0°Celsius: Chapter 18

Diary part 2

I never thought I would meet him again but our destiny had different plans.

I was again placed in front of him with head hung down.

Not daring to look into his eyes and focusing on his perfectly shining shoes instead.

I was ashamed of myself.

Ashamed of being so damn ignorant and lost while crossing the road.

Ashamed of my own situation that made me stand here lost at the centre of the road waiting for death without even knowing it.

If he hadn’t been the one driving the car I was sure any other person must have ran over me .

I expected him to yell at me.

Scold me for being so careless.

But he didn’t say a word except asked me if I was alright.

I gave my answer with a nod and after that there was silence.

I could feel his deep state at me but I couldn’t dare to look up.

Next I know he pulled my arm and dragged me to his passenger seat.

Before I could protest he had placed the seatbelt on me and settled himself on the driver’s seat.

He sighed a long sigh and started.

‘Miss Brown do you even realise you could have died?

I know I am no one to judge your problems but no problem can be so big that you forget that you are standing on a goddam highway!’

His voice rose a pitch higher till the end and that was enough to release the sob I was trying to control.

I was a mess…I was still shocked of the consequences if he hadn’t pressed his brakes.

He ran his hand through his hair frustrated at seeing me cry.

‘See Tosoro if you have a problem I can help you with it..let me know…please don’t cry…I am sorry if I sounded rude.’

Oh man how wrong he was.

I was not crying because he spoke harshly but because it was the first time someone scolded me for my own good.

Someone who sounded genuinely worried for someone like me.

He refused to look at me and instead his gaze was transfixed on something outside the window.

He patiently waited for me to calm down.

Finally when I was done he politely asked me.

‘Are you fine?’

I nodded again

‘I…am….sorry…..you must….be going….somewhere…I wasted…so much of your time…I must go….sorry and thank…you…’

I proceeded to open the door when his hand held my arm stopping me.

‘I didn’t asked you to leave Tosoro…now sit back and let’s do some adult talk….stop acting like a Bambino ragazza’

What was Bambino I thought but I decided to ignore it…

Closing the door I decided to turn to look at him in the eye for the first time.

‘Okay so why were you in the middle of the road at this hour?’

‘.. actually…I…..was…lost…..yes I lost….my way……..so I was confused…..deciding…debating…..where to go……’

He sighed and a small smile escaped his lips

‘Do you take me to be a fool Tosoro….I wouldn’t have build empires if I couldn’t see through people’s eyes…’

‘No….No Sir….I…. didn’t mean to lie….I just don’t want to trouble you ….’

‘Lies trouble me more Tosoro…’

‘I…am sorry Sir….I am really sorry I didn’t knew you would find out…actually I couldn’t pay my rent so the landlord threw me out…she burned all my stuff and called the police…I don’t know what to do……so I was crossing the road absent minded…’

He didn’t say anything…just started the ignition and started driving.

15 minutes passed and I couldn’t gather enough courage to ask where he was taking me.

Finally the car stopped in front of two huge doors with AR engraved on them.

‘Sir …where are we…?’

‘la tua nuova casa Tosoro..’

I passed him a confused look and he smiled.

‘You will stay with me Tosoro…I can’t afford to leave a damsel in distress…now can I?’

My mouth opened in shock

‘No.!! No Sir…how can I ….I am sorry but I-‘

The doors of the car opened and he was already out of the car making his way towards the mansion.

I hurriedly followed him towards his house…or should I say castle.

So diary today was our second meet and this was how it all started.

I don’t know for how long I will stay here but one thing was for sure….

My heart betrays me when I am around him.

He is definitely a heart stealer and I won’t let him steal the only thing I have.

After all what’s the use when I would never be able to steal his but give everything of mine in return.

I remember that day like yesterday.

Seeing her lost in the middle of the road made me protect her at all cost.

I generally minded my own business but I don’t know why her business felt like mine..

Why her worries worried me..

I wanted her safe…safe from this world …safe from her own stupid self and maybe that’s why I couldn’t leave her that day.

I took her to my place and slowly her presence became the necessity of my sanity.

Few entries later…..

22dec2016

I don’t know if I will ever be able to thank Andro…but no one has ever done so much for me..

I don’t know how to return it…

His debt is overweighing now and I can’t be content knowing I can’t do anything for him.

I need to do something….

So I decided to make his favourite baked vegetables

And I finally made it….even though I cut my fingers once or twice and the onions made me cry …but still I made it.

He was seated on the table and I served him with my dish.

He looked as excited as I was.

As soon as he took the first bite his lips curved up in a smile and I jumped with happiness.

But the bad part was that he didn’t let me take even a single bite of my own dish.

He finished it all while I stared at his face.

But soon I found the reason behind it.

While cleaning the kitchen I found s bite left in the pan and when I tasted it…..

I spit it out immediately and coughed continuously.

The vegetables were so hard that I couldn’t even chew them and it was spicy as hell..

How could he eat something like this without complaining and instead with a smile on his face.

Today diary I found out that not all people are bad in this world.

Not all people are money minded.

Few in a million like Andro still exist and they are the ones who god trusts the most.

I faced him …yes I did that night .. accusing him of not complaining.

But his reply left me dumbfounded.

‘A tasty dish has two ingredients…love and effort and your dish was flooded with them…’

It is becoming very difficult to not fall for his addicting personality…angelic words and beautiful face Diary.

I don’t know for how long but I know this today…

Eventually I will fall

Fall hard for him and I really don’t know if he will be there to catch me .

Oh Saph I was always there to catch you…if only you trusted me and didn’t betray me with that Fu**** bast***.

Suddenly remembering him again my blood boiled in hate.

The way his hands were placed on her porcelain skin …the way she was looking at him in those pictures burned a fire of jealousy in me.

Which was so disastrous that it not only destroyed her but also managed to engulf that sweet caring Andro in it’s flames to bring everything down to ashes.

I know I didn’t let her explain back then…but weren’t those pictures enough

Did I had to hear it from her lips that she loved that bas****.

But her diary is showing me things in different light.

She did had feelings for me…I don’t know if I can call them Love right now…but she reciprocated my feelings and I was more than happy to know about it.

My patience was at it’s brink dying to know that if she shared my feelings why she betrayed me.

I wanted to reach that page…but how could I skip the date of our first kiss.

14 Feb 2017.

Valentine’s Day it was today and I must admit it was a roller coaster ride.

People like Andro have many friends..

Be it relatives, associates, childhood friends or even ex girlfriends.

He was invited to a ballroom party tonight.

But he was not going alone.

The card demanded a date and he found me to be the best candidate.

First I was anxious of being surrounded by so many rich and powerful people but slowly I started to relax myself.

He couldn’t stay by my side all throughout so I forced him to leave and talk to others.

After multiple assurances that I will be fine he finally left.

I sat alone taking in my surroundings.

Everything screamed money.

Lots and lots of money.

The diamond sets the divas wore to the expensive bottles that decorated the bar wall.

All were the latest.

I was interrupted when two beautiful ladies decided to sit at my table next to me.

They were engrossed in their gossips ranging from.

‘Oh you know she wore the same dress last time…..eww her stellitoes are so outdated……that bit** on Mr z’s arm looks like a slut….’

I ignored their talks but when I found myself to be their test subject all my gathered confidence shattered into pieces.

Their words were so harsh that my eyes were ready to sting with tears..

‘She is the one that came with Alessandro right…..since when did his taste in women came down to this…’

Her glare on my body made me shift uncomfortably.

‘I agree …she looks like a roadside sl** that warms beds…I am surprised he brought her to a party like this….’

‘That is Alessandro Romano to you….he is a gentleman for sure so he must be doing charity on her I guess…’

They both laughed and I got up from the table not able to listen any longer.

My eyes landed on Andro

He was busy talking to some men.

A blonde was standing next to him trying to seduce him but he looked least interested.

While talking his eyes met mine and for a second he stopped speaking.

I forced a smile trying to convince him that I was fine and turned around to go to the bar.

A little alcohol won’t hurt I thought but little did I knew it would be a catalyst to my embarrassment.

After 2 glasses of Vodka I felt a little tipsy but still sober.

Before I could gulp another glass a hand stopped me from taking it by pulling away the glass from my hand and instead he gulped it.

I looked up at Andro and he smiled..

‘What?..I needed it…’

He replied

He pulled me away from the bar and took me to the snacks corner.

‘Here eat this…I know you haven’t eaten a thing since we came.’

He handed me the plate and looking at so many tasty dishes made my earlier worries went away.

As we were standing there enjoying together the girl from earlier decided to join us

NAT..whispered Ando and he looked shocked on seeing her…his posture straightened and his face became emotionless.

‘hey Alessandro…. didn’t thought you will move on from me that easily…..’

She looked at me with a smile that looked fake.

‘Hello to you too Natalie …you look beautiful as always…’

Him complementing her made me jealous…I know he was speaking truth…she was indeed beautiful. But still it did hurt.

‘Thanks love. Well who may your date be?’

‘Oh yes….she is Sapphire Brown….my ……’

‘Your…..?’

‘Dear friend…’

Well what did I expect…I was not his girlfriend…not even a good friend if I may say.

I thought.

Their conversation continued and I felt out of place…they connected well and it was the first time I saw Andro laugh so fully…they were childhood friends but it seemed like they had a much deeper connection.

While Andro was talking to her he got oblivious of everything..

Even of me and I excused myself.

I decided to go to the washroom and to stay there for a while…

Till both of them ended their talk…

But when I returned Andro was nowhere to be seen… neither was Natalie there…

I asked a few guests if they knew their ware bouts but no one knew.

Finally worried…tied…broken and forgotten I sat at a corner table.

Hours passed and almost everyone left…finally I decided to leave as well.

But to where I didn’t know…

Walking on the street alone at 1 o clock I made my way towards the Ando mansion which was around 8 km from here.

It was a stormy night…cold winds were leaving goose bumps on my skin and the deadly silent night was making me doubt the slightest of voices that were coming.

My worst fears came true…

My path crossed with a robber. Next I knew he placed his knife on my neck and ordered me to remove all the jewellery I was wearing…

How stupid I can be…walking on these roads wearing thousands of dollars jewellery that not even belonged to me.

I refused and his knife plunged closer…droplets of blood could be felt on my neck .

A horn blowed behind us and the robber didn’t wait a second to snatch the neck piece from my neck and run.

When he snatched it ….the already bruised skin on my neck cracked open and a sob left my lips.

Before I could crash down on the road my body was engulfed from behind and Andro’s voice entered my mind….

‘You are fine… everything s fine…I am here now…I am here…’

I turned around to see him there looking at me with so much worry…his hands engulfed my face while his eyes looked into mine.

‘You are fine…it’s nothing much…come…’

Still shocked I followed him silently and we were back in the mansion…

He held me closely afraid that if he leaves I will fall.

Slowly he placed me on the kitchen counter and grabbed a first aid kit from the drawer…

‘I….I….sorry…..he….took….the

Necklace….it…must…cos-‘

It’s okay Saph…it wasn’t that expensive…it fine… don’t worry…okay?…

‘But…no…it had diamond and- ‘

‘Shhhh’

He silenced me by placing his finger on my lips and continued to dab a cotton bud with water on my neck…and blow his breath on it to lessen the pain.

But this hurted less compared to what it felt earlier.

His grey eyes looked so concerned and his touch so gentle..

Finally he was done covering my neck with bandages.

A tray full of bloody cotton buds laid next to me.

He placed his hands on my cheeks and asked me to look up at him…

‘Are you fine….?’

I moved my head in a no not daring to look into his eyes.

Because I knew if I did I will cry right here..

His fingers tucked my flick behind my ear and I couldn’t stop myself from asking him..

‘You….you forgot about me earlier….is she …..that important…to you….??’

His eyes softened and he engulfed me in a hug which I refused to reciprocate.

‘I am…..so sorry Saph……I am soo sorry…….’

He ended the hug but still I refused to look at him.

‘I know she must be very important to you…you care for her…you are childhood friends….and I just came few days back from the streets…I know I am not even a friend….why will you be friends with a nobody like me….I am just an acquaintance……but still …

.how could you just forget….about me…….?’

‘Am I that imaginary for you….am I that ugly.

…am I that worthless….that you forgot you bought this nobody along with you….’

‘I am sorry you-‘

Before I could complete my sentence his lips were pressed on mine silencing me .

I stood numb and shocked while he showed me how a kiss felt like.

He not only dared to touch the territory that I never allowed anyone else to but also dared to explore it like he owned it.

His soft lips fired my body with a heat never felt before and burned emotions that were kept forbidden before.

Only when my breathing became difficult did he left his claim.

I looked at him open mouthed shocked while his thumb moved on my swollen lips.

A smile lingered on his face as his gaze flickered between my lips and eyes.

‘You are much more to me than you will ever know Tesoro….much more than you can ever imagine…

Sono pazzo di te , amore Mio…’

(You drive me crazy, my love)

With this he was gone leaving me lost in my own storm of uncontrollable emotions and thoughts.

This was my first kiss and I must admit.

He was a master in it and I was perfectly played by him.

But I don’t regret it because I have to admit.

I loved getting played by him as no man can play like he did.

No man can love like he loves.

And no man can kiss like he kisses.