CHIARA
Yesterday was a nightmare. I always couldn't sleep because my demons wouldn't let me but last night, something else chewed my mind up. I'd say I was dreaming and it never happened because it was just for a quick second. But the way he looked at me, I didn't need a translator to know what he was thinking about. I was thirty for God's sake. And I still felt like a teenager at that moment, shying before my first crush. Bullshit.
He was always reserved, never showing me that side of him. And maybe that was why I couldn't get the image out of my mind. What started as an innocent curiosity of wanting to see him baking turned into a thirst trap and fucking mess in a blink of an eye.
We ended up sitting down, leaning by the kitchen wall, laughing at ourselves and the scattered cookies. I then helped treat his burn with a first aid kit he showed me to get in one of the many kitchen cupboards. For what's worth, the cookies were delicious even though they were too sweet, too bad most of them weren't edible anymore.
"Tesoro," a soft knock came at the door. "I'm almost done," I was done a long time ago. I wasn't done taming my drumming heart just yet. And the thought of opening the door and finding him waiting for me made me shudder. Why was I feeling this weird around him all of a sudden?
I waited until I was convinced that he was gone and let out a deep breath. I wrapped the headscarf in a bandana style, letting my hair cascading behind. I looked down at my blue jeans and a beige oversized shirt, tucked in one side at the front. I wore a crossover designer bag and white low heels. I walked past the silence halls, decorated with magnificent paints from different famous painters all around the world. I wondered what else he was going to do to woo me. I feared he didn't even have to do much. And it terrified me.
I found him leaning against his car. His usual posture I'd notice. Looking like a well sculptured being straight from heaven. In his blue jeans and white linen shirt and designer boots. He was hot all the same without his well ironed three piece suits. He took off his shades. My heart rate increased with each step I took toward him. "You look beautiful," he said, taking my hand and kissing my knuckles. His Rolex came into view as he did. "Heard that before," I waved him off as if it didn't make my heart flatter. "I don't care tesoro. I'll say it still." He smirked. I rolled my eyes. "No Storm today?" I looked around and did not see her.
"She is not feeling well, others will escort us." His eyebrows knitted together. "And honestly, you don't have to worry about Antonio attacking you. My men are good at their work. And… I'm here." Everything else he said went deaf ear but the last sentence. It made me feel safe. So very safe when I usually never needed any protection. I smiled at him, "Okay." I may have had bad altercations with Storm whenever we conversed, but I wished for her quick recovery. Just so we could get right back to it. What's fun without a little Storm?
"Come on, before Celia marches here on foot because we were running late to fetch her." He opened the door for me, and placed a hand on the top to shield me while I sat in. And there goes the butterflies under my skin. See? He didn't even need to do much. My stupid heart reacted to the little things that he did and said the most. This sudden change troubled me as much as it made me happy.
This morning, right after breakfast he informed me about the date. We were having a date together, the three of us, shopping. Celia had refused to eat anything after not being permitted to attend the party last night. So in order to appease her, he decided to let her spend his money and time as much as she wanted today. Mind you, it was in the middle of the week and the man decided not to go to work, for his younger sibling. Let's not even start talking about her not attending school for this specific reason too.
I may not understand how their love towards each other worked. I just knew it was deep. And that one's emotions were considered as an important issue in their family. Something that I'd never experienced before. I was a big sister, nobody paid much attention to me growing up and I expected nothing from a man like Antonio. The man hated me with passion since the day he set his eyes on me. But even my mother was occupied with my brothers most, and I wasn't even complaining because they needed her too.
So I was most of the time the forgotten one. Until I found my own pleasure and immersed myself in it to bury the wounds. Money.
We fetched Celia at the driveways intercept and drove down to the village, where fun awaited us. God forbid another horror event like last time. And even if there were two cars escorting us, I was still alert, with my knives in place. I wasn't doubting his abilities to protect us, it was just the survival instincts horned inside me.