My Mafia Madness

Chapter 42 - The Penthouse Apartment

Dante proudly escorted Alexa along inside the apartment complex, through a fancy looking entrance made of sleek modern black marble.

As soon as they stepped inside Alexa felt overwhelmed by the luxurious feel to the main lobby.

It was just like one of the fancier hotels she had been to when she was little, but only ten times more expensive.

“Mr Romano, welcome back!” came a cheerful voice from around the corner.

“I trust your flight back from Chicago was rather smooth?”

Alexa turned in time to see the middle-aged man with a receding hair line stride across the lobby’s immaculately polished white marble floor.

He wore a perfectly pressed butler’s suit, white gloves which didn’t look to have a single mark on them and a pair of highly polished black shoes.

His hair was a snowy white in shade and for a moment Alexa noticed just how sky blue his eyes were as they met with hers, along with one of the sweetest smiles she had ever seen.

“You know me… smooth sailing, Antonio.”

Dante replied happily, keeping his hold on Alexa’s hand as the two spoke fondly with one another for a moment.

“Anything I should perhaps know about?”

“Just the usual, sir. Nothing too concerning.”

Antonio’s eyes met Alexa's once more and he turned to face her now, pausing their conversation.

“And who is this lovely young woman?”

Dante beamed proudly, his white teeth dazzling as he went on to introduce his good friend to Alexa.

“Antonio Brambilla, I’d like to introduce you to the beautiful Miss Alexa Myers…” Dante began.

“Alexa, Antonio here has worked for my family for many generations, including my father before me. He is the household manager for my penthouse apartment. This man has known me my whole life and he's as loyal as they come.”

The billionaire prompted her forward by gently pressing at the small of her back and she obliged with a smile, holding out her hand for him to shake.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Mr. Brambilla.” she announced sweetly.

Antonio shook his head as he responded warmly.

“Please, I must insist you call me Antonio…”

He paused raising his left brow, “You see, Mr. Brambilla is my father, who is still very much alive.”

Alexa appeared worried as her brown eyes widened.

“Oh, my apologies…”

Once again, Antonio shook his head and smiled.

“No apologies necessary… It is a pleasure to meet you also, Miss Myers.”

This time Alexa protested warmly against formalities.

“Hey, if I’m allowed to call you Antonio, then you can call me Alexa. It’s only fair.”

Antonio’s smile increased as he looked to Dante.

“Mi piace questa… Lei ha il faoco.” (I like this one… she has fire.)

Unsure of what was being said about her, Alexa merely smiled shyly as Antonio continued.

“Yes, it’s true, I have worked for the Romano’s for a very long time. In fact, I feel more a part of the Romano family than even my own… thanks to Dante here.”

Antonio looked up at Dante’s with a knowing smirk, causing the billionaire to roll his eyes and fight to hide a smile from showing.

“I take it you two get along rather well then?” Alexa queried.

Antonio nodded as he went on.

“I’ve known young Dante here since he was only a child wearing diapers. Ah, the memories… I recall when he was around two years old, I had to chase him around the entire family homestead back in Italy…”

Alexa frowned with intrigue.

“What for?”

“Apparently he preferred running around the house in the nude-“

Antonio replied with a gravely chuckle and Alexa naturally laughed along with him.

Dante was the only one who didn’t laugh. He took this as his moment to speak and quickly cut in.

“-Ok, I think that’s enough reminiscing for now, Antonio… We must be off, I want to show Alexa here upstairs.”

Dante gave his house manager Antonio a playful smirk and pulled at Alexa’s hand as he began to lead her off in the direction of the fancy elevators that would lead them upstairs.

Antonio called out one last time.

“È bello verderla di nuovo felice, signore.” (It’s good to see you happy again, sir.)

-

As the two stood side by side in the well-lit elevator, Dante thought to himself in silence about what his loyal friend Antonio had called out before they got into the elevator.

It had been a very long time since he had been genuinely happy, especially with a woman.

The thought of it caused both corners of his mouth to lift into a small smile, one that Alexa had noticed as she gave him a side glance.

“Is everything ok over there, in the mysterious mind of Dante Romano?” she teased.

He turned his head to the side, squeezing her hand as he allowed his smile to show.

“Everything’s perfect, bella.” he announced proudly.

“I can’t wait to show you this place. You’re gonna love it, I’m telling you.”

‘Ding!’

The elevator had come to a stop and the doors slowly opened to reveal a dark copper bronze set of double doors staring back at them.

Beside the doors was a sleek looking keypad, which appeared to be touch screen activated.

Alexa stood by and watched as Dante moved in, positioning his body so that she couldn’t see what he was doing, not that she minded.

This was his place, after all. He was entitled to his privacy, just like anyone else.

‘Beep!’

The high-pitched sound signalled to them that the large, thick doors in front of them had unlocked, and Alexa watched in wonder as they slowly began to open outwards on their own!

“Whoa, now those are some fancy doors!” she spoke her mind.

But what she hadn’t expected was to see a second set of double doors waiting for them just inside.

She frowned, turning to Dante who merely shrugged, as if it were normal.

“Wasn’t one set of doors enough?” she joked.

He chuckled deeply.

“Something like that.”

Dante casually leaned in and grasped at both polished silver handles, each for one of the large black interior double doors positioned in front of them.

It was surrounded by a fancy modern marble décor exterior, one that Alexa had to admit to herself was quite impressive to look at.

“Welcome bella, to my home…” (beautiful)

With that he opened the two doors outwards and the pair strolled on inside.

-

After exploring all three floors of the out of this world penthouse apartment that Dante owned, Alexa found herself feeling quite hungry after such a long day of travels.

Dante too.

The pair had agreed to eat in and Dante made the phone call downstairs to his own private kitchen staff.

From what Dante had told Alexa when he gave her the tour, his private kitchen was available twenty-four hours, seven days a week, whenever he got hungry.

She thought that alone was incredible!

While Dante made the order seated in his personal office, Alexa had decided to make a phone call of her own to check in on Willow.

Just to let her know that they had arrived back home, safe and sound.

She stepped out onto one of the balconies and closed the glass door behind her.

Holding up her phone, she began to dial, all the while trying not to get too close to the edge of the balcony.

If there was one thing that Alexa hated, it was heights!

The phone rang several times before it went to voicemail, which had Alexa a little confused honestly.

Willow was never anywhere without her phone. The woman practically lived on it!

Maybe she was having a shower or something like that.

It was rather late.

With a defeated huff, she locked her phone and looked out at the brilliant city scene staring her in the face.

By now it was the early evening, and the sun was beginning to set, off behind the mountain of tall buildings for miles in each direction.

The skies were painted with brilliant bright colours, yellows, oranges, pinks and purples, even noticeable through the thick city clouds formed overhead.

It would have been an artist’s wet dream to paint something as magical as this!

Caught up in such magnificence, Alexa hadn’t even heard Dante come out to join her and didn’t know he had until his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her lovingly into his warm embrace.

She could feel his warm breath on her shoulder as she smiled with delight.

“It’s so beautiful…” she whispered.

“It’s got nothing on you, I’m afraid.” Dante insisted confidently.

Alexa shook her head modestly.

Dante began pulling her along with him as he stepped closer towards the glass railing in front of them.

“Here, come out to the edge… I want to show you-"

“-Uh, I’d rather not actually…” she interjected hesitantly.

“Come on, you’re not getting the full view..."

He tried to persuade her, but as she was pulled closer and closer towards the railing, towards the edge, Alexa went into an immediate state of panic.

“No, please… I can’t!”

Her voice showed obvious fear as her entire body immediately felt tense and rigid in his arms.

Dante froze, concerned and confused by her reaction.

He quickly turned her around so that their eyes could meet as he spoke to her with understanding.

“It’s alright, you don’t have to…”

It was only then, at that very moment he came to realise what was wrong with Alexa, and he let out a sigh of foolishness.

“You’re afraid of heights, aren’t you?” he queried knowingly.

Alexa’s lips were pursed together tightly, and her eyes were downcast as she merely nodded her head to respond to him.

Both of her arms were crossed over her chest, protectively.

She felt like an i***t, unable to look him in the eye anymore now that he had learned that fact about her.

Edward had always made fun of her fear of heights in the past. Would Dante do the same to her?

No.

Instead, he smiled and took her hand, leading her back inside of the apartment and closing the door behind them.

Where she felt safe.

Her posture immediately changed as soon as she walked in through the sitting room they were now in; she appeared more carefree.

Still, she felt foolish about her fear and was having trouble meeting his gaze.

“It’s nothing to be ashamed about, bella.” Dante announced, knowingly.

She lifted her eyes to fix on his.

“You don’t think any less of me?” she asked him, concern apparent in her expression.

He frowned as he gave her his response.

“Of course not. Why would I?”

It sounded like the silliest thing he had ever heard.

But to Alexa, this was quite serious.

Her past had cut her deep and those raw emotions continued to suddenly surface every now and then, as new doors were opened between her and Dante.

Edward Lewis had scarred Alexa.

But she was intent on finding a way to heal herself. A way to mould and strengthen her confidence, to become the woman she always believed she could be.

Dante came to stand behind Alexa now, both his large, warm hands resting gently on top of both her shoulders as he craned his head into the crook between her neck and shoulders.

“I wish you could see just how incredible you are, Alexa. Through my eyes.”

He spoke softly to her now, and she could feel the kindness apparent in the tone of his voice.

Dante watched as Alexa turned herself around to face him.

She gazed upwards into his intoxicating emerald green eyes and wrapped both of her arms around his firm waist.

“So do I.” she agreed softly.

“You may not be my assistant anymore, but that doesn’t make you anything less. Do you hear me?” he assured her simply.

She lowered her gaze.

“Yeah, I forgot about that. I guess I’d better start looking for another job soon huh? I mean, the sooner the better right-"

She stopped as he narrowed his eyes, as if he had something to say.

“-Actually, about that…” he began mysteriously.

“Come with me.”

Alexa too frowned with confusion as he took her hand and began to lead her down one of the corridors into his large office.