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“Ok ‘just’ Marco, I’m Katie. It’s nice to meet you.” Marco growls and mutters something in Italian under his breath.
“So where are we going?” I ask while I take in the Italian views. “Even at night, the scenery is spectacular.” Marco looks at me through this rear-view mirror, his eyes frowning.
“I absolutely love Italy. I love the food, the weather, the people. Oh, I can’t wait to see Leo. How is Leo? What is he up to these days?” I twitter on. Marco huffs, seemingly annoyed with my chatter. He raises up a privacy screen between us. Charming.
I get my phone out and let my parents and Bella know I have landed safely. They all think I have taken a holiday to get over my breakup with Jax. They all know I’m in Italy, so at least if I go missing, they will know where to look. Oh goodness, do not think like that, Katie. I am perfectly safe. I will meet up with Leo, thank him for his generosity, pay him back, and then do my own thing. My dad will send me some money if needed. I don’t like to be in dept to anyone, well exempt my dad, that’s what they’re there for. Catching up on my messages and searching for a hotel takes my mind off my current situation. Google has found me lots of hotels with availability. I am waiting to see where we are going before I decide which one to stay in. The nearest hotel to where we end up will be my first choice for tonight. I’m exhausted. A few days there to start with, and then I’ll move on. It’s not my first time in Italy, but there are still places I haven’t seen and many places I want to see again. A little tour around the country is just what the doctor ordered.
The movement of the car changes. Through the window, I see we are driving down a large, pebbled driveway. Lights at either side lead us down to a well-lit up house. It is a large white building, with shutters on either side of the windows and ivy growing up one side. It looks cosy and very Italian.
Marco collects my case from the boot and leads me into the house. The hallway is bright and smells incredible. It's all marble floors and expensive-looking paintings and vases. I follow Marco into what looks like a library.
“Sit.” Marco points to a leather Chesterfield sofa as he leaves the room and closes the door behind him. Not feeling like sitting, I walk around the room, taking in its beauty. There are floor-to-ceiling windows which are covered with closed, heavy, gold, velvet curtains. Oak bookcases line each wall. Each shelf is full of books. Most are in Italian, but there are some in English. There’s a range of fiction and non-fiction. A large desk sits central in the back of the room. I am about to walk over to it when the door opens behind me; I hear heavy footsteps enter the room. One set stops behind me to the left and the other stop at my back. I feel the heat from their body against mine. Their head leans in over my shoulder. Their breath on my ear sends shivers down my spine.
“You have been hiding from me.”
Leaving me frozen to the spot, they continue past me and round the desk at the end of the room. This man is just as tall as Marco, around 6 feet. Not as big built, but extremely well built all the same. An expensive suit fits perfectly around each curve of his body. He throws some folders on his desk in anger. Leaning forward with both hands on the desk, he slowly raises his head to look at me. As soon as my eyes land on him, I instantly recognise him as Leo. His expression is cold and devil-like as his eyes roam my body from my feet to my head. When our eyes meet, this, however, instantly changes. His eyes are warm, and smiling, even though the rest of his facial expression doesn’t change. Feelings flood back to me. Our time together freshly pops into my memory. Laughing together, teaching each other our languages, walking along the sea, holding hands, kissing…. My tummy flutters with the reminders.
He’s so different now, though. He’s older, obviously, but he oozes power. He is incredibly attractive. Dark brown chocolate eyes. Thick black hair. A short black beard, perfectly framing his chiselled jawline.
I begin to walk towards him.
“Leo, I..” a strong hand grips my shoulder, stopping me from moving any further. Leo abruptly stands tall. His eyes leave mine, and the cold anger returns.
“Marco!”
The hand instantly releases its grip. Leo stares at Marco behind me for a few more seconds, his nostrils flaring and his fists clenched at the side of him.
When Leo’s eyes return to mine, the warmth has gone. Although they’re not as cold as they were when he looked at Marco, I do not recognise this man.
“Well, it was nice to see you again, Leo, but I really must be off. I have a hotel reservation, and I am feeling rather tired. Thank you so much for your generosity; I will, of course, pay you back for the flight. Maybe we could meet up for a drink while I am here and catch up….” I continue nervously, making excuses to leave, feeling rather flustered. I need to get out of here. This is the most surreal experience of my life. A slight smirk appears on one side of Leo’s mouth; there’s also amusement in his eyes.
“Portala nella mia stanza. Non toccarla più!” “Take her to my room. Do not touch her again.”Leo instructs Marco.
“Follow me. I will take you to your room.” Marco picks up my case and exits the room.
“Oh no, Leo, I don’t want to impose. I have a hotel; we can meet up tomorrow or the next day, maybe?” Leo opens a safe behind a wall in the bookcase. He puts something into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and locks the safe. Without looking at me, he walks out of the room and says:
“You will stay with me, Katherine. We will talk tomorrow.” He disappears, leaving me tingling from the way he says my name in his smooth Italian accent. “Kat-er-een.” It does the same to me now, all these years later, as it did back then. I feel like a teenager again. Knowing he won’t take no for an answer, I decide one night won’t do any harm. I am shattered and also quite intrigued by my now grumpy and incredibly handsome teenage heartthrob.
I take a few seconds to compose myself before I follow the sound of my name being bellowed down the hallway.
“Miss Harris!”
“Coming ‘just’ Marco.” I practically run to keep up with him.
Marco shows me to a huge bedroom with thick carpets. The room is very grey. It’s nice, don’t get me wrong, but very masculine. I take off my shoes and explore. Marco puts my case on the bed and leaves.
“Thanks,justMarco,” I tease as he closes the door.
“Sciocca.” Fool. Marco ironically calls me in Italian. They all assume I do not understand their language. Unbeknown to them, I have a PLIDA certificate, which is basically a certification of competence in the Italian language; I’m fluent.
This is going to be fun.
I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. The mixture of stress from the last few days and the alcohol I consumed on my journey knocked me straight out. I wake up bursting for the loo. Sitting on the toilet, I put my head in my hands.
“What am I doing?” I mutter to myself. The reality of the situation hits me like a ton of bricks. I am in a foreign country in a stranger’s house, and nobody knows where I am.
“Good morning, Katherine.” My stomach drops. I look up to see Leo in the bathtub, an amused smirk across his face. I quickly wipe, flush, and get the hell out of there.
