ELEANOR
I took a deep breath as I stepped out of the bathroom, feeling refreshed but still a bit hesitant. My thoughts were all over the place, trying to piece together how I was now in Armando’s house with his cousin downstairs waiting for me.
Reluctantly, I made my way down the stairs. From where I stood, I could already see Enzo adjusting the massive sofas, trying to push them into a different arrangement.
His back was turned to me, and I could see he was fiddling with the TV remote, probably trying to get it to work. The sight of him, busying himself with something so mundane, was almost surreal in this house where everything felt so tense all the time.
“Hi,” I said softly as I reached the bottom of the stairs.
He turned around, slightly out of breath. “Hey!” He smiled warmly at me, wiping his hands on his jeans. “You look… much better now,” he added, a teasing glint in his eyes. It was the kind of light-heartedness I hadn’t felt in a long time, and despite myself, I smiled-just a little.
“That’s more like it,” Enzo said, his grin widening. “You’ve got a beautiful smile, you know? You should wear it more often. Especially around me. That look you had when you were upstairs doesn’t suit someone as pretty as you.”
I chuckled out of politeness, but his words did something to me. It had been forever since anyone had complimented me-genuinely, at least. My parents rarely did, my uncle-for the short while I spent with him-was too distant and cruel, Paulo was all business, and of course, Armando wasn’t the complimenting type-no matter what I did.
Enzo’s kind words caught me off guard, making me feel a warmth I hadn’t felt in what felt like ages.
“Thank you,” I said quietly, glancing down for a moment before looking back at him.
I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks, and it surprised me how easily he was able to get under my skin.
He plopped down on one of the sofas, still holding the remote, and gave the TV a hard look. “You wouldn’t believe how stubborn this thing is. I’m starting to think your boss likes to torture his guests in more ways than one,” he joked.
I sat down across from him, finally allowing myself to relax a bit. “I wouldn’t be surprised,” I said, half-laughing, half-sighing.
He glanced over at me, something soft in his gaze. “You know, I’m still trying to figure out why he locked you in that room. I mean, Armando’s not exactly a saint, but still… seems extreme.”
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, not ready to dive into all of that. “Let’s just say it’s complicated,” I muttered.
Enzo raised his hands in surrender. “Alright. No pressure, I won’t push. Just saying if you change your mind on talking about it, I’m still here.”
I nodded, appreciating the fact that he wasn’t demanding answers from me like Armando might have. He was different. I felt like I could actually breathe around this guy, which was something I hadn’t felt in a long time.
We sat in silence for a moment before he broke it again, this time with a playful grin. “But seriously, if you don’t smile more, I’m going to keep throwing compliments at you until you do.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Is that so?”
“Yup,” he said, leaning back into the couch. “And trust me, I’ve got plenty more where they came from.”
I smiled again, this time without hesitation. Maybe Enzo was exactly what I needed right now-someone who could make me feel human again.
I watched Enzo as he got back up and continued moving the sofas around, curiosity getting the better of me. After a moment, I asked, “What exactly are you doing with the seats though?”
He glanced at me, pausing for a second, then smirked. “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m trying to set up the perfect spot for a movie. You’re welcome to join me, by the way,” he said, his voice light, as if he was only half-serious but fully hoping I’d take him up on the offer.
I blinked, unsure how to respond to the sudden invitation. “I don’t think Mr. Armando would like it if he came back and found his living room rearranged,” I said, shifting uncomfortably in my seat.
Enzo chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Trust me, it’s not a problem. I’m the one who set up the living room like that in the first place. My cousin barely uses this room, so he won’t even notice. Besides, he won’t mind.”
His nonchalant response threw me off a bit. Everything in here screamed perfection, almost like no one was supposed to touch anything. But Enzo didn’t seem to care about the strict order of the place. He made it feel normal.
I thought about it for a second, and honestly, it made sense.
Since I started working here, I hadn’t seen Armando use the living room at all. The giant TV that probably cost a fortune had never for once been turned on. It was almost like everything in here was just for show.
“You know,” I said slowly, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him sit in here. Or even watch TV.”
Enzo shrugged. “Exactly! That’s Armando for you. He’s more into business, work, and whatever else he does with his time. This living room is just decoration to him. He buys stuff because he can, not because he actually enjoys any of it.”
I nodded, realizing how true that was. Everything around me was so pristine, but so unused. It almost felt wasteful.
“So,” Enzo interrupted my thoughts, his playful tone back again, “are you going to join me for a movie, or are you going to sit there and keep worrying about things Armando won’t even notice?”
I wanted to, but I had something else bothering me.
“Mr. Enzo,” I began, my voice cautious. I didn’t want to push any boundaries, but I needed to know. “Do you, by any chance, have a phone on you?”
He turned around from fiddling with the TV remote, giving me a slightly amused look. “Mr. Enzo?” he repeated, raising an eyebrow. “Come on, I thought we were friends now. Friends don’t call each other ‘mister.’ They’re casual with each other.” He paused for a beat, then added with a playful grin, “We’re friends, aren’t we?”
I hesitated for a second but then nodded. “Yeah, I guess we are.”
He let out a soft chuckle. “Well, then, you should treat your new friend as one.”
I rolled my eyes playfully, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “Fine, Enzo,” I said, emphasizing his name and giving in to his teasing. “So… do you have your phone on you or not?”
Enzo paused, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “I do have a phone on me,” he admitted, “but I’m not sure if I should let you use it. Armando didn’t want you to have one, for whatever reason.”
His words stung a little more than I expected, and I crossed my arms, feeling slightly defensive. “Didn’t you just say we’re friends? And friends are supposed to trust and help each other, right?”
He raised his hands in mock surrender, a teasing smile on his lips. “Hey, hey, cool it down, hothead. Geez,” he said in a light-hearted tone, clearly trying to defuse the tension. “I didn’t say I don’t trust you. I just need to know what you’re planning to use it for. Totally honest here-what’s the reason?”
I sighed, feeling caught between a bit of frustration and the desire to not completely blow up the moment.
I didn’t want to tell Enzo the truth. It felt too personal, too raw, especially for someone I barely knew. So I kept it vague. “It’s family-related,” I said, hoping he’d drop it.
But he wasn’t budging. “Family-related, huh?” he said, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow at me. “You’re gonna have to do better than that. Spill it, or no phone.”
I sighed, realizing that I wasn’t getting anywhere with half-truths. The desperation for a phone outweighed my need for privacy. “Alright, fine,” I muttered, avoiding his gaze. “I’ve got a little sister. She’s in the hospital. She’s really sick, and I need to check in. I just want to talk to her nurse… see if she’s responding to the treatment.”
Enzo’s expression softened immediately. He didn’t say anything for a moment, and I could tell he hadn’t expected that. His stance loosened, and he sighed, pulling a phone out of his pocket-a small, old-fashioned one with buttons-and handed it to me.
“Here,” he said, his voice gentler now. “You can make the call.”
I grabbed the phone, relieved. “Thank you,” I said quickly, already trying to dial the number in my head.
But before I could hit the buttons, he spoke again. “One condition.”
I paused, looking up at him.
“After your call, you’re joining me for a movie. And you don’t get to say no.” He gave a half-smile, clearly trying to lighten the mood, but I barely registered it.
“Yeah, sure, whatever,” I muttered, my mind only focused on one thing-making that call.
I didn’t care about the movie or what Enzo was saying after that. All I cared about was hearing from the nurse, finding out if my sister was okay.