He Makes My Heart Flutter
We have the details on Petrova’s travel and we are on our way to Sicily to find her. She is the only lead we have so far, we hope she can help us find whoever is responsible for the attacks. We are currently flying to Sicily in Stefano’s private jet. I am writing new chapters for my book in my spare time but I stop once I feel someone shadowing me. I turn around to find Samuel beside me reading my novel while I am writing.
“Samuel, what are you doing?”
“Sorry, Miss Andrea, your book is amazing; I couldn’t stop myself once I started reading”
“Really, you think so,” I ask, happy someone finds my story amazing.
“Yes, when are you going to publish it? I would love to get a copy as soon as it’s out.”
“I don’t know if I will ever publish it.”
“Why?” he asks, surprised.
“I am scared that people might hate it more than they like it.”
“Miss Andrea, I have only read a little portion of the story but I already love it. The book is amazing, a lot of people are going to love it.”
“You really think so?”
“Yes, I know so, when you decide to publish, don’t forget to give me a copy.”
“I won’t.”
We arrived in Italy a few days ago. I am staying at the Costanzo estate this time around. Aurora refused to allow me to stay in a hotel, even if her family owned the hotel. I am getting ready to go shopping with Aurora today. Her birthday is tomorrow and she is decided to have a masquerade ball for her 23rd birthday. I don’t have anything to wear, so we are going to find something today. Aurora and I are the same age, only a month apart. I walk downstairs to meet Aurora after putting on my outfit for the day.
We take her car to the mall. While shopping at the mall, I see someone familiar, I didn’t think he would be here. I try my luck and walk over to the person to find out if I am right or wrong.
“Ivan,” I say, waving my hand while I walk towards him.
“Andrea,” he says, sounding and looking surprised to see me. He was talking to someone and as soon as I came, the person quickly left. I wasn’t even able to see the person’s face because they had their back to me. I wonder why the person left.
“What are you doing here?” I say, excited to see him.
“I should ask you the same thing,” he says.
“I came for a friend’s birthday party.”
I only tell him half of why I am in Italy, it’s not like I can tell him the whole reason. I don’t know him that well.
“I came to see a friend, she is ill.”
“Oh, I am sorry, I hope she gets better.”
“Me too, I would love to catch up with you but I have somewhere I need to be right now.”
“Oh, why don’t you come to the birthday party tomorrow night? We can catch up then.”
“Sure, I would love to.”
“Alright, I will text you the address.”
I spend the rest of the day shopping with Aurora before going back to the estate. I am in the kitchen eating a snack while watching funny videos on my phone, when someone walks into the kitchen; I don’t bother looking up and continue what I am doing. I am laughing at an old clip from the series Friends, when the person who walked in speaks.
“What’s making you laugh so much?” A deep husky voice says. I know only one person with this voice, and I am surprised he is asking me this.
“It’s a funny episode from Friends,” I say, looking up to face Stefano. He appears curious to know.
“What are Friends,” he says, surprising me with his question.
“You don’t know the series, Friends?”
“So, it’s a series, you seem to love watching them, why?” He asks, looking curious. Why is he interested in what I do? This is the second time he is doing this; I am curious why he is asking.
“I don’t know, they keep you busy when you are bored,” I say, wondering what type of questions these are. Who doesn’t know that?
“I know that, of course, I am asking why you love watching a comedy series.”
“Oh, I just love funny things, they make me happy.”
“I guessed as much, the book you are writing, is it also comedy? That seems to be your favorite genre.” he says, looking interested in my answer. To say I am surprised would be an understatement. I am shocked to the bone with his interest in my affairs. The last time he showed interest, he didn’t say much but this time it’s different.
“How do you know I am writing a book?”
“I heard you and Samuel on the plane.”
“Oh, yes, it is.”
“That’s nice, I would like to read it.”
For some odd reason, my heart flutters to hear him say that. I can’t believe he would love to read the book I am writing.
“Once I publish it, I will give you a copy.”
“I will be waiting for it.”
I spend the next day preparing for Aurora’s party. I got her the dress she is wearing tonight for her birthday party, as my gift to her. It’s a gradient tulle dress, embellished with flowery silky appliques and a sweeping V-neck, bearing a high slit cumulating towards the side. I am wearing a fitted, long crepe dress featuring a structured bow with handmade crystal embroidery on the side. I am putting on my heels when a text comes in from Stefano. It says he is downstairs waiting for me. Aurora had to leave earlier; I can’t believe Stefano is the person she sent to take me to the party. I text him that I will be downstairs soon.
I finish slipping on my shoes and walk downstairs to meet him. I see him at the end of the stairs, I pause to take in his beauty. I don’t know how someone can look more handsome every time you see them. He is looking sexier than ever in an all-black suit. His hair is styled formal as always, which makes him look hotter. I look at his green eyes and notice he is taking in my whole appearance. He stares at me; it makes me wonder if I look okay or not. He mutters a word under his breath, I don’t hear it clearly, I think he said something like hello or Bella; I am not sure. I will go with hello because if he said Bella, he would be calling me beautiful in Italian. I know very well he would never see me as such.
“Stefano,” I say, waving my hands in front of his face to get his attention.
“Yes, Yes,” he says, coming back to earth.
“I am ready to go.” I say, wondering what he was thinking of.
“Okay, let’s go,” he says, leading the way to his car.