Chapter 37

LEIGH-ARI The morning sun streaked across the room, it’s light harsh on my eyes. I gave out a big yawn and willed my heavy eyes to flutter open, but they seemed to have been shut closed. After rubbing them for a good minute, I pried them open to take in the most lavish bedroom I have ever seen in my life. The bed was humongous, the rich white velvet headboard cradling my back comfortably like a throne. The side table matched the headboard, with round lamps decorating them nicely.

From across the room was 118inch flat tv mounted to the wall, breathing loudly and heavily for everyone to see.

The lounge area sat proud and silent just a few feet from the bed. The door on the right folded open and in came Vernero fixing his suit coat. His eyes landed on me and his features softened, just a bit before he wore his usual scowl.

“You’re up.” Aha! So much like him. “Yeah. I had a good sleep.” I replied and he rewarded me with a simple nod.

“Get ready.” He announced and exited the room, right after he left, Raquel came in holding a huge tray with clothes packed on it and pieces of jewelry. I didn’t have to ask to know it was going to be a busy day.

“What’s the deal?”

“Good morning M’lady. We are going out for some fun while the bosses attend the meeting.” She announced carefully laying the luxurious garments on the dresser.

“What meeting?”

“That I am not sure of M’lady. You have to bathe.” She reminded me again, and I remembered that she was that kind that would haul me into the shower and start scrubbing me all by herself.

With that, I unglued myself from the bed and ran into the bathroom. The manly shampoo and shower gel greeted me as soon as I opened the door. Somehow the scent that was lingering in the air made me smile, because even if they were out of sight, they were just there, always there beside me to remind me that I was not alone.

The shower didn’t take a long time and soon, Raquel was helping me in a long, white jumpsuit and matching stiletto heels.

After that, she sat me down and did my hair really quickly. In a total of 40 minutes, I was bathed, dressed, and smelling so great I couldn’t believe myself. And when I stepped outside o f the bedroom into the dining room, Lorenzo jumped out of his seat and crushed me to his chest, then devoured my lips even before I could utter a single thing.

“You look beautiful, Tesoro,” he complimented after pulling back, with a warm smile as he looked down at me.

“Thank you.”

“How do you feel?” at least he cared enough to ask, unlike someone I know.

“Rested. I am okay, thanks again.” He ushered me to the chair at the head of the table and sat me down, then took his place on my left while Verzi sat on my right. The silent authority passed to me made me dizzy and ready to fall on the yummy breakfast in front of me.

The dining table was humongous, and there were a total of 12 people who saw the exchange.

I sat down and Valerie got up to dish for me.

“Lady boss.” She whispered causing me to smile, I was always thankful that she was there, because heck, all the testosterone, I wasn’t going to handle it well.

Raquel made a move to leave the room but I stopped her, “Raquel?”

“Yes, M’lady?”

“You should eat!” I pointed out gesturing to the table.

“I have to stand guard M’lady.” Her gaze lingered on Vernero for a second before shifting to m Sec “No silly. Come and eat.” I called out and that’s when she looked at Vernero and Lorenzo. The two of them played deaf and obliviously sipped on their coffees, completely unfazed that the whole room was waiting to see if they will snap or not.

“You heard your master, Raquel.” Lorenzo broke the tension and I was thankful.

“You do everything she says without asking us. All of you.” Vernero stamped the words and the whole room sang ‘yes boss’. After that, we just ate our breakfast with easy conversation The other guys were loud and cracked jokes that just split me up. More than twins staring at me as if I was something new, something they have never seen. But I just brushed them off.

Once breakfast was over, we piled up in the car and drove through the richest city I have ever seen.

Dubai was as picturesque as it gets. Sky kissing buildings, lavish infrastructure, it was s o lively and beautiful.

We arrived at this high-class bar where we were taken to the balcony that overlooked the sea.

The bar itself was built on water and boy was it smashing.

I was lost in thought taking in the scenery before me when the very familiar voice sounded from afar. I turned because there was no way she could be here. Absolutely no way!

“Where is your boss? Bring him here and let him explain why the hell he woke me up in the middle of the night. I am tired, I want to sleep.” Laura was standing just a short distance from me and she was throwing a fit at the two guys that remained poised by her sides.

with a mouth agape, I glanced at Vernero to find him glaring daggers at her, then Lorenzo who was watching me with the most loving look ever.

They did this! They brought her here.

Excitement tore through me and I couldn’t stay still.

“Go to her,” Vernero commanded and who was I to disobey?

“Laura Montez Petrou,” I called out trying to clear the glee in my voice. But it was just so impossible. She turned and her eyes landed on me.

“No fucking way.” She screamed as she ran towards me with arms spread out wide. As soon a s she was within reach, I scooped her up in a big hug, literally molding her into me. It felt like a dream, having her here, in my arms, it felt like I was in dream and I was soon going to be shaken awake.

We rocked each other and started laughing. Gosh, I missed her so much.

“You are alive!” She pointed out and placed me at an arm’s length, then assessed me from head to toe.

“And you are rich.” She noted causing us to double up.

“And you are wearing heels.” Yahp. That’s Laura there everyone!

The whole bar was filled with the sound of our squeal and glee and the twins were just standing there, watching the exchange between me and my girlfriend. (God bless her if they hear I call her my girlfriend).

“I can’t believe you are here.” I sniffled crushing her to me again.

“Well, thanks to your boss. Where is he by the way? He still needs to explain why I was woken up by 10 pm.”

She pulled off from the hug and took my hand. I walked her to where the twins were standing and just like me, got shocked at what she was seeing.

“Mr. Hotpants? And there’s actually two of them.” She whispered while still staring at them.

“Yeah,” I replied busting out.

“Who’s the other one? Which one is Mr. Hotpants?”

“Laura, meet Lorenzo, and Vernero.” I pointed to the guys and Lorenzo was modest to give a small bow, Vernero just stared at her, probably thinking of how he was going to butcher her, “Right. So who woke me up?” She feigned bravery and Vernero stood up, “I did.” He replied shortly, daring her to say anything more.

“Yikes. Never mind!” She chickened out and kill me now. I bend forward as I burst with laughter at her unforeseen reaction. Vernero was truly intimidating. If he put Laura down with just two words, then heck!

He was the shit.

“Now that Laura is here, we have to go. Raquel will stay with you.” Lorenzo informed coming towards me and then pulled me from Laura’s hold. Laura made a face and yanked back my hand, but one look at Vernero had her pushing me into Lorenzo’s embrace. I landed on his chest laughing and when Vernero growled, I lost it. He was probably angry that she pushed m e, and I knew for a fact he was thinking of how I could have lost a footing and planted myself face first and shit. To him, I didn’t even have to trip.

No. Else he would smash the ground that tripped me.

I hugged Lorenzo, “Thank you. For bringing her here. Thank you so much.”

He returned then hug and rocked me a few times, then cradled my head and kissed me softly.

I pulled off from him and walked to Verzi, he got up and yanked me with my hand, then slammed his hot lips on mine and kissed me mercilessly.

“Whoaaaaa!” Laura’s voice destroyed the mood and I found myself laughing with Verzi, lips against mine.

“Thank you, big guy.” I pecked his lips again and he nodded.

“Stay out of trouble.” He warned brushing the strand of my hair to the side.

“Okay. I will behave.” I said with a smile.

“Raquel?”

“Yes, boss.”

“You know what to do!” He shot her an angry glare and Raquel bowed, and then they were out.

“He kissed you.” Laura pointed out when they were away.

IT “Yaaaaah!”

“And then the other one kissed you.”

“Shocking right?” I looked at her, “No, you understand. Mr. Hotpants kissed you like you were something so precious, and then the scary guy yanked you by your arm and literally sucked your face. You, the golden nun who has cobwebs in her va-jay-jay. And you let him.” I fell into a fit of laughter and she later joined.

“I missed you too.” I said instead and pulled her to me “You’ll miss me later. Now you have to tell me how the hell you are still alive with those two guys breathing down your neck every passing second. Did you hear when that one growled? Only because I pushed you? And the other one pulled you off like I was trying to steal you or something. I need to know everything. Who are they and what in the actual hell is happening?

And so with that, I began spilling everything from that becursed night in Turkey, up to today. The look on her face was priceless. And the fact that she stayed silent to listen to everything, the story of my life really got her hooked.

“So you got not one, but two hot hunks fawning over you?”

“Yeah. If you want to put it that way.”

“One lucky bitch.” She claimed and sipped on her drink.

“Beware not to say that in their presence. One girl who said that to me didn’t live to see the next day.”

That had her spitting all the drink that was in her mouth. Causing me to double up with laughter. “Fuck. I am as good as dead.”