by Serena Light
"If you had gotten it right the first time, I wouldn't have had to deal with this." She had huffed and slammed the door once she took the handful of bags.
He was utterly relieved when the night shift guards arrived, and that also just in time when Serafina stepped out in a black off-shoulder pencil skirt dress with a clutch in hand and a diamond tennis necklace fastened around her neck.
"She's all yours," Alessio muttered to Filippo and Eduardo as he handed the car keys to them. Neither one of them having the time to respond before they were heading out.
For the next four days, Serafina treated him like her errand boy, having him run off and do various things for her, and even when he would get it right, she would be angry at him that he screwed it up.
On a daily basis, he was forced to get her coffee at least 3 times before it was "decent" enough for her to drink. Every day she would demand something, claiming to have asked him to get it whereas she hadn't, and when he would try to tell her that, she would snap at him to know his place.
Theo tried doing the errands a couple of times, but Serafina always snuffed him down by saying that the task was handed to Alessio.
Her behavior had begun to infuriate Alessio, but then it occurred to him that was exactly what she wanted, and then after having given it some more thought, he realized, that she wanted Alessio to get mad and then report to her brother of her behavior, just to lure him out and waste his time with her petty behavior – knowing exactly how much of a busy man he was.
Once he realized that this all some form of an elaborate scheme to hurt her brother's business, it didn't infuriate him as much, as a matter of fact, it began to infuriate her in return.
Having figured out Serafina's attention, Alessio was one step ahead of her by getting the things before she could ask for them. He began getting coffee from the café, checked early in the morning if she needed any groceries and got them before she was awake. Picked up her dry cleaning and dropped off clothes, all before she left the house for the day. And if she gave him a list of absolutely random things to get, he had found a way to ensure that she couldn't find a complaint regarding them by having a professional assistant buyer do it all for him.
When she realized that he had found a way around her plan, she begun to order him to make her breakfast and get her lunch, then try and proceed to throw it out by stating how vile the food was. He tolerated that the first two times, but then afterward he noticed how much food she was wasting.
"Blegh, this is horrendous." Serafina swallowed the perfectly delicious creamy Italian baked eggs, standing to throw them in the dustbin
"Did you know, 795 million people in the world do not have enough food to lead a healthy active life? That's about 1 in 9 people on earth." Alessio informed nonchalantly as he cleaned up the counters. "The vast majority of the world's hungry people live in developing countries, where 12.9 percent of the population is undernourished and poor nutrition causes nearly 45 percent of deaths in children under 5, making that 3.1 million children each year. Also 1 out of 6 children -- roughly 100 million – are underweight and 66 million primary school-age children attend classes hungry."
Serafina stared at him with wide shocked eyes as he told her all that, taking a step back to survey his handiwork of cleaning.
"A tidbit I learned recently and thought best to share." He informed with an innocent smile as Serafina took the breakfast back to the table and finished it in silence.
After his "titbit", Serafina didn't have him make dinner for her and instead had him clean her house to have it clean by the time she got back from the studio.
So for 5 days, Alessio would clean the house, pick her up, and within 3 minutes of her arrival would be called inside to survey a disheveled mess – which she would deliberately create just to have him start all over again.
On the 6th day, she did the exact same stunt again and told him that she wanted the house clean by the time she stepped out of the shower which typically lasted 15 minutes and told him he would not leave until she was satisfied with how her house looked. So the moment she would close the washroom door behind her, he would call Theo, Filippo, and Eduardo inside as these 4 men would rush about, cleaning the entire house top to bottom within 15 minutes, the three men running out the moment they heard the sound of the door opening.
Whenever she stepped downstairs, she would be expecting Alessio to be still cleaning, her smug smile morphing into a scowl to see the meticulous condition before her. Begrudgingly she would let him leave as he always left with a very pompous smile about him just to piss her off. Once the door would close behind him, he would turn to the three guys, in turn, thanking them for all their help as they would chuckle at him.
"Hey, we'll do whatever needs to be done to make a brother's life less of a living hell," Filippo had chuckled, clapping him on the back. "Even dispose of her if need be,"
Alessio had laughed at him before Theo and he would head off their separate ways.
After almost 2 months of enduring her scheme in silence, he finally decided to talk to Salvatore about it.
His boss burst out laughing at hearing Alessio's cunning methods to get her things done, the older man unable to keep a smile from showing at his amusement.
"You want me to intervene?" Salvatore stood from his chair, pouring them both a glass of scotch before handing it to him.
"I'd prefer that you don't because that is exactly what she wants," Alessio took a sip of the drink. "But, I could benefit from some advice."
"Alright, so here are a few things I should remind you to remind her."
"Those being?"
"The next time she tries to treat you this way, remind her that you are her bodyguard whose sole responsibility is to keep her safe and an eye on her; and if she wants an errand boy, she should go and hire one." Salvatore downed the remaining drink. "Then when she demands it, tell her that you don't take orders from anyone but me and if she pulls the "who do you think you are" card, gently remind her that you're my eyes and ears."
Alessio looked at him in surprise, wondering why he never thought of that.
"And if she begins to cross a line, tell me and I will definitely set her straight," The glint in his eyes and the smirk on his lips had Alessio shudder at the thought of what he would do, forcing Alessio to pray that it never came to that, for her sake.
Chapter XXI: Nightclubs
Once Serafina stopped with her antics of treating Alessio as an errand boy, he wished to return back to that time after what the night guards would tell him. It ended up that Serafina had begun to go a little...wild. She begun partying, drinking, drugs, it was all there. Worst of all, she began sleeping around, a new boy almost every night, some younger than the one the night before, some older. It was always sickening to see them walk out of her house and Alessio wished nothing more than to strangle out the haze of lust in their eyes.
He was just thankful that her companions of the night opted to leave on their own and he didn't have to drag them out; and he was even more grateful of the fact that he did not have the night duty to witness it all before his eyes since Filippo had told them that sometimes she would be so drunk that they would have a go at it in the back of the car with them driving.
Alessio never said anything or gave away any reaction to it, but he knew that Serafina was itching to get a rise out of him. He cursed himself for being so foolish as to reveal his feelings for her that now she was personally attacking him.
It hurt to see what she was doing to herself, he was afraid that she was drowning out the pain of her husband's death with narcotics and sex. Sometimes he just wanted to go up to her and tell her what she was doing was wrong, but it suddenly occurred to him that it was exactly what she had done with him.
Used him to forget the pain of her loss.
The realization had him feel utterly manipulated, and it all suddenly made perfect sense as to why she never told him what they were, why their relationship was purely carnal, why they weren't serious, o
r why she kept avoiding his questions.
It all made perfect sense.
The hurt must have shown across his face because the next thing he knew, Theo had placed a hand on his shoulder asking if he was alright.
"Yeah, why?"
"You just suddenly went really pale; I was worried you might pass out on me,"
"I'm fine," Alessio wove dismissively and began to wonder whether her parents were aware of her actions, or if her brother was aware. By the lack of restriction, it seemed unlikely.
He watched how much of a different persona she had during the day: the suave professional photographer who had her own gallery and house, but at night she showed an entirely different face.
The sun was setting behind the houses as both Theo and Alessio awaited the arrival of the night guards, the older man noticing his partner's fidgeting and anxious glances at his watch and phone, a small smile quirking at his lips.
"Date tonight?" He asked with his hands folded before him, the wind caressing his face.
"Huh?" Theo looked up in confusion, blushing at his unsubtle actions and rubbing a hand over his nape. "Yeah,"
"Go on," Alessio cocked his head towards the car. "I'll wait for them to arrive."
"You sure?" He asked with hope shining in his bright eyes.
"Yeah, go on."
"Thank you! I owe you one!" Theo hooted, running across the road and getting in his car, smiling at his partner before driving off.
Alessio stood patiently waiting for Filippo and Eduardo, greeting the later with a quick hug and a pat on the back, before they waited for news on Filippo.
Suddenly, the blonde man's phone rang, showing it to be the one they had been waiting for.
"Where are you, man?" Alessio asked into the device.
"I'm so sorry!" Filippo spoke in a panic over the line. "But Ella just went into labor and I'm at the hospital-"
"-Don't worry," Alessio halted him, hearing the nervousness in the new father's voice. "I can cover for you tonight."
"Really?"
"Yeah, go and be with your wife."
"Thank you!" The man sighed in relief before hanging up, Alessio slipping the device into his blazer pocket.
"Ella-?"
"-Yeah,"
"Rock-paper-scissor," Eduardo held out his fist, Alessio imitating the action. "1-2-3"
They both threw out their hands, the older man cursing given he had rock and the other had paper.
"You'll be going in with her,"
"I know," He grumbled, pulling at his collar since it felt uncomfortably tight, the realization hitting him that he would be witnessing his worst fear before his eyes, his stomach churning in unease.
An hour later Serafina stepped out in a black sequenced bustier crop top and tight leather skirt, locking her door behind her with her shoes and bag in hand. Turning around, Alessio could see the devious glint of her eyes at the sight of him, his hands getting clammy at the thought of what she had in store.
Getting in the car, she told him to drive to one of her brother's nightclubs, Alessio's eyebrows rising in surprise at the location. He knew she knew that all the men there were her brother's and would no doubt recognize her as well and inform him. But maybe that was her plan all along. Without a word, he put the gear into reverse before driving down the road, picking one of her brother's 12 nightclubs and pulling into the parking lot. He watched her pull on her stilettoes from the rear-view mirror before she refreshed her blood-red lipstick. They left Eduardo to sit in the car and walked past the long cue, Alessio greeting the bouncers with fist bumps and quick hugs before following after her.
The heavy bass of the music reached their ears long before they were completely inside, the hallway bathed in red light with people leaning against the walls, kissing or doing various other activities, the smell of smoke and alcohol clinging to every single person he passed. Inside the club it was like dancing on Northern lights; beneath the dry-ice smoke swirled an array of blues, acid greens, hot pinks, and gold. The music played over the dance floor as if it had fused with the bodies on the ground, everyone moving in sync to the sound.
Serafina made a beeline for the bar, Alessio close behind as he watched her down a shot and then another, having another drink before messing up her hair, feeling she had enough for the time being and leaned her back against the counter, looking out at the crowd in search for her host of the night.
It was sickening to watch her eyes look at the crowd like a hungry lioness picking her pray.
Alessio turned to the bartender, greeting him with a high five as he asked about Filippo, the other man informing him of the situation. Striking up a conversation with the bartender, he watched Serafina from the corner of his eyes, suddenly noticing her to be pointing at someone, before beckoning him forward. Turning to look at her, he watched a lean built man make his way towards her with a confident smirk. The moment he was by her, he intertwined their fingers in the air and pressed his forehead to hers.
The music was much too loud for him to hear anything that was being said but by the looks of it, introductions were taking place.
"What's your name, gorgeous?" The hunk before her asked with a sultry smile.
"First tell me yours, handsome,"
"Why not tell me yours first?"
"Because I plan to be screaming it out like a mantra tonight,"
"Oh," He hissed with a smirk. "Hot,"
"So what's your name?"
"Call me Damien,"
"You can call me babe," Serafina informed him, biting her lip before walking and leading him towards the dance floor, not even giving him a chance to object before they immersed themselves in the crowd.
She began dancing to the music as he placed his hands against her hips, both of them getting lost in the sensation of the sound vibrating through them, the concept of names forgotten as his hands wandered over her leather skirt, squeezing her as she chuckled at his eagerness. Damien's dark eyes drank in her every movement, the way her hips swayed, her body swam, or the way her breasts heaved, sweat beginning to bead her forehead.
"You've got me so fucking hard," He growled in her ear as she chuckled, turning around to grind her hips with his as he clutched onto her waist, a thrill forming in her stomach to know she was in her brother's club, with his men all around, but best of all, Alessio was watching her. She couldn't wait to see the jealousy burning in his eyes.
Alessio watched from the bar counter, seeing the two dancing, facing one another as he took a sip of the sprite the bartender had been so gracious to provide. A sudden idea occurred to him as he beckoned the bartender to him.
"Yo?" He called over the music as Alessio had him move closer, both of them leaning over the counter to be heard.
"You see that girl in the leather skirt and black top?" He pointed out Serafina as he nodded. "I bet you 15 euros that she's going to begin grinding against him next,"
"No fucking way," The bartender laughed incredulously. "They just went out on the dance floor."
"Wanna bet?"
"You're on," He grinned, and walked away to attend to the other customers.
Alessio watched the couple on the dance floor, internally grinning when Serafina pressed her back to him, rubbing against the guy. Two minutes later, his contender returned, handing him 15 euros as the blonde pocketed them, taking a swig of his sprite.
"He's going to kiss her neck next, and then she'll turn around and kiss him," Alessio told him. "With tongue,"
"60 euros," The staff laughed.
"You're on."
They both watched as the guy leaned down, placing a kiss against her neck, the man behind Alessio hissing, watching as Serafina turned around, wrapping her arms around his neck as he leaned down to place a kiss against her lips. Both of them holding their breath and watching closely before the man behind the guard slammed his hand against the counter in frustration. Alessio laughing as he pocketed the 75 euros he made off Serafina's teasing within 10 minutes.
"Go play this
game with someone else, you'll bankrupt me," The man laughed and turned away, going over to other customers.
A couple of girls came his way, asking if he was lonely.
Alessio with a sly grin and a conniving mind talked them up and then made a bet that he'd kiss the girl if Serafina did not do what he said she would, and if she did, then the girl would give him 15 euros. Agreeing to the bet, they all lost one after another and left him to be as he informed them he wasn't interested, none of them knowing that he had a very intimate knowledge of the woman they were betting against.
Serafina pulled away from a breathtaking kiss, having won the dance of dominance their tongues were playing as she never let any one of these boys dominate her, not these boys. She knew she had been flirting, dancing, kissing and grinding enough to make anyone jealous and was ready to face the man who loved her. Turning her gaze towards Alessio, she expectantly looked for the burning rage on his face as plain as day, her smile falling to see him looking at her with a devious grin as he leisurely leaned against the counter.
"What the fuck?" She muttered under her breath at his grin, seeing it widening as he caught sight of her looking.
Her mind was too drunk on alcohol and frustration to be composed as she grabbed her dancing partner and led him towards the bar.
"Get me a drink," She shoved him in the direction of the bartender as she walked to Alessio, seeing only amusement on his face.
"Ready to leave, so soon? We've only been here for two hours." Alessio cooed in mock disappointment once she stood before him.
"What are you laughing at?" She demanded.
"Well, you see," He chuckled, reaching into his back pocket and taking out a wad of cash, Serafina looking at it in confusion. "You've been trying to make me jealous, but rather than giving you what you want, I've been using you to earn some extra money,"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Given my intimate knowledge of you, I bet with different people as to what you would do, and thanks to you, I've just earned myself 300 euros within 2 hours."