CARMELO
Somebody hold me before my body hit the floor.
Five years. Five fucking years plus the three months we spent together, then a one-minute encounter sorted everything out. Happiness doesn't even begin to describe what I was feeling. I felt like standing on top of the world and screaming that I fulfilled my life purpose. That the wait and the torture was worth it.
I was an asshole to her because I was consumed by my stupid jealousy and insecurities. Yes, I was jealous. And it wasn't because I didn't trust her or my best friend. It was the other people that I didn't trust around her.
When you think you are better, there is always some fucker out there who was waiting for you to fumble just to pick up your girl right from your hands. If you don't treat her right, some other person would. And it was also because I didn't know where she was standing in all this. Until she made it clear to me last night. She wanted me as much as I wanted her.
Her words replayed in my mind like a damn broken tape. I waited, never gave up and chased after her. And now, I can proudly say, Chiara, this incredible woman, was my woman. Mine. I rubbed her back, the silk night dress following my movement. She made a sound and nuzzled on my neck.
"Tesoro," I said softly.
"Hm?"
"You haven't changed your mind, have you?"
"If you ask me that question one more time, I'm moving in with your parents."
"Great. I'll just follow you there. You are stuck with me, love. Whatever you go, I'll be right behind you."
"Yeah, and what an insufferable being you are."
"But you love me either way."
"You smug bastard." I chuckled at her choice of words.
It's only been a day since we returned from London. And I couldn't stop bugging her about it. I couldn't help it because it still felt like a dream. I shared the news with my parents. And I wasn't exaggerating when I say my mother donated a huge sum of the charity funds to celebrate the news. She has been wanting me to have a serious relationship so bad that I used not to visit home sometimes. Just to avoid the topic with her. Now I was leaving the seat to Junior. Good luck to him. My thirty-four-year-old ass has a woman now. An amazing one at that.
Chiara accepting to be with me meant we were one step closer to the plans I had for us. For our future. Damn, I loved this woman with every part of my existence. I would trade anything at this point. I held her tighter. "Are you trying to suffocate me?" She mumbled. "I can't get enough of you." We haven't even moved to the sexual activities yet, and I was already head over heels for her, like everyone said to me. I meant it when I said I wanted more with her. "I'm literally on your bed and in your arms. Are you sure you don't need therapy?" She said, "Suggest the best therapist you know, tesoro. I need therapy."
"By the way, my mother wants to talk to you."
"About what?"
"I don't know, you can go after breakfast."
"Alone?" She lifted her head and positioned her chin on my chest, facing me.
"Yeah. Do you want me to go with you, tesoro?"
She opened her mouth and then shut it, pondering. "No need. I'll go."
"Alright then."
She got up and reached for her kimono which was sprawled on a couch. I crossed my hands behind my head, eyes following her every movement. "I'll freshen up." She walked out of my room, draping her kimono loosely. My gaze relished the outline of her curves as she went. I released a shaky breath once she shut the door. "Fuck." I hate mornings more than anything nowadays. I always had to start my day with a cold shower. And let's not even start with the wet dreams.
I'd suggested we share a room from now on but then she said she doesn't like her air getting contaminated. And that she would continue to use her own bedroom. Yup, she said that to me. I'd left some parts of my room vacant only for her for years. Why do you think I had a massive walk-in closet? But if I'd learned something about her throughout the three months spent together, that she didn't like being forced to do things. She was her own boss. And I died on that mountain.
I had a board meeting with my employees and debriefed them about Heaven colors Paint Company. I'd done enough research about the company. It was quite reliable and lived up to its reputation. The reviews from their loyal customers were appealing and hopeful. Sometimes we tend to think the overseas companies were better when we could literally do just fine with the locals. I know some of them don't live up to our standards and thus why we consider the foreign companies.
A company like Heaven colors mainly did its business within the country, and it was safe to say it was satisfying. Changing the vendor was going to cost me, but as a businessman, taking a risk was my second skin. This one was a measured risk, and my team was smart enough to have a backup plan when things backfired. Conti Casa Reale always had an option even if it wasn't the best one sometimes. However, I wasn't only going to make this decision based on my preferences. Tomorrow a team was going to visit the company and see for themselves as well.
"Sir, Madam Chiara's secretary has reached out to me, asking to confirm the address for your items." Said Freddy as we walked out of the building. I was going to visit a construction site for one of our many projects. "Give him the Conti estate address and ask them to bring them to my house." I replied. "Yes, sir." The car began to move.
I wondered how she was going to react. I'd forgotten to show her my own art room, where I'd collected quite a lot of art. She would love it. I took a mental note to show her the room when I get home.
I watched Storm who was silently sitting in the passenger's seat. I was reminded by the weird scene at the birthday party that day. After our crazy confession we ran into the two of them by the hallway. Which was weird because Storm cannot tolerate Willem even for a second since when we were at college. And none of them said a word about it.
"Are you going to tell me what happened between you and Willem?" I asked. She gave me a side glance, "No." Her reply was so firm. "I'm going to have to ask him then." I uttered and sighed when she didn't respond. Something did happen between them. I just needed to find out what it was.