Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 163540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 818(@200wpm)___ 654(@250wpm)___ 545(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 818(@200wpm)___ 654(@250wpm)___ 545(@300wpm)
“Just do it.”
“All right.” I sigh. “Still in your bad mood, I see” “Olivia,” he warns. “Do not give me your attitude today. You are right, I am not in the mood.”
I smile. I love stirring him up. I think back to not so long ago when that tone in his voice would have had me running scared. How times have changed.
“I’ll be down in ten.”
“See you soon.”
“Goodbye.”
Fifteen minutes later, I bounce out of the elevator and see the procession of cars waiting for me. Not only is Enrico here, but there are an extra three cars today. Every day it seems like more and more guards are added to the procession. I give the cars behind a wave, and I make my way to the front car. Enrico gets out and opens the door for me.
“Olivia,” he says as I approach him.
“Mr. Ferrara.” I smirk as I get into the car. He shuts the door and makes his way around to the driver’s seat. He gets in and starts the car, leaving me to smile over at him.
I don’t even try to kiss him in public anymore. I know better. He keeps that part of himself locked up safely for when we’re in private. At first it used to bother me that we couldn’t be affectionate around other people, but now I get it. He has twenty sets of eyes on him at all times. He’s much more comfortable with his cold persona. It’s easier this way. He keeps his feelings insanely private, and I like that I get a part of him that nobody else does.
The car pulls out of the parking lot, and I reach over to put my hand on his thigh. He takes it in his hand.
“How was your day?” I smile.
“Fine.” He keeps his eyes on the road.
“You know, I had the best day.”
“Why?”
“Well, I had a talk with your mother this morning.”
“About what?”
“How I’m not Italian and how I’m not her choice for you.”
“She said that?” he barks.
“Not in a mean way,” I add. “In a being honest way.” I pick up his hand and kiss it to try and calm him “And it’s not like I wasn’t expecting it, you know? I mean, at least she was honest, and she wasn’t being nasty.” I frown as I think back to what she said. “She talked to me at least. Last time I met her she didn’t address me once.”
He clenches his jaw and glares through the windscreen.
“What’s that look for?” I ask.
“She had better want to fucking talk to you,” he snaps.
I roll my eyes. “I’m not saying we’re besties or anything.” I shrug. “But it’s a starting point.”
His eyes rise to the rearview mirror.
“I start cooking lessons with your grandmother on Sunday.”
“Olivia, my grandmother will eat you alive. This woman makes grown men cry. Stay away from my grandmother.”
“That’s okay. I can hack it.”
He frowns and mouths the words hack it as he tries to process its meaning. “What is hack it?”
“It means I can take it. I’m willing to put up with it until she comes around to liking me.”
He rolls his eyes.
I reach over and run my fingers through his hair, pushing it behind his ear. “I’ll do anything for you.”
“We are moving back to Lake Como tonight. Your things are already there.”
“What? Why?” I frown.
“Because I said so.”
“Well, I don’t want to.”
“You will do as you are told. And when I tell you to stay home from work, you will fucking stay home from work.”
I screw up my face. “What the hell? What’s wrong with you today?”
He clenches his jaw as he glares out at the road.
“Don’t give me your attitude, Enrico. I’m not putting up with your bossy bullshit.”
“I have a lot on my plate at the moment and I don’t want to be dealing with your disobedience.”
“Disobedience?” I snap. “I’m not a dog, you know?”
He rolls his eyes as we take the turn off to Lake Como.
“I said I want to stay in Milan at the apartment.” He is really beginning to piss me off now.
He punches the steering wheel hard, causing me to jump. “And I said we are staying at Lake Como. I can’t keep you safe in the apartment in Milan. Do not push for a fight with me tonight, Olivia. I am not in the fucking mood.”
I sit back in my seat, affronted.
Safe.
He thinks I’m not safe. Why would he think that?
What happened in Sicily? I’ve been so preoccupied with all of my news that I didn’t even bother asking what the emergency was last night. His eyes flick to the rearview mirror again. That’s like the tenth time he has done that. I turn in my seat and look through the back window. There are two cars behind us and one in front. It’s more security than ever.