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"Restaurant sales have increased by twelve percent," Roman adds, a hint of pride in his blue eyes.
Sebastian clears his throat, adjusting his glasses. "And just a reminder, we're still reaping the benefits of taking the company public last year. Our stock prices continue to rise."
I nod absently, my mind drifting back to Lulu. What is she doing right now? Is she safe? The questions plague me, gnawing at my insides like a relentless itch I cannot scratch.
"Everything alright, Giovanni?" Roman asks, concern lacing his words. My business partners have noticed my distraction and unresponsiveness, and it's impossible to ignore their worried gazes any longer.
"Of course," I lie smoothly, forcing a tight smile. "Just a lot on my plate these days."
"Anything we can help with?" Lawrence offers, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. There's a genuine concern in his brown eyes that I'm grateful for, but I know they can't help me with this.
"Thanks, but I think I just need some time to process everything," I say, trying to dismiss their worries as I close the laptop. "Let's wrap up the meeting for now."
As my partners file out of the room, their whispered conversations hanging in the air, I can't help but feel a sense of isolation. My heart aches for Lulu and the love I let slip through my fingers, leaving me lost in a sea of regrets and what-ifs.
I decide that I can't be at the office any longer.
The moment I step out of the office building, the cold wind hits me like a slap in the face—a sharp reminder that I can't run from my feelings. I climb into my car, my hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as I drive toward the mansion.
There's no reason for me to go back there. Perhaps, I don't want to return to my city apartment because it's not filled with memories of her.
The grandiose structure looms ahead, and as I pull up to the entrance, I take a deep breath. A part of me wants to turn around and escape, but I know there's no running away from the emptiness that consumes me. I step out of the car and walk through the heavy double doors, immediately enveloped by the vastness of the empty halls.
My footsteps echo as I wander aimlessly through the dark rooms, each one filled with memories with Lulu, some good, some bad—things that now seem so distant and unreachable.
As I stand in the study, my fingers brush against the spines of the leather-bound books on the shelves, their titles barely visible in the low light. The scent of old paper and ink fills my lungs, and for a brief moment, I'm transported back to simpler times—times when I believed I could conquer the world and fix my family's problems.
"Hey there, Giovanni," a familiar voice says, pulling me from my reverie. My heart skips a beat as I turn to see Teddy standing in the doorway, his blue eyes sparkling with warmth.
"Teddy," I reply, swallowing hard as I try to keep my emotions at bay. "What do you need?"
"Can't a brother come visit his favorite sibling?" he asks with a grin, stepping further into the room. "But really, I've been worried about you. You seemed off the last time we spoke."
"Things have been...challenging," I admit, my fingers still tracing the books as if they hold some sort of solace. "But I'm trying to keep it together."
He twists his lips as if thinking about what to say next. "Is there anything I can do to help?" Teddy's voice is gentle, his concern evident.
I swallow hard, gathering the courage to reveal my vulnerability. "I can't stop thinking about her," I confess, the words tumbling out in a rush. "We had something...real. But I let her go."
"Wait, when did this all happen?" Teddy asks, his voice softening. "Why didn't you tell me before?"
"Because I wasn't sure it was real at first," I admit, shame washing over me. "But now that she's gone, I can't help but realize just how much she meant to me."
"Gone? Where is she?"
"Miami," I say, the word stinging as it leaves my lips.
"Hey," Teddy says gently, squeezing my shoulder. "It's okay. You're allowed to have feelings for someone, even if it's complicated."
"Yeah, but I let her go," I repeat, the weight of my decision crushing down on me. "I thought it was the right thing to do at the time, but now I'm not so sure."
"Look, Giovanni," Teddy begins, his gaze never leaving mine. "You made a choice based on the information you had and what you thought was best. Whether it was right or wrong, you can't change the past. You need to find a way to move forward."
"Move forward," I repeat, as if tasting the words for the first time. They feel strange and unfamiliar in my mouth, like a foreign language.
"Find something that gives you purpose," Teddy suggests, his eyes crinkling with sincerity. "Something that makes you want to get up in the morning and face the world, even when it feels like everything is falling apart."
"Maybe you're right," I say, feeling a small spark of hope ignite within me. "I just wish I knew where to start."
