Are you embarrassed, Chiara?

A heavy sigh left his mouth. I turned back to see his eyes pinched shut. Then they opened and caught up with mine. I blinked when they softened the next second. Tell me why that made him look so beautiful? So devastating.

"You shocked me to death." He let out another sigh. "It's just my bodyguard. There is nothing to worry about." He explained.

I was stupefied and could feel my cheeks heating up. I pulled myself from him and started to walk without a knowledge of where I was going.

Fucking bodyguard, he said! And here I was, losing my mind wondering who it was. I only walked a few steps before my shoe strap came out. "No fucking way!" I groaned deeply, clenching my hands. Why now, of all times? As if it wasn't enough embarrassment for the day.

"The way is over here, Chiara. Not there." He yelled. His voice was laced with a hint of amusement. I took off the stupid shoes and dumped them in a bin at the side of the path, and then turned back. I stormed past him and headed to where his hand pointed without even sparing a glance at him.

"Are you embarrassed, Chiara?" He was right behind me. I said nothing, walking weirdly barefoot. "Do you need my help, Chiara?" He said once more, prickling my skin.

"Don't mention my name," I uttered under my gritted teeth. That was so fucking embarrassing of course. And now I was walking barefoot thanks to the bloody cobblestones that ruined my shoes. And this pretty bastard was laughing at my misery. We reached some place and I couldn't walk anymore. The soils were irritating with utter discomfort. I hissed when I pressed them with my thumbs.

Just in time for him to receive a call. He walked a few steps away. His one hand in his pocket while the other pressed a phone to his ear, and his back faced me. I need to stop observing everything that he did. Why was I into it now? A few minutes later, he returned to where I was standing. "Are you good? He asked, tilting his head.

"Let's go back. I can't walk like this anymore." I uttered. "The bar is just down there." He pointed with his phone. I sent him a deadly glare, "Says a man who doesn't have to walk barefoot." He mused. "You know, we could get you shoes down there too, right?" I shook my head. "I'm not going. I don't need no damn drink! Let's head back, now." If only he felt an ounce of what my soils were going through.

His gaze went between me and my foot for a short while. Then placed his phone in his pocket before turning around right before me and went down on his knee. I held in my breath at the sight of him. Holy shit!

"Get on already before I change my mind," he said. My lips curled widely. It was unexpected, but hell, a win is a win! I moved and hopped on his back before he truly changed his mind. Walking was not going to work for me for now. Thanks to the damn shoe.

He got up and wrapped his hands around my thighs and started to walk down. I gulped, ignoring the fact that his warm hands sent tingling sensations on my stomach, and rested my chin on his shoulder. Our cheeks were a breath away from each other, and I could smell his hair shampoo so badly.

I sighed. You can't be thinking about shampoos now, Chiara. You should think of Enzo and the marriage that was just around the corner. And Alex. Snap out of it!

I'd watched several videos of this place on social media, but being here in person was magical.

"Varenna is full of wonders. Who would've thought I would be piggybacked by Carmelo Conti?" His grip on my thigh tightened without saying a word back. His hands were on top of my blue jeans, but I still shuddered at the rush it sent down my body.

"So, what did you find out about Alex?" I wasn't going to ask. But hey, I couldn't stop myself either. Carmelo owned the cruise we were on, so basically, the case was connected to his business now. And how could I not ask when there was a high possibility of my having killed him without even recalling how I did it? My head throbbed at the thought of it. I'd kill before, but this would be the first without any memory of it.

"Nothing. The detectives are still investigating. Hopefully, they get it done soon." He replied, taking a corner. There were tables outside with a few people. A scent of freshly baked bread filled my nostrils as we passed by. "How much would it affect Strada Magica?" Anybody could tell it was terrible for his travelling agency, even if he wasn't showing it. "Not much. But the sooner the culprit is found, the better." He said.

While my mind drifted off to the man in question. What the hell truly happened that night?

"How about your art gallery exhibition?" He suddenly asked, leaving me dumbfounded. As if noticing, he added, "Seriously? Almost everybody in Milan knows about it. I was sent an email about its cancellation days ago."

I shook my head and replied, "It's not cancelled. Something came up, so we had to push it forward." Trying my best not to let the image of that horrible night attack me now. Prince's death was still haunting me. And I knew it was going to be so for the rest of my life. Just like how the faces of the people I've unalived with did. I guessed I wouldn't sleep well till the end of time.

"How much do you weigh?" He blurted. "Hundreds of kilos." I shrugged. "Get down already, you shameless woman." He blurted, but my hands only tightened around his neck.

His chest vibrated as he laughed. His rich voice carressed my ears. The man does laugh after all.