Chapter 5

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Stephano’s POV

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I took a refreshing sip from my glass and heaved a low sigh, resting my left elbow on the table properly. The music in this part of Nautoscopio club was low, sensual even. Also, being acquainted with the owner of the club was an advantage because I could come whenever I wanted.

“What’s up man?” A familiar voice suddenly demanded and my eyes rotated skywards before I even registered what I was doing. I didn’t have to raise my head up to know it was Benito. He knew where I would probably be and I could only guess he had also checked me at the office. He was one of the few friends I’d had from elementary days.

“I already checked you at the office.” He said, as if reading my thoughts and I gave a nod of approval. What made him stand out among all the other men was that we were closer and respected each other's personal space. We sometimes went out together to clubs and business meetings but that was it. He had this calm aura about him.

He was easy going with everyone and no matter how well I had tried to dispose of him in the past, he had only clung to me like a stubborn chewing gum. But regardless, he was a good friend.

He was the son of a Puerto Rican businessman who was very close to my father, so close that I sometimes considered it bothersome. Their family loved to death, and to them, family always came first. To the Alfonsi’s also, family came first but theirs was more intense.

The guy often came to me and we would always have a little chat about business and other relatable issues.

“Stressful day at the office?”

“Hmm.”

“I guess you’ve heard the talk going around.”

“What do you want Bennie?”

“Don’t call me Bennie, stronzo. I am Be-ni-to and it’s just three syllables.” He frowned.

“What do you need?”

“I thought the juicy information had reached your hearing, fratello.” (brother)

I shrugged. “That?”

“She is back and has planned to paint the town red.” His eyes glinted with excitement.

She is back... Hell! I just remembered it was remaining only a few days more for Kara to stay here before she had to return to school and I still hadn’t made a move on her. That girl wasn’t growing younger. Soon her mother would start planning her wedding and would definitely want me to take the position of the man that would walk her down the aisle. What?!

“Mai!” I muttered through gritted teeth. Never!

I would chain her to my room and keep her there before allowing any other man to lay his filthy hands on her.

“-so, the oblivious seductress decided it was time to make her presence known here in Italy.” Benito was still chattering away. On hearing the word, ‘seductress,’ my neck snapped upwards, finally taking in his happy features.

“What do you mean?” I asked him.

He gave me a funny look.

“Seriously, we need to have a heart-to-heart talk about this issue on ground. When did you intend to inform me? Or I’ll just take it that you never even planned to let me know. And you know how much I like her...”

I couldn’t keep the scowl off my face. “Who are you talking about?”

“Danielle, our very own Dani is back in town.” He gave me a knowing look. After returning his stare for a good couple of seconds, I finally broke the gaze and took a sip of my wine.

“Hmm.” I grunted, lazily admiring the ring on my little finger.

“Yo-you’re not going to say anything?” He finally sputtered in disbelief. I shook my head because I had absolutely nothing to say.

Danielle, the girl I briefly dated before breaking things with her years ago was back. Did he expect me to do a happy dance around the VVIP room where I was currently sitting?

She had been a great girlfriend, but being with her hadn’t been what I really wanted. And I didn’t feel that calmness I usually felt around Kara whenever I was with Danielle.

I knew I didn’t like her as much as she did with me, no matter how well I actually tried to. I just couldn’t get my heart to flutter in a weird way whenever we were together and that was what I was looking for. As a little boy with girl issues, my grandmother would tell me that when I would finally meet the right girl, my heart would go into frenzy and she would take my breath away.

‘Then my boy, would you know she is your Bambina. Your very own Cara.’ My Noona would tell me before patting my head softly.

Danielle never took my breath away but I had tried to make things work when I first started dating her. Nothing she had done ever made me feel a special kind of attraction towards her but she was one of the most beautiful ladies according to models chart then and she was someone I knew while growing up so I didn’t stop trying.

“I thought you were heartless.” Benito muttered with eyes boring into my soul though his mind appeared to be far away.

“What makes you think I’m not?”

He chuckled, “I just know that you aren’t. Still, why didn’t you ever open up to anyone?”

“There’s nothing to-”

He held my right hand softly but I grabbed it quickly, narrowing my eyes at him. “If you’re into guys, just tell me and I promise we won’t love you any less. I’ll understand and relay it to your famiglia-”

I spat part of the drink straight into the flower vase close by and glared at him. “What the hell? I’m not into men!”

“You’ve never showed any interest in any girl. Let’s get you at least...at least one girl, okay? Not compulsorily Danielle.” He told me softly.

My neck grew warm with mortification as the heat crawled around my skin. “Don’t ask me that question again. Who I’m into, you’ll know soon.”

Benito searched my face for any flicker of emotion but I remained nonchalant, looking right into the bottle in one hand and the cup in another hand as I poured another good portion of wine.

The only person that ever made my heart flutter was Kara.

Her lovely smile and dashing beauty made my heart flutter. Her smooth, porcelain skin that left my hands itchy with eagerness to run my long, lean fingers over it appeared in my imagination and I groaned out loud. I envisioned her fluttery eye lashes and that blush that could go far north. Like someone that had been jinxed, I got up and looked around the VIP room.

I dropped the bottle of wine in my hand back onto the table and left without a backward glance at Benito. I drove home without looking left or right and maybe I did, but that was the least of my worries till I got home and parked. Getting out, my legs couldn’t have taken longer strides towards the entrance of my mansion.

“Welcome sir. The postman was here today and I was asked to-” my gardener began but I cut him off with a single wave of my right hand.

I didn’t know what was happening but one thing was for sure. I needed to see Kara.

I barged in and the smell of homemade meal quickly embraced me, prompting my next step as I allowed my legs lead me towards the kitchen. There she was, typing on her embarrassingly loud China phone and she had her back towards me.

She seemed happy because she was grinning from ear to ear.

My heart warmed at the sight and I muttered a low curse word at how whipped I was, making her turn around so fast that she almost lost her balance. Her waist was twisted to the side and there was nothing behind to hold her from falling.

“Sir?” She squeaked and braced herself for the fall.

With my suitcase now thrown carelessly by the kitchen’s entrance, I took four speedy strides and held her firmly by the waist, preventing the ungracious fall. I sucked in a low breath. Her skin was so soft and holding her felt perfect, it gave me weird fluttering in my stomach. She stiffened and refused to open her eyes for some seconds and I stared right at her face.

Wow.

Kara was beautiful, in every way. Her eyelashes were dark and spiky, her teeth was also white as she clenched them in obvious fear for what she’d proposed would happen in her mind. I wanted to peck her cute nose. She was also brilliant, she always excelled in her academies and I was very proud of my girl.

Then all of a sudden, she pulled out of my hold with her outstretched hand still gripping the edge of the counter firmly. I almost pulled her back to me but resisted the urge to do that.

“Did you need something, sir?” She breathed.

“You.” My foolish mouth spoke before I could stop it and I walked around to stand in front so she wouldn’t have to turn around.

...........

A/n: hi. Thanks for reading. Another update will be available this noon.

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Hephzibah.