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I shouldn’t sleep here, I remember telling myself. I must get up and get out. I can’t get too close. But at some point, my thoughts faded away, and I fell asleep.
The first light of morning filters through the sheer curtains, waking me up. I sit up in a panic, trying to recall in that half-dreamy state as to where I could be. And then, last night comes tumbling back.
Fiero.
My body still aches. I look around myself desperately, only to find he’s not here.
Good. Maybe he had his fun and left. Now, I need to get the hell out of here, but this development hinders my plans a bit. How will I reconnect with him? How will I get close to the diamond again?
Shit, Romola! I think to myself. I really fucked up by sleeping with him. I truly shouldn’t have.
But just then, the door creaks open.
"Buongiorno, cara mia," he murmurs. His gaze lingers on me, and his lips curve into a tender smile as he takes in my disheveled state.
"Buongiorno," I whisper back, my voice thick with sleep. I instinctively reach out to smoothen my hair and pray I don’t look like a total slob. Before I can register another thing, Fiero slips into the room and closes the door behind him with his leg, holding a breakfast tray laden with goodies in his hands.
"Breakfast in bed?" I ask, genuinely surprised by this unexpected gesture. Sitting up against the plush pillows, I pull the soft sheet over my bare body, suddenly conscious of my nakedness.
"Una sorpresa per te," – A surprise for you – Fiero replies, grinning as he sets the tray across my lap. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, warm pastries, and juicy fruit fills the room, making my stomach rumble. "I hope you like it."
"Mi piace molto," – I love this – I squeal, my heart swelling for this man with his unexpected tenderness. We exchange glances, our eyes speaking volumes of the intimacy that now binds us.
But even as I want to bask in this affection, my mind races with thoughts of what comes next.
"Romola," Fiero says, breaking me from my darkening thoughts. "You seem lost in thought."
I force a smile and take a sip of my coffee, trying to mask the turmoil within. "Just enjoying the view," I reply, my eyes locked on his, hoping he can't see the storm brewing behind them.
After all, this man, who has become so much more than a simple mark in my quest to steal the diamond, now holds my heart in his hands – making it all the more difficult to deceive him.
Chapter 28
Fiero
I sit beside Romola as she finishes her breakfast in bed, the morning sun casting a golden glow on her milky, warm skin. Her natural red blush graces her high cheekbones and full cheeks, making her even more enchanting.
She finishes up and turns toward me, clutching the covers. “Oh Fiero, that was truly lovely. If you don’t mind, could you please pass me my clothes so I could get dressed?”
“Get dressed?” I frown.
She blushes. “You know,” she points at the clothes on her floor. I must look truly disappointed because she bursts into a fit of giggles. “We can’t stay in here forever!” she exclaims.
I stand and walk towards her clothes, picking them off the floor and gently chucking them onto the bed. As I do, I feel like I am betraying myself. I want her with me today. She ducks under the covers to put on her things, and I already miss her.
She’s a beautiful woman, there’s no doubt about that. And yet, that’s not the main reason I don’t want to see her leave.
She’s the first woman who didn’t start off with the intention of bedding me. She’s different from the rest. She works in her own business and deals with setbacks by herself, yet she shows up for her responsibilities. Her father died just recently, yet she worked at the party last night. She’s resilient, strong-willed, and beautiful.
She’s an enigma, a puzzle box to be closely examined, gently probed, until it reveals its most precious treasures.
"Romola," I say, my voice betraying a hint of nervousness. "Would you like to join me for dinner tonight?"
She looks up from under the covers, her wide-set grey eyes locking onto mine, a look of shock upon her face. I can see the reluctance in them as if she's trying to decide whether it's worth the hassle.
"It's just dinner, nothing more," I quickly add, hoping to ease her concerns. Perhaps she’s skittish about where this might lead, perhaps she thinks this is something she’s not ready for. I don’t know anything about her past relationships—whether they were serious or dysfunctional, or maybe she lost the love of her life.
But I do know I need to spend time with her to unearth what her future aspirations are and what she wants for her life.
