NFTMB)Chapter 11
Victoria.
(The portrait)
Today has been a very boring day for me. Matteo was being fussy and whiny. He isn’t feeling too well.
Amara has been more closed off than ever. I don’t know what the girl’s problem was. Poor thing.
She is a friendly person but actually keeps to herself. I hope she wins this fight with her demons.
Mary left to visit her family. Her daughter just gave birth. I was so happy for her, she’s a sweet old lady.
The house seemed practically empty but there were a few people left. Mr. Manuel was around as well.
Sebastian left with Mr Rossi today. I was so bored.
I finally got Matteo to sleep as I decided to explore to satisfy my curiosity and kill my boredom.
I walked around the house reading and touching whatever caught my eye. I saw a piece of paper with a message “To the west wing, take the stairs and find your way to the library”. That was strange and spooky.
Who left this note? But something pushed me to that direction as I found my nosy side surfacing.
I made my way to the library.
It was so huge. I didn’t know there was a library here. What else was in this house, a dungeon?. I almost laughed at my stupidity. Why would a CEO have a dungeon? A library, Yes. A dungeon, No.
Stupid stupid Victoria.
My fingertips swiped the spine of the books lined up neatly. Mr Rossi had a lot of books. Most of these books were classics, I took note of that.
I wondered if he had read all these books or just bought them and kept them here for decorative purposes. He had a backward mentality, so I guess he never actually read all these.
I picked up a book and looked at the title, Romeo and Juliet. For someone who hates love, he sure loves a good romance story.
Maybe he likes it because it’s a tragedy. Weirdo.
I opened up the book and sat on the table there as I flipped through it. I just skimmed over the texts. I had read the book a long time ago. I remember having that discussion with Sebastian not too long ago. I just hated that they didn’t have a happy ending.
I closed it with a snap and jumped down from the table to put it back on the shelf when I saw something through the vacant space on the shelf.
It was a picture.
I went around the shelf as I pulled out the large portrait from behind the shelf. It was dusty.
I looked at the smiling face of the woman in the portrait and I recognised her instantly. I’d seen her face so many times on the television and on the Internet.
She was Roberta Rossi. The supermodel ex wife of Mr Rossi. She was stunning. A very beautiful woman. Her beauty was unreal.
It was like I was in a trance looking at her eyes. They could draw people in and trap you for good. She was a siren. No wonder Mr Rossi married her. I felt like an ugly duckling while staring at her picture alone.
Too bad you couldn’t cover nasty habits with a pretty face. Life didn’t work that way. You don’t just leave your husband and run away with your driver.
Mr. Rossi might have done a bad thing by having a child with the nameless woman who I was told died during childbirth, but that did not mean that running away with another man was the ultimate.
Marriage was all about making it work and staying together.
Well, the marriage of the rich was in a class of its own. It was a whole different ball game altogether.
My fingertips were coated in dust as I absentmindedly ran my fingers over her facial features. Who knew where this beautiful woman ran off to.
I forced myself to put back the picture and head back upstairs in case Matteo wakes up. He does not sleep for long nowadays. He’s restless and cranky.
I closed the door properly and made my way back up the flight of stairs to Matteo’s room. I peeked at him and he was still asleep. That’s a miracle.
I slowly made my way downstairs to the kitchen to find something edible. I was hungry.
I hadn’t properly stepped into the kitchen as I felt two large hands cover my both eyes. I was confused as to who it was. I could feel the body heat radiating from the unknown person.
I tried to pry the hands off my eyes but it was futile. Who could this be?. My mind conjured up a name and my mouth stupidly spat it out without thinking.
“Mr Rossi?”. I asked slowly.
The hand was removed as I immediately felt I guessed correctly. I turned around and my words got stuck in my throat.
“Flynn?”.
“Yeah, it’s me babe. Why would you think that it was Mr Rossi?”. He asked while hugging me.
“Uhmm–”
He arched a brow at me with a smile playing on his lips.
“Because I was scared when you did that and the only scary person in this house was Mr Rossi, so I immediately thought it was him”. I smoothly lied, hoping I had convinced him with my half cooked and poorly thought out lie. I just prayed he would buy it.
“Well that’s true. He is scary. Oh my God babe, you should’ve seen the way you froze in fear”. He said, breaking out in laughter. Very funny I thought, internally rolling my eyes.
“Yeahh, I know right”.
“Well, Mr Rossi wouldn’t so much as pat your back. That would be so unprofessional. He’s your boss you know, anything outside of a formal or civil relationship between you two would be disgusting and weird. Totally wrong on all moral levels”.
My head snapped to him at his words. I stared at him. Ignorance really was bliss. If only he knew.
I looked at him and wondered what his reaction would be if I actually told him the truth now. Would he break up with me? Would I gross him out?.
I knew that would be a wrong thing to do. Plus, I didn’t have the guts nor the balls to do it. I was a weakling by nature.
“Flynn, why are you here by this time?”. I asked genuinely curious why he wasn’t driving Mr Rossi to work this morning.
“Mr Rossi left with Sebastian this morning and ordered I don’t drive or follow them so I guess it’s a free day for me and I get to spend it with you”. He said happily.
“That’s really Flynn. You have a very cool job”. I told him laughing.
“Don’t worry one day the young master will give you a day off too, especially from his fussing and his diaper duties”. I couldn’t hold in my laughter as we both laughed our heads off.
“As if”. I said laughing.
“So, where are we going today Flynn. You know I can’t really leave the house, Mr Rossi isn’t around”.
“No need to worry we’ll just have a nice little picnic in the garden”. He said, sounding so proud of himself.
“I guess I better go prepare for the date then”. I said.
“Yes you should. I’ll pick you by 4pm milady”. He said kissing my knuckles.
“I’ll be waiting Flynn”. I said blushing foolishly.
Flynn was a gentleman and very well mannered.
I closed the door to my room behind me as I quickly stripped off my clothes and hopped in the shower.
I tied a towel around my body to make sure I wouldn’t be flashing anyone anymore in case someone badged in.
I picked out a floral sundress with pretty yellow flowers on it. It would be perfect for the date. I quickly styled my hair in a half up half down style and secured it with a bow. I painted my lips red and applied mascara.
I looked at the clock and it read 3:40, I had 20 more minutes till Flynn arrived. I applied light gold eyeshadow on my eyelids and looked at my appearance. I looked good.
I picked out a white sandal to complete my look as I wore my favorite scent. I was good to go.
Almost immediately a knock sounded on the door as I smiled and went to unlock the door. It was Flynn.
He was looking dashing in a blue t-shirt and jeans.
“Shall we go?”.
“Yes please” I responded .
“You look very beautiful Victoria”. He said genuinely.
“Thank you. You don’t look bad yourself”.
“Thanks”. He responded smiling brightly. He looked so happy.
We made our way to the garden and I was surprised to see that he had prepared the garden. There was a mat and a basket containing food. There was wine and also a bubble maker. This looked so pretty like a location out of a fairytale.
I stated at the garden sheepishly. I couldn’t believe he could prepare this in such a short of amount of time.
“I love it. Thank you”. I said genuinely. I really loved it. It was more than I could ever wish for.
“Really, you like it?”. He seemed surprised that I liked it.
I wasn’t someone who was into material things. I loved the simple things. Like this little picnic.
“I don’t just like it, I love it”. I said.
“Gee, thanks. I’m really glad you like it, I was thinking you wouldn’t like it”. He said, rubbing the back of his neck. He was so cute.
Without thinking, I grabbed him by the collar and kissed him.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”.