Chapter 7

At 5.30pm sharp, because that is what a control freak does, Landon walked in. He was in a stunning black suit that once again was tailored perfectly to his every muscle with a dark grey shirt and black tie. If I knew what the original Adonis looked like, I would say he would lose the hottest male award right now.

Landon simply took my breath away. Well, he would take any hot-blooded woman’s breath away!

He stopped when he saw me. His eyes instantly going dark as he scanned me from head to toe before stalking forward, making my knees go weak.

Grabbing my hands in his, he kissed the tops of both of my hands. “No one has ever looked as beautiful as you do now Amore!”

“Not as good as you hot stuff!” he chuckled.

“Come, let’s go.”

“That good that I get more than come?” he shook his head and gave a hearty laugh this time. “I like it when you laugh, you don’t do it enough.”

“You have a challenge on your hands then.”

“Oh a challenge huh? I like this challenge”. I stepped closer and licked his nose before taking off towards the door.

I heard the growl behind me before I was swept off my feet bridal style. I let out a small squeal of surprise but loved the huge smile on his face.

The guards must have heard us as the double doors were suddenly opened. They stared ahead like always with their normal stoic faces.

“OK, you can put me down now” I said. Now that we were in front of the elevator.

“No” he continued to just look straight ahead and didn’t relax his hold at all.

“I’m not….”

“You are perfect and still no,” he cut me off.

I gave my best impression of a pout with puppy dog eyes making him chuckle even though he still didn’t look down as he walked into the elevator.

His arms have got to be tired! “Yo…”

“No!”

“Bu…”

“No!”

I heard the little sniggers from the 3 guards that hoped in the elevator with us.

I had to hide my face due to embarrassment as he carried me through the lobby. I have never been so embarrassed! I know it is supposed to be romantic or some s**t, but you just feel every pair of eyes on you, making you feel so self-conscious.

I was shocked as he lowered me into a beautiful old red convertible that was waiting out the front. I am bad with cars, so I will just say it was from about the 60s. It had been refurbished beautifully with its white leather interior that all looked brand new. I was impressed!

The guards got into the typical black SUV behind us as Landon rounded the car and got in. He didn’t say anything as we took off.

I couldn’t believe he had done all this for me! I had a big goofy grin on my face as I felt my perfect hair being ruined by the wind, but I didn’t care. I just stared at him.

He did this for me!

“What?” he looked at me almost confused and I took his hand in mine, kissing his knuckles.

“Thank you”, I went to bring his hand into my lap but he pulled my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles before resting our hands in his lap.

We drove in comfortable silence. I didn’t want to ask where we were going, I wanted to enjoy the surprise.

We finally pulled up in front of what looked like a quaint little Italian restaurant. I didn’t mind it wasn’t some big fancy place, I preferred this actually as I bet the food would be amazing. Places like this were always the best.

He got out quickly, walked around and opened my door and helped me out.

“Thank you my hot stuff boyfriend” he chuckled, taking my hand and leading me in.

The waiter greeted us with a nervous smile, “Right this way”, he quickly said, and ushered us through the restaurant.

I was a bit surprised when we walked straight through, down a small corridor that had the toilets off to the side and kept going until the waiter opened the last door at the end to the most beautiful sight.

It was a small garden with fairy lights throughout the plants and lines of lanterns above us illuminating the table for 2 in the middle.

Landon led me over and pulled my chair out for me. I sat down and went to pull my chair in when I noticed his uneasiness.

“You ok?”

He pulled out a beautiful white box from his inner jacket pocket. “I got you this”, he handed it to me and nodded for me to open it. It was so cute he was acting like a teenage boy that had never given a gift to a girl before.

“Thank you!” I said as I opened it slowly, looking at a beautiful gold necklace. The pendant was of a rose with a ruby in the middle and small diamonds all over the yellow and white gold petals. It was gorgeous and would have cost a fortune!

I looked up at him in shock. “You didn’t have to get me anything. This is too much”. I was nearly crying. There was no way I could keep this though. I swear it was worth all my jewellery together times 30!

He bent down to grab the necklace out of the box. “Nothing is too much for my girlfriend”. I couldn’t help the massive smile that spread across my face. I quickly moved my hair as he gently put the necklace on me, making sure it was positioned perfectly.

I couldn’t help myself as I instantly got up and kissed him hard! It didn’t take him a second to reciprocate as he quickly dominated the k**s before pulling back. His calloused hand gently stroked my cheek as his beautiful blue eyes held me in their warmth.

He finally nodded, before helping me back into my chair and sitting back in his. As soon as he sat down, the first course came out.

I examined the necklace again. “You definitely have to keep this at your place, I would be too scared to take it off!”

“Then don’t take it off!”

“It’s too special.”

“Exactly, so don’t take it off!”

I rolled my eyes. “So what you’re telling me is you don’t want me to take it off?”

He smiled and put a forkful of food in his mouth.

“So I am guessing authentic Italian with an authentic Italian man?” he smiled and nodded.

My mouth was in heaven as I took my first bite of the Carpaccio. Which I must admit is one of my favourites!

“So come on, I know Louie is your step-brother. Do you have any other siblings?”

He raised a brow and smirked “Do you now?”

“Yes, he told me last night when you had him babysit me” he chuckled.

With a smile still on his face, he went on to tell me he has one full younger brother, Leo, and a step-sister, Giorgia, Louie’s younger sister. They all live in Italy with his step-sister living with his mum and stepdad in the big house, whereas the others live in houses on their large estate. He said it was custom for everyone to live on the estate and come together for lunch on Sunday’s.

“And do you live on the estate?”

“Yes, I live in the second largest.”

“Do you ever feel like you live in each other’s pockets?”

“Not all the time as we are always busy”, but I wasn’t convinced. Am I dating a mamma’s boy?

He then asked me about my family. I told him all about my dad working on the family farm with my uncle and how my mum was a local primary school teacher.

I had a pretty good childhood and couldn’t hold back the funny stories about growing up with my brother Cameron and sister Lucy.

I spoke about how I loved looking after all the animals. I was the one that couldn’t be present whenever one died or was slaughtered for meat. I understood the circle of life, as they say, but still didn’t like being around death. I didn’t miss the way Landon’s body went a bit ridged as he nodded his head and asked me more questions.

We talked and laughed until he got a call he said he couldn’t ignore like the others. He excused himself, saying he wouldn’t be long then walking back out the way we came.

I finished my food not wanting it to get cold… or what I could finish of it. It was a massive meal which was delicious but so filling. I would have to get a doggy bag as there was no way I was letting this go to waste. I bet it would be just as good heated up.

When he hadn’t come back after a little while, I thought I would quickly go to the toilet. I grabbed my bag as I didn’t feel right leaving it behind and walked to the toilet. I did my business and went to go back to the table.

Stepping out, I heard Landon’s voice. He was talking to someone in Italian somewhere nearby. I couldn’t help but get curious and so walked back towards the restaurant when I saw a door open to an office just beside the toilets.

Landon was in there with his back to me talking to a beautiful blonde who had herself draped all over him. From my angle I could only see one of Landon’s arms and that was resting on her h*p.

I watched frozen as she cooed something in Italian to him as she slowly kissed his left cheek, then his right before kissing him on the mouth. I waited for him to pull away but he didn’t. My heart shattered, yep I’m an i***t!

An absolute stupid, naïve f*****g i***t!

After, he hadn’t pulled away for what felt like forever, when it was probably only 5 seconds, I left. I walked past the two guards that were at the end of the hallway and out the door where the other 3 were.

I stared down the street, putting my arm up for a taxi with one of them now walking after me “Ma’am”.

I ignored him as a taxi pulled up quickly and I jumped in, still not saying a single word or even acknowledging him. I gave the taxi the address of the hotel and sat back trying to hold in the tears.

It hadn’t even been a week but it was a full on few days and I will admit I was hooked! I really liked him.

“Can you please hurry, I will give you an extra $50 in cash.” I needed to get back, pack all my s**t and be out of there before Landon realised I was gone.

“Absolutely! You ok?”

“Yeah I will be. Thank you for asking”. I sat back tapping my fingers on my legs, doing everything I could to hold back the tears. I can cry when I am home in Melbourne, now is not the time. I just need to get home.

I pulled out my phone and started to look at if there were any more flights tonight. There was one at 11.45pm that I should be able to make so I quickly booked it.

We were nearly at the hotel when my phone rang. It took him long enough to realise I was gone, too busy making out with the blonde.

f*****g a*****e!

I put my phone on silent.

We arrived at the hotel and I jumped out giving the taxi driver the tip. He tried to say no but I put it on the seat beside him and got out.

I walked as fast as my legs would carry me without sprinting to the elevator, hoping none of Landon’s men would stop me.

I made it to his floor where there were 2 guards that I could see. I just nodded to them and quickly walked in.

As soon as I was in the suite, I took off the expensive shoes and dress leaving them on the couch and ran to the bedroom. Like a mad woman, I threw all my clothes and things in my bag while I also put on a pair of jeans and a simple T’shirt.

The necklace dangled in my way as I bent down, reminding me of its presence. I stopped and gently took it off, admiring it one last time before putting it on the bedside table.

There was no way I was keeping it!

I want nothing from him. I was just probably just another floosy to him, no matter what Louie said about me bring out the fun in him. I was such an i***t, of course he was going to say that! I bet he is one of those typical rich egotistical assholes that had women all over the world and I was stupid enough to think I was special! i***t!

I kept wiping away the traitor tears that kept trying to escape. Now was not the time!

I was sitting on my bag zipping it up when I heard Lorenzo, the scum doesn’t get a nick name any more. “Kate? You in here?”

I ignored him as I straightened my shoulders, put my ballet flats on and walked out bag in toe.

“What happened?” he looked at me franticly.

I rolled my eyes and went to walk past him but he stepped in my way. “What’s going on? Where are you going?”

“Get out of my way. This moronic i***t is leaving”. I spat at him, still not looking him in the eye.

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t f*****g protect him and lie to me. I saw him kissing the blonde on our date. Our f*****g date! Now get the f**k out of my way”, I almost screamed as I pushed past him.

“He wouldn’t!”

“Bye Lorenzo.”

Just as I was about to get to the door, it burst open to a*****e himself running in.

“Where are you going?”

“Home because I don’t share. The necklace is on the night stand”. I tried to walk past him but he blocked my path before slinging me over his shoulder as Lorenzo grabbed my bag from me.

“PUT ME DOWN YOU f*****g LYING CHEATING PIECE OF s**t!” I screamed.

“No! What are you talking about?”

“I f*****g saw you kissing the blonde, don’t f*****g lie to me!” he dumped me on the couch and caged me in with his body.

There was understanding, then regret, then finally determination in his eyes as they searched mine. What? Is he that used to just having whatever he wants when he wants, including women, so he thinks I will just get over it? Of course he does!

“She kissed me, I did NOT k**s her back.” He almost growled with his voice low.

“Oh I’m sorry how many minutes was I supposed to stand there before you finally pushed her away then? Ten, twenty? Your wedding vows? Get off me, you don’t get to touch me ever again”. I tried to push him off but it was like trying to push a truck! And what made it worse was those stupid tears I was trying to hold back that were betraying me as they flowed down my checks.