Leon Monzato's Obsession (Monzato Brothers 2)

Chapter Eleven

Bella

I put the ingredients Leandra told me to buy in the cart and continue walking to see if I forgot something before I go and pay for them. Today is Helios' birthday and me and Leandra want to cook something for her. I volunteered to buy the things we will use. 

I bought him a gift because I wanted to thank him for caring me whenever he sees me on the floor, crying because my father kicked me out after hitting me like a punching bag. I would love to thank him for taking care of me like a little sister. 

I continued looking for the right brand of hot sauce Leandra wants to use. I looked out for it and I silently groaned when it is placed on the top shelf. I tried to reach for it, standing, trying to be tall enough but being unlucky all the time, I cannot reach for it. 

"You will knock the whole shelf down if you continue doing that, Miss." someone said. I immediately stop reaching for the bottle of hot sauce from the fear of getting kicked out of the store. 

Before I could look behind me, the tall guy stood behind me, so close I can smell his manly scent. 

"Let me get the bottle for you before you break all of them." He laughed. 

I turned around and I saw a guy, holding the hot sauce bottle I want. He is tall with good looking grey eyes, like mine. He have some facial hair that suits him well. He is a handsome kind man. 

 He handed me the bottle with a smile. "Here." 

"Thank you." I said, returning his smile. He looked stunned while looking at my face. He swallowed hard two times before he opened his mouth to speak. "Hi, well uhm. Damn, you look---"

"Like a doll. I know yes." I cut him off. "People tell me that often." I said, saving him the time. 

"I-I was just wow. You really are beautiful." I smiled shyly. "Sorry for staring, by the way."

''No, its alright. You helped me anyway." 

We walked together. I looked to his cart and there are flour and other ingredients for baking. 

"Are you a baker?" I asked out of curiosity. 

"Yeah. Sort of. I own a coffee shop nearby and this is for the cake I'm gonna bake later."

"That's cool."

"I guess? That's my side business. Just my front, you know." He said, still smiling widely towards me. I tilt my head, trying to understand what he said. He chuckled when I didn't say a word. "You're confused, are you?" 

"Sorry." I muttered under my breathe. He chuckled again, but this time, it is louder. 

"Well, just to be clear. That coffee shop is just business. But I work for someone important." 

"Ah." I gave him a little nod dropping the subject. I decided to leave him alone because I feel like he doesn't want to talk to me, or so I thought. 

I was about to turn to the other way when he grabbed my forearm gently. I flinched but I gave him a smile to hide the growing nervousness in me. 

"Uh, what?" I smiled, somewhat confused by his actions.

"I'm Cohen, by the way. I just wanna know your name and be his friends?" He smiled widely. 

"Bella." I offered my hand, returning his smile. "Nice meeting you, Cohen." 

"Pleasure to meet you, Bella. Beautiful name for a beautiful woman." I left a little laughed when he winked at me playfully. For a cute guy, he knows how to make a woman laugh. "I can drive you to your place if you want." 

He said, still following me after  paid for my things. I shook my head in disagreement. "I'm fine, Cohen. Thank you for offering though." 

"Are you sure? Because I'm not busy today and my boss is not requiring my skills for today. I can give you a lift."

"Positive. Please, I really need to go home." I pleaded, walking to the other way because I cannot deal with him any longer since Leandra's waiting for me.

"Let me give a ride then. Look at the sky. It looks like its about to rain." He said. I looked up and I saw the gloomy dark sky. I looked down to him and he's smiling again. 

I debated whether I need to trust him or not since I just met him minutes ago and here he was, offering me something as if we've known each other for quite some time now. 

He picked out his wallet from his jeans and he showed me his identification cards. "Look, this is my full name, my government cards. Sue me if I do something about you, which I will not do because you're a precious little thing."

"You're really not gonna leave me alone until I say yes, am I right?" I chuckled when he nodded aggressively. "All right then. Just this one, okay?

"Damn f*****g yes." 

"Do not curse, please? It is not really pleasing to hear." 

"Yes, ma'am." 

He lead the way where his car were safely parked. I don't know what the model of his car is but I reckon it's expensive. He looks like he can afford something exclusively expensive since he got business and another job. He put all of my groceries at the back of the car and he opened the door for me. 

I smiled and thank him for being gentleman. His car smelt like a cinnamon and chocolate. I saw a couple of cigarette sticks and candies. 

"Lead me to your address, Bella." He said and I tell him the right way. 

We just casually talking over the drive and I learned a lot about him. For a guy who just met me, he shared a lot of information about his family background, what he do for a living, when did he finished collage and even I think the too personal pieces of information, he shared it to me. 

"Yeah, I was the captain of our football team back in secondary school. I'm pretty popular with girls like you." He said while smirking smugly. 

"You don't look that attractive to me." I said with a stern face. I don't know if he is being arrogant or confident but I just wanna tease him a little bit. 

"Of course, I'm not. For that kind of beauty, you will see me as the average kind of guy. Bet, you had a lot of boyfriends before." 

"I haven't had a boyfriend." I laughed. He gasped and look at me for a second before turning his eyes on the road again. 

"Really now?"

"Yes. I'm just this kind of student, just existing trying so hard to graduate secondary school."

"Nobody tried? Have you liked someone?" 

I shook my head. I don't even know what is the meaning of liking someone. I don't know the feeling of loving someone so badly. I don't know if I had a crush on someone before or not. I'm just too innocent to know that kind of thig because, first, I don't really have friends and second, I seldom go out. I seldom meet other people, except Leandra, the staff at Sir Leon's mansion and him. 

As I try to explore the world slowly, I keep on meeting new people and it's refreshing because i never had a chance to this kind of thing before. 

"I don't know. I guess no?" I asked, confused. "Well, people used to bully me, especially to girls back in secondary school. They said I'm just passing the subjects because I'm using my face. Something like that." 

"Nah. They are just insecure because you're beautiful without even trying. If I was your batchmate, I will probably gonna court you." He winked again and I grimaced in secret.

"I don't know." I mumbled under my breathe.

He continued driving in complete silence which is very fine by me. I turned my attention to the street lights and to the street ground, which is starting to get wet because the rain started pouring. Rome is really a nice city. The street lights, the busy streets and the fancy restaurants and the coffee shops. 

I would love to explore my own city someday when I finally get a chance. I would love to visit the public library and read at least one book there. Visit and take a seat on one of the Rome's best tourist destination. Pretty silly to hear but I haven't explored the city I grew up with because we are poor and I seldom go out because I was too shy to show my bruises around people. 

I was stunned by the pictures, for sure I would love the sight in personal. I cannot wait to finally do my bucket lists, as they call it. 

"You haven't answered my question." Cohen said out of the blue. We stopped in the red light. 

''What question?" 

"Have you liked someone before?" 

"Yes. I like my co-workers." I said casually. He looked at me with amusement, he pinched my cheeks while chuckling. "You're cute. But, there's a fine line between liking people because they are nice to you for the reason guys are working together and liking someone romantically." 

"What do you mean? Enlighten me please." 

"Bella, liking someone romantically means, you enjoy their company, you care for them more than you care for the people you only see as a colleagues. You find yourself smiling whenever he/she comes across your mind, acknowledge their flaws, but choose to accept it anyway and you will give your trust to them." 

No words came out of my mouth. There's one person who came up to my mind while listening to Cohen. Just only one guy. My heart skipped a beat when I remember how handsome he is when he's flashing his smile. I always find myself smiling towards him, I always find his touch warming to the point I dont want him to let go of me. 

"What if I have all those sign but I still  cannot give him my trust wholeheartedly?"

 Because I certainly know, it will take me forever to trust him. I cannot tell him my past because he might do what my Papa did to me. I cannot tell him what is my past and what is my current struggle because I'm afraid that he won't understand me. 

"Maybe you're only attracted to him. You have a little crush on him. Do you blush whenever he's around?" 

"Yes." I whispered. 

Whenever he calls me baby or when he give kisses on my forehead, my face is always on fire and I feel funny on my stomach but I do feel happy at the same time. Sometimes, he's sweetness towards me feels unreal because he is not that affectionate when it comes to the other female staffs. 

"Then there's your answer, Bells. You have a little crush on him." 

Do I? Is he sure about that? 

Cohen stopped in front of the apartment complex and he looked at me with a sweet smile. 

"What if he doesn't crush me back?" 

"Then, move on." 

I smiled sadly. Why would I dream of him, having a crush on me? He's too good to have a feelings with me. He's older and he will not settle for a maid like me. 

Why am I being delusional? Sir Leon is just being nice and all because I'm young. Maybe he's calling me baby and he's only being sweet because he sees me like a little sister just like what Helios see me. 

"Thank you for he ride, Cohen. I'll see you when I see you." I offered him a smile. 

"Of course. I wanna see you again. Here." He wrote something on a piece of paper and handed it to me. "That's the address of my cafe. Come and visit me? I'm at the cafe from Wednesday to Sunday." 

"Okay. I'll visit you. Thank you again." 

I turned my back when he called me again, ''And Bella! If he doesn't lime you back, I'm willing to return your feelings. Just come to me." He winked before driving away. 

I shook my head and I smiled sadly. I sighed and convinced myself to forget about whatever the tingling feeling I feel whenever Sir Leon is around. He doesn't want to be my friend anyway. 

Quit dreaming Bella. There's other man that you can like without any complications and on your level. Mr. Leon Monzato is out of your league.