NFTMB)Chapter 27
Victoria
(Paparazzi)
“Let’s go Victoria”. Alessandro commanded as I was brought back to earth by his deep annoyed voice. I got down from the bed but the pain from earlier was still there plus my legs were a bit wobbly.
“Alessandro, it hurts”. I admitted to him.
“Should I get a wheelchair from the nurses?”. Sebastian hastily suggested.
Alessandro looked at my legs before appearing to spew a string of colorful words in Italian before bending down and sweeping me off my feet and into his arms.
He carried me out of the room in bridal style as I hooked my arms tightly around his neck. Sebastian closed the door behind us as Alessandro carefully maneuvered his way down the stairs with me in his arms.
I caught a whiff of his intoxicating masculine scent as I leaned closer to inhale more. He smelled so masculine, he smelled like musk, citrus and oud I think. I wasn’t good at telling scents but I think I came close. He smelled like heaven and sun together. That came close to the perfect description.
I placed my nose there in the crook of his neck and inhaled more. He smelled really really good. I think he noticed that I was sniffing him but thankfully he didn’t tease me or call me out for it. He just ignored me. I just craved the warmth and comfort.
He paused as we got to the elevator and Sebastian pressed the button.
“Are you okay?”. Alessandro asked in a gruff voice.
I didn’t want to talk as I only nodded and hoped that that would be enough for him.
Thankfully, he was satisfied with it as he didn’t call me out or yell at me. Sebastian was busy on his phone, why was he always on his phone? Did he have a girlfriend? I wondered before the elevator dinged and he walked out and stood at the door and waited for us to walk out.
We hadn’t taken a step out before flashing lights and loud voices attacked us with a million questions.
Paparazzi.
“Alessandro Rossi, is it true that this woman is pregnant for you?!”.
“Mr Rossi, is she your new mistress?!”.
“Mr Rossi, is she the cause of your breakup?”
“How long has this affair been going on?!”
“Who is this mystery woman?!”
“Does Roberta Rossi know about this affair?!”
“Where is Roberta?!”
I was scared at the horde of reporters shoving mics in our faces and yelling questions. Alessandro cussed out colorfully in Italian as he held me tighter while Sebastian tried to block the horde from approaching us.
I was scared by the large number of people present that I hid my face in Alessandro’s neck and tried to cover my face with my arm.
“Call for backup immediately!”. He instructed Sebastian who looked like he was already on it.
He carefully placed me in the backseat of the car as he rounded the car to get in while Sebastian brought the engine to life and sped away.
I was still in shock by what just happened. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know when I blurted out the one question that was running through my mind.
“How did they find out that I am pregnant?”. I asked out loud.
Alessandro, who was on his phone, paused and looked back with a blank expression on his face as he turned to continue whatever he was doing on his phone before speaking.
“I don’t know. I’ll get to the root of this matter”. Alessandro said.
Now I felt bad for bringing so much trouble and stress into his life.
“Will this bring about any negative publicity or bad press?”. I awkwardly asked.
Alessandro looked at me like I had grown two heads before turning back to his phone while Sebastian chuckled.
“Get some rest Victoria. I’ll handle this myself”. Alessandro said as he kept typing furiously into his phone.
“I’ve instructed your P. I to find out how the news leaked and if it was a hospital staff that leaked the news to the press”. Sebastian informed as he kept his eyes on the road and continued driving.
“Good. I’ll tear that hospital down if it turns out to be them and I’ll put a fucking bullet in that person. They just wait”. Alessandro threatened.
These frightening threats Alessandro always spewed, I wonder if he would actually do it. Can he really kill a person? Has he ever killed a person?.
I shrunk back into the seat and tried to lay down for a bit. I closed my eyes for a while till constant tapping tried to wake me up from my short nap but I didn’t want to wake up just yet. I whined and whined and mumbled till the person finally stopped tapping me.
The voice mumbled before I felt myself being lifted up from the backseat and carried out thereby feeling like I was floating. My eyes snapped open to see myself in Alessandro’s arms as he carried me into his house with a stoic expression on his face.
I cringed at the irony of the situation I was currently in. I just remembered the last time I was here which was the first time I walked this stony floors into this mansion, I was the single nanny who was not pregnant but now I was being carried into this house by my boss who originally couldn’t stand the very sight of me but somehow slept with me and got me pregnant and now wants to marry me.
I hid my face in shame as I sighted Mr Manuel who looked surprised and shocked, almost like he couldn’t believe he was seeing me in Alessandro’s arms. Alessandro didn’t seem to care as he arrogantly and proudly walked into his mansion. His shamelessness would be the end of me.
Amara stood there in the middle of the living room with Matteo in her arms, he was asleep. As soon as she heard Alessandro kick the door closed with his leg, she looked up and took a step forward preparing to say something before she sighted me and furrowed her brows in confusion and disbelief.
There was something strange in her eyes just like there was something strange about her relationship with Alessandro. She almost looked hurt to see me back here.
I don’t know why but the thought of them together plus the look on Amara’s face made me angry. Amara was a very beautiful girl and Alessandro was insanely handsome so I got a bit jealous of the imagination of her and Alessandro together.
I snuggled deeper into Alessandro and tightened my hold on him. I didn’t even know the reason why I felt that I needed to stake my claim on Alessandro in front of Amara.
What am I even doing? I scolded myself.
This baby was messing with me and my emotions.
“Good afternoon sir”. Amara greeted Alessandro and completely ignored me.
Alessandro looked at her for a while while she stared back with sad doe eyes. It looked like they were both having a mental conversation in front of me. I felt awkward, like a third wheel. Who knew the history behind these two?. I could ask Alessandro but I didn’t have the strength for an argument and his temper. I could ask Amara but I know I wouldn’t get an answer, the girl seemed very tight lipped and closed off. Ugh!
Alessandro finally nodded at Amara to acknowledge her greeting.
“Is he asleep?”. Alessandro’s deep voice asked, referring to little Matteo.
“Yes sir, but it hasn’t been too long ago”. Amara’s soft feminine voice gracefully answered.
“I’ll need you to clean up the guest rooms Amara, my family will be arriving soon for the charity gala”. Alessandro instructed her.
I almost choked on my saliva at his words. No, no, no. I didn’t want to meet his family now, at least not this way, not like this. They’ll find out that I used to be the nanny and then they’ll think I’m a slut. They’ll look down on me.
“Amara?”. Alessandro called to bring Amara back to her senses as she looked like she was lost in her thoughts.
“Um oh yes, sorry sir. I’ll get the rooms ready, sorry. How many rooms sir?”. Amara stuttered as she tried to recollect her thoughts and form her words.
“Five. They’ll all be here including Fabiano”. Alessandro spat viciously at the last name.
He must hate whoever that was. Amara seemed to know who it was though because there was no look of confusion on her face whatsoever instead she looked on edge and scared.
“Alright sir, I’ll get them ready”.
“Yeah but you’ll need to be quick, Amara, Bianca arrives next tomorrow”. Alessandro informed her. Amara gulped nervously as she seemed distressed by the latest development.
There was a certain softness to the way Alessandro pronounced her name. It was a certain familiarity that I couldn’t explain.
Amara on the other hand didn’t seem to like the idea of his family visiting just like me. She seemed to pause or rather freeze after hearing the Bianca name.
“Did you feed him before his nap?”. Alessandro casually asked as he started his journey up the stairs with me in his arms to God knows where.
“Yes”. Amara answered him.
“Good. Meet me in my study in my office after you put my son down”. Alessandro demanded.
“Yes sir”. Amara softly answered.
Why did they have to meet all the time? Why do they have to always stay together?.
It felt strange to be back in this room again after so long. A lot had happened here that I couldn’t hide my discomfort and awkwardness nor the blush that had started to creep up into my cheeks because of my return to this room.
Alessandro gently laid me down on the bed before speaking.
“I know you’re awake Victoria. Open your eyes”.
Shit!
I slowly peeled my eyes open to see him standing over me with the two top buttons of his black shirt undone and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows with his tattoos on full display.
He had his hands on his waist as he looked like he was trying to analyze me critically.
“What?”. I asked him as I couldn’t take the intense gaze anymore.
“My family will be coming home soon. You’ll meet them then I’ll formally introduce you and then officially announce our wedding and your pregnancy to them”. He said as he puffed his chest with pride.
“Do I really have to?”. I asked tiredly.
He looked taken aback.
“What do you suggest Victoria? Cohabiting? Sneaking around and frolicking? Having my baby born out of wedlock? Well, if that’s how your people do, good for you but I’m Italian and that means we follow traditions and standard procedures. Family is everything to us”. Alessandro schooled me on his roots.
I almost rolled my eyes at the whole Italian thing. Ugh! Please.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me young lady!”. Alessandro’s voice boomed.
Oh, I actually did.
“Yeah yeah yeah, but I guess they don’t teach you not to hit women and not to have sex before marriage in Italy, hmm?”. I clapped back at him.
Looking at his face made me happy and I almost gave myself a pat on the back. He looked speechless.
“What? Can’t speak anymore, Alessandro?”. I teased further.
“Look here you irritating woman, I can fuck whoever I want to fuck and whenever I want to and I’ll hit whoever I wish to hit, my Italian roots have nothing to do with it”. He pointed a long finger at me.
“That makes absolutely no sense Alessandro. You bend the rules and change the laws to suit you”. I retorted, raising my voice a little.
“This conversation is over! You’re meeting my family and that’s final! If you think of disrespecting them, you’ll have hell to pay, Victoria. I’m warning you!”. He threatened me in my room.
Before I could find something snarky to say, his phone started to ring, cutting me off as he gave me a hard look before swiping his phone to pick the call.
“Alessandro! What is this I’m seeing on the news? You got someone else pregnant?”. A female voice shrieked over the phone.
“Calm down mother”………