Little Red

Chapter 3

Zeus— The Greek God of Thunder and Sky

Poseidon— The Greek God of the Sea

Ares— The Greek God of War

Antonio Marcini— A yet to be identified Greek God with a mistaken Italian nationality!

After being shown to my bedroom which by the way was thrice the size of my living room, a space I considered too big for just a person, I felt it too overwhelming knowing I wasn't accustomed to a room as spacious as this, it seemed cold rather than cozy, open rather than intimate. I moved from one point to another examining the coziness of the bed, the warm feeling of the duvet, the large inner closet space, and the high beige curtains which covered the large windows, but right there my movements were forced to a pause as I drooled at the sight I beheld.

It was the view of a beautiful garden and I could immediately tell there was a little fiance effort put in here because I knew very well there were more than enough guest rooms I could stay in but it happened to be the one with the view of my comfort place.

Rogan being his ever sweet self once again.

With the bed being so comfy, I was already in La La Land before I knew it and when I finally opened my eyes again, the air was more breezy and I could see the sun already setting.

As a result of the little fear that I may be left alone in this gigantic building because of the heightened silence that stole the air, I found myself taking a little trip around my new abode. Checking in on every corner, and taking in the all white view around me.

The spacious living room ushering in the natural lighting from the floor to ceiling windows with furnishings made for a cozy setting in a way that seemed very homely.

I get into corners, hoping to find an additional human presence but began to get more and more worried as the seconds went by and still no sighting of anyone.

If you are searching for the cons of binge watching true Crime documentaries, this should be a perfect one.

Soon I found myself in an open area that accommodated the luxury appearing swimming pool and just as I was about to sit on a pool chair to take in the view and cool air, that's when I set my eyes on the most masculine man I had ever seen. He was toned, muscular and buff and no matter how I fought my eyes to stare away I remained fixed at the breathtaking sight of getting out of the pool, approaching the seating area in which I stood.

The droplets of water dripping down his rippled stomach and his gleaming eyes meeting mine made me slightly quiver and left me with a struggle to maintain my stance.

Get a f**king hold of yourself Ruby!

"I'm sorry, I..uhm... I was just about to leave..." I tremble now that he was just a foot away.

He stares at me for a brief moment with the most mesmerizing grey eyes I had ever seen, still dripping of water and gorgeousness!

I couldn't help but notice the visible cut on the flesh close to his left brow which in a way made him hotter and so masculine. He had a suspicious familiarity to his gaze even though I was yet to know who he was.

I wished he would say anything, just about anything to break off the heart pounding silence, any word to distract me from his intimidating presence.

"You don't have to apologize for walking freely Ruby, please do feel at home."

He says my name!..He knows my name!!

What the hell girl you are losing it, there was every possibility he would know that!

"I must confess, my son outdid himself with you," he compliments.

Son?!!!

I wondered as to the validity of that word as there was no freaking way i would have predicted a gorgeous looking man as my father in law. He looked too good to be a 'father in law.' I expected to be approached by a grey headed, really older looking man as my father in law and not a literal Greek god!

****

"Damn babes! you sure did not go for the right brother, because ughhhh!! What the hell?! man looks delicious!" Was Tracy, my best girl's reaction to the secret pool photos I had taken earlier of him.

"Tracy, what if I told you that's his dad – my father in law!" I say with the most serious looking expression I could put on to back up my statement.

Tracy fills my screen with laughter but I remain unblinking.

"Oh my God! You...you aren't kidding"

"Yeah"

"And you are supposed to be alone with him till the family is all complete and Rogan is back?"

"Yeah I guess"

"What about his wife? Rogan's mom"

"I don't know, haven't seen her around yet, if she was in, I'm pretty sure she would have come around with the welcome pleasantries"

"Okay babes, you've got to come up with an excuse and leave there immediately, like right now!"

"What?! Why? I don't think it's unsafe being left alone with him, I'm sure Rogan trusts his father so please no, out with the negative thoughts!"

"Oh no babes I sure do trust him even though I haven't met him, it's you I don't trust babe," Tracy confesses.

"What?!!"

"Have you forgotten so quickly your crazy obsession with older males before you met Rogan? and you know, I thought it was over, I mean you now had a healthy and stable relationship but that was until you looked at an older male inappropriately the other day at the mall."

'What?! No that's not true"

"Ruby, like it or not you need to get the hell out of that house, clearly you are already attracted to this man...I mean who wouldn't?He is freaking hot, like we are talking a greater dose of Jason Momoa's type of hot here! okay I deviate, back to serious business, find a way out! Now!!"

I let out a little groan hearing Tracy's instructions just before a knock comes on my door. It was Martha, she smiles at me saying dinner is served and Mr Antonio warmly require my presence. I smile back at her saying I will be down in no time, but I am immediately distracted by Tracy's statement over the phone.

"Ouuuu...Antoniooooo, oh my God! how much hotter can this man be? Girlll...watch out! Because I am about to not only take the next trip to Venice but also become your mother in-law."

I shun her almost immediately amidst laughter but she goes ahead to playfully moan out his name while holding tightly unto her white sheets and I don't know why but my mind immediately gives me a picture of myself in the same position and I could already feel my arousal just from the mere thought of it.

I think Tracy was right, I needed to leave while I still had a good amount of control over myself.

I took the initiative of checking in to a hotel on the outskirts of the city with an excuse of an urgent business engagement but I didn't know how perfectly that would work out.

In my little dilemma, I texted Rogan to see how things were handling themselves over there but I got no replies once again. I threw my phone back to the bed, taking steps to the front of the mirror where I found myself dictating on whether or not my sanrio themed PJs made me look sexy enough to approach the dinner table.

They clearly do not but Ruby don't you dare go back to your closet! don't you da...

Yeah! Now I felt sexy enough- a red silk short night robe dress wrapped around my waist area, which exposed so much of my cleavage and highlighted my curves seemed perfect.

Although I could still hear the warnings and directives of Martha earlier in the day about avoiding the color red for the meantime, I didn't think it was very serious. I would wear it and then watch out for a reaction and that was just me being stubborn headed me as always.

Be stubborn, take the f**cking risks, learn the lesson the hard way but live the experience— Ruby math!

The dining table was lit up by the golden lights from the chandelier above. It was a long table which highlighted the purpose of it — an all family dining.

He was quick enough to notice my presence and there is a moment, a really long two minutes of silence whilst his expression remains perplexed before he snaps out and finally invites me further.

"I believe you must be starving, please join me," he offers in the deepest voice I had heard from a man, as the male help pours out the expensive looking red wine into our glasses.

I found myself getting quite disappointed at the urgency as to which his gaze avoided me from then henceforth, so deliberate that it made my efforts seem completely useless, and even as I took my seat and flashed a pretty alluring smile on my face as his eyes uncontrollably wandered to meet mine again, I was beginning to get almost disappointed for the second time by his sudden little uptightness until those words came out.

"Enjoy your meal Rossa"

It was the manner in which he had called me 'Red' in Italian that made the little Ruby between my legs down there twinkle.

Rossa Rossa Rossa... He had to call me that again...

At that moment, I couldn't question why he called me red, I didn't have to know as all I needed were more utterances of that name.

"You know, everyone is so delighted to meet you Ruby," he continues just after chewing on a small portion of steak.

"I can't wait to meet your lovely family Sir, especially Rogan's mom. I know she must be such a wonderful woman... I mean for training up such a strong willed and decent man like Rogan, she sure is amazing," I say about to continue with the pile of compliments I had in store, when I suddenly notice he had taken a pause all this while from his food. There was a flash of sadness on his face and I wondered if had said something wrong.

Just then Ricco walks in urgently and whispers a few words to him. I try not to seem too invested by having a full concentration for the first time that evening on the meal before me.

"Please enjoy your dinner and have a good night rest, I am afraid we would have to continue our conversation tomorrow, there is something important that requires my urgent attention," he says standing up almost immediately but not failing to give me a cheerful look which at that moment I couldn't help but think it forced.

Yeah f**k this s**t up already Ruby, it's been just a day.

Thankfully Rogan's text came in at the right time when I found myself overcome with worry over my first dinner with his dad. I needed a distraction, but sadly I opened the message to see just a short text which was brief like the last one and intentionally written to be unopened for a further conversation.

What the hell was going on?

In a swift manner, I dial his contact and it directs me to a voicemail which I recorded and pleads he calls me immediately when he sees it.

The next thing on my mind was my escape plan from the mansion to a hotel I could stay till Rogan's coming. I search on a few comfortable hotels on the outskirts of the city on my phone and I was about to make a decision when my eyes which begged to waver from the bright screen it had been fixed on, glanced up and around, and into the view of the garden as I was seated on the soft butter cream colored cushion that was placed to face the windows directly in order to have a perfect view of the garden.

I may or may not have altered the initial position of that cushion.

While my eyes wandered, waiting for my brain to make a final decision as to my next line of action, it wasn't so hard to notice the figure of someone in the garden even though the sun had totally kissed goodbye.

His muscular figure stood out among the flowers of the garden. He was seated in the woven swing chair which had different flowers of lilies, roses and hibiscus placed beautifully on its swing poles, also having his leg crossed and his eyes fixed on what I couldn't identify.

What had brought him down there so late? and why did he look somewhat downcasted but still at peace seated there?

Could the garden also be his comfort place?

What were his inner thoughts?

Could I just sit by his side in silence and also experience this moment he seemed to find solace in?

Why did my heart ache for the answers I shouldn't be bothered to get?

Why does his little actions affect me so much?

Just then my phone beeps once again of Rogan's message, this time he managed to add just a few words to make me feel better.

Charlie's still recovering, hopefully he will be good to go in a few days. How are you settling into your new family home?

His last question ordinarily would have started a conversation but I would rather have preferred a call back than a text.

I try my best not to get disturbed by the thoughts of whatever may be going on with Rogan and watching Antonio did the trick as I felt It rather better watch his calming moment than engage Rogan any further.