Chapter - 47 - Pasta

"Just one night and no more excuses." said Gianna as she cleaned the mess on the table. Rick nodded and said with a faint smile, "Of course! Thank you, Dr.G." The thing Rick hated the most was someone threatening him but he didn't know why he enjoyed the domineering tone of the woman standing in front of him. Rick rolled down his pants and took his gun from the table but something felt off with his gun. He was completely shocked when he saw the cartridge was empty!

'I just shot twice but where are the remaining bullets? Did I fire them all? NO WAY!! Where is it?!!' Rick glanced towards the kitchen with a doubt arising in his mind. 'I am sure I didn't take the bullets out or use them. The only person who could have done it, was none other than this woman.'

Gianna noticed deep folds formed on Rick's forehead as he looked at the gun and understood he was pondering over the remaining bullets. "I took out the bullets. What is the guarantee that you won't shoot me after getting treated? I will give it to you when you leave." announced Gianna calmly and walked to the main door with a trash bag in her hand.

Rick was baffled at her response and nonchalant attitude towards the matter. Rick didn't know who exactly the woman was because no normal woman would take out bullets from a gun. Forget the matter of taking the bullet out, they wouldn't even dare to touch the gun!!!Rick had a second thought on Gianna's identity and was in complete confusion.

Gianna didn't want to stir a doubt in his mind about her identity, so she said casually, "I have taken shooting classes as a recreational activity so you don't have to be so surprised about me handling a gun." She left the apartment as soon as she said her piece to avoid him probing further about the matter.

Rick felt ashamed because he doubted a person who helped him without any demand or complaint and also prepared his favorite Risotto. He hit his forehead in regret and went to the balcony to retrieve his things which were cleaned by Gianna. He neatly arranged his belongings and slid his gun inside the jacket before placing it on the side table of the bed and waited for Gianna in the living room to return.

Not long after, Gianna entered the apartment after discarding the trash and saw Rick sitting on the couch, watching TV on mute. She stood in the hallway for a few seconds as she didn't expect anyone to be sitting on the couch. She completely forgot that Rick was still in her apartment and slowly strode to the kitchen to wash her hand. Gianna came back to the living room and sat on the other side of the couch to read through her mail and occasionally glanced at the television.

Gianna read Dr.Henry's reply mail and scoffed loudly at the sentence full of concern for her. Rick felt awkward because he didn't know how to strike a conversation with a woman, given that she was a piece of work. Rick cleared his throat and asked in a low voice, "Are you from Halston city?" "Why? Do you want me to give you a tour around the city?" cross - questioned Gianna looking at her phone. Rick could only smile at her reply because she was on a different level in sarcasm and it was really not easy to handle her!

Gianna checked the time and it was almost 1 pm. "What do you want to have for lunch?" asked Gianna looking at his attractive dark amber eyes. He thought for a while and asked, "Are you going to cook or going to order?" Gianna initially wanted to get a takeout but Rick was unwell and decided to cook for him. "Cook."

After thinking for a while, both of them said in unison, "What about pasta?" They looked at each other with surprise and both let out a chuckle, with eyes still locked on each other. Gianna's heartbeat became faster when she looked into Rick's deep amber eyes and felt she would get lost in his eyes at any moment so she looked away quickly and strode into the kitchen.

Rick had to take a few deep breaths to calm his fluttering heart. Rick could have lost his mind if he had kept looking at her bewitching dark hazel eyes for another second. He felt heat surge through his veins and wanted to take a cold bath to ease the heat but it was not even an option with his present condition. So, he rushed to the bathroom and wiped his body with a wet towel instead and applied the body lotion on his muscular body which was on the dressing table before wearing the same clothing.

Meanwhile in the kitchen, Gianna hit her head not knowing why her heart kept beating faster whenever she was closer to him. "I should have gone crazy because of the exhaustion. Let's focus, Gianna! He is a stranger and stranger means danger! You gotta stay away from him!" mumbled Gianna. Gianna decided to make Carbonara but there were no ingredients. If she would have known Rick would stay for another night, she would have bought more groceries in the morning.

Gianna decided to go to the grocery store to buy more ingredients. Rick was nowhere to be seen in the living room and guessed he would be in the bedroom as the bedroom door was closed. She let out a huge sigh of relief and took her wallet and phone before leaving for the grocery store.

The two people standing in the small corridor in their apartment were surprised when they heard Gianna's apartment door swing open! Gianna was equally stunned as she stood rooted to her place with her door wide open when she saw Mrs. Rogers and Frank standing in front of her.