Chapter 5
1646 Words
Rome was vast enough to disappear in, or so I thought. Sophie and I had just left the art supply store, her arms juggling rolls of canvas paper and me with paint stained fingers. The evening was warm and the streets were buzzing with chatter. I had never felt more free and untouchable.
“No way, is that who I think it is?” Sophie said excitedly, interrupting my thoughts. She signals for me to take a look.
I literally froze.
“Hello? Earth to Lena "Sophie snaps me out of it.
“ I think we should go say hi”, she pulled me with one hand before I could even say anything.
“Hello, Mr Coffee Spiller, she tapped on his shoulder. And there he was tall, composed and that same unsettling calm wrapped around him like expensive cologne. He turned and his eyes met mine.
“Twice in one week”, he said with a faint smile. “Either Rome is smaller than I thought or fate is persistent.”
Sophie’s eyes lit up like fireworks. Mine? Not so much.
“Adrain”, I said cautiously. “What a… coincidence”.
“I hope there won’t be coffee spilling today, cuz she just got this dress”, Sophie teased.
“Guilty”, he replied smoothly, bowing his head slightly. “Though I am hoping for a chance to redeem myself.”
“Oh I’m sure you’ll get it”, Sophie said grinning.
“Why don’t we all sit?”
Before I could even protest, she had already ushered him to a table. Typical Sophie, a reckless matchmaker disguised as a best friend.
The waiter brought cappuccinos, and Sophie wasted no time interrogating him like she had been rehearsing.
“So Adrian, what do you do?”
“Uhm well… a bit of business”, he said vaguely while sipping his coffee. His eyes never left mine. Sophie leaned forward. “Vague answers are suspicious, be more specific.”
He chuckled, unbothered. “Let’s just say I help keep things running.”
I arched a brown. “Sounds super shady.”
“Sounds private”, he countered, smiling from the corner of his mouth.
“So how long are you in Rome for?” Sophie cuts in.
“As long as I need to be”, he said and something in his tone made my pulse skip. Was it a promise? A threat? I couldn’t tell.
“Well Elena here is an amazing artist” Sophie announced proudly, ignoring my glare. “Like seriously gifted, her work should be in galleries already.”
“Sophie!!!!” I groaned.
“It’s true!”, she pressed on. “But she’s so stubborn, and thinks she’s not ready. Honestly Adrian, don’t you think she should go for it?”
His gaze flicked on me, softer than expected.
“Yes,” he said simply. “Fear wastes more lives than failure ever could.”
His words hit me harder than they should. But I wasn’t gonna let Sophie turn this into a date.
“Alright, that’s enough” I cut in gathering my things. “We should get going.”
But Adrain stopped me with a deliberate question.
“What if we continued this over dinner?”
I stared at him. Sophie mouthed “say yes” like an overexcited child. Against my better judgment, I heard myself reply, “Fine, one dinner”
“Awesome” he said smiling and handed me his phone.
“Mind if I get your number so I could text you the address?”
“Of course she doesn’t”, Sophie cuts in again.
She never stops. I put in my number and quickly turned to leave.
“See you tonight” he said as I dragged Sophie and walked away.
Later that evening, Adrain had already arrived at the restaurant reminding himself that this dinner was nothing but strategy.
Just then Elena arrived in a simple black dress, her hair tumbling over her shoulders, no diamonds, no pretense. Simple yet elegant, she wasn’t trying to impress me which made her more unforgettable.
I raised my hand, signaling to her where our table was.
“I’m glad you made it”. I said as I pulled out a chair for her.
“Well it’s not like I had a choice, Sophie wasn’t having it.” She said, smiling lightly.
“Then I guess I have Sophie to thank” I said with a bit of sarcasm.
The evening started out nicely, we spoke over wine. She was clever, unwilling to simply agree with me.
“So about your art,if you don’t mind me asking, why haven’t you pushed further?” I asked
“It’s not that simple, it takes time especially when you have to work your way up.” She said, barely meeting my eye.
“Well if you are as talented as your friend says, I’m sure I could pull a few strings for you.”
“Wow, you would do that without even actually seeing my art first?
“It doesn’t change anything, except you don’t believe you’re good enough plus it’s one of the perks of being influential. She seemed a little bit uneasy.
“Thanks for the gesture, but I’d rather earn it myself and not been handed anything because of power or influence.”
“And what’s so wrong with that?” I said almost immediately. “Sometimes power is the only way to survive.” I noticed her stiffening.
“Power destroys people,” she said firmly. “It robs them of their humanity.”
“Or it protects them, I countered. “People with no power are the ones who get crushed”.
Her eyes burned with quiet conviction.
“Maybe it’s because the people with power tend to abuse it and think that everyone else is beneath them.” She said, visibly irritated.
Our words clashed like swords. A strange thrill coursed through me. I wasn’t used to opposition, especially not from a woman. And yet, even as her defiance pricked my pride, I wanted to hear more. But the rest of the dinner was spent in silence. I could tell she didn’t take our conversation too well.
By the time the check came, tension simmered between us. Not a romantic one at least not yet, but something that made my pulse quicken.
“I can’t believe, he thinks that all that matters in life is how much power one has”. Elena thought to herself, still upset about their conversation earlier. “Well I should have myself to blame cuz what was I expecting from this dinner? Ughh I can’t wait to leave”
Shortly after dinner, I made my way outside the restaurant with Adrian behind me, eager to call it a night and forget that this dinner ever happened. But of course, fate had a different plan.
A drunk man staggered out of an alley, blocking my path. His breath reeked of alcohol, his grin ugly.
“Bella”, he slurred, reaching for my arm. “Come with me, eh?”
I jerked back, my heart racing. Before I could react, Adrian moved
“Step away”, he said coldly. The man laughed, lunging again. And immediately Adrian struck, knocking the man against the wall. But in the scuffle, a broken bottle flashed slicing across Adrian’s arm.
“Oh my goodness Adrian!!” I gasped, grabbing his arm as the drunk stumbled off. Blood seeped through his sleeves.
He gritted his teeth trying to brush it off. “It’s nothing”
“Nothing?, you’re bleeding for god's sake” I snapped. Took off my scarf and wrapped it around his arm to help reduce the bleeding.
“ I have a first aid kit at home and my apartment is just a few blocks from here”.
He tried to protest but I wasn't going to let his stubbornness win.
“You are coming with me and that’s it.” I said sternly.
Back at the apartment
My pride screamed at me to refuse her help but she was relentless,fussing over me like I was fragile.
She cleaned the wound, her fingers careful yet firm. I watched her carefully as she worked, her concentration, the way she hit her lip, the tremble she tried to hide.
“You really didn’t have to” I said quietly.
Her eyes rose up sharply. “Of course I did. You defended me.”
I was caught off guard by the warmth of her voice.
She tied the bandage, exhaling. “There you will live.”
I smirked despite the pain. “And here I thought you didn’t like me.”
“I don’t”, she said too quickly but her hands lingered on my arm longer than necessary. The room thickened with silence,something unspoken hung between us; dangerous and magnetic.
“Well it’s been an eventful night,I think I should be on my way”. I said breaking the silence between us. “Thanks for tonight Elena” I stood up and headed for the door. Just before I stepped out I turned to her
“I think we should try this again”, I said softly, staring at her. “Goodnight Elena”
“Goodnight Adrian.” she replied and shut the door behind me.
Her voice kept ringing in my head on my way home. I had to tell myself that I was part of the plan. That bringing her closer would make it easier to break her when the time came.
But the flashes of how she looked at me, her eyes filled with so much care, steady and unsure. I realized that I was lying to her and to myself.
- Writer
