CARMELO
In business there were white days and black days, but lately for me… it seemed like the black cloud refused to leave me. I was yet again coming back from a failed investment meeting. However this time around it was at Conti Casa Reale.
Same paint quality problems. I'd been working with them since forever but now their paintings lacked standard and quality. It didn't last even six months and it would begin to peel or get scrappy. All in all, the investment was a big failure now. And my PR team and theirs were trying their best to hide the news to the media. I could only imagine the horror of the clients that we had already signed contracts with to construct their homes. They placed their trust on us and we were failing them.
I went to speak to the company CEO again today, but he kept repeating the same words. 'Give us some time while we're fixing the problem.' However time wasn't locked in our pockets and my clients would soon start to question the delay. The reputation of my family's company was laying on a thin line and my mind was clogged with no solution. I sighed, when the car reached home. Not waiting for Storm, I opened the door, picked my suitcase and headed for the entrance. Faint music made me frown.
"Everything will be okay, boss." Storm called out to me. "Let's hope so. Go and have a rest Storm." I said and walked inside.
My feet halted the second I entered my home. My frown deepened as I took in everything. The lights were dim and disco lights dominated the living room instead, loud music blasting my ears. Who turned my house into a fucking night club?
I walked further inside and the culprit, my wild woman was lost dancing without a care. I watched her moving so sexily and then twerking. I blinked wondering if I had entered the wrong house instead. What the fuck was going on?
She turned just in time to find me standing still like a tree, unmoving. She stopped the music and looked at me, her chest heaving and her smile… It was so beautiful and bright even under the dim lights. So contagious. Oh, God. I pressed the bridge of my nose.
"What is all this, tesoro?"
"A party, Mr. blind."
"Exactly, why is there a party in our house?"
"Hey, calm down big man. It's just a party."
I sighed, loosening the tie. This woman never ceased to amaze me, even when I wasn't in a good state of mind. I looked around, the disco light cutting through the walls and windows. "How the hell did you even get those?"
"Uh, hello… I have my ways."
I sighed again, not even knowing what to do with her.
"Don't tell me you are mad about this."
I took off the tie and threw it off to the floor. I then made my way to her, long strides without breaking eye contact. I could see how alarmed she was but she didn't move. My good woman. Brave and strong. And I would certainly get my ass kicked before I tried anything with her.
I stopped when we were an inch away from each other. I snatched the remote controller from her hands. She watched me defiantly, as if she was a pissed lioness ready to pounce at me. My lioness. But instead of switching off the flat screen, I un-pause the song and started to dance. Bambola by betta lemme blasted the living room again. But this time it was a moderate volume I'd set. She looked at me with an open mouth.
"What? I thought we were partying. Have you seen a ghost, darling?"
She laughed so hard as she shook her head in disbelief. "You are a party animal? What the fuck?"
I smiled, forgetting anger, fatigue and everything. She was a cure to my chaos. "I had a fair share of fun in my youth, you know." I pulled her to me and swayed with her. Moving to the lively melody and the rhythm of our bodies.
A few minutes later and we were still dancing, just now we had flutes of champagne in our hands and the music was softer. "So, what are we celebrating, tesoro? What's the good news?" A smile was renewed on her face.
"Remember I told you that I was going to spend a big sum from your account?"
"Yes."
"Then you must have had a notification a day ago."
"Yes." My assistant came to inform me again. I was surprised but I knew she would open up about it at some point.
"I cannot tell you why just yet, but I have successfully got what I wanted."
"Come on, why not just tell me now?"
"And ruin the fun? Nah, just know that it is going to be a good investment for you."
There was no point in arguing with her. Especially when she had that mischievous smile on. I could only wait for the surprise as she said. I moved in and kissed her forehead.
"Congratulations, tesoro. I'm proud of you."
"Stop being dramatic."
"Me? Dramatic? Oh tesoro, if my Mama were to find out about this news then she would throw you a whole ball, letting everyone in Italy know about your achievement."
"Yeah, right. She is the dramatic one. How could I forget that?" We both laugh at it. The music was calming, and time drew us even closer.
"I like you happy all the time, tesoro. I want to make it a prayer." I brushed her lips with my thumb. I could care less what she bought with my money, what I cared about was the heartwarming smile that she had on. It's been a while since she had her anxiety attacks, thankfully. There was so much light on her face today and I loved it so much. It was unhealthy.
She rolled her eyes. She was so fucking adorable. "And there he goes. Mr. Cheesy lines." I chuckled, our eyes locked on each other. I couldn't help it so I leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose and then pulled back to look at her.
Her cheeks reddened further and she quickly buried her face on my chest, hugging me tightly around my torso, while my free hand held her waist, swaying to the music with her. So calm and serene. All the tension that had wrapped my muscles dissipated.
"I meant what I said," I uttered after a long silence. "I know." Her voice was muffled. "There is something I want to tell you." I said. She pulled back and watched me closely. "Did something happen?" Sighing, my shoulders slumped. She frowned and turned off the music and then went to turn on the lights.
She sat on a couch and patted the space next to her, "Tell me what happened." I gave her a shorter version of the turmoil I was in. Both of the companies were at my throat, and I was near to falling off the deep end. She was lost thinking after I was done, making me regret telling my problems to her on a day like today. Fuck.
"I shouldn't—"
"I think I might be able to help with the wall paintings." She blurted, "Give me a moment," She went to make a call while I sat there, wondering. She returned just in time for me to put my empty glass on the table. "I have a local painting distributor where I get most of the paintings for my artists. He has an entire factory and their paints are what I have been using my entire life. If you want, I could take you to him and see it for yourself tomorrow since I'll be flying to Milan anyway."
"That's okay. But what? Are you going to Milan tomorrow?"
"Shit. I forgot to tell you that my exhibition is in three days and I have to fly to Milan to follow up with the preparations until the due date." Happiness laced her tone. Even though I was worried about her safety, how could I ignore the happiness that shone on her face just by speaking about her work?
"It's settled then." I said.
"What?"
"We'll go to Milan tomorrow and I'll accompany you since I have some work there as well." I'd be damned if I let her wander around that city alone when I knew Antonio was after her. I'd rather work my ass off finding solutions for Casa Reale if it meant we'll be near. I also knew how important her art gallery was to her, and I'll be there for her.
She looked stunned but then she quickly recovered and smiled at me. "Okay, then." She then scooted into my arms. "Don't worry, we're going to figure it out," she said. "I hope so, tesoro. I hope so."
For now, all I wanted was to drown in this moment. Her in my arms, this happiness that our union brings me despite the turmoil I was in. I just wanted her. She was the calm to my darkest storm.