CHIARA
The door was opened, and then the humming and footsteps came, followed by a swoosh sound, before light hit my face, making my eyes squint. I stared at the ceiling. There was a reason why maids never entered my bedroom unless I let them. I hated people touching my things more than anything.
"Oh, goodness gracious!" Marina jumped and my eyes bored on her, holding her chest with wide eyes. Tsk tsk tsk, she was so jumpy, not done. "You're awake, Madam? Good morning," she asked. "I wasn't asleep." I sat up, stretching my arms. "You might wake up early, but you can't beat my boss, I doubt he even catches a sleep." She said, taking the basket of dirty clothes, and made her way out.
Honestly, most nights I couldn't sleep either. Some days I could get an hour or two, and that's it. I personally couldn't believe how I was still functioning with my sickening sleeping behavior. But then again, I'd rather stay awake for a whole night than shut my eyes and be drawn to hell. The hell that Antonio had forced me to create.
She suddenly halted by the door and craned her neck back, "By the way, Madam, there is a guest for you." She said. This early in the morning? I frowned. "Who?" A wide smile spread on her face, and crescent moon-shaped eyes sparkled. "The fashion icon. God, she is so charismatic, like in the magazines. Her aura? Slayyy." My heart warmed up. "Viva?" I asked, and she nodded like a rattle. Carmelo told me about Viva, but I never thought she'd be this soon. Excitement danced in my skin. "I'll be there soon," I uttered. She shut the door and left. I went straight to the bathroom.
A few minutes later, I was climbing downstairs in one of Carmelo's sweatpants. The man was a little taller than I, but I managed just fine, loving how freely I was moving in them. "Oh, look at what you're wearing. I can't believe the two of you have reached this stage already. I can't believe I bought your act this whole time." She uttered, opening her eyes and examining me from head to toe. I frowned, looking at the man on the couch sipping his coffee. He looked away the moment our eyes met. I wondered what he told Viva about us.
"I don't know what you are talking about," I said. We hugged and shared cheek kisses. "Oh, I won't fall for it again. I mean, look at you two, you are perfect together. I always tried to ship you when you were already dating. I'm hurt, Chichi." She said. This time around I glared at him, and he choked on his coffee. Viva rushed to him. "Dear, are you alright?" He waved her off, catching his breath.
Viva clapped, "Anyway, I'm happy for you two. And dear, your father is going insane looking for you. Milan is on fire for your absence. I always knew you were a star." She winked at me and went to talk to her staff, who were bringing in the clothes racks. Scolding them in Spanish. I sat down beside Carmelo, crossing my one leg over the other. "You lied," I said flatly, as if I wasn't.
He looked at Viva before returning his gaze to me. "I'm sorry, I---" was all he managed to say before Viva returned "Darling, your man ordered me to bring in the latest of my designs and only the best. I told him that I don't have any bad records. Here, let me see…" she went through the rack.
I haven't been shopping for a while now. I grounded my legs so as not to jump with excitement. "Try this, and these," she said. I took the red dress coupled with gold heels, and went to change. I climbed downstairs, my strides moving the high slit and exposing my thigh. My eyes connected with his, and he slowly got on his feet, not breaking eye contact with me. But it was the admiration that shone on his face that had my heart somersaulting. Why was he looking at me like that?
"My, my, this dress was made for you, dear," Viva commented. But none of us heard her as I walked to where they were. I could feel the heat on my cheeks as we stood face to face with only a few inches between us. His eyes started from the heels and were ever so torturing as they traveled up. My chest rose and fell, waiting for our eyes to connect again, and when they did, I lost a heartbeat.
I could see his Adam's apple moving as he swallowed. "You look ethereal. I can't take my eyes off you, love." He said. I held my breath as his hands came forward but stopped midway, before reaching me. He cleared his throat and deepened them in his pockets instead. My heart pinched. What was that? Why did he stop? I noticed that a couple of times already. I hated it because it reminded me of the days when he denied me kissing him. Now he won't touch me. What was wrong with this man? Didn't he say he loved me? He wanted to do it the right way, he said. I scoffed inwardly.
"Ok, love birds. As much as I would love to watch your novella unfold, there are still a lot of clothes to try." Viva broke us from our trance. I kept trying different dresses, each time getting a different reaction from the man. No dress looked good on me at this rate. So instead of only picking some, I took them all. I never cared so much about people's opinions especially when I was shopping, but today I'd even shocked myself as I waited for his reaction and words of affirmation. What the fuck was happening to me?
After the home shopping session, Viva stayed for a drink before she left on Carmelo's helicopter.
We were heading back inside when I caught sight of her on the balcony. Why wouldn't she acknowledge me? Acting like we didn't know each other. Was she hiding something from her boss?
Leaving Carmelo speaking on the phone in the living room. With deliberate strides, I made my way to her. She stared at me as though I ruined her peaceful sleep. "So, we finally meet again," I said, leaning over the glass railings, like her. She cocked her head, her eyes reduced into sirens. "Small world," she said. It's been a while, but we did know each other, at least for that time.
"Wait, you two know each other?" he asked.
"Yes."
"No."
Carmelo faced me since I was the one who agreed, dying with curiosity. "Where did the two of you meet? And when?" he asked. "Don't tell him." Storm interrupted me before I could reply. Indeed, she was hiding something. I smiled at her, "My lips are sealed." I gestured, zipping my mouth. Carmelo looked between us. "You two can't be serious about this, right now." He said. "Cry about it, dear," I said and walked back inside. "Seriously?" he called out.
The easiest way to control a person was by knowing their weaknesses. That is why you don't share your weaknesses with anyone. To you…it might have been just a weakness, but to someone like me…it meant a weapon—one that I could use against you whenever I wanted. Antonio taught me that very well.