“No, no,” she answered vaguely, as if she wasn’t quite sure what she was saying. “No, I’ll stay. That sounds… yes, it sounds nice.”
“Great,” I grinned, showing her my dimples.
Now I only had one problem. What was I going to do that was special?!
*****
Bella
“So, what are we going to do tonight?” As I heard myself asking those words, I wondered what the hell had happened to me. All of my intentions to come right in being a bitch had just flown out of the window after his rant, and now for some reason, I found myself actually wanting to stay, to spend more time with him.
I’d been so convinced that he was being pushed into this as much as me, that it was a bit of a shock when all of that seemingly genuine emotion came spilling out.
Sure, I didn’t have much experience with guys – as Pru liked to remind me constantly – but I was pretty sure that I was accurate with what was going on here.
Enrico actually liked me!
“We’re going dancing.”
He smiled at me, making me melt inside far more than I wanted to. I didn’t like the reaction he caused within me, it conflicted with what my brain knew was best for me.
“Dancing?!” I exclaimed, taken aback by how unprepared I was for that. “Where?”
“I know this great little club…”
“Oh wonderful.” I practically snarled. “A nightclub.”
But he didn’t react to my snarky comment, he just sent me another smile, and gulped down the rest of his drink.
I imitated him, wanting the alcohol to hit me quickly. I had the feeling that if I was going to be expected to dance, then I would need to be more than a little tipsy to make it work for me.
I wasn’t much of a dancer. Sure, I could move well, but I always felt a little self-conscious that people were watching me, and I didn’t like that.
As soon as my glass was empty too, Enrico gripped hold of my hand and led me out of the bar. I kind of wish we could have stayed there. I tried to act otherwise, but I actually really liked it in there. It had the exclusivity of the sort of venue that only caters for the super-rich, but it also had a nice chill out vibe, that most of them miss out on.
Enrico continued to hold my hand as we walked down the street to wherever he was taking me, and I didn’t actually mind. The guy that I’d briefly seen all those months ago – I realized that I’d made a snap judgment about him without even speaking to him. Just because I knew that his father wanted to buy out our company, and because I’d heard about his reputation, I’d made a decision about Enrico too.
Maybe I’d been wrong about everything. Maybe I wasn’t quite as perceptive as I liked to think I was.
“Here,” he finally announced, as we stood outside of a building so small that it could have been someone’s home.
“Here?!” I asked stunned. I’d been expecting to go to one of the tacky, over the top nightclubs with lame VIP areas that were supposed to be for people like me, but that were always filled with giggly, airhead groupies that drove me mad.
He didn’t say anything. Instead he just tugged on my arm and I quickly found myself in a cool, tiny jazz club that had only a few people inside.
As Enrico went up to the bar, he was greeted like an old friend, which left me wondering what sort of person he really was. I’d assumed so much about him, but now I was finding myself surprised at how different he seemed. He wasn’t like anyone I’d ever met before, and I wasn’t sure what to do about that. I liked being in control, knowing exactly where I stood, and all of this was throwing me completely off balance.
“Come on.” He sat two glasses down on the table in front of me, and held out his hand.
“What?” I asked dumbly, wondering why he wasn’t allowing me to get drunk.
“Come on, I said we were going dancing, so let’s dance.”
“But…” I wanted to protest, but as there was hardly anyone there I couldn’t see what I could say. It wasn’t like I was going to be under the scrutiny of the bitchy upper classes anyway, so maybe I should give it a go. “Okay.”
Instead of standing across me on the dance floor like I’d expected him too, he pulled my body close into his, molding me against him, and we swayed – even though it didn’t really fit in time with the music.
This allowed me to feel comfortable. If we were dancing out of time on purpose, then that was fine.
But as I relaxed, I realized that my heart was fluttering ferociously, that my fingers were trembling under his touch, and that a hot fire had burst into my stomach.
It hit me like a smack in the face.
I wanted him.
I wanted Enrico bloody Abattelli, and I wanted him badly. How was that even possible?
I glanced up at him, wanting to take a discrete look, to confirm that my worst fears were true, but instead I found him gazing back at me with an unreadable expression on his face.
We stayed that way for a while, just looking at each other, and suddenly I noticed a shift in the air. We were moving in to one another. This was no longer a game. We were about to kiss…
So I shoved him roughly away from me, and I turned on my heel, racing from the building before I ended up doing something I later regretted.
I couldn’t kiss him; I couldn’t like him. I just… couldn’t.
*****
Enrico
I should have been over the moon. I’d gotten exactly what I wanted – I’d gone on the date, done my duty, and Bella had left me behind, just as I’d planned. That was what I’d aimed for all along, and that was what I’d gotten.
But somewhere along the line, somewhere on the dance floor, the lines between playing a game, and real feelings had been blurred. As I’d gazed into her eyes, I’d noticed that there was another person inside of her that was screaming to get out, just as there was in me. We were both covering up our true selves, and masking it in something else. We had a lot more in common than either of us had assumed – we had expectations weighing heavily on our shoulders, and neither of us knew what to do about it.
I’d spent my whole life reacting to that confusion by screwing everyone and anyone, just wanting to feel what my lifestyle could get me. But it had only left me empty and wanting more. And it seemed like Bella had reacted by encasing herself in a wall – one that was completely impenetrable. She was a bitch to everyone, hurting them before they could hurt her.
Neither of us knew how to be whole, how to be normal.
And now I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Now she was on my mind all the time, and I was afraid that with my stupid game playing, I’d already fucked it up.
I’d sent her a text just afterwards, apologizing, but I’d had no reply. And it seemed like she’d gone straight home and bitched about me to her father because ever since that night, the deal had been going south.
Of course I hadn’t heard the damn end of it. My dad just knew that it was my fault, even though I hadn’t said anything about the date to him. He probably assumed that I’d done my usual trick of screwing and never calling again, but that wasn’t the case. Not this time.
That guy, that version of me was a dick that was never going anywhere in life.
I never wanted to be him again.
Even as I’d been playing games with Bella, I’d only been fooling myself, trying to act even to myself that I didn’t like her, that I didn’t actually want to spend time with her.
But of course, that wasn’t what she wanted. She’d made that perfectly clear.
“Enrico?” One of my dad’s right hand men came over to my desk in the office – where I mostly sat pretending to work, imagining all of the wonderful artwork that I could be spending my time creating instead. “Your father has requested your presence in his office.”
“Why do you always insist on talking like a fucking butler?” I snapped, pissed off that I was about to get yelled at over the date once more. “I know what you really are.”
Boris – I didn’t t
hink that was his real name, but it was what everyone called him – was more involved in my dad’s shady business dealings than this company. He was built like a brick shit house, so I was pretty sure that he was some kind of bodyguard. Someone that got their hands dirty so that my dad could have everything.
“I’m sure… sir,” he finished off sarcastically, before stalking off to my father’s office, indicating that I should follow him.
But before I made it to the room where my dad sat lording over everyone, the police burst into the building, complete with riot gear and a search warrant.
“We’re looking for Mr. Abattelli,” one of them said to me. “I have a warrant for his arrest.”
*****
Bella
It had been really difficult to ignore Enrico since our date – especially since he kept trying to contact me – but I was proud of myself for staying strong.
I liked him. I liked him a little too much, and I couldn’t be around him for that exact reason.
I just couldn’t allow myself to get sucked in to a thing with someone who oozed sex, who clearly screwed around, who I guessed lied to me about the reasons he asked me out. When I was away from the cloud of lust, it was much easier to see that I was suckered by his stupid story, and I didn’t want that to happen again.
When I got home, my dad had asked me how it went and I was so close to tears that this had spilled me over the edge. He’d taken it as I’d found something bad out, and I was too embarrassed to correct him, so things had been going bad business wise ever since.
I was glad about that part. The Abattellis couldn’t be trusted, but I did feel a little bad for not being honest.
But as I sat on my bed, feeling the depression engulf me, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d made all the wrong choices. If I’d misjudged all over again.
I suddenly heard screaming and yelling coming from downstairs, which made my heart race as I jumped up. My father never shouted in this house, and it was totally bizarre to hear it.
I raced down the stairs, running two at a time, desperate to know what had him so riled up. It had to be Prudence – maybe she’d broken off another engagement in the way that she always did when she got bored.
I was excited to see the drama unfold yet again, it was the only thing that might be able to shake me from my funk.
“…and now he’s been arrested.” I heard him scream. “Where the hell does that leave us?”
“What’s going on daddy?” I asked quietly from the kitchen door. I shrank in on myself, feeling as if I was reverting to a childlike version of myself.
“You were the only one that saw it,” he announced confused, racing to my side and throwing his arms around me. “If it wasn’t for you, I would have merged our businesses, and we would be going down too.”
“What are you on about?” All of this sounded really serious, but I couldn’t quite work out what it was.
“Mr. Abattelli,” he said simply, spinning me around to look me in the eye. “He’s been arrested. He’s involved in some massive organized criminal scheme…”
“What?” I gasped, breathless and shocked. Sure, I’d sensed that they weren’t the best people in the world, but I never would have guessed that.
“His entire company is a cover up operation – he probably wanted to include ours as a part of that. Maybe for money laundering and stuff. It’s in the newspaper today.”
“Oh my…” The world started to spin around me, I began to feel nauseated and dizzy. I clutched onto my stomach, feeling like I could have thrown up at any moment. “I don’t…”
And then everything went black.
***
When I came back around, I could hear more yelling. This time, my parents were worrying about me, wondering what they should do next.
“I… I’m okay,” I muttered, forcing myself into a sitting position. “I just need a drink.”
Once I sipped down the cold water, another emotion began to flood through me. Anger. Enrico must know about his father’s dealings, and he didn’t tell me on our date. Instead of helping me save my father’s business, he tried to seduce me instead.
How fucking inappropriate!
Maybe he knew what he was doing; maybe he was a massive part of it.
I stomp out of the room, and leave the house behind me without even looking back. I could hear my parents shouting out to me, but I simply sent them a dismissive wave, and continued on my journey.
I had a score to settle, and I was going to damn well settle it!
I stormed through the streets until I reached Mr. Abattelli’s office – which luckily wasn’t too far away from my home – and I pushed my way through the doors, completely ignoring the police tape everywhere.
Once inside, I realized that it was like a ghost town. Completely deserted. It was bizarre. But my mood didn’t dull. Enrico was here, I was certain of it.
“Hello?” I called out, trying to draw him out to me. “Enrico?”
“What?” a groggy voice replied, leading me into one of the medium sized corner offices.
There I found him looking red faced and stressed, almost as if he hadn’t slept for a long time.
But I tried not to let that derail me.
“Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?” I snapped. “You could have cost my family everything, everything. Does that mean nothing to you?” His head fell into his hands, but he didn’t give me a response. “My dad has worked his whole life, and your dad just… just…”
But then his shoulders began to shake, and I realized that he was actually really upset. That he was crying.
“I knew my dad wasn’t squeaky clean,” he admitted. “But I had no idea how deep all of this ran. I really didn’t. I know you won’t believe me…”
But somehow, I did. Enrico just didn’t seem the type. There was something more to him, something underneath.
I slumped into the chair on the other side of his desk, completely stumped.
“My heart doesn’t lie in this business,” he continued, looking up to meet my eye. “I love art. I don’t want anything to do with all of this, I hate it. I always have.”
And my heart stopped. I knew exactly what he meant. I had always harbored a dream to become a writer, but that had been quashed from a very young age. My parents had spent a lot of time instilling into me that my job was to find a rich man to marry, then to pop out some kids.
And this only got worse when Pru started to act the way she did.
But the dream was still there, going nowhere…
“Wow,” I said quietly. “I… I’m sorry I guess. I just thought…”
“At least your dad didn’t sign anything, right?”
He smiled weakly at me through shiny wet eyes. I nodded numbly, not wanting to say too much. After all, I still had my dad, we did still have everything. It could have gone wrong, but it didn’t.
Enrico had nothing.
He stood up, walking over to me, emotion consuming him. Then, he grabbed my face in his hands, held my eyes for a few seconds, before leaning forward and claiming my mouth with his own.
*****
Enrico
After all that I’d been through in the past forty eight hours, the sight of Bella coming into the office had been like a ray of sunshine. Now she was here, in front of me, listening to me pour my heart out, and actually looking as if she understood.
As I stared at her, I decided that I wanted to kiss her. Once that thought was in my head, I decided to just act upon it before I had the chance to talk myself out of it.
Sure, she could just reject me once more, but I was willing to take that chance. I’d already lost everything else.
But as soon as our lips connected, and fireworks burst through my whole body, I knew that she wasn’t going anywhere. I knew that she was mine.
She responded enthusiastically, running her hands around the back of my neck, claiming me as much as I claimed her. This time there was no running away, this time she wanted me as much as I di
d her, and nothing was going to stop her.
I tugged her upright, until she was standing in front of me, then I pushed her back until she was perched on my desk. I’d never been with anyone in here before, or in the office at all, and it was kind of exciting.
Of course, I’d never done it before because this place was normally a busy hive of activity, whereas now without dad it was like a ghost town.
But that was perfect, that was just what I needed.
Bella moaned into my mouth – a sound which sprung straight to my cock, causing me to strain painfully against my trousers. I couldn’t control myself any longer, I reached around her and grabbed her ass, wanting to get a feel of her.
“Oh God,” she cried, as I moved my hand around to her thigh. “Enrico.”
I couldn’t believe that she was actually responding to me! After last time, I knew that I was lucky to even get a kiss, never mind… well, whatever could be about to happen.
I ran my fingers up her legs, finally reaching the outline of her panties. There, I could feel her wet heat emanating, and I grew even more desperate to feel her. I wanted to plunge into her and thrust over and over again.
Not only would that help me forget all of my problems, but I’d also be giving myself exactly what I wanted. I already knew that Bella wouldn’t be just some random fuck. We wouldn’t do this, then I’d never speak to her again. We’d do this, and I’d want to do it again and again. After having a few days without speaking to her, I already realized that I don’t want to go through that again.
But just as I was about to make my move, Bella pushed me off panting heavily. “No, no, stop,” she gasped, trying to get a hold of herself. “Wait I…”
“Uurggh,” I groaned, unable to believe that I’d been cock blocked again.
“I… I’m sorry…” she gasped. “I just…”
“No it’s okay.” I didn’t want her to feel bad. Of course if she didn’t want to do this, I understood, but that didn’t mean that I wasn’t gutted.
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