Chapter 30

Stephano’s POV

*

Crack! Hiss! Thump!

The continuous sound of someone hissing and hitting things somewhere at the back, around the garden caught my attention. The light was dim there, and so I kept my phone in my pocket after pressing the power button and traced the sounds I was hearing.

I frowned at the figure but then realized that the person was none other than Kara.

She looked beautiful this night, I couldn’t take my eyes off her and even though I knew the pressure on her was quite much with the announcement I was making tonight, I was glad we would now be lovers.

After this night, I just knew we would become more comfortable around each other.

With her, I wanted to do couple things. I wanted nothing than to hold her hands, listen to her tell me about her future plans and even watch her sleep all day. I was obsessed with her very being.

My lips parted open and a smile stretched onto my face as I approached her but I halted in my steps when she stomped on something twice, muttering profanities and repeating the words ‘you’re stupid Kara, very stupid!’

Her teeth were gritted as she produced the words and her eyes were narrowed at the ground. Then she sat on a long bench by the edge of the flowers that was situated just a few feet away, her hands coming over to cover her face as her shoulders wracked.

My jaws had their mind of their own, because they instantly grinded against each other.

What made Kara this upset?

It wasn’t more than a few minutes that I came out to call my business investors who had made the suggestion because they knew about this event and were on their way from Zimbabwe, all the way from Africa.

I needed to earn their trust because I wanted to set up two companies producing both household wares and edible products side by side in a suitable environment in their country and they were recommended to be the best in deals like mine. I went closer to her, taking cautious steps and placed my hand on her shoulder.

Instantly, she stiffened. In high school, I knew girls used to bitch about when they were angry and right now, Kara looked really angry.

Would she attack me? I quietly prayed not. I knew couples usually had issues to deal with but some years of dating Danielle educated me that I should never upset a girl or leave her angry for too long.

“Kara? What’s wrong?”

She just ignored me, staying in the same position like a statue. This was unlike the usually bubbly Kara. I tried to remember if I’d said anything to upset her at any point but came short. I clearly hadn’t.

“Kara?” I called again.

She raised her head up to look at me and I felt my heart get squeezed painfully.

Her eyes were glistening, as if she would burst into tears any moment.

Her hair didn’t look as smooth as it was earlier this evening and her lips were slightly trembling as if she wanted to tell me something but was having difficulty in making up her mind whether to do so or not. Did someone say something that upset her so badly?

If they did, then they would be sorry when I finally get to know about it. “What happened? Talk to me Kara.”

I was met with more silence as she shook her head. She wasn’t even making an attempt to tell me or give me any sort of assurance that she was okay.

I placed a hand on her cheek but she flinched as if my touch was scalding. It was now my turn to flinch also, because different thoughts were running through my mind. Her act burned me. I felt the impact in my chest. Someone I cared about so much blatantly rejected my comfort and the heaviness weighed me down.

“Tell me what is wrong!” I commanded, switching into my cold tone as I narrowed my eyes. I knew it was a jerk move but at least that would get her to talk.

“Please, let me be.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let me be. I just want to be alone.” She snapped.

Did she receive an upsetting call?

Did she loose a loved one? Her voice was like that of someone in grief. Or was I the one that did something that upset her?

No.

I made her happy this night, complemented her on her appearance and then left to meet mum— and warn her— so she wouldn’t cause a scene before I had the chance to speak with Kara alone later on. Telling someone you were in love with them, wasn’t something I could just do as if it was the most normal thing on earth.

Letting out your feelings would determine what ground you would place your relationship on with that person and I wasn’t ready to have Kara freaking out if I told her at the wrong time. I knew she was nervous tonight. She was not used to being around people who screamed higher class! I raised a hand again to place on her soft check again but she raised her head up and stopped me with a glower.

Chepallel? (what the hell)

Hell! I had never been a source of Kara’s anger but at the moment, it seemed as though her anger was directed at me. “Stephano, I need to be alone!” She gritted through clenched teeth. Her tone was cold.

“Mai.” I stated with equal determination and I meant it with every breath I had in me, because I would never let her be alone when I was there to comfort her. I crouched to her level and wrapped my hands around her so fast that she didn’t see it coming.

Her shoulders shook as she tried to wring free from my tight embrace but I tightened my hold around her.

“Let go, dammit!” She snapped icily. Kara was mad.

But I was having a different reaction, and I wasn’t even embarrassed about it. My body was in frenzy as she struggled against me. I got a hot reaction beyond what I would’ve bargained for; not because Kara was talking to me so coldly or because she was upset but because she was speaking to me in that commanding tone of hers.

I wanted her to talk so freely with me, telling me what she wanted and all but right now, I needed to calm her down.

I tightened my hold so she wouldn’t even be able to move at all, noting that the hold was firm on her shoulders and not her upper arms so as to avoid harming her.

“Who upset you?!” I questioned sharply.

She matched my gaze for a few seconds. “You.”

“What?” I questioned confusedly.

Guilt ate at my insides but how? I released her and weighed her words, coming short after trying to recollect when or how I had upset her.

“How did I upset you? When? Fuck, where?”

“I don’t know.” She muttered. Her voice was back to the submissive Kara, the defiant one now hidden somewhere in her once again.

She didn’t even bother meeting my eyes. My jaws clenched again.

“Talk to me Kara, if not...”

“What would you do, young master?” She spat the master word out and her eyes suddenly grew moist again as she looked at me. That was the gaze she used to cast before I made the proposal of this pretend relationship.

It was the gaze of someone feeling inferior, feeling intimidated. Not knowing what else to do in this situation, I closed the distance between us once again and tightened my hold around her waist. She tried to pull away but I didn’t let her.

“I’m sorry Kara. Tell me how I upset you so I can fix it.” I felt her give up her struggles and her shoulders sagged.

“You can’t.” She mumbled.

“Dimmi.” I rarely spoke to her in Italian but this was too intimate to care in what language I spoke. “Please.”

“Why do you care?”

There was Inquisition in her voice and my heart leapt into my throat. I care because I love you. “I have always cared Kara, and will always care. I care for you babe, truly.”

She frowned, as if she didn’t believe me.

“Look at me Kara.”

She turned to face me and her eyes were still glistening.

“I don’t think I can do this.” Her voice was barely a whisper. I stared at her with wide eyes, shifting into panic mode. Immediately, I got up and pulled at my hair, frustration already rolling off me in large quantity of waves.

“Just, calm down, baby. Tell me what happened.” She frowned, then opened her mouth and shut it again. “I’m waiting...”

She shrugged. “You’ll probably think it’s a stupid excuse coming from me…”

“I won’t. Mai.”

That seemed to give her the assurance she needed. “When you left there, someone announced herself as your lover...but that wasn’t the most painful part of it. I felt humiliated, Stephano. People started whispering and they were all pointing at me.”

Every fiber in me stilled as I processed what she just said. Only one person would have the guts to do this.

Danielle!

Danielle, I don’t know what your purpose is for coming back here but that was a shitty move.

“Listen to me Kara, and listen well,” I told her firmly, my hand resting on her lower chin. “I care about you, and your feelings matter to me. You’re my girlfriend, mine and my only lover. Don’t allow whatever any woman said get to you okay?” She just stared at me for what felt like forever. She blinked and shut her eyes to calm her breaths. My mouth dried and I gulped.

I fell for her all over again. She was like the rainbow, with different beautiful and colorful features to her. She was beautiful, had an amazing personality and was so damn mine.

“This must not repeat itself Stephano, I did not sign up for this.” She told me firmly and I eagerly nodded.

“It won’t, I promise. I’m so sorry for that. She is my ex and we broke up several years ago.” I clarified.

“Alright.” She finally muttered. Relief flooded into me and spread around my system.

A smile came back to my face. “Let’s go show them who the love of my life is.” I muttered and nudged my elbow on her shoulder playfully but to my surprise, my Kara fell back on top of the wooden bench, right on her butt.

I got worried. I only nudged her playfully and she fell. Was she even eating properly?

“Cazzo...” I muttered un-amused, and helped her up. She glared at me before huffing. My hand found hers and I held it, softly feeling it. Contentment immediately spread through me.

What have you done to me Kara? Why am I so obsessed with you?

My mood slipped into one of irritation as I led her back into the hall where I knew Danielle was at the moment, remembering why Kara had been upset.

Danielle was my wild, sophisticated ex. She had once been Miss Italy. She commanded authority everywhere she went die to her social status and was never afraid to speak her mind. She was quite bold, but what she did this night was totally uncalled for.

Just as I was leading Kara to where Danielle was standing, my mother stormed towards us. I released Kara’s hand and quickly held my mom’s shoulders because through her glare, I knew she was angry and she could easily smack me.

Yes, she wouldn’t bat an eyelid before doing so in the presence of all these people in the hall. Mom was always a disciplinarian, just like Natalia but she had a soft spot for me and I had some privileges my siblings didn’t have while growing up.

Still, that gave me no right to misbehave. “Mother.”

“Where have you been? Go take care of that rat over there,” she pointed in Danielle’s direction, “I don’t want to see her in my son’s house and do the ‘needed’ quickly, before I take my royal walk up there and embarrass the life out of you.” She gritted, but she was smiling.

The only people that knew she was angry were Kara and I. I nodded and took Kara’s hand once again. Immediately Danielle spotted us, a beam took over her once bored expression.

“It was nice addressing you all. I’m honored and hope you enjoy your evening.” Her smooth, almost practiced voice came on as she addressed my guests. Danielle practiced everything she did.

She had a time table and it was understandable, being a model and all.

“What are you doing?” I asked Danielle with indifference as she approached us.

“I was asked to be the MC for this event.” She raised her perfectly arched brow.

I heaved a sigh, already feeling like a husband of two wives but the only wife I would ever have was Kara. “Alright. Who told you to do that?”

“Your brother.”

My eyes clouded in irritation as I stared at her, her eyes also observing me, as if to gauge my reaction. He always took things with levity. Was this a joke to him?

“Thanks. I’ll take it from here. Danielle, meet Kara Wilson, the love of my life and the woman I will be spending the rest of my life with.” Kara gasped softly beside me and her hand slowly came to caress her chest.

Take that Kara! You’re stuck with me for life!

Danielle’s smile widened even further. “Hello Kara. I’m Danielle and used to be in a relationship with this guy over here but I’m glad he finally gave his heart to someone and also it is nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Danielle.” Kara replied curtly, not sounding a bit like she did when we were outside. Her head was held high and her shoulders straightened even though Danielle was a few inches taller.

There was conflict in Kara’s eyes, but she tried to mask it and force a smile that looked totally real to everyone who didn’t know her like I did.

Cazzo! I sounded like a grade one stalker.

Danielle’s eyes traced Kara’s hand on mine and she checked me out, before shaking her head and muttering ‘finally’. She handed the microphone over to me and walked away.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen...” I started and everyone’s gazes were transferred to us.

“I am sure most of you here already know who Kara Wilson is and for those that don’t, she is a family friend and I just happened to have fallen in love with her since I was in junior high school. Can you imagine that?” I asked playfully.

Most people laughed and I smirked. But I glanced down at Kara and saw her giving a tight smile. This wasn’t what I wanted, I didn’t want her to be uncomfortable. I immediately turned sober.

“Each time I look into her eyes, I get lost in her gaze. She lights up my world and I have never met a woman so self-dependent and so amazing in all my life.” I confessed. A click made me more aware of my surroundings as several reporters started clicking away.

Kara’s eyes grew wide and she slowly dragged her eyes over to me and slowly looked over my face, as if she was desperately searching for something. My mom was now looking at us with a beaming face. Natalia was somewhere at the back, but just staring into space as if she was thinking about a very serious issue.

“You’re all the good things that has ever happened in my life. I’m glad I asked you to be my girlfriend and I promise to treat you like a Queen, buy you a diamond ring-”

“All she wants is someone to love her!” My mom spoke in a raised voice. Oh hell. I broke eye contact with Kara and gave my mom a look that said ‘what the hell?’

She was supposed to act formal, being the wife of an influential businessman and my mom— Stephano Alfonsi’s mom. Also, I had business partners and clients here but instead, she was acting as if we were merely having a family meeting. I dragged my gaze off her with a look of warning.

“And I will also take care of you.” I finished softly.

The cameras were flashing as we stared deeply into each other’s eyes. Heaviness weighed on my shoulders as I thought of telling her I loved her but I knew that I needed to be careful. I didn’t want her to run for the hills and call me bluff. I wanted her to feel it in all my sincerity.

“Thank you for coming into my life, Kara mio.” I said as I wrapped my hands around her waist and drew her closer to me. She kept staring at me with wide eyes throughout, not speaking but just staring. I was also drawn into her pool of chocolatey orbs. I suddenly realized that no one really mattered right now.

Nothing else mattered at this moment, just the fact that Kara was beside me once again and I could show her to the world as mine. Or...at least she was mime to an extent. I leaned in and caressed my lips with hers in a feathery touch, feeling her shudder against me. Then my lips found hers again and this time I didn’t let go.

I tilted her face upwards and kissed her properly till I heard my younger brother chuckle and say, ‘lovers makeup!’

I pulled away and magically enough, the investors that made a comment on my dating life and my dedication to the partnership business were now standing beside my Chinese business partners, smiling at us as if they just achieved something.

But they had no idea that I was the greatest achiever this night.

I achieved what my heart had been longing for in years. Kara was finally mine. In my arms, where she belonged.