Chapter 7
1780 Words
SOPHIA
I woke up to a knock on my door.
I frowned at the sound.
It was still early.
I dragged myself out of bed and opened the door.
Maria stood outside.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
“Mr. Moretti would like to see you when you're ready.”
I blinked.
“Luca?”
She nodded.
“Did he say why?”
“No.”
I sighed.
“Of course he didn't.”
Maria smiled before walking away.
I closed the door and got ready.
As I stood in front of my wardrobe, I realized something.
I didn't have much to wear.
Most of my clothes were still at home, and the few things I'd brought with me were beginning to feel inadequate for a house where everyone seemed to dress like they had somewhere important to be.
I chose a simple outfit and went downstairs.
I found Luca in the sitting room.
He was standing near the window, looking at his phone.
He looked up when he heard me.
“You're ready.”
“I was told you wanted to see me.”
“I do.”
He put his phone away.
“I need to go into the city.”
I waited.
“And?”
“And I want you to come with me.”
I stared at him.
“You want me to go outside?”
“Yes.”
“Without Dante?”
“Dante will be with us.”
I nodded slowly.
“Okay.”
He studied me.
“You sound surprised.”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Because you practically told me I wasn't allowed to breathe outside this house without permission.”
His lips twitched.
“I don't remember saying that.”
“You implied it.”
“I was concerned for your safety.”
“I know.”
I smiled.
“I'm teasing.”
He looked at me for a moment.
Then something changed in his expression.
A small smile appeared.
“You're getting comfortable.”
“Maybe.”
“That's dangerous.”
“Why?”
“Because you might start liking me.”
I stared at him.
He said it so casually that I wasn't sure whether he was joking.
Then I noticed the amusement in his eyes.
I rolled my eyes.
“You wish.”
He laughed.
Actually laughed.
I froze for a second.
I had never heard him laugh properly before.
It completely changed his face.
“You can laugh?”
I asked.
He looked offended.
“Of course I can.”
“I wasn't sure.”
“That's insulting.”
I smiled.
“You'll survive.”
He shook his head.
“Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“Shopping.”
I stopped.
“Shopping?”
“Yes.”
“For what?”
“Clothes.”
I looked down at what I was wearing.
“I have clothes.”
“Not enough.”
“You've been inspecting my wardrobe?”
“No.”
He paused.
“Maria told me.”
“Oh.”
I nodded.
“That makes more sense.”
He walked toward the door.
I followed.
---
Dante was waiting outside.
He opened the car door for me.
Luca got in beside me.
I glanced at him.
“You're actually coming shopping with me?”
“Yes.”
“You don't have to.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you?”
He looked at me.
“Because I asked you to come.”
That answer was simple.
But something about it made me smile.
The drive into the city was quiet at first.
Dante sat in the front.
Luca and I were in the back.
I looked out the window.
The city moved around us, busy and alive.
It felt strange being outside again.
“Do you like shopping?”
I asked.
Luca looked at me.
“No.”
I laughed.
“You're lying.”
“I'm not.”
“You're a man who owns half the city. How can you not like shopping?”
“I like buying things.”
“That's different.”
“How?”
“Shopping involves choosing.”
“I have people who choose for me.”
I turned toward him.
“That is the most spoiled thing I've ever heard.”
He smiled.
“I've been called worse.”
I laughed.
He looked at me for a moment.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're staring.”
“I was wondering what you look like when you're not worried.”
I went quiet.
His expression softened.
“I think you're finding out.”
I looked away.
“Maybe.”
---
The first store was enormous.
I stopped at the entrance.
“Luca.”
“Yes?”
“This place is ridiculous.”
He looked around.
“Why?”
“Because I don't need all this.”
“You need clothes.”
“I can buy normal clothes.”
“These are normal clothes.”
I looked at the prices displayed on one of the racks.
“No, they're not.”
He followed my gaze.
“Ah.”
“What?”
“You're looking at the price.”
“Yes.”
He shrugged.
“Don't worry about it.”
“I am worried about it.”
“You don't have to be.”
“I can't let you buy everything.”
He looked at me.
“Why?”
“Because it's too much.”
He considered that for a moment.
“Fine.”
I smiled.
“Thank you.”
“You can choose what you want.”
“That was surprisingly easy.”
“I have my moments.”
I laughed.
He walked toward a rack.
I followed.
For the next hour, Luca patiently watched me choose clothes.
Occasionally, he offered an opinion.
Most of the time, he simply stood nearby.
At one point, I held up a dress.
“What do you think?”
He looked at it.
“It's nice.”
“That's all?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I don't know.”
He looked at me.
“You'd look good in it.”
My fingers tightened slightly around the hanger.
“Oh.”
He smiled.
“Was that what you wanted?”
“No.”
“You're blushing.”
“I'm not.”
“You are.”
I put the dress back.
“I don't like you.”
He laughed.
“You say that a lot.”
“Because you deserve it.”
“Probably.”
---
We continued shopping.
At some point, I noticed something strange.
Luca was actually enjoying himself.
Not the shopping.
Me.
Every time I made a ridiculous comment, he smiled.
When I struggled to decide between two dresses, he patiently waited.
When I complained about the prices, he looked amused.
And when I found a pair of shoes I liked, he told me to get them before I could talk myself out of it.
We eventually sat down at a small café inside the shopping center.
I stared at him.
“You're different today.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Different how?”
“You're... relaxed.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe you're less frightening when you're not trying to escape.”
I laughed.
“I was never frightened of you.”
He gave me a look.
“You were.”
“Maybe a little.”
“A little?”
“Okay. A lot.”
He smiled.
“That's more believable.”
I took a sip of my drink.
“Do you always act so serious?”
“Usually.”
“Why?”
He was quiet for a moment.
“Because people expect it.”
“Who?”
“Everyone.”
I studied him.
“And what do you want?”
His eyes met mine.
“To have moments like this.”
I didn't expect that answer.
“What kind of moments?”
“Quiet ones.”
He looked around the café.
“Where nobody needs anything from me.”
I smiled.
“I understand that.”
He looked back at me.
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
I lowered my gaze.
“Since my father died, everyone has wanted something. Answers. Documents. Information. Sympathy.”
I paused.
“Sometimes I just want to sit somewhere and not think.”
Luca nodded.
“You can do that here.”
“With you?”
He didn't hesitate.
“Yes.”
My heart skipped slightly.
I looked down at my drink.
“Thank you.”
---
After the café, we continued walking.
I stopped in front of a small bookstore.
Luca noticed.
“You like books?”
“I love them.”
“Then go.”
I looked at him.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
I walked inside.
He followed.
I spent nearly forty minutes browsing.
Luca didn't complain once.
Eventually, I found a book I wanted.
I held it against my chest.
“I'm buying this.”
“I assumed.”
I looked at him.
“You could at least pretend you're interested.”
“I am.”
“You haven't looked at the book.”
“I've been looking at you.”
The words came out so naturally that we both went quiet.
His expression changed slightly.
Mine probably did too.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then he looked away.
“Come on.”
I followed him.
But I couldn't stop thinking about what he'd said.
---
By the time we returned to the estate, several shopping bags were being carried inside.
I looked at the bags.
“You bought too much.”
“I bought what you needed.”
“And some things I didn't.”
“You liked them.”
I smiled.
“You noticed?”
“I notice more than you think.”
I looked at him.
There was something different between us now.
Something softer.
Not quite friendship.
Not quite anything I could name.
But I knew I was more comfortable around him.
And Luca seemed less determined to hide the man beneath the intimidating exterior.
As we reached the entrance, he stopped.
“Sophia.”
“Yes?”
“Did you enjoy today?”
I smiled.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He turned toward the stairs.
I watched him for a moment.
“Luca?”
He looked back.
“Thank you.”
His expression softened.
“You're welcome.”
I smiled.
Then I went upstairs.
For the first time since coming to the Moretti estate, I wasn't thinking about leaving.
I was thinking about the next time Luca would make me laugh.
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