Chapter 35

My shout-out goes to Belgium and Ghana and Togo ❤️❤️

Kara’s POV

*

“Kara.”

The look in his eyes was so raw and so deep that it rocked my whole world and shook me relentlessly.

The intensity in his eyes was driving me insane. Stephano was in love with someone, and questions were beginning to swirl in my mind. Why weren’t they together? What was her name? Was it someone I knew? And even if it was someone I knew, would she treat him right? And did she like him as much as I did?

The love that emanated off him as he spoke so lovingly about this anonymous lady was magical and it made a teeny amount of envy spread through me! I desperately needed to hear the name of that woman who had his heart because it was important.

For now, since we were in a relationship, I should know this vital information. If anything was to happen and he wanted to break us up suddenly, I would know she was the reason.

“Kara.” The faint voice from earlier spoke again and succeeded in startling me this time. My eyes widened, now sure I hadn’t been hallucinating when I first heard the voice. I’d thought I heard wrong when the call first came since I didn’t expect anyone here except Stephano and Andre to know me or even call me. I turned around, only to spot Diego walking in with a grin he was flashing my way.

“Diego?” A frown easily slipped onto my face as I turned around properly. “Hey. What are you doing here?”

He chuckled, looking from me to Stephano. “I work here. Good morning boss.”

He was in blue tee-shirt and black suit pants, with a tie dangling below his neck. I recollected him saying it was either he searched for a job soon or return to California but it all depended on the call he was expecting. Also, that had just been a few days ago when we chatted and he hadn’t told me he already got a job. He said he didn’t know anyone here besides me but now he already got a job, as I could see and he was still very much around. Maybe he found the person he was looking for.

“I didn’t ask you to come in. When did you even start working here?” Stephano demanded in a voice laced with irritation and my gaze easily wandered in his direction. I knew he was angry and I could guess the reason.

Diego didn’t acknowledge him when he entered his office and that was obviously unprofessional. Also, he didn’t knock before entering and had interrupted us from our intense conversation. Or maybe he actually called me and I just didn’t hear it.

“I’m sorry-”

“You didn’t even knock. Get out and get me the manager in your department!” Diego and I kept quiet while Stephano was still fuming. “You need to be put on probation, because such behavior isn’t acceptable in my company.”

“S-Stephano... Please calm down.” I whispered and walked towards him slowly.

“I won’t calm down, Kara. Don’t tell me to calm down.” He grunted without meeting my eyes. He was angry. I didn’t know the remedy so, yeah, I just stood beside him awkwardly. All those years of him constantly throwing glares told me not to mess with him, girlfriend or not. Besides, we were even just getting to open up to each other. I heaved a sigh.

“I’m sorry for just barging in like that sir. I knocked but didn’t get a reply so I thought I could come in. Erm, Kara, I saw you at the lobby and was first wondering if you were the one but of course you’d be the one so I said I’d say hi. Have a nice time.”

“You too Diego.” I gave him a tight smile, feeling slight pity for him since he was currently at the receiving end of Stephano’s anger.

Stephano glared hotly at the door when Diego shut it. Maybe I should give him some space since he looked really angry.

“Should I give you some space?” My demand was unsure.

“If you want to, Kara. Do whatever you like!” He snapped.

Anger flared in me. I wasn’t the source of his anger and I’d never take the blame for any reason. I hated taking blames or being made to feel like I was at freakin’ fault when I wasn’t!

“Of course,” I replied with an attitude. Now, I didn’t care if he was the brooding and cold young master Stephano or my extremely caring boyfriend. I still couldn’t stand assholes and he was acting like one at the moment. I reached for my sling bag on the chair I’d previously sat and all but stormed out of his damn office, tucking the stray hair he had pulled out behind my ear as irritation coursed through me. Just when we were sharing damn tissues and talking emotions, getting to know more about each other, he had to go and get so angry because of Diego. At least the man already apologized!

“You’re leaving so soon?” Andre questioned as he met me on the way to the elevator.

“No, Andre, I just need to look around.” My expression was schooled and my smile tight. Was this what it felt like to have lovers fight? Ugh. It would’ve been better if I knew my so-called ‘boyfriend’ enough to know when he was angry and what I could do to calm him down. Also, he was just about to tell me the name of the lady he was so in love with. I heaved a tired sigh, feeling my heart ache at the foreign emotion that spread through me at the knowledge that Stephano actually had someone he was in love with.

“Then what am I here for? At your service, ma’am.”

I eyed him with unease. “Don’t you have to be with your boss right now?”

“Not really. Besides, I wouldn’t miss the chance to spend some time with the woman who has magically captured the boss’s heart.” He smirked.

Laughter bubbled freely from my lips and my heart became lighter. “Captured your boss’s heart? Okay, if you say so, Andre. Shall we?” I made a mock gesture to which he nodded.

“We shall.” He pressed the button and the elevator door opened. The ride down was silent but I kept a small smile on my lips as I tried but in vain to push the words Andre had just stated out of my mind. He thought I had captured Stephano’s heart? If only he knew. Another small chuckle escaped me.

“Where do you need to see first? Also, do you know what the company is all about or do you need briefing?”

I nodded. “Yes, of course. I know what the company is about.”

“Great. Let’s see the finance department first, since that’s your forte. What do you think?”

“That’s a brilliant idea.” At least it was better than sitting in a chilly room with an irritated Stephano.

~°~

*

Stephano’s POV

I couldn’t concentrate on my papers. Obviously, she would be alright, I knew Kara for that. Also, immediately she left, I instructed Andre to keep her company. But I still felt uneasy, because we’d been interrupted by that brat! Now she wouldn’t know the name that I was about to mention earlier on, the same one that always made my heart flutter strangely was hers. Hers alone!

It had been two hours since she was away. What was she doing? Was she having a nice time being away from me? Dammit!

I got up and pulled at my tie, looking around my office as I searched for nothing in particular. Kara! Kara! Kara! She was all I had on my mind. Why couldn’t I just tell her? It was not like she would freak out since we were closer now. Even if she did, it would be for a little while and my loving and genuine gestures would let her know how serious I was with her.

I picked up my mobile phone and dialed Andre’s number. “How is she?”

“She’s enjoying herself, which I can tell. She’s at Diego’s office though, but I can see them through the window blinds. She’s just having an amazing time.”

The green-eyed monster immediately reared its ugly head. Diego this, Diego that. He was younger, probably her age but so what? So she wanted to give me space but what would she do to him? Choke him with her presence and attention?

I just gave the manager in his department the instruction to strike him a red mark in the probation list under the members of the engineering department for disrespect and unruly behavior. Now she was with him, of no doubt chatting and allowing him bask in the attention she'd shower him. Giggling like a fourteen year old at the cheesy things he would say, which I knew were stupid, by the way. Fantastic!

“Sir? You’re still on the line.”

“Hmm.” I grunted. I ended the call and instantly dialed Kara’s number.

This was the first time I would try to converse with her on the phone. “Come over.” I commanded immediately she picked.

Her chuckles were still vibrating through her but they slowly died down. “Hello? Stephano?”

“Yes. Come over. I’ll stay on the line.” My voice wasn’t as cold as earlier and I scowled at that. Her voice was soft and velvety as she called my name and I knew I had to start calling her on the phone from now on. The effect of her voice made butterflies fill my stomach as adrenaline rushed through me.

I would call her every day until the day I die! I pulled at my cuff-links and unbuttoned my shirt, taking two buttons out. My mind hadn’t left her once and all I could see while looking through these papers were her lovely smile and bright, curious eyes staring up shyly at me.

I sputtered out some curse words and dropped my pen with a loud clank, knowing I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on any work. Especially because she was so close, yet so far. This girl was driving me insane with lust, love and anger for so many reasons.

Four minutes later, and after continuous muffled sounds through the speaker of my phone, Kara walked in with obvious excitement and happiness gleaming within her orbs. My eyes roamed over her from her toes to her head, then back down to her toes, noticing she was now in a lighter, more relaxed mood than before. She shut the door and eyed me, as if trying to figure my mood.

“Come in.” I spoke slowly, trying desperately to remain mad at my Kara even though that was so hard with her radiant face. And, had she been biting on her lips? Good gracious, they looked so full and so edible. I shook my head a bit to ward off my lustful thoughts.

“Of course Stephano.” She sashayed in and instantly dropped her bag on the chair as previously. I ended the call and she kept her phone in her sling bag, still standing beside the chair she’d just dropped her bag on.

“Did you have a nice time touring?” I asked without emotion in my tone.

A smile spread across her face immediately, mesmerizing me.

“Yes. I met a few of your workers and I’ll admit that they were quite friendly, and also oh my Stephano, the whole place was mad busy. I like the catchphrases lining on the wall towards the finance department. There was thi-”

“You had a great time with Diego?” I interrupted with blazing eyes, my jaws clenching on their own accord as I pictured my girlfriend who had no idea how much I loved her, talking with a guy that enjoyed flirting with her.

Did she slap his shoulder like she was fond of doing with me while talking? Or did she blush cutely at something sappy he said, like she would do whenever I complimented her?

Kara gawked at me and finally nodded with wary eyes. “Yes I did Stephano, we had an amazing time and I even got to meet Richard, his partner.” She glared at me.

I got up slowly and began taking predatory steps towards her. “Why do you tempt me?”

“Tempt you?” She asked in a small voice, blinking. I watched her spiky eyelashes fan her cheekbones and licked my lower lip, resisting the urge to just pull her flush against me and kiss her senseless. She looked so beautiful right now, but I needed to get all these out of my chest and make things right with her.

“Yes, Kara mia. You know how I feel, don’t you? You should!” I accused with narrowed eyes.

She equally narrowed her eyes and Mio dios, she looked so beautiful, that the urge to ravish her was compelling. “I- Stephano, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Of course you don’t, because you’re busy receiving entertainment from that so-called brat that calls himself Diego. And when it’s not Diego, it’s Paul or even Sucre always has something to entertain you with!”

~°~

Kara’s POV

*

I backed away slowly but he took a step forward after each one I took back. I shook my head, my bones chilling as I saw the evil glint in his eyes. He looked handsomely evil!

“What do you even mean?”

“You intentionally talk to them, so as to drive me crazy right? Is that what you want? Attention?” He asked with wide eyes. A pang of pain stuck in my chest.

Was he calling me an attention seeker? When was I supposed to be with him and I was with Paul instead?

“Paul is my friend Stephano, and so is Diego. Also, you don’t surely expect me to ignore Sucre when he speaks to me since he introduced himself as your friend and mate from business school.” I defended.

“So, who am I? You actually have a lot of male friends. What position am I holding here?” My back hit the door.

This was one crazy issue Stephano was suddenly bringing up and I couldn’t deal with it at the moment but I also couldn’t run out because I could not will myself to look away from his piercing and inquisitive blue eyes. Never in my life had I been so insulted, especially to be called an attention seeker.

“You’re Stephano!” I spat at him and blinked away the blurriness that was clouding my vision. “Stephano Alfonsi, my Madre’s young master and the so-called billionaire who thinks he owns the whole world.”

He placed one hand on my cheek and another on my waist; his touches were soft and loving that I found myself involuntarily leaning into him.

“That’s all? That’s all I am?” He asked somberly.

“Yes.” My chest heaved.

“How can I be more?” He mumbled softly, his eyes desperately searching mine. “I don’t want to be just that to you, Kara.” He said it as if it was a State secret and it was meant for my ears alone.

My breath hitched as I eyed him with desire at the sexiness of his tone but I shook my head. I fought the urge to focus on the fact that he had just called me attention seeking because that was really offensive.

“Never.”

“What?” He whispered. His hold on my waist tightened.

For the first time since I knew him, I saw fear flash through his eyes. Was I this important to him or was this just the contract he valued so much? No, it wasn’t the contract.

No one pretended with their emotions for too long because the human emotions are like our whole being. They would always reveal what we feel at one point or the other.

My lips trembled slightly but I didn’t care. Because, well maybe I wanted to be an attention seeker, but the person I actually seek his attention at this point was Stephano himself. Not Paul. Not Diego but Stephano himself.

“I don’t want to ever be more with someone like you!” I gritted with all the hate I could mutter. “We’ll always be contract lovers and noth-”

He meshed his lips with mine hotly and pulled me against him, his blue eyes taking a semblance to the stormy clouds as he urged me to part my lips, which I refused.

A pinch on my right nipple did the trick though, because he took advantage when a gasp escaped my lips and I found myself pushing further into his calloused hands as we both shut our eyes. More lip contact, more teeth and tongue. I was in the skies. He’d began to pull me deeper, I was drowning. I pulled back for breath, bringing my hands over his shoulders to support my slipping body.

“You’ll.” Kiss “always.” Kiss. “be more.” kiss “to.” kiss “me.” kiss “my.” kiss “dear.” kiss “Kara.”

I gasped as he delivered each press against my lips before devouring them again and I gave in with a groan, the desire to have him pressed against me burning in my veins as he hoisted me up against the door. I heard a click but paid no attention.

Our tongues battled in sweet love making session and one hand played freely on my right breast as he groaned each time I pulled at his hair.

“Keep doing that baby. I love it so damn much.” He groaned and I kissed my way down his lips to his neck and down to the slightly exposed chest. He walked over to his desk and settled me firmly on it. When he broke the kiss, I almost cursed at him but I took fast breaths in instead.

“Don’t play with me, Kara. I can take anything but not you playing with other men. It hurts me so fuckin much.” He growled lowly with his eyes on my lips.

My chest was heaving as he stared down at me with such intensity that it took my breath away. But I was confused. What did he mean by other men playing with me? Was I a freaking doll?

“I am-”

“I love you, Kara so please don’t argue about what I just said. Yes, you were the girl that I was talking about all morning before the dumb Diego barged in.” He pulled me against his chiseled body and settled himself between my parted legs, placing his warm lips on my forehead.

My heart stilled. Then it beat twice than normal, fluttering in a way that had me feeling wild thumping in my stomach as my body trembled at the foreignness of it all. Then it flipped and a small smile tugged at my lips as I wondered if I’d heard him right.

“W-what?” I stared, feeling at loss for proper words at his sudden declaration for me. Love, huh? “Haha.” The sounds slipped off my lips as I shifted uncomfortably in his hold, vaguely registering the look in his eyes as they searched mine with desperateness and obvious contentment.

Guess I heard wrong. No, I possibly heard wrong.

“Stephano, come again please? I might’ve heard you mention love.” I muttered when his gaze didn’t waver from my face.

He was still staring down at me.

“I am in love with you Kara Wilson, I’m deeply and madly in love with you, baby.”

I blinked rapidly. A beautiful feeling spread through my chest and my lips stretched into a big smile. I wasn’t dreaming, and I didn’t hear wrong. But my body wouldn’t stop vibrating at the sudden turn of events!

“Really?”

“Yes, baby. So understand me when-” he trailed his fingertips over a breast and my mouth formed into an ‘o’ shape as he fondled me there gently, stealing a kiss, “I get jealous when you’re with other guys and you allow them entertain you with their constant teasing and flirting. You’re mine, Kara and that’s in every way possible. I’ll always stake my claim.” He tweaked my nipple and my breath caught in my throat.

I swallowed thickly, liking a jealous Stephano much more than I’d have ever cared to admit. He was still fondling the breast so softly as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

“What if I don’t want all this possessiveness?” I breathed with droopy eyes.

I tightened my legs together as the earth shattering sensation quaked there and I struggled to steady my breathing. What are you doing to me, Stephano? His jaw clenched as he registered my question and I could see the battle in his eyes.

“You want to be with some other guy?” He asked nonchalantly but the sadness I saw in his eyes told a different story.

“No. I want to be with you.” I confessed truthfully and could’ve sworn he visibly relaxed. “I just want to be with you Stephano, only you.” I reassured with a serious expression, letting him know this meant a lot to me as well.

He released my breast and pulled me against him again, this time in a tight hug. Relief flooded through me. And a sense of pride, that I was the woman he loved. But what did this mean?

Also, I didn’t say it back because I was still unsure of what I felt exactly. Yes I liked him, but then I’d also not dated since high school and how was I sure that this wasn’t just some feeling of entitlement since I was his girlfriend at the moment or maybe it was a crush I had for him, that would dissolve at some point after I got to know him better?

The best thing would be to take it slow and see how things eventually progressed. When I’m perfectly sure of what I feel for this man, I won’t hesitate to tell him I love him. And that wouldn’t to be bothering in any way; it was actually the safest option I had. Because I didn’t even know what it was like to be in love. I couldn’t say it without meaning the words.

“I didn’t say it back.” I blurted.

He chuckled and kissed me sloppily on the lips.

“I’ll wait Kara. We have all the time in the world.” He spoke softly. He stared at me as if I was a possession; one that couldn’t be prized.

His smile was contagious and I wondered what that feeling of love was like. Did it make one sometimes sad like Madre usually explained in her goofy romance stories? Or happy all the time? Or would it rather let them make dumb and irrational decisions without first properly thinking?

Or did it make you feel content? Stephano already told me he usually entertained jealousy, and I also knew he was very possessive.

I now knew he'd been jealous about the Diego issue. I lightly punched his chest when I remembered something. “I don’t appreciate people calling me names, especially not an attention seeker.”

“I’m sorry Kara. It won’t happen again, I promise.” He sounded guilty, how guilty he could’ve sounded in a husky tone and I hid my face in his chest because I knew I was the one bringing out all these reactions from him.

I should bring up us canceling the contract soon. He did say he loved me and something good could come out of this relationship, since I kind of liked him even though I wasn’t sure of how much I did. Yet.

“Can I get down now?”

“Yes. Let’s go eat somewhere. We’ve been here for a while.” He chuckled and we shared another passionate kiss before I was released.

*

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