Peeping Tom. God, I feared for what those eyes could make me do from now on.