AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Not really. I don’t tend to go out much back home. But that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it,” I added.
“So would you like to go out again sometime?” he leaned on one arm of his chair, so he was a little closer to me and I eyed him suspiciously. Was he asking me out or just asking an innocent question?
“I guess. You mean as a group?”
He smirked and shook his head. “No. I mean with me. Me and you. For drinks. So, I know you better,” he explained, and I looked down at my glass. I really didn’t want to upset him. He seemed like a really nice guy and someone I could be friends with. But I also didn’t want to lead him on.
“I would like that, but just as friends. I am not really looking for a relationship right now,” I said honestly, but his features maintained the cheeky smile and twinkling eyes.
“Friends is good for me. For now,” he winked, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. The Italians never gave up, that's for sure.
When it reached midnight and the bars were calling last orders, I excused myself as I had a very early morning and a new job to start. Many of Giulia’s friends seemed shocked to hear where I was going to be working, some even seemed a little concerned. On the way home, I let curiosity get the better of me and asked Giulia why they reacted that way.
She sighed, linking her arm with mine. “The Buccini family is a pretty intimidating name in our region. They own many businesses but there are also rumours that they are involved in some dodgy dealings. Drugs and stuff. But they are very private people. No one really knows what they are like and most of it is just hearsay, so try not to let it bother you.”
I nodded and looked ahead as we walked over the Ponte Pietra Bridge and the serenity of the backdrop of this city gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling. This city was everything I had imagined it to be. Romantic, idyllic and beautiful.
“Anyway, you are just going to be with the kids and at the house all day, so I don’t expect you will even see him much,” she added, trying to ease my anxiety.
“That’s what I am counting on,” I mumbled. But something was telling me, I was about to be seeing a lot more of Giovanni Buccini and I knew I wasn’t the least bit prepared for it.
Playing With Fire
Olivia
“Miss Jones. Nice to see you again,” Cecilia greeted me warmly as I entered her plush office. I was relieved to see that her son was not lounging on the sofa like yesterday.
“Please call me Olivia or Liv,” I smiled at her and she cocked her head to the side as she studied me intensely like she had previously. Her expression remained friendly but there was something going on behind it. A secret that seemed to amuse her somewhat.
“I like Olivia. I shall call you that,” she nodded to the chair for me to sit. “So, I hear you didn’t want to work for me?”
A blush crept up my cheeks as I looked down at my hands. Shit. He told her. Of course, he did. “Yes. Sorry. I was just surprised to hear you chose me over the other candidates. I didn’t feel like I made a very good first impression,” I said honestly.
She regarded me carefully before leaning forward on her desk.
“Oh, you made quite an impression,” she chuckled, but moved on before I could question her. “I have four children. Gio is my eldest, Elenora, who is at university, and then my two youngest, Santino, who is six, and Soraya, who has just turned four. Sani and Raya for short. They are my world. So, I am trusting you to take exceptional care of them, Olivia.”
I nodded carefully. “You will notice the guards placed around the house. They are for the family's protection. Don’t be alarmed if you see them carrying weapons. They will not bother you unless necessary, so just try to ignore them as much as possible. Marco is the children's and your personal bodyguard and will escort you and the children if you choose to leave the premises.”
I frowned and decided now, if any, was the best time to interrupt her. “Sorry, but why do I need a bodyguard?”
She leaned back in her chair and clasped her hands together. Her face was neutral as she explained. “We are a very wealthy family, Olivia. There are many people who would like to harm us to get our assets. The children could be taken for ransom etc. so it is vital you do not take them anywhere without first checking with myself or Gio. I am a pretty laid-back person, Olivia, but this is one thing I will not be lenient about.”
I nodded and swallowed my fear. A cold, hard mask had slipped down her face as she spoke and suddenly her aura changed. She was terrifying. A woman I did not want to get on the wrong side of. “I understand.”
She held my gaze for a few moments before the mask was removed once again and she seemed like a different woman. “Good. So here are your things.” She lifted a box and pushed it towards me across the table. What things? I shuffled forward, intrigued by what could possibly be in this box. Lifting the lid, my eyes widened in shock as I saw a brand-new Apple mac laptop, the latest iPhone, a set of keys with so many different colour coded handles and a Mulberry purse. Lifting the purse out first and opening it, I was speechless to see a number of credit cards and some cash in there.
“These aren’t my things?” I glanced up at her. She must have made a mistake.
“They are now. How do you expect to teach my children without a laptop? The phone is for work use only. My number, Gio and Marco’s are saved, as well as the children’s personal doctors, dentist, tailor and stylists.”
I was momentarily frozen. Did I just hear her correctly? The four-year-old has a personal stylist?
“Let me explain the keys. The red is for access into the children’s living quarters. The blue is for your office. The yellow is for the garden and tennis courts. The pink is the gym and spa. The swimming pool is opened daily after 7am by our housekeeper and you are free to use it anytime. And black is for my living quarters. That is only to be used in emergencies. I like my privacy.”
I definitely was not going to remember all of that. I picked up the huge collection of keys in my hand and studied each one. This was insane. Suddenly my head snapped up.
“What about the front door? And the main gate?”
