IV

CHAPTER 4

The next morning, hearing the phone ringing, Alexis, whose eyes are still closed and trying to find her phone on the table, answered, "Hello?" with a groggy voice she asked.

"Oh my god you're still in bed cousin?" Glenn mocked.

"I just woke up you idiot" Alexis tried to rub her sleepy eyes but figured out she couldn't, because of some weight that lay on top of her left arms.

Looking at the person besides her, she smiled and forgot the person on the other line. 'She's really beautiful, mi bella' she thought loudly.

"What bella are you talking about? Did you get laid last night? oh so that's why you just got up and it's already past lunch time there" Glenn said, and when Alexis heard that she checked the time and it said 12:38 pm. She overslept, 'This girl really tired me off'

"I'll call you back, Glenn" she is about to end the call but her cousin stopped her.

"No, don't drop it yet. you better call my sister and your mom, they have been calling you since last night your time-zone but no answer, so they're worried. Call them soon, and tell me about your chica when you're free" Glenn ended the call while laughing on the other line.

Samantha wakes up beside her, finally opening her eyes and seeing a person right in front of her, she jerks away in surprise.

"Sorry" she mouthed but Alexis laughed at her reaction.

Alexis slowly stood up and the cover fell making Samantha blush. Seeing how red Samantha is, she suddenly realizes she is not wearing anything down there, making her run into the toilet to grab some towel but before she can enter the door, she hits the corner.

As she got inside she heard Samantha laughing and giggling. "Even her laugh is so lovely" she tells herself.

She prepared them lunch because it's too late to do breakfast. After that they exchanged numbers so they can still catch up and hangout.

"I hope to see you next time" Samantha said and leaned to the car window to give Alex a kiss on the cheek but she turned her head and it landed on her lips.

The three girls who're waiting inside the coffee shop see what happened while waiting for their friend. The three of them eyed each other like agreeing and smiling. When Samantha enters the coffee shop, she knows her friends are in for gossip, she just sighs and walks into their table.

Alex received a call from her cousin Julia while driving her way to meet her subordinates about some updates regarding the person who knew about the plate she's been looking for.

"Hey Jules" she greeted.

"I heard from my brother you had fun last night" Jules teases on the other line.

"I'll tell you more when you come over. Are you done yet?" she curiously asked.

"That's the reason why I called actually" Jules paused for a moment and Alex patiently waited for her to continue. "I might not be able to come and help you, once I am done with my task abuela wants me to help organise her birthday" Jules apologized but Alexis understood.

Well she guess she's on her own to find the piece. She just hopes her subordinates locate that person so she can be done with this mission and maybe hangout with bella again.

As she arrives at the address of the restaurant which her assistant sent her earlier, the four girls at the cafe are gossiping and teasing their friend, smiling and laughing.

"Would you like to meet him again? or it's just a one night stand Sammy?" Rose asked her friend.

"I'm not sure yet. He seems really nice and gentle" she thought about how gentle he is while they did it last night.

"Gentle in bed or a gentle personality?" Donna giggled and teased.

Samantha slap her shoulder playfully glaring at her.

"If you don't want him, let me have him instead" Dina remarked excitedly, she really likes Alex.

Samantha who looks at her friend who is dreamily thinking of the guy she just got laid last night.

"Nah, go find someone else" She replied laughing at her friend Dina.

Dina pouted, so her twin sister pinched her both cheeks making baby noises, making them all laugh together.

On the other side of the restaurant in Italy, five people including Alex are all seated discussing the missing piece she's been looking for.

"Any update about the plate?" all three of her subordinates shake their heads to answer no. Alex sigh feeling disappointed until she hears her phone get a text message.

She reached it on the table and read the text that said, 'Want to have dinner with me tonight?'

This made her smile and replied to the text saying, 'Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?'

After a few moments she received another reply, 'Doesn't matter. It's hard for you to answer a yes or no question?' reading it Alex knows she is teasing her.

'Sure then let's have dinner. Send me the details. I have a meeting for now, I'll see you soon bella'

Her subordinates who are quietly staring at their boss smiling while exchanging text messages, waited for her to be done before speaking up again.

"Miss Leone, there's another art collection auction on Friday, in two days. I think you should check it out, there's a possibility the item you are looking for could be there" one of her male subordinates named Lorenzo suggested.

"Well there's nothing to lose if we check that auction out. Go get me an invitation for that auction. Thank you for suggesting that Lorenzo" Alex nodded to Lorenzo.

They all plan it out, she tells them that if they heard of any auction to be held, they should check that out and maybe there's a chance they'll get a hold of that plate soon.

Alex get back to her hotel suite with her assistant. The two of them discussed the information about the coming auction this friday. What is the auction about and who are the event organizers, so maybe they can meet them and tell them to inform her in advance about it.

Checking the time and its 6:30 pm, she went to the shower, picked what to wear, put on the perfume she usually uses to look and smell decent to meet her date.

Her assistant walked with her to the car, he will be her driver for the night. As they ride the car Alex sees a flower shop so she tells her assistant to park the car.

Walking in the flower shop, a set of pink roses took her attention so she picked them up, got to the cashier and paid for them and left right away. The owner and at the same time the cashier were frozen for a moment after a handsome and beautiful creature walked into her store and bought some flowers, paying more than its price.

"He's a gorgeous young man," a girl said dreamily.

"I haven't seen someone who looks so handsome and beautiful at the same time" the girl who's with his boyfriend said in amazement. Her boyfriend nodded absentmindedly.

Alexis checks her watch if she's late or not. Asking her assistant if they are close to the address already, and answering her they will be there in five (5) minutes. She'll have a few more minutes to spare, that means she's on time. 'Didn't want the lady waiting' she thought and chuckled.

Entering the place she looks around to see where her bella is sitting. As she looked into the area she saw someone waving its hand, and there she was looking so beautiful in her black fitted short casual dress.

Alex walks closer to her table in her right hand holding the lovely pink roses she thinks are suited for her date.

"Finally you came. I thought you'll ditch me" Samantha said with a teasing smile.

Alex handed her the flowers and received a beautiful smile from her.

"How did you know I love pink roses?" Samantha curiously asked.

"I actually didn't know. When I first set eyes in the flower shop, I picked this and left after paying"

The two of them talked for a bit until their server came and asked for their order. Samantha ordered a seafood pasta while Alex ordered some cheese ravioli with marinara sauce. When the food came they started devouring their food.

Alex noticed someone was staring at her while she ate, she caught Samantha looking at her and her food.

"Do you want to try it?" She asked Samantha and she nodded.

Alex fed her with a spoonful, seeing Samantha liking the taste she smiled at her.

"Do you want to try mine?" Samantha asks her, and Alex being a tease thought something nasty.

"I already tried you last night, remember?" Alex said and smirked, Samantha choked after hearing that, she glared at Alex but Alex just laughed.

"I am talking about the food, pervert" hearing the last part Alex raised her brow, that's a bit offensive.

"I'm sorry but I am never a pervert, playful maybe?" she winked then continued, "I can't eat that, I'm allergic to some seafoods, but I can eat you again" she joked earning a slap on her arm from Samantha.

Their dinner ended, Alexis hail a cab for them. They end up in bed again, but this time it's Samantha's place. The two of them couldn't get enough of each other after the two of them finished their dinner and decided to take a walk for a few minutes. They seated on the nearest park's bench and end up kissing until one of them invited to get out of that place.

Now at Samantha's place they are both naked, taking turns pleasuring each other, breathing hard, moaning, panting, sweating and groaning. After an hour of workout the two passed out both naked for the second night.

Samantha wakes up first, she stares at the person next to her and smiles. After being busy doing family work, she doesn't have time to find someone she likes or even someone to hook up with. She's thankful for her friends who bug her to go to that club and drink.

Looking at Alexis' face she knew she likes this man.

"Done staring at you?"Alex said while her eyes closed.

Samantha was caught off guard, so she looked away to cover her blush. She dragged the covers with her while she walked to her closet making Alex's body exposed wearing nothing again.

She smirks while looking at Alex.

"Damn, not again" Alex exclaimed while covering her member. She hears Samantha laughing inside her closet while changing.

She hurriedly took her clothes off the ground and put them on. When Samantha got out of her closet area, she was now fully clothed.

The two of them had some pancakes and bacon for breakfast. They both have somewhere else to be after breakfast so Samantha took the time to invite Alex.

"There's an upcoming gallery auction tomorrow. I was invited and I need a plus one, if you are free, would you like to come as my date?" She asks while slicing a piece of her pancake.

Alex swallowed her food first before replying, "As much as I am willing to accept that, I need to decline. I have an appointment Friday evening. What time is that event of yours, maybe I can go"

"It's tomorrow night, so I guess you can't come with me" Alex stared at her looking a little disappointed.

"Maybe next time, cheer up mi bella" Alex said lifting her chin to look at her then smirk.

Samantha smacks her shoulder for being playful and always teases her. After their breakfast they parted ways minding their business.

Alex talking to her assistant about the invitation for tomorrow's event, "Billy, we cant join the auction without an invitation"

Billy, her assistant, is still on the phone talking to her boss' subordinates about the stuff needed for tomorrow, like the invitation card, the clothes to be worn by her boss, and the car to be used.

"Miss Leone, the invitation card will be handed by Mr. Lorenzo's secretary after working hours. For now we need to pick up the suit you'll be wearing for tomorrow evening" he reported and proceeded to make another call about the car they'll be renting.

Alex sighs with relief upon hearing how amazing her people are. Thinking maybe she could raise their salary for coping up with these hectic matters she is putting them in.

The two of them finished picking up the suit and came back to her suite, still waiting for Lorenzo's secretary to swing by. She received a call from the lobby that somebody is looking for her, hearing the details, she instructed them to let the person in.

She waited for her suite's doorbell to ring indicating that the secretary arrived. Alex opened the door and see a woman in white button up shirt and black fitted skirt standing right infront of her. She knocked her hand exactly on Alex's forehead.

"Oh my god. I'm so sorry" she apologized when she realized what she had done.

Alex rubbed her forehead, and looked at the silly girl. She looks like she's still in her mid twenties, maybe the same age as her.

"It's fine. Are you Lorenzo's secretary?" she nodded shyly.

Alex invited her to enter her suite and be seated on the sofa. She went to her kitchen, got a glass and pour an orange juice. She brought a glass of orange juice to her guest.

"What's your name?" Alex asked curiously after she handed her the glass.

"I'm Irish, Mr. Lorenzo sent me here to deliver this" She said and handed Alex the invitation card she needed for tomorrow.

Alex accepted it and opened it and saw what was written on it. The two talk for a few minutes, Irish telling Alex what her boss told her to tell her.

She grabbed her phone to text someone goodnight, then decided to sleep. The next day came, Alex being busy with her emails and talking to the phone with her family back home. Her mom asks if she met someone she likes, if not she still needs to go on blind dates.

She facetime her cousins, Glenn and Julia, asking how their missions are. She tells them that she is going to an Auction tonight to check if the piece she's looking for is there, and if she successfully bids it she will be done and can relax for more weeks before flying home.

The night came and Alex wore the suit she picked up yesterday, checking if everything she needed was there before they left the suite.

"Billy, be sure to bring the invitation. We can't enter the place without it."

"Got it boss" Billy answered, waving the invitation then placing it in his suit inside pocket.

"The cheque?" she said while fixing her coat as she looked into the mirror.

"The cheque is already prepared boss, your favourite pen, and your business phone also are all set"

Alex, being content nodded, got her watch and wore it. The two of them walk out of the hotel, driving to the event's place. Her subordinates are waiting already.

When they arrived they saw a lot of rich people looking forward to getting inside the villa. People queueing showing their respective invitations to get inside. Alex and her people walked in line and waited for their turn.

Someone recognized her.

"Ms. Leone, didn't know you're here in Italy, if I had known I could accommodate your stay." A woman aged between mid thirties (30) to forties (40).

"Madam Becker, it is nice to see you again" Alex reached for her hand and kissed the back of her hand.

"Your gentleness again I see, Alex." She said smiling.

Madam Becker is one of abuela's family friends. Just like her grandmother she loves art pieces, so she often sees them at auctions like this.

"I am here to see if what my abuela looks for is here tonight. Hopefully you let me have it" Alex's jokes, she knows this aunt is competitive most especially if she likes the piece of art in front.

"That depends if I really like the art piece. You know me Alex" Madam Becker replied to her but added, "Is that piece you are looking for Madam Alejandra that important?"

Alex nodded and replied, "It is. Actually it's a rare art piece and she wants me to go find it for her, and she wants it for her birthday so I am running out of time" She seriously said and looked at Madam Becker.

"If that's the case then, if that piece is here tonight, I won't compete with you bidding that. Knowing your grandmother so well if she wants it she will go grab it. If she knew I got my hand on that, Madam Alejandra will talk to my mother for me to hand it down" She said and chuckled as she remembered the times she handed over some art pieces to Alex's grandmother.

Madam Becker bid Alex goodbye and good luck before she went to her seat. While Alex is walking to her seat with her assistant someone taps her shoulder.

Alex whipped her head to see who it was.

"So you are here too" that voice.

"Samantha" Alex looked surprised to see her look so dashing, a velvet red dress that hugged her perfect body. A diamond necklace worn around her neck, a golden bracelet with redstones on it.

"Eyes up here Alex" Samantha said, lifting Alex's chin to look at her.

"You look so gorgeous tonight" Alex smiled and took her hand giving it a gentle kiss. That gesture melts Samantha's heart.

"I'll see you later, it is about to start" Samantha gave Alex a hug and left but before she could go Alex pulled her back and whispered, "Without this people around I bet that dress is ripped" then she let her go and started walking away from Samantha.

Samantha, who was surprised by those words, froze and blushed. 'That wild guy' she thought.

The event emcee announces on the microphone that the auction will start in ten minutes, and asks everyone to please be seated already.

Everyone focuses on the stage patiently waiting and wondering what will be tonight's auctioned pieces. Hoping to get their hands to one or more of it. Everyone who attended this event loves artworks so it will be a competitive night, it is a battle of the riches.

After ten minutes it started, the organizers talking and thanking everyone in advance for coming tonight. The auction started, according to the organizers there will be ten pieces of artworks plus three of them are artifacts from ancient time, so when Alex heard it she was excited and hopeful that tonight she will complete her tasks.

The artworks were introduced piece by piece, it's on the fifth item but there's still no ancient plate. Alex is still hopeful.

On the seventh piece Samantha came out on stage which surprised Alex. 'Why is she on stage?'

Samantha is holding a microphone and walking in the center where a hidden cloth is hiding the seventh piece for tonight, but actually the first ancient item.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you the first ancient piece" she pulls the cloth and reveals an amulet. It's an old looking amulet that has a purple stone in the middle.

Samantha explains about the origin and details of this amulet. Everyone is listening carefully while Alexis is so amazed and impressed by her bella. Suddenly she felt a tap on her left shoulder.

She look at her assistant, Billy whisper to her ears that one of their subordinates needed to talk to her as soon as possible so she excused herself and walked near the restroom, where Billy told her to meet Lorenzo and the others.

"What's the sudden call? is it that important?" Lorenzo and the other subordinate nodded.

"She's the person you've been looking for Ms. Leone"

"We haven't heard anything that she came back to the country."

"Our source said she will be back next month, two weeks from now to be exact."

"So you mean to tell me that Samantha is the person we've been looking for?" Alexis asks, a little amused of the situation.

"If that's her name, then she is," Lorenzo said.

"Nobody really knows her name. She is just known for Ms. Specialist. When we tried looking for information about her there's nothing."

After the small talk the four of them get back to their seats and continue the auction. It is now the 8th piece and the plate is still nowhere.

The auction pieces came one by one, till the second ancient piece was out, Samantha came out again explaining the old looking plate but didn't look like the one she was looking for.

Alexis noticed that Samantha only comes out when it's the old artifacts. It means when she is on stage it is an important item.

The action finished and the plate she is looking for is not here tonight, but she still feels glad she met the specialist, which is her bella in the first place.

'What an amazing night' she thought.

Before the night ends Samantha approached her, so she lets her people leave first including her assistant, and told him to wait for him in the car and wait for her signal.

"I didn't see you bid tonight" Samantha pointed out.

"I didn't see something I like," Alexis replied while assisting Samantha down the staircase.

"So you didn't like me up there then?" Samantha joked.

"I didn't know I could bid for you," Alexis laughed, Samantha slapping her shoulder for laughing, "but if you're part of that auction, I'll bid till I win" She said and wink at her bella.

"Your pocket will be empty before you can win me over those greedy people" Alex raised her brows, halted, and stopped her for walking then looked at her face to face.

"Mi bella, You're coming home with me tonight, not with them" Alex said and pulled her out of the place, they get in the rental car and told Billy to drive them to the hotel they are staying in.

Billy on the other hand is surprised the boss is with the "Specialist" thinking if they know each other, how close they are, because he never sees them together since they arrived here in Italy.