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“I’ll find another job. Somehow I’ll get that money to you by the end of the year. I’m done with having other people decide my value.” I shook my head. “I need to walk my dog.”
“I’ll come.”
“No, don’t. I need…” I took a deep breath, hoping my voice won’t sound so shaky. “I need to be away from you.”
Chapter 7
He refused to leave me alone, no matter what I did. For a month, Garon made his two bodyguards camp out by my door and follow me wherever I went. I made friends with Arno and Santo, but that didn’t make them any less annoying when they were playing bodyguard. Every few days, Garon came by, usually when I walked Panini and he would take a stroll with me. I got used to his presence, but we didn’t talk much and every time he tried to touch me I walked away. Mostly out of principle, but also because I knew I was weak in front of him, and all it would take to make me fall would be another kiss. I had no idea how long this new phase of his would last, but I knew Garon. He will get bored and find a party or a new woman to distract him away soon enough.
Since I wasn’t allowed to work at the Flora House anymore, I tried looking for other jobs, but couldn’t do much when I had Santo and Arno on my tail twenty-four seven. They had orders to ‘keep me safe’, but I wasn’t in danger, so they were wasting time in the park in front of my apartment building intimidating the people coming in and out and following me every time I went somewhere.
When I heard the knocking on my door, I grunted, thinking it would be Santo again checking to see if I was OK, so I took my sweet time answering. I finished braiding my hair and putting some cherry ChapStick on before going to the door where Panini was going crazy trying to get to the person on the other side. When I opened, it was Garon I saw, carrying a couple of grocery bags.
“Hello,Piccolina.” He smiled down at me. “Your dog is trying to eat my shoe again.”
Yes, Panini was on a mission to scratch the shiny Florentine leather of his shoes.
“Can I help you, Garon?”
He looked at my simple dress. “Going somewhere?”
“Yes.” Although, I wasn’t going to tell him I was meeting Leonardo. I had a feeling that wouldn’t end well for anyone. “Why are you here?”
“To see you.”
“What’s with the bags? I’m sure I didn’t invite you to move in.”
“Santo said you have to go to the shop on the corner every morning, so I got you some things.” Oddly sweet, very annoying. When Panini barked, Garon looked down. “Yes, I have something for you too, Dog.”
“Dog?”
“I forgot his name.”
“Panini. It’s not so hard to remember.”
“Are you going to let me in?”
I didn’t want to, Ireallydidn’t, but I also knew he’d break down the door if he wanted to get in, so there was no point in saying no.
“Sure.”
My apartment was small, only had one bedroom, a bathroom, a living room, an open space kitchen and no balcony, but it was enough for me. Now, with Garon there, it seemed like we were in a tiny box, not in someone’s house. He was tall enough to almost hit the light fixtures with his head and his imposing demeanor filled the space.
He looked around at the old furniture, his eyes fixating on the two-person couch covered in a floral pattern. The look on his face said it all, he was insulted by that couch and I wasn’t surprised. He was used to a certain degree of luxury and comfort and nothing about my apartment was luxurious nor comforting.
“You live here.” He stated.
“Stop. I’m fine. I’ve been here for months.”
He let the bags down on my dining table and started walking around, taking his hand to his hair.
“Why aren’t you angrier about this?”
“Because it wouldn’t help anybody, Garon.” My answer didn’t seem to soothe him at all.
Garon looked distraught and tired with purple shades hanging under his eyes and his hair in all directions. He was still the most handsome man I’ve ever seen, but something about him wasn’t right.
“Garon, are you OK?”
