Chapter 8: The Gemstones

After that breakfast that was intense, I was walking around the town square before Zander was asking me to come with him. He was showing me fresh products of the Farmer's market before I was looking around. I don't think that I would be happy right now. But I was.

I was smelling the flowers when I was looking at the sunlight. It must have been some time now since we left the manor. I turned to look at Zander and he was putting his hand on my lower back as we were walking around the town.

"We have to check on the gemstones now. They said it's ready," Zander said as he was ushering to the car. He opened the door for me and I was thanking him for this. I was looking at him when he was opening the door for him to settle behind the wheels.

"Now, let's get to work," he said as he was speeding off from the town square. I wished I could visit them often. It has been years since I played there when I was a child. I was remembering everything that my parents brought me when I was a kid right now.

"Hey, are you okay?" Zander asked me before I was turning to look at him. I was looking at him when Zander put on his sunglasses back, to conceal his electric blue eyes. I kind of missed to look at them.

"It was nothing. Old memories of my parents," I said as I was sniffing. Zander turned to look at me when he was stopping at the red light before he was putting the glasses on his head.

"Are they still alive?" He asked as I smiled weakly.

"They…died in a plane crash," I said as I was trying to remove the sorrow that was accumulating in my chest right now. I was chuckling at my silliness.

"I'm sorry," Zander said quietly before we were moving again as the light turned to green. I was staring at the sky before I was looking at the tall building that stood apart from each other. I know that this was Caprioli's as I can see the capital letter C was on the front side of the building.

I never thought that Zander was wealthy but he was.

He went through the security as he went to park the car inside the room as I was looking at the garage. It was nice and Zander parked on his usual spot. He got out of the car and went to my side before he opened the door for me and offered me his hand.

I smiled at him before I took it and I was looking into his electric blue orbs before I was breathless again.

"Lena,"

"Zander," I said as I was clearing my throat before I was taking my hand from his hand. He cleared his throat as well before I was looking at the basement and Zander put his hand on my lower lips.

I was smiling at him before we were going into the lift that was located next to the pillar. He punched the button and I was standing close to him as we were waiting for the lift. It dinged before we got in and we were inside the confined space as I was looking at our reflection.

Zander was an attractive man, I have to admit, and there will be eyes that drawn to him like a moth to a flame. I sighed before the elevator dinged and I gasped. Zander chuckled before he was escorting me into the hall.

"Welcome to my jewels collection, Lena," he said as I was looking at the glistening stones that were shining right now. I was happy to know that it fits perfectly with the ones that we have in the files and right now, the high society of Italy will be happy then.

"This is amazing that I could kiss you right now for doing this," I said as I was looking at the gems. I did not even bother to correct my sentence as I was relieved to know that the exhibition will be alright tonight.

But the journey was not over yet.

"How do we get this to the museum now? We don't have much time before the grand opening at 8 PM," I said as I was looking at my watch. It was noon right now. Zander chuckled as I turned to look at him.

"Do not worry. I have assembled staff for the move. So you don't have to worry about it," Zander said before I was looking at the gemstones before Zander was coming behind my back. I stiffened when his hot breaths were hitting my neck.

"But I do have something for you to wear for me tonight, Lena. Consider it as a gift from me to you for doing this exhibition," Zander said before I turned to look into his electric orbs.

"Zander, I—"

"Yes?"

"I can't accept stuff from you. It would be considered a bribe. I don't want to be held in prison for that," I whispered as Zander was tucking my hair behind my ears. I was staring at him before he smiled at me.

"Then, I will not give to Ms. Lena Ferranti, the curator of Ancient Greece. the exhibition, but to my date, Lena Ferranti, the woman that loves books more than she loves me," he said as I was snapping my eyes to his.

"What do you mean?" I asked as I was trying to understand the line between us right now. Was Zander suggesting that he loves me as I was showing my affection to him? I mean, do I love him, or was this infatuation that I was feeling?

"Zander, I—"

"Shh, I don't want you to ruin this moment right now, cara mia," he said as I know that was the Italian word for my dear.

I think I liked to be his dear forever.

I felt something heavy around my neck before I saw that it was a pendant. I gasped as I was looking at the gemstone. It was sapphire, the closest color to his eyes. And I will treasure it until the end.

"It's beautiful," I said before I was looking at his pleased face. "Thank you,"

"My pleasure, cara mia. Now, the other gift that I wish to give to you," Zander said as he was moving closer to me.

"Oh, and what's that? I don't think it would top this one out," I said as I was smiling at him. He chuckled before he was pulling me by the waist. I gasped as the electrics were going around my body.

"It will believe me," Zander said and it did because I did not imagine him to do that stunt in this room full of gemstones right now as we were alone.

He pulled me closer and kissed me on the lips and it was the best kiss that I ever received in 5 years since I was old enough to kiss someone.