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She smiles and picks up her cutlery. “I do love gravy.”
We start to eat, and she gives a soft moan that makes me raise an eyebrow. “Enjoying that?”
“It’s delicious.” Her voice is low, and she takes another bite, another small groan.
I chuckle softly as I pour extra gravy on my food before tucking in. She isn’t wrong. My aunt has outdone herself, as usual. We eat quietly before I strike up a conversation about what she does for a living.
“I’m helping my family with some business, a few, actually. At the moment, I’m not much more than a glorified receptionist, but my older brother says that I could go far.”
“Don’t all brothers say that?” I ask curiously. “Surely you want to strike out in the world?”
She smiles knowingly. “No, this is what I want. I want to work my way up, I don’t just want it handed to me, but I want to do it for my family. I mean, they’re technically not my biological family, but for as long as I’ve been friends with their children, they’ve pretty much raised Pierce and me.” She sips her wine.
“Pierce is your older brother?” I ask, inclining my head.
She nods. “Yes. And because we’re like part of the family, I also count Alessandro, Frankie, and Dominic as my older brothers. I consider Ariana as my sister.”
We finish eating, and as the waitress clears the plates, I smile. “The bill is already covered. You know, there’s an entrance to Central Park nearby. Why don’t we take a walk.”
She smiles and nods. “That sounds very romantic.”
I stand and offer her my hand again. We walk out of the restaurant and toward the park. I know we’re safe here. Nobody would dare attack me in this neighborhood.
We reach the entrance to the park and walk down the pathways.
“What do you do for a living?” she asks quietly as we stroll hand in hand.
“I’m an investor,” I say. “Properties mostly, but I own shares in other ventures, as well. I’ve always been interested in it, and luckily, I’m good at it.”
She starts to tell me about a property that her family is trying to secure, they think she doesn’t know, but she does. I listen intently and offer some advice, perhaps not the correct advice by all means, but some.
We settle on a grass embankment and simply enjoy each other's company until, at one point, she glances at the expensive watch on her wrist. “Shit, it’s already one. I should get home. I’ve got work tomorrow.’
I smile and help her up. “My car is near the restaurant. I’m happy to drive you home.”
She shivers slightly, and in seconds, I’ve slipped out of my suit jacket and hung it over her shoulders. “Here, that should keep you warm until we reach my car. I’ll turn the heating on then.”
She smiles, and we walk, not entirely fast, to my car. I open the door for her and let her in. “Let’s get you home.”
I climb in and pull onto the road. “What’s your address?”
She gives me her apartment address, and I drive there and exit, opening the door for her. I walk her upstairs to her front door, and we stand there for a moment. She slips out of my suit jacket and hands it to me. “I had a lovely evening.”
“So did I,” I say quietly. “I’d love to see you again.”
“I’d really like that, too,” she murmurs.
I smile and lean down, gently kissing her lips.
She moans softly and presses her body against me. I know I can go in there right now and ravage her, but I want her to think of me as a gentleman, so we kiss a while longer before I break it.
“I’ll send you a text,” I say softly, kissing her once more before I leave after watching her enter her apartment.
Present Day
I don’t want to think about the past. It hurts my heart to remember what I did to her, how things ended, and the look on her face when she realized I’d been playing her all along.
I sigh and run a hand through my hair. The guilt gnaws at me relentlessly, and the only reprieve I get is when there’s a knock at my door. The guard, Igor, comes in. “Sir, your sister, Natalia, is here.”
