17

"Sir," Carlos answered, and I heard footsteps approaching. 

Without looking back, my legs moved on their own accord, taking me ahead. I walked faster but tried my best not to make it obvious. 

I am already over the edge thanks to his voice, but after last night, I don't think I want to be in front of him right now. 

I can be far but not close to him. 

He is just....he is just something else. 

He already thinks I am a spy, which is offensive. It is best to stay far away. 

I got to the stairs, letting out a breath as I descended. I walked towards the dining table and all eyes fell on me like before.

But the table is missing a few people. I can see Mimi, her mum, Candela, Mario's uncle and two friends of Mario's. 

Candela is seated close to the empty head seat. Opposite her is Mario's uncle. Next to her is her sister and after her sister is Mimi. Next to Mimi are Mario's friends. 

Speaking of Mario, he is not here yet. 

Why is that? 

Conscious of their eyes on me, I gave a slight nod. 

"Good morning, all," I greeted, not expecting a response as I walked towards the same seat I sat in yesterday. 

"How was your night?" Mimi's mother asked. 

"It was fine, thank you," I said, smiling a little. 

She smiled too. 

"You look pretty this morning," Mimi complimented with a smile. She is dressed already and ready for school. 

"Thank...." 

"Of course she is," Mario's familiar voice took my attention and I saw him getting closer to me. 

"Good morning, gorgeous," he said, leaning down and placing a kiss on my temples. 

I smiled nervously. I really wasn't expecting that. 

But something caught my eyes in the headseat and I saw the Don taking his seat. 

And his eyes are on me. 

My heart picked up, making me lower my gaze as Mario took his seat to my left and next to me. 

"She is not just pretty, little cuz, she is gorgeous," Mario said, smiling at me. 

I smiled a little. 

Mimi chuckled as Carlos joined us as well. He took the seat to my right. 

"Good morning, mum." Mario greeted Candela. 

"Oh it is mum, now? What happened to Aunt Candela?" She asked, faking a smile and frowning instantly. 

I felt awkward instantly. 

Please, no drama today, please. 

Mario heaved a sigh. "Good morning aunt Dolores and uncle Dante." He greeted, ignoring Candela, who was focused on her meal. 

His uncle hummed as he sipped his drink. 

My eyes moved to the Don. He is looking at his wife. 

I guess he noticed her bad mood this morning. 

The maids walked in with our meals, placing them in front of us. We have oatmeal, sandwich and orange juice. 

Nice. 

I love oatmeal. 

Perhaps the Don loves it too, right? 

I looked at him. He is eating already. He is wearing a milk-colored shirt with the first three buttons left open as usual, giving me a view of his keenly hot chest and necklace.

I have a feeling that the necklace is precious to him.

"You look handsome this morning. Going somewhere?" Mario's aunt asked, making me withdraw my eyes from the Don. She was talking to Mario. 

I took in his outfit. He has a green shirt on and black trousers. 

"We have a job to handle today," Mario said while eating his meal.

God, he is leaving again? 

Why?!

"You never look this good for just a job, big cousin," Mimi quipped. 

"Hmm. I said the same thing earlier," one of Mario's friends who are seated next to Mimi said. 

"See? Even Lucas knows that," Mimi said. 

Mario scoffed. "The two of you stop sounding like I don't dress my best. My friend is here, remember?" 

Mimi and Lucas chuckled. 

Mario leaned closer to me. "Ignore them. They can be annoying sometimes," he said, attacking my nose with his scent. 

I smiled nervously. 

"Yeah. Especially when we know he is dressed this way for his gorgeous friend," Mimi quipped again. I lowered my gaze, feeling awkward by their jokes. 

"What the...." Mario trailed off. 

"Exactly," Lucas said, making Mimi and her mum chuckle. 

"Can we please eat our meal in peace?" Candela spoke for the first time, silencing everyone. 

"This is becoming annoying," she added. 

Everyone remained still, and I could only hear the clicking sound of the utensils. I stared at my meal, eating slowly as I thought about Mimi and Lucas' jokes. 

It felt awkward. Mario didn't dress this way for me, did he? I mean, he looks good and all, but he didn't do it for me. 

Why are they making jokes like that?

Mimi's phone beeped. 

"Neo?" Lucas asked, making me look at him. I think he just read the text on Mimi's phone. 

"The fuck?" Mario asked as Mimi picked up her phone and stared at it. 

"Why is that fucker texting you?" Mario snarled angrily, surprising me. 

"I...I don't know." Mimi stuttered. 

"What do you mean you don't know?" her mother asked. 

"I don't. He has been texting me for days now. I don't know why?" Mimi almost cried.

"The heck?" Mario asked. 

Who is Neo? 

"Why haven't you told us? Why haven't you told me, your mum?! What is wrong with you?!" Mimi's mother yelled. 

"Stop raising your voice, Dolores," Candela chipped in.

Mario scoffed. "Seriously, Mum?" 

"What? Yelling will not stop anything, will it?" Candela asked. 

Mario shook his head in disbelief. 

"We just have to find out why he has been texting her and put a stop to it. Not yell at her. And don't forget we have a stranger in our mist." 

I froze, staring at my meal.

"We can't keep saying things like this in front of her, geez" Candela added. I flickered my eyes towards her and I saw her sipping her drink. I returned my eyes to my meal. 

Everyone was silent, but I could sense Mario's anger. 

This Neo person must be trouble. 

"What was the text about?" The Don broke the silence, weakening my legs instantly. I looked at him. 

He is looking at Mimi. 

"He....he wants to talk." Mimi stuttered. 

"Tell him to meet you in Lorenzo's lane, noon tomorrow." He ordered. 

"What?" Candela asked.

"Dad?" Mario called. 

"Do that right now," The Don ordered, ignoring his wife and son. 

"Yes, sir," Mimi said, typing on her phone quickly. 

"What are you doing, Adrian?" Candela asked. 

He didn't respond but sipped his drink. 

Mimi's mother looks very worried. 

"Have you done that?" the Don asked Mimi.

"Yes, sir," Mimi answered. 

"It's settled then," he said, sealing the matter effortlessly. He doesn't look bothered at all. He is very calm and nonchalant. 

Weirdly, I find it hot! 

And I have crazy thoughts in my head right now. 

Like crawl on this table towards him and kiss the hell out of.....

Okay, that's enough. 

Geez.

***********

A FEW MOMENTS LATER....

"I will be back tonight, okay?" Mario said, holding my hands. We are standing outside the mansion, and he is about to leave with his dad and friends. 

I nodded. 

"Don't miss me too much," he said. 

I gave a tiny smile, making him chuckle. He leaned closer and placed a kiss on my temples. 

"See you later," he said.

I nodded. "Bye," 

He let go of my hands, walking backwards with a smile. 

I smiled at him till he turned around and began descending the stairs. My eyes fell on the Don. 

He is getting in the driver's seat, which is on the left. My heart picked up as I watched him close the door after he entered. 

To my heart's content, he looked my way with his dark shades on. 

Oh God. 

I felt a delightful tingle within thanks to his charm.

He is so.....

"Gorgeous, isn't he?" Mimi's mother's familiar voice made me freeze. 

I looked at her. She is standing a bit close to me and looking ahead. 

God, she caught me staring at the Don. 

"Wh....who?" I stuttered, feeling my heart pounding.

"My nephew," she said, looking at me. 

"Oh....yeah," I said, lowering my gaze. I felt relieved but cautioned myself internally.

"He is a perfect kid. You are a lucky girl," she said, making me look at her. 

She smiled at me. 

I forced a smile as I moved my eyes back to the car. 

The Don is about to drive out. 

"He is just like his father," Mimi's mother added. 

I looked at her. 

She is looking at them with delight in her face. 

I looked at them too.

They are driving out. 

"They are kind gentlemen," she said. 

I shook my head slightly. 

Mario is kind. 

I can't say same for his dad. 

But he is gorgeously unkind.

And hot. 

And tempting. 

I have to stop thinking like this. 

It is not right. 

*****************

HOURS LATER....

It is late noon, I think. I checked the little clock on my nightstand before leaving my room. 

It was pasted three. 

I am currently taking a walk at the ranch behind the mansion, regardless of what they would say or think of me. 

I have been in my room for hours now, and I am bored out of my mind. I hate being alone and left with my thoughts and awful memories. I don't even have my novels with me. 

I saw this ranch from my room through my windows, so I decided to check it out. 

I don't care if the owners of the house will get upset or not. Besides, the Don is out. 

And his wife might be busy with whatever. It is not like I am doing something suspicious. It is just a walk. 

I am totally harmless with a clear conscience, so if they are watching me from anywhere, I am not bothered because I have nothing to hide like they suspect I do.

I am as pure as the color, white.

Yeah right. Pure people don't crush on people's husbands. 

I sucked my teeth, shaking off my thoughts. 

The sun is scourging, but it is better than sitting in doors with my awful memories.

I walked towards the part I guess would be the stables, where the horses were kept. I can hear the sound of horses locked in. I stared at their heads, which are a bit out of their cage. 

I can see black and brown ones mostly. They look amazing and beautiful. 

I continued walking till I got to the entrance of the stables, but a white horse walked out of it instantly, catching me off guard. 

A gasp escaped my mouth as I took scared steps backwards but bumped into a hard chest, making me freeze as the very familiar scent hit my nose. 

My heart picked up. 

Slowly, I turned around, and I locked my eyes with enchanting gray ones.

My lips parted slowly.