Chapter 27

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Kara’s POV

*

The air was crispy, with hundreds of heads moving in separate directions according to their desired destinations. Different brands of cars were also driving out of the car park. We had just finished our last test for this semester and everyone seemed eager to leave the school because we had about five days break. Well, everyone except me.

I didn’t want to go home yet, the fear of what I was going back there to face was overwhelming. It was waiting patiently, and I could already feel it sucking me in, wanting to consume me with an unexplainable kind of fear.

Stephano was going to announce us as lovers this week end, he even had a few important business partners coming on that night and that would also be an official introduction for me to get known by the world.

The foreign investors thought he was not serious about his relationship status which mainly stated that he was ‘in a relationship’.  Well, at least that was what he told me. They needed proof that he was dedicated before signing a billion dollar deal with him. I attended the meeting where those men were speaking with him a few days ago, if not I would have made room for doubts.

This was just a business deal to him, but my heart keeps warning me against taking the whole thing seriously. It keeps saying I will regret it at the end. Because even though he was the unsmiling young master, I’ve also seen the jealous and possessive side of him.

He was definitely taking this agreement between us too seriously and my heart was now slowly failing me for fear that he might actually like me because it was either that, or the fact that Stephano was a really good actor. It was probably too foolish of me to think that way but, I didn’t know what to say anymore. My foolish heart was already beating for a mere contract relationship.

“What’s got you brooding?” Adrian’s voice floated through my ears.

I heaved a heavy sigh and blinked. “I’ve just been thinking about everything related to life in general.”

I took a brave look down the numerous meters below us, at the students filing their ways around the school and as if sensing my mood, my tongue clamped onto my throat for a good couple of seconds; to show that it also needed a form of escape.

I was not alone in this.

I was currently standing on the passage of our five storey building, which belonged to the Faculty of Languages and Ethics. Looking down at the students moving around in groups, they look like tiny ants.

I had been waiting for Adrian for the past few minutes because she left to have a discussion with the lecturer who introduced her to the Ducklings because she wanted to know if they would need her as a nanny to their bubbly baby boy again. I had no idea why she didn’t get their contacts since that was far better.

“What did she say?” I gestured with my chin towards the office she just exited.

She shrugged. “The Ducklings, who had my number, misplaced it and that was why they hadn’t called.”

“So...are you going to call them?”

“I should. Ugh...those people are so hard to deal with but their baby boy is a bundle of joy!” She crooned.

“What’s the plan then? You’re not going for your little family vacation?”

“I’ll think of that after a good sleep. We just sat for a three unit course test you know? Any away, I’m hungry right now so, let’s head to an eatery or something.” She scratched her navel, yawning in an unladylike way.

“More like food stand?” I told her with a huge smile.

Even though we were both from rich backgrounds; her having a businessman as a dad and an event planner step mom, with me having young master’s family paying for everything I’d ever used ever since I was born, we still enjoyed eating at places like food stands and outdoor shops. We both believed there was more to life than living rich, extravagant lives.

Her hands found their way to my chest immediately we alighted the last couple of stairs and she lifted one breast up, her expression turning serious.

“Your titties are getting bigger. Who’s been playing with them?” she asked me seriously.

“Adrian!” I scolded and slapped her hand off my chest, looking around embarrassedly to make sure that no one caught us acting that way. Giggles escaped her pouty lips. She was just so damn shameless!

“Sorry. That reminds me, have you gotten your dress?”

My mood turned somber, if that was even possible. “No.”

“Wait, you’re attending the house party right?” she eyed me skeptically, then scoffed, “Of course you are!” she concluded with a scowl. It wasn’t a question and I was not surprised; so much for her not being my mother, when she sounded like it on every other day.

“Of course I am and Steph-” the blaring of my ringing tone had me directing my attention to my phone. It was an unknown number, so I picked the call immediately. “Sí?”

“Hello, am I speaking with Kara?” A male’s voice came on.

I scrunched my brows and my hold on my bag with my left hand slacked a bit as I wracked every corner of my memory.

This voice sounded very familiar; from where though, I was not too sure.

“Yes...” My response was unsure.

The soft laughter that followed was refreshing. “This is Diego, remember me? You gave me your number a few weeks ago.”

I didn’t know of any Diego. I frowned.

Then my eyes widened as it clicked. The soft laughter...bad boy next door look...charming smile… “Oh, Diego! Hi!” His laughter followed thereafter.

Adrian threw me a questioning glance which I easily ignored.

“Who’s that?” She mouthed. I ignored her.

“Bitch!” She muttered, her tone faking a bitter one as she walked towards the gate and to her car because I wasn’t taking this whole ‘going out to eat’ thingy so seriously. I scoffed and followed her. It was a good thing I could make fun of her, considering how well she cursed me out this morning when I asked her to have breakfast before we left for our last paper.

“How have you been?”

“Uh...great, I guess.” I shut the door and winked at a glaring Adrian.

“I didn’t call since that day and I said I would call sometime. Hope I didn’t leave our princess lonely in her mansion?”

“Aww, of course not, because her Prince charming came for her.” I played along.

“And who might that be?” His voice turned a bit serious but then he chuckled. “Anyway, would you like to meet up somewhere?”

“Uh...”

“Don’t worry, because I won’t take much of your time. Just have coffee or a cup of ice-cream with me and let’s chat about random things. A handsome guy is lonely here. This beauty of mine is going to waste.”

Okay, he got me where he said he was lonely. I remembered him saying he was in Italy because he was looking for someone and he still hadn’t found the person. It must be hard not having anyone to talk to in a strange country, even a single friend.

Also, I’ll get to know more about him if we meet up.

I stole a meaningful glance at Adrian. She was no longer glaring, but typing away on her phone and a smile was playing on her lips.  It seemed she would have to eat alone today.

“Okay, sure. Where are you?” This caught my best-friend’s attention. She was moving her hands in front of her as if striking the thought out.

“I’m in this local zoo... where there’s a public gathering of some sort... Like lovers celebration.”

“Aww. Look who made some new fwends with cute animals.” I crooned. He growled playfully.

“That’s like twenty minutes drive from here. Is it cool if I come with a friend?” Adrian’s glare was back and she started mouthing ‘no’ and shaking her head.

“Sure.” He replied within a heartbeat.

“Then expect me and my best friend then.”

“Hey! I’m not third wheeling and you better not be going there to meet a guy!”

I giggled at her furious expression. It was hilarious.

“Dude! She has Stephano, she has a boyfriend!” Adrian further shouted, moving her face towards my phone. When I kept giggling, she tried yanking the phone but I stretched my hand out of her reach.

“She sounds hot and fiery; and she can come along...I need some fun moments while I’m here.” Diego replied in an amusing tone, not even offended that Adrian just mentioned me having a boyfriend.

Guess he was only looking for a friend after all.

“Okay. See you soon.” I ended the call and stored his number immediately.

“Crystal bells park.” I told her and she flicked the key over the ignition with a huff. “That’s the only zoo where a lovers celebration is taking place in the city.”

“A friend or an admirer?” She demanded after a few seconds of silence. We nodded at the old Gateman who was waving. I had no idea why old people would be doing such strenuous jobs but then, mama was also somehow old and still working for Stephano.

I knew things would get better soon. In a year time, I would have started working.

“Friend or admirer?!” Adrian asked again, snapping this time.

“Diego is a friend of mine. He is new here.” Now I remembered how good looking he was and gave a firm nod of approval.

“New in school?”

“No. In Italy.”

Her brows scrunched up, a sly smirk pulling at the corner of her lips. “Hmm, whatever. He better not try anything with you to tamper with young Hunk’s relationship. If not I’ll also tamper with him by feeding him his balls.”

Her serious look, despite the sly smirk, was enough to prompt the shudder that crawled over my skin.

“Adrian!” I scolded.

She shrugged innocently. “What? You know I’ve been all for team Stephano since the very start. Any other person is getting it from me.”

“Whatever. Just concentrate on driving us there.” I rolled my eyes at her mock seriousness.

She knew the deal between myself and Stephano yet she still fangirled over our fake relationship all the time. She believed there was a stupid link or spark. Whatever she called it.

It was painful enough that I was going through this and I must as well try not to mess anything up, though I wasn’t forced to.

I would just keep my heart stone cold till the contract was over. It had been two months now, since we started fake-dating each other; remaining ten months and then we would gladly go our separate ways.

~°~

Stephano’s POV

*

“That would be five Euros please.” The attendant’s gaze didn’t leave my face as she said this. She rarely acknowledged the beautiful woman beside me.

Uncaring, the woman’s long fingers grazed my stubbles and she wrinkled her nose. She pulled my beard in a way that irritated me.

“Okay.” I replied glumly and the attendant left.

She took off her glasses and glared at the attendant’s retreating back. “That girl was checking you out.”

“She was being nice. She is an attendant and that’s her duty.”

“I still don’t appreciat-”

I huffed, already getting impatient. Five minutes and we were still talking about a damn attendant. “That’s her duty. What was so important that couldn’t wait till I paid you a visit?”

She adjusted herself in her seat and gave me her full upper profile. “When is the wedding?”

“Mom!”

“Son!” She snapped back. That glare wasn’t even that effective on me anymore. I gave her my ‘you’re wasting my time’ look but she shrugged. This was the first time I was seeing her in about four months but she was making me rethink my decision about me coming here.

“Remember your promise to your father.” She reminded me, as if I would easily forget that. I observed every crinkle on her face. Mom wasn’t the type to go for facial surgery, or any kind of surgery as a matter of fact but she would apply heavy makeup sometimes and then other times, she wouldn’t even wear makeup at all. Today, she was makeup free. I swear, it was hard to understand all the women in my life.

“I remember.” I grumbled when she kept staring at me with those blue orbs that were very much identical to mine.

“So, when are you proposing?” Her stare was demanding. It threatened to pull me into everlasting darkness if I didn’t spill my guts. Maybe I wasn’t scared as I used to be as a teenager, still, it was unnerving.

“We just started dating. And...it’s even based on a business deal.”

“Come again?” Her eyes squinted.

“I mean, I told her it would be a business dea-”

“You didn’t!”

I calmly matched her gaze. “I actually did.”

“When you’re not a bastardó!” She yelled, her hands slamming against the coffee table. Her hand flew to the back of my head, smacking it upside-down. My hat almost dropped but thank goodness I’d strapped it properly, as if knowing she was going to pull a stunt like this if I said anything that directly or indirectly upset her.

“Sir, your order.” The waitress distracted her for a while, just when I was close to bursting.

She just smacked me that way in a damn coffee shop! For screaming out loud, I was no longer sixteen! I took glances around quickly but thankfully, no one seemed to be watching.

“Drop it and leave!” She snapped at the waitress, who dropped the cup and immediately scurried off.

“I did not raise any of my children as cowards; especially not you Stephano James Alfonsi!” she told me sternly, a scowl etched on her face. I would have argued, but I didn’t press it. Her voice was leaking with irritation.

Madre was caring and pampered children, but one mistake and that child wouldn’t hear the end of it.

“Bu-” I tried again but changed my mind when she raised a hand.

“I changed my mind. I’ll be attending the house party and visiting your aunt at the end of next month. If you don’t propose to her, I’ll be the next to do the needed.” She spoke too calmly with her teeth on display, as if she hadn’t been screaming before now.

A lingering peck on each of my cheeks followed. Then she picked her glasses. She got up and left. Shit. She wasn’t attending the event before. Why now? Why was she even so upset?

This relationship was between Kara and myself. Other mothers would have looked down on her, being the nanny’s daughter and all but not my family, which I was more than grateful for.

My younger brother had a crush on her, but knowing how well I liked her even since when she was born, he resigned and left her for me. My sister was also very fond of Kara, though she spent most of her years in boarding school. There was still a reason I was prolonging this introduction.

This weekend’s event meant that I would be introducing Kara into my business world, something I wished I could prolong even further. I didn’t know how that would affect her, because Kara wasn’t like my ex-girlfriend, Danielle. She wasn’t outgoing or used to being in the spotlight and answering several questions from the press or media.

Would she be able to handle it when paparazzi started swarming around her like bees? She wasn’t the type that craved attention and all that. I would need to increase the security on her, even whenever she was at the university. What Kara didn’t know was that I had someone watching her since she was in high school. The person still does, even now that she was almost done with her degree course. Her safety was very important to me, she was my precious gem.

I myself would have had a few reporters following me if I hadn’t worn a local hat, a Polo and casual denim to this coffee shop. Also, those around us might’ve figured out that I was Stephano Alfonsi, the billionaire they see on TV.

Making it out of this local shop without my bodyguards would have been impossible and why had mother even chosen this place as a meeting point?

I couldn’t guess it. She could’ve come over to my place.

She could have even paid me a visit at the office.

I wracked my memory but couldn’t figure out what I had done to upset her before now, to even make her walk out when we were having a discussion and came up short.

I got up, dropped the bill and turned to leave when a smiling face shone at the entrance. My legs refused to cooperate as I tried moving them.

It was Kara, in a red jumpsuit and sun shades, her lips coated with red lipstick. Goodness, red was a perfect color on her. She looked so beautiful, beyond words and her hair was down, just the way I loved it. Right behind her was her best friend and then...that guy from the other day at the hospital.

That drained whatever high spirits I had earlier on.

Immediately, I sat back down, but not on my chair. I sat on the chair mother used a few minutes ago. So I could get a proper view without them being aware of my presence.

She was supposed to be in school...oh, I remembered she already finished her test today.

Who was that guy?  He better not be an admirer because...hmm!

Her friend said something, with scowl sitting comfortably on her face and Kara giggled as her eyes roamed around, probably looking for a free table.

The boy also laughed and put an arm over her shoulder. Kara didn’t look uncomfortable, it was like she was used to being in that position with him.  My ringing tone blared and I picked it with clenched jaws, my eyes not leaving them as they took a table in a corner.

“Hmm?”

“Bro, what did you do this time?” The annoying voice demanded, more like whined. I already knew it was Giuliano, my immediate younger brother; once the heartthrob in his high school and now at his workplace. Charming and a lover of many, unlike me, the serious Alfonsi son.

“What do you mean?” I enunciated each word and ducked my head the instance Kara looked my way.

“Mom called just now to report you, asking me to talk to you. You aren’t really playing my Kara are you?” I scowled. How dare he...?

“Stop playing games. She isn’t yours. Okay?”

Giuliano chuckled. “Well, someone is possessive.”

“Was that all you called for?” My eyes followed Kara’s form, taking in her shape and amazing curves which was visible through the jumpsuit. All from the front over there, her rich and enchanting laughter floated through my ears, making the side of my lip tug up in a smile

“I called to check on my sweet brother.”

“And we’re slapping balls. Stop getting all mushy on me and say whatever you want to, okay?”

“Fine! Whatever...but seriously, an arranged relationship? I thought you could handle her hotness if I left her in your care.”

The irritation in me intensified even further as I saw the younger man pull out a chair for Kara, who was checking something in her bag before now.

If I approached their table, I would grab Kara and my possessiveness would get the better side of me. I needed to finish some paperwork at the office and I needed to be in a good state of mind.

“-and see her there.”

I scrunched up my nose. I already forgot the moron was still on phone.

“What are you saying?”

“Did you get lost somewhere? I said it was high time.”

“For?!” I didn’t have time to deal with his annoying self now. He only called to lecture me about Kara, so much for being the younger brother.

“I’m also attending the event you’re hosting at your mansion. I should just confess my undying crush to my Ka-”

I gritted my jaws and ended the call. My legs couldn’t have ever carried me out of that place as fast as I would’ve appreciated.

I needed to confess my feelings before my mother went ahead and told Kara that I had been crushing on her since she was very young. And even thinking of it now, it sounded so damn absurd. Was I even okay in the head?

This sounded so fucked up!

.............

Hi. I finally updated and haven't stopped listening to 'Say you won't let go' by James Arthur. He's my new obsession. 'Perfect' by Ed-Sheeran is also a great recommendation for y'all. I pray we all find the bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. The one that brings perfection into our lives. The one we're meant to be with. Amen. There's nothing as perfect as fitting right into someone.

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