06

I hate her.

« It was a pleasure to meet you, » she smiles and exits the restroom. She wasn’t this friendly to me when we meet a year and a half ago.

I doubt that she remembers me. I look at myself in the mirror and take a deep breath.

You are strong.

Don’t let him intimidate you. Don’t be a fool.

He’s just an old man.

I give myself a little heads-up and exit the toilet, on my way downstairs. My heels click against the marble floor and the fabric of my dress feels like silk against my legs.

I pass a big balcony and I can’t resist the urge of walking towards it and enjoy the fresh air of the night.

I lean against the pillar and enjoy the sight. I close my eyes, letting out a content sigh.

« The view is breathtaking, isn’t it ? »

That voice. Shit.

I swallow thickly and subtly clench my thighs together at the sound of his velvety voice sounding through the air.

I forgot how rich his accent was and how he could take down any woman by just saying one word. His voice does things with my body that I can’t describe, but I won’t show it.

« Yes, it is, » I try to say firmly and keep my eyes in front of me. In the corner of my eye, I see a dark shadow move closer to the balcony, standing by the other pillar.

What the fuck is he doing here ? Shouldn’t he be with Nicole or something ?

A silence falls upon us, and strange enough it isn’t awkward. His presence is very clear though, the way my body reacts to it is unhealthy.

« I didn’t expect you to see you here, » he confesses. « Me either, » I mutter under my breath.

« You sang very good tonight, » he compliments me. I inwardly cringe at his attempt of a conversation.

I take a deep breath, anger is bubbling inside me. « Thank you, your girlfriend already said that to me, » I say calmly, but my undertone is filled with venom. He chuckles, but not sincerely.

« Yeah, she thought you were very good. She’ll probably rant about it on the way home. »

That was way below the belt. Asshole.

I decide to say nothing and stay quiet, he doesn’t deserve my anger. « Yeah, she was so excited about it, » I instead tell him.

« I saw your boyfriend walking around the room with your parents, » he says, trying to get back at me. How petty can a conversation get ?

If only he knew.

I suppress a smile, he doesn’t know shit. « Oh yes ? » I ask him and quirk an eyebrow.

« Yes, I was surprised to see him, honestly. Did he want you back ? Or did you beg him to take you back ? Either way, I’m surprised he still wanted you. »

« I would if I weren’t gay. »

Our heads both turn to Chris, who’s standing in the doorway of the balcony. I smile at him for saving me and walk over to him. His hand comes back to my waist where it was for the night and he pulls me closer to him. I turn my head to Vincenzo and look at him directly in the eyes.

Prepare for a war, fucking dickhead.

That night I can’t sleep. I keep thinking about the way Nicole mentioned Vincenzo as her boyfriend, and how he had announced home.

The motherfucker.

My mind keeps drifting off to the thought of what they’re doing, in his bed where I have laid and where we have fucked. My core heats up at the thought of him invading me. He was so big though…

I snap out of my thoughts and scold myself. It’s not like I need him anymore. He means nothing to me and all I want to do with him is destroy him, and have him on his knees.

Afterward, when we were heading home, I remember Chris saying ; « I can’t really blame you for falling for him. He’s so fine though ! »

I chuckle at the thought.

Before I know it, the sun comes up and I get out of bed, putting on some clothes and heading downstairs.

« Good morning ! » mom sings when I arrive downstairs. I laugh and greet her back. « Where’s dad ? » I ask her and take a seat on my usual spot at the table.

« Work, » she replies and hands over the milk. « This early ? » I ask with a frown and wait patiently for her to give me the pancakes. « It was an emergency, » she mutters and places the plate stacked with pancakes on the table. « He did ask if you wanted to have lunch with him, only if you want to. »

Do I want to go over to Vincenzo’s office and possibly run into him ?

I take a sip of my milk and mutter, « Sure. »

° ° °

With a bag of lunch in my hand, I walk over to the receptionist and clear my throat. The brunette looks up with an uninterested look in her eyes once she sees me.

« Yes ? » she asks and raises one eyebrow. Her brown eyes scan up and down my body, distaste clear in them. Those typical, cliché receptionists that never like you are really tiring me out. Why are they always so bitchy ?

« I’m here to have lunch with my dad, John Robertson, » I say and tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.

« Do you have an appointment ? » she asks and shoves her glasses a little further up her nose. « No… » I trail off, « but I’m his–« 

« I’m afraid I can’t help you then, sorry, » she rudely cuts me off. I clench my jaw and open my mouth, ready to snap at her.

« You better help her if you don’t want to get fired, » a deep voice says from behind me. The woman’s head and mine both snap to the godly voice from beside us, and my eyes meet Vincenzo’s dark ones.

The woman straightens up, and I’m annoyed that it only takes a couple of looks and words for Vincenzo to get something done or get what he wants.

Like he did with me…