I stepped out and ignored the usual path to the bus stop. I turned the other way. My feet dragged, but my heart raced. I wasn't ready to go home. Not that house. Not those pitying eyes.
Maybe if I stayed out long enough, something would happen. Maybe a reason to delay going back. I even thought, what if someone kidnapped me? At least then I wouldn't have to face them.
I scoffed under my breath, shaking my head at my own madness. But before the thought could fade, I collided with something hard— a wall? No. Too warm. Too solid.
I looked up.
It was him.That man.
It was him. Hands buried casually in his pockets, posture relaxed, but his presence… his presence felt like it owned the entire street.
Coming to think of it… why do I see him as a man when he's probably younger than me? I rolled my eyes unknowingly.
I shook my head. That night, I'd made a mistake. I'd made him look like a man. Eww… he's actually a young boy. Maybe my junior or something.
My eyes rolled without thinking.
He chuckled, tilting his head. "Did you just roll your eyes at me? Are you disappointed to see me?"
"That's none of your business," I said.
"I think you use that word 'business' a lot," he replied, a smirk playing on his lips.
"You should have some respect for your senior. Now get out of my way," I said.
He chuckled. "My senior?? And who the fuck is the senior… you?? Miss Seniority I'm a year older than you, just so you know."
I choked on nothing. "Are you sure you're not hiding your age?"
He just smirked.
By now, a passersby were staring at us. Oh, right. I almost forgot — he's a celebrity.
"I don't like unnecessary crowds. Let's bounce outta here," he said.
I would have said no, but I wasn't ready to go home either. I followed him to his car, and we drove off.
He stopped in front of a restaurant, and we got out of the car.
"Why are we here?" I asked.
"To feed that little stomach, obviously. You look like a ghost," he said, smirking.
"You're a crazy motherfucker," I said.
He laughed lightly, "Only stating a fact, Piccola."
"Why not shove that fact deep down your throat?" I shot back.
"Nah," he said, eyes flicking to my lips, "I might shove something else deep down your throat."
I quickly turned toward the restaurant door. "Can we just go inside?" I asked.
"Lady first. I need a good view of this huge ass of yours," he said.
"You're a jerk," I snapped, cheeks red, marching inside.
"You're doing a good job, Piccola," he called from behind me.
The restaurant was empty. Not a single customer in sight — very unlikely.
A waitress appeared, directing us to the VIP lounge. She shot him a flirtatious look as we walked past.
Once we got to our seats, she asked, "What can I offer you?"
Antonio glanced at the menu but waved her off. "I'll choose," he said. He picked a rich spread — things like risotto with truffle, fresh seafood, steak, and a good bottle of red wine.
The waitress nodded, grinning from ear to ear.
"Hey," I said, frowning at her, "thought you were a worker? Why are you staring at someone who came with a girl like me? And close that mouth of yours — your teeth are too dirty to be looking at anyone."
Her smile faltered instantly. She bowed, embarrassed, and scurried away.
Antonio leaned back in his chair, eyes still on me.
"Possessive, are we?" he asked, his smile lingering just a moment before fading into a smirk.
The restaurant was empty. Not a single customer in sight — very unlikely.
A waitress appeared, directing us to the VIP lounge. She shot him a flirtatious look as we walked past.
Once we got to our seats, she asked, "What can I offer you?"
Antonio glanced at the menu but waved her off. "I'll choose," he said. He picked a rich spread — things like risotto with truffle, fresh seafood, steak, and a good bottle of red wine.
The waitress nodded, grinning from ear to ear.
"Hey," I said, frowning at her, "thought you were a worker? Why are you staring at someone who came with a girl ? And close that mouth of yours — your teeth are too dirty to be looking at anyone."
Her smile faltered instantly. She bowed, embarrassed, and scurried away.
Antonio leaned back in his chair, eyes still on me.
"Possessive, are we?" he asked, his smile lingering just a moment before fading into a smirk.
I only rolled my eyes at him.
"So, tell me… why are you looking like a ghost? I got scared when I saw you—thought you were an actual ghost," he said.
"Duhhh. Not funny," I replied flatly.
"Was never meant to be," he said with a shrug. "Now tell me, what happened?"
"Nothing much. Just some embarrassing topic," I muttered.
"You can share. Who knows? Maybe I can help," he said, leaning in a little.
"Who knows. You're rich after all," I said, lowering my voice as I leaned closer to him. "But I don't know how good you are in the…" I whispered the word "mafia world" before sitting back.
His brows shot up slightly. "So what does that have to do with this?" he asked.
"Everything. They want to marry me off to someone I know nothing about," I replied.
"Ohhh, that's intense," he said quietly.
"I know, right? But… you can help me though," I said, locking eyes with him.
"I can? How? And what will be my prize if I do?" he asked, his lips curling just slightly.
"Yes you can. The prize will be me," I said.
His smirk faded a little. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"Let's get married instead," I dropped the bombshell.