Arianna’s POV
The moment Agostino finished scolding us and left, Gabriele locked himself in his office and I returned to the room.
Sofie and Mike gave me thumbs up but I didn’t feel like it. I should have been happy.
I won but I didn’t feel so confident about it anymore.
I got to the room and pushed the door close with my leg. I peeled off the clothes I wore and picked out his large white shirt. I wore it and dropped it on the bed unceremoniously.
Why couldn’t he just come to the room? I thought to myself.
We could make out and make up. He didn’t have to be so sad about the idea of me going to spend time with my friends. It wasn’t necessary.
It was just a simple outing and he didn’t have to act like some jealous boyfriend. I loved him and no one else. Didn’t he know that?
Did I have to remind him?
I tossed around the bed, as the questions rolled and flowed out of me.
The lights went off automatically drowning me in darkness. I closed my eyes and tried to get some sleep but Gabriele remained on my mind.
Time passed and I stopped fighting it. I missed him.
What could he be doing right now? I thought as I rolled to his side of the bed and hugged his pillow to my chest.
Why wasn’t he back yet?
With my eyes closed I tapped over the bedside table and pulled the small clock that sat on it. It was past one in the night. What sort of work would he possibly be doing by this time?
I was almost jumping off the bed to go after him when I heard the door creak open. I froze on the bed and held the blanket tight.
His cologne filled the room and I couldn’t help but feel relieved and safe at the same time. He made little noise as he moved around, taking off his clothes.
The ruffling of clothes filled the room and I waited with my heart in my throat as butterflies filled me up preventing me from getting up.
I wanted him. Now he was here, I was unable to move…
I heard the soft clanking of his belt as he pulled it off his waist. Everywhere went silent after that and I wondered what he was doing.
I was about to move to peep at his position when I felt the bed dip. I was on his side, so he moved to mine. I felt his breath hover above me and I pretended to be in a deep sleep.
“Arianna…” He whispered as his face came inches away from mine.
I almost snapped my eyes open but I pulled my hands into a fist under the blanket and kept my act going.
He placed a soft kiss on my temple and it took everything in me not to grab his collar and crash my lips against his.
“I love you,” he whispered and I was grateful to all the forces on earth that he went away immediately after he said those words. My cheeks flushed so deeply, he would have known I wasn’t sleeping even under the dim light that had come up when he stepped into the room.
I held my breath and waited for him to fall asleep so that, I could also kiss him goodnight but unfortunately I slept off while waiting. The next time my eyes opened, I was alone on the bed.
“Shit!” I cussed as I sat up immediately like someone had pricked me awake.
He was avoiding me -I thought with narrowed eyes. Since he wanted to play this game this way, then I would revenge.
I got out of bed and went to take a quick shower. When I stepped out, I straightened my hair and picked out a body con dress. It hugged my curves and even had a teasing slit on the side.
I applied light makeup with a thick shade of red to match and picked a red purse to match.
I wore my glass-heeled sandals and stepped out of the room like a true CEO.
A whistle went off on my right and I turned to check who it was.
“I will be damned if Gabriele lets you go out like this…” Mike whistled.
I smiled sweetly at him and turned to continue walking to the garage. “He already left, the dumb ass!” I gritted.
“Oh,” Mike commented and went after me.
“Won’t you take breakfast?”
“No, I will eat at the office,” I replied then remembered another detail. “Are the men ready?”
“The guards?” Mike asked and I stopped to glare at him.
“No, the event planners…” I hissed.
He smiled at his own disconnection and bowed his head slightly. “They are ready ma’am,” He said dramatically and I rolled my eyes at him before I resumed my catwalk down to the car.
True to his words, the five cars that were escorting me were already parked out and the men were standing in front of it, waiting for me.
I tried not to roll my eyes at them because the problem I had was with their boss and not with them. Gabriele had left me without saying goodbye. He didn’t even kiss me good morning!
Mike moved ahead of me and pulled the door open.
I stepped in and he was about to close the door when a hand stopped him.
“Arianna!” Sofia called.
I narrowed my eyes in the direction of her voice and waited for her to appear.
“I made you coffee and there is a snack in the brown bag. Please take it while in transit,” She hurried out.
I would have rejected it but again, my anger wasn’t at her.
“Thank you,” I whispered as I took the cup and bag from her.
Mike came in after that and the door closed. The vehicle started a few seconds after that and I relaxed into the seat as it swerved out through the gates.
I let out a deep breath and glared at the breakfast Sofia had packed for me… I should eat it.
“Can I say something?” Mike muttered and I raised my dangerously burning gaze to him.
He raised his hands in mock defense and I narrowed my eyes at him.
“What?”
“You have a little party with your friends. I advise you not to let the fight with the boss ruin your day… If I may say, you look very beautiful today, you should enjoy it,” He said.
He was right. I shouldn’t let Gabriele ruin my day for then he would be very happy and say he told me to stay home anyway.
“Here,” I suddenly said passing my breakfast to him.
His brows corked in surprise but he took it from me anyway. “I will go get breakfast at that coffee shop. Their coffee always brightens my day,” I declared and he nodded.
He tapped away on his phone signaling to the driver and the other vehicles to take the position as soon as we got to the office building.
As the cars packed, Mike stepped down first and then helped me down as well.
“I suppose you don’t want the entire security guys coming after you, right?” He said.
I held his chin, surprising him in the process. Then a bright smile covered my face.
“That will be awesome!” I said and then turned to walk to it.
“But I have to come with you!” Mike said as soon as he recovered from his shock.
I turned sideways and grinned. “That’s not a problem but you must be invincible!” I warned and he nodded.
I let my hips sway as we walked to the coffee shop. I knew I was rebelling against Gabriele’s orders but it felt good.
The door to the coffee shop dinged as I stepped in and I smiled at the beautiful interior. The smell of freshly baked bread and coffee always brought a smile to my face.
“Hmmm…” I breathed in the air as I walked to the waitress.
“Hello Arianna,” She greeted me with a smile on her face.
“Hello Stella,” I replied giving myself an inward pat for remembering her name.
“Do you want the regular?”
“Yes please,” I replied eagerly.
The smile on her face suddenly faltered and I felt a presence behind me. I rolled my eyes as I thought the men disobeyed my wishes and trooped in after me but when I turned I was surprised to find Brett.
“What a sight you are Bella…” He said as he closed up the distance between us.
“Hello Brett,” I said without the excitement I had a few seconds ago.
“Your order ma’am,” Stella said as she hesitantly placed a pink tray with my coffee on the counter.
Brett peeled his eyes off me and turned to her. “Please take it out from my card and make it double. I’ll have what she is having,” He said.
“Thank you Brett but I don’t think that will be necessary,” I told him.
But he picked up my tray and started heading to a table. “Arianna you have been my friend for too long now. I know you. Gabriele is keeping you against your will, let me help you…”
I paused at his comment and my demeanor dropped.
Brett placed the tray on the table and turned to me. He raised his hand and touched my upper arm, gently.
His eyes were swirling with emotions and I felt my heart beat wildly.
“I can help you get your life back. Let me help you,” he whispered.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw Mike begin to move menacingly toward us but I shook my head preventing him from coming. I could handle this.
“I can take you to your grandparents. Let the police handle Gabriele. You don’t deserve this life…”
If someone had said this to me months ago, I would have jumped at the opportunity but not now.
I slowly removed his hands from my arm and shook my head.
“I don’t know where you got your information from, but Gabriele isn’t keeping me against my will. He is my boyfriend. We love each other…” I added and watched the color drain from his face.