More Than A Bet

Chapter 6

ADINA

“There has to be some kind of mistake right? Giovanni cannot possibly be my partner.” I muttered to myself staring at the projected screen.

“Why does the universe hate me so much? Of all the people taking Professor Moretti's class, why did Giovanni have to be my project partner?”

I scanned the projector carefully hoping the words would magically rearrange themselves but they did not. He was really my partner.

“See even the universe works in favour of me” Giovanni’s deep yet smooth voice teased beside me, his grin widening.

“Looks like we would be seeing more of each other, Ice Queen,” he drawled.

My expression shifted from shock to annoyance. “You wish! I’d rather be locked up in the library basement with no WI-Fi and access to other people than to spend a single day with you.” I snapped.

“Well that can be arranged too.” He chuckled beside me.

I ignored him walking straight to professor Moretti office.

“ Professor, please, there has to be some kind of mistake because I can’t work with Giovanni,” I said in frustration as I stood in front of professor Morreti's desk.

“ Professor Moretti didn’t even look up from the stack of papers he was sorting. “No mistake, Miss Rivera, groups are assignments are final.

“ But sir” I gripped the edge of his desk. “Please fix me, anyone else, literally anyone. I can’t work with him.

Professor Moretti lifted his eyes expression flat. “ Miss Rivera, in the real world, you don’t choose your clients, and you certainly don’t choose your contractors. You have five weeks to get your project done. Don’t waste another second in my office, groups stay the way they are. That’s the end of discussion for this topic”

I walked out of his office, the air in my lungs felt like lead. Five weeks with Giovanni

“ Rough break, Ice Queen” his voice drawled behind me.

I turned to find Giovanni leaning against the corridor wall, spinning a silver lighter between his fingers.

“ I’ll see you on Monday for research,” I snapped walking faster.

“ Monday? That’s ages away,” he called out, his echoing as he followed behind me. “Why not tonight? I can be very…

“See you on Monday, Giovanni.” I snapped, cutting him off.

7:45 PM

“Adina!Table two needs a refill!” Rosa screamed from the kitchen.

“ I’m coming,” I replied, shoving a fresh pot of coffee onto the warmer and wiping my hands in the already stained apron.

My head hurts and my feet are throbbing in my sneakers, the smell of old fry oil seemed to have seeped into my pores. I wiped the bead of sweat from my temple with my shoulder, tied my hair into a messy bun and grabbed my notepad.

Two more hours to go, I whispered to myself wiping down the sticky counter of the diner.

The bell above the door jingled, I looked up at the door and froze. Giovanni and his friends walked in like they owned the place, their expensive cologne clashed violently with the scent of sawdust and cheap burgers. Giovanni's eyes scanned the room, they landed on me and a slow predatory grin spread across his face.

“Adina!” Rosa barked. “ Table six, now.”

Table six was the booth Giovanni and his friends were currently sliding into.

I grabbed three menus and walked over, shoulders squared.

“ Good evening, gentlemen. Menus.” I dropped them on the table annoyed.

Giovanni’s grin spread slowly and deliberately. “ Ice Queen, fancy meeting you here.”

“ Order when you’re ready”. I turned to leave.

“ Wait.” His voice stopped me. “ I’ll have whatever you recommend.” He leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Surprise me, Ice Queen.”

“Just take a seat. Your food will be up shortly.”

“ Fine.” I scribbled without looking at them. “ Burger, Large, crispy fries, side of pickles and a bottle of Pepsi.”

“ Sounds perfect,” Giovanni winked. “

“Does that work for the rest of you?” I asked his friends.

Yes they muttered and I walked away before Giovanni could say anything else.

Ten minutes later I returned with their food, Giovanni eyes lit up. You’re a lifesaver, Adina.”

“Just doing my job,” I replied, setting the plates down on the table.

He caught my wrist as I was about to leave after placing down his plate. “Adina, you look breathtaking,” he said quietly, his eyes locked on mine.”

Heat crawled up my neck, and I yanked my hand free. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what? Compliment you?” His voice dropped lower.

“ Touch me, or talk to me like that. Don’t do any of that.” I replied, and walked into the kitchen.

They stayed for some hours, and every time I passed their booth Giovanni found a reason to call me over; extra napkins, more fries, “ these burgers and fries are perfect, you should try some, Adina.”

My shift finally ended, I changed into my clothes and flipped the closed sign, Giovanni’s left forty minutes prior, but he remained, leaning his sleek white sports car parked right at the curb.

“ Go home, Giovanni, we are closed,” I said, locking the dinner and pulling my jacket tight against my body.

“It’s late, Adina, this neighborhood isn’t safe. Get in the car, I'll give you a ride home.”

“No, thanks,” I replied quickly. “ I've walked this path a thousand times, I don’t need a knight in a Lamborghini.”

“It’s a Ferrari, actually, and I’m no knight,” he said, pushing off the car. I’m just a man who doesn’t want his partner getting before the project is done.

“ Adina, it’s late, get in the car and let me drop you off’he insisted, a hint of concern flashing in his face.

“Giovanni, my place isn't that far, I can walk home by myself, it's not a big deal, I don't need you dropping me off.” I snapped.

“ Come on, Adina, the neighborhood isn't safe,” he pressed, stepping closer to me. “I can’t let you walk alone at odd hour.”

“ Gio, baby! Oh my gosh, I thought that was your car!” A high pitched voice shouted.

A girl in a short silk red dress came running toward us, her blonde hair bouncing, she threw her arms around Giovanni's neck, ignoring me completely.

“ Why have you been ignoring me for the past few days? What are you doing in this dump? And who’s she?”

Giovanni, very annoyed, tried to peel her off. “ Emilia, not now.”

I didn’t wait for the rest of their drama to unfold. “ See you on Monday, Malvetti,” I called over my shoulder, picking up my pace.

“Adina, wait!”

I ignored him, ducking around the corner. I tried to hail a cab, but there were no vehicles available on the road, and the few that passed sped off without stopping. Fine, I'll walk.

I took a shortcut, it was a narrow passage between an old textile warehouse and it cut twenty minutes off my walk.

I walked faster, my breathing misting in the air,the alley was darker and quieter than usual. I had gone halfway through the alley when a shadow stepped out from a dumpster behind.

“Hey, pretty little thing,” a gravelly voice said. “ I told you I’d eventually catch you alone, Adina.”

I froze, it was Lucas, he lived in the basement apartment six doors down from me. He’d been hounding me for months.

“ Move, Lucas,” I said, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to act tough. “ I'm not in the mood for your troubles.”

“ You’re never in the mood,Adina.” He flicked a pocketknife open, the blade glinting in the dying bulb.

“ We are both alone in this alley, Adina, nobody is coming to save you tonight." he said, stepping closer, a jagged and predatory look appeared in his eyes.

I tried to run, but he lun, his hand grabbing my hair and yanking me backward. I screamed as my back hit the cold brick wall.

“ Shut up!” He hissed, his face a few inches away from mine, I could smell beer and cigarettes on his breath. He pinned my wrists above my head with one hand, his other hand fumbling with the belt of his jeans. “ I’ve been waiting a long time this”

“Luca’s please don't do this," I pleaded, tears dreaming down my eyes.

“Get away from her!”