Chapter 22

To keep yourselves busy before the next update, you can check one of my books that is completed. It's titled 'Childhood Crush?' it's simple and short. Enjoy reading:-) :-) :-)

Stephano’s POV

*

“Would you like to come back later?” Dr. Pierce asked me as we left his office and walked down the hallway.

“Yes of course Dr Pierce, let me know when she’s stable enough. I’m glad the swell has finally subsided.”

“Okay. The nurse has been assigned to her as instructed and I wouldn’t want any disturbance because of the drugs she’d been injected with and also, regarding our earlier discussion, I’ll get back to you next week.” He further explained.

I nodded. “I totally understand. I’ll expect your feedback.” I replied and we exchanged handshakes before I left him to attend to his duties.

I went out in search for Kara, knowing she wouldn’t leave without speaking to her mom first but she was already talking to a guy who was staring at her like she was an adorable little kitten.

“Kara mio.” The name sounded like a warning as the man immediately looked up at me and his eyes widened. The message was clear in my eyes; the childish part of me was marking its territory, especially because this was all a contract to Kara. What if she fell in love with some guy and I never get to show her how I feel?

“Stephano.” Kara’s soft voice replied without turning around. The man said something and left but my gaze was now on Kara, appreciating her portable backside without an ounce of guilt in me.

“I was wondering where you were since I was told you were no longer at the mansion...”

She turned around. “Did you sleep well?”

“Uh..yeah, I did. Thanks. Is something the matter? You look a bit... tensed.” She eyed me.

“Nothing exactly...” I trailed off. Nothing was wrong but it was nice to see her not cowering under my glare and even asking me if I was okay.

“Stephano, are you sure nothing is wrong?” she moved closer, eyeing me.

“I’m sure babe.” cazzo!

I caught myself too late from calling her babe like I’d done a million times in my head. Her eyes widened incredulously and pride filled my heart because I was the cause of that little but beautiful act of hers. My eyes roamed over her features as I took in her beautiful face which was almost bare of makeup save for her lips coated in lipstick, her attractive chest which was packaged into a top and her jean clad legs which flowed down to her sneakers.

“You look beautiful, Kara mia.” I complimented, not being able to accept that someone could be this attractive without even trying so hard. I nodded in approval when I also noticed the sneakers she was wearing was the one I got for her on one of her travels. I’d chosen it based on preference from the store owner that day, when she said girls sometimes loved cool colors too.

I don’t know wherever I might be on earth but I wouldn’t miss my beautiful Kara’s birthday for anything in the world.

Just like this morning, I knew I had work to do at the office but I just couldn’t resist the temptation of coming here to see Kara. I noticed how she had looked at me yesterday when I appeared with Doctor Pierce, as if she were ashamed of the relationship between us or something. She couldn’t even look me in the eye and neither did she acknowledge me.

It was as if she had been telepathically pleading that I shouldn’t show any sign that we were together in the presence of her mother. That was why she had just acknowledged my presence with just ‘you’re here.’

After a really stressful day at work, seeing Kara had just made my mood switch from the usual detached one to that of a boy who was seeing his crush again. But with the way she had looked at me when I wanted to move closer to her, I stepped closer to Natalia instead and quickly acted as if I didn’t notice the disappointed look on her face.

You can’t eat your cake and have it Kara.

“Uh…thank you.” She breathed out. “You’re not looking bad yourself.”

What I just said was nothing but the truth but Kara still avoided my eyes as if I just told her the most confidential information in the whole of Italy.

Enough of all the mushy shit, let’s get out of here already, I thought as I observed her. I stretched my hand and she took it, still. I chuckled and observed her properly, noticing the shy smile.

We started walking in an uncomfortable silence. I was comfortable but I knew Kara wouldn’t be. She was always trying to read my thoughts by observing me. Her furrowed brows and pouted lips were the evidences to this but I didn’t want her to observe me or figure me out. It was perfect as things were now.

Perfect.

I looked at our clasped hands, they looked perfect in each other. The fuzzy feeling I felt only when I was near Kara instantly filled my stomach with butterflies.

“How is she doing now?” I asked even though I already saw the doctor.

“She is better, I suppose. I was told the doctor already saw her and she has probably eaten since she would have taken some drugs. She’ll take the chicken soup I brought her when she wakes up.”

“You defied the school’s instruction to come here though.” I scolded. I knew I was switching into business mode but when Kara was involved, I was willing to be a daddy, a sugar daddy, a lover, a to-be husband, friend and so many more that I could be.

“I had to.” Kara defended.

“Good morning Mr. Alfonsi.” A slim nurse said with a wide smile as she passed by, her eyes trained solely on me.

“Good morning.” I replied.

Another nurse that was speaking with someone across a hallway was visibly gawking and when she noticed my eyes on her, her face grew scarlet as she quickly looked away. I chuckled at the act. Women and their reactions.

The only thing that made me feel warm, fuzzy, excited and shy at the same time was the fact that I was holding Kara’s hand, in public; so freely. The feeling was fulfilling.

It was something I had visualized mentally for so many years and doing it now without the other party running away from me like she usually did all the time was just fantastic. I kept drawing random patterns on the back of her hand while we walked in a slow pace.

Our destination got closer by the second, while I wanted it to be the exact opposite. This slow walk, with her close to me and her perfume slowly caressing my nostrils was a blissful experience.

“So, you’re now in the second semester?”

“No. We’re not through with the first yet but in a few weeks, we’ll be starting exams and going on a proper holiday.”

“That’s cool. Has the former professor that got into an accident taken his seat once again or...”

“He’s still in a coma but heard that some of the injuries on him had healed.” His accident had been fatal and attracted the attention of many because it had been investigated to be a case of attempted murder and not mere accident. The news about the Professor was now widely circulated as the police were busy with their investigation.

My index finger was feeling the back of Kara’s hand while I thought about the professor. Kara’s skin was so smooth; it was the softest female skin I had ever and would ever caress so sensually because I knew the effect she was having on my body without even trying.

She didn’t show any sign that my action affected her but I knew I was affected, because I was doing it sensually and whenever Kara was around me; self-control always became a strange feeling. I felt like forgetting where we were and just pulling her in for a passionate kiss.

Cazzo, just the thought alone had my hormones raging! Kara, unfortunately still had no idea how I could easily become putty in her hands.

I thought of a distraction. “Where’s the file I told Preeti to give you?”

“I left it in the ward with mama.”

“There’s no problem. Kate would’ve handed it over to Dr. Pierce since he knew you’d be bringing it in. I want to take you somewhere.”

“Okay, but I want to see mama before leaving.”

I looked down at her, wondering why she was lying so easily. There was no facial reaction Kara would pull that I didn’t already know what it meant. Chewing lips and blinking too much meant she was nervous as hell. Looking away and fiddling her thumbs while she spoke meant she was lying.

“She doesn’t wake up till a few more hours, at least two.” I said impatiently. She looked at me with uncertainty but looked away, something that didn’t sit well with me. “Kara, look at me.”

She did so and looked away again. I chuckled and looked down at her, my hand slowly holding her chin up as if she was a China doll and she was. Kara was Stephano Alfonsi’s China doll .

“I want to know you.” I spoke softly, trying to erase the unease I saw in her eyes.

“Huh?”

“Yes Kara. I really want to know you.”

I didn’t like what I was feeling. It was akin to fear, like all my attempts to get her to be mine would be futile at the end of the day and Kara would eventually leave me for some other guy. The unease that accompanied that thought was like a hot iron being pierced into my heart. I held her tighter.

“You’ve known me for years, Stephano.”

But I’ve also loved you all my life Kara, and it’s only you my heart beats for in the same particular rhythm but you still don’t know this.

~°~

Kara’s POV

*

“I want to know you.”

My heart palpitated as hope soared inside me.

“Huh?”

“Yes Kara. I really want to know you.”

A sudden wave of emotion flowed through me as I heard him say that. He was no longer looking so serious but there was a look on his face. Like he was unsure about something...or needed clarification.

“You’ve known me for years, Stephano.” Practically all my life, considering you were there when my first tooth started growing and even fell off.

“I mean, I want to know you better. It’s different now that we’re in a relationship and all.”

“Si- Stephano, this is a contract relationship. We don’t have to know each other that well.”

“Meaning?” His eyes narrowed, obviously not liking my idea.

I matched his gaze, trying not to get lost in his striking blue eyes. “I don’t think that is a good idea.”

He stopped walking and we stepped into a balcony nearby, standing by the railing. He was looking at me but I was looking at the world below us, at the man wheeling an old woman into a car. The joyful expression on his face was priceless.

“There’s nothing for you to do at home since the girls are there and also, you don’t have any school excuses. So, shall we?”

I refrained from rolling my eyes as I contemplated his words. He was right; I had nothing important to do. We left the balcony as I randomly played with my lower lip and bit on it repetitively. Thank goodness I didn’t use so much lipstick or it’d be all over my teeth. I stole a look at Stephano.

The fact that he always looked on without any emotion on his face; either anger or curiosity or irritation, did not make me know what was going on in his head right now.

I suddenly felt drained. I had been trying to figure him out since this morning and it seemed I overworked my brain too much.

“I-i don’t want to go.”

He looked down at me. “Why?”

I shrugged. “You didn’t ask politely.”

Or it doesn’t matter if you asked politely but I just don’t want to go anywhere with you because you make me feel somehow fuzzy and mushy inside and that’s not good because I’m used to you not giving me all this attention!

“Cazzo!” he muttered under his breath.

He looked left and pulled me into a room nearby. My eyes swiftly scanned the room within seconds. There were neatly stacked mattresses in a corner, a few pails and pillows with some room cleaning equipments all bundled up in another corner.

“Why are we here Stephano?” It was as if my heart would jump out of my chest any minute.

“I’ll ask here.” He further said gently. His hold on my hand tightened and then he pulled me flush against him.

“Uh...ask what?” I took wary glances around again.

“Kara, mio dios, please will you go out with me?”

There was heavy thumping and fluttering in my stomach as I searched his eyes, wondering if that was the only reason he’d pulled me in here. I was sure there weren't butterflies in my stomach, but elephants instead.

Still, I gave him a look of utter annoyance.

He could’ve as well asked outside, for goodness sake! For the umpteenth time this morning, my heart palpitated at the mushy side of this man I was just getting acquainted with.

Then the next thing I knew, my head bobbed repeatedly as he awaited my response. I felt overwhelmed! Being in his company felt right and having him look down at me with that soft and loving expression felt perfect — me in his arms, us staring at each other, him calling me his dear.

But the painful reminder was that I wasn’t his dear. This young master was cold and whenever he liked, he would easily go back to glaring at me in the nearest future and then telling me to ‘leave’.

The painful memory of when he once told me to do that after thrusting my phone into my hand harshly passed like a blip before my eyes and I bit my lower lip.

This was just a deal. No matter how real it looked, it was nothing more than a deal.

I was his fake girlfriend. I must focus on being just that.

I gave a bittersweet smile. “Of course, we should get going.”

“Okay.” He replied and opened the door. I made move to leave before him but someone was coming in at the exact time and so we bumped heads.

“Ugh, are you alright?” I asked, feeling Stephano’s hand rub my forehead soothingly, like he cared.

“Kara, what are you doing in the store room?” It was Kate, the nurse I had met when I went to see mama a while ago.

She was giving me a questioning look. “I…uh-”

“She is my girlfriend.” Stephano said behind me as if that justified anything. Well, that answer would have to suffice, because I was a blushing mess at the moment. Why did hope spark in me when he said I was his girlfriend?

She then looked behind me and a shitting grin plastered on her face. “Mr. Alfonsi, I didn’t know she was here with you.”

“She is.” He took his palm off my forehead.

“We were just leaving.” I told her, sensing she still had much to say.

“Well, I hope she agreed to whatever you were convincing her to do. This one looks like a keeper.” Kate’s sweet,  voice said, moving impossibly closer to me as she’d spoken the last few words, her giggling following as she made room for us to exit the room. Ugh, kill me already.

“Yes, I used my charms well.” Stephano replied her as we both walked out and stood at the entrance. He pecked my forehead and let his lips linger. With a loud groan, I grabbed his hand and dragged him from there.

Twenty minutes later, we was in Stephano’s car and he had instructed James, the driver to park by the roadside and take a walk. So we were alone on an abandoned road for whatever reason. Stephano never failed to amuse me.

“Why did we stop here?”

“I don’t want any disturbance. Let’s just talk and get to know each other.”

“Oh...okay. So what would you like to know?”

“Let’s start with your past relationships.” He stated casually.

I scoffed and adjusted so I was facing him. “I only ever had one boyfriend and that was in high school.”

His face contorted into an ugly expression. “Victor Dimitri.”

I gasped. “How did you know?”

He looked taken aback by my question but then looked right into my eyes. “You wouldn’t stop talking about him.”

I eyed him suspiciously. That was a lie. The truth was that I never used to talk about Victor. That was because we didn’t date for so long. I only wanted to know what relationships and dates were like because a friend of mine named Julia, who was now happily married, wouldn’t stop talking about how her boyfriend used to grab her breasts and suck on them whenever they were making out.

The way she would describe it, I would always picture it as something really hot.

Her eyes used to be dreamy and so I also wanted to try it. That was why I accepted to date Victor but I broke things off with him later because he would always leave ugly marks on my small breasts and he couldn’t wait for my breast to be out of the tiny braziers I used to wear then before grabbing and sucking aggressively on them.

I used to feel nothing but repulsion and pain. He was such a pig.

“Well, that was the only relationship I ever had.” I heaved a dramatic sigh as I wondered where that guy would be now. Victor would surely be a grown man by now though I wasn’t sure if he’d still be in Italy. Rumors were circulating in senior year that he would stop schooling to take over his sick father’s company but I couldn’t even remember if he did that or not.