Dinner Date
1374 Words
Gia POV
The evening of Leo’s planned dinner, Gia came home to a beautiful dress splayed out on her bed. There were matching high heels on the ground and a jewelry box she assumed contained a diamond necklace.
On top of it lay a note.
Meet me in the garden gazebo at seven.
L.
Gia rolled her eyes. This may have worked before, but it sure as hell wouldn’t work now.
She took a quick shower before slipping into the dress, and heels. She left her hair down, clasped the necklace at her throat, and brushed on just enough makeup to sell the illusion.
She didn’t want to make him more suspicious of her then he already was.
Luca was having a sleepover at a cousin’s house, and Aubriella was out with Marco somewhere. As she made her way to the garden, she reminded herself to be on the lookout for the key. It was her way out.
When she approached the Gazebo, Leo was already seated at a small, round table with two chairs around it. The table was decorated with two candles, wine glasses and plates. As he heard her approaching, Leonardo stood, with a smile on his face.
The scent of his cologne drifted on the breeze—once intoxicating, now it just made her stomach tighten.
He reminded her of the kind, handsome man she’d met at the altar, but that man had turned into a controlling, manipulative, cheating, abusive bastard—and she would never fall for his charms again.
Ever.
“Amore, you look…” Leo paused, giving her an appreciative once over, “stunning,” he ended. Gia didn’t respond. She had every right to be angry about the mistress in her house. So why not use it? Let him think her silence was sadness, not disgust.
“Let me pull out your chair,” Leo said, helping her get seated.
“Thank you,” she said, without any facial reaction.
Leo snapped his fingers at the waiting waiter, who started serving their appetizer.
“I had the chef make all of your favorites,” he smiled, taking her hand and kissing it from across the small table.
Gia carefully dug into the carpaccio on her plate.
“Is it good?” Leo asked, staring at her with expectation, as if he’d made the dish himself.
Gia nodded curtly, swallowing before offering a neutral, “It’s fine.”
He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “I can’t wait for dessert,” he murmured, eyes flicking to her mouth. “But I have something else planned for after that… something even sweeter.”
He slowly licked wine from his bottom lip like it was supposed to be seductive. Gia nearly gagged.
“You’ll like it,” he added with a wink.
Gia lifted her glass. “I’ll be the judge of that.”
Leo chuckled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He glanced at the barely touched food on her plate and sighed—loudly.
“You’re still upset,” he said, trying to keep the irritation out of his voice but failing. “I thought this dinner might help us reconnect.”
Gia looked at him evenly. “You moved another woman into our home, Leo.”
“Temporarily,” he replied too quickly, waving a dismissive hand. “Look, I cleared my entire schedule for next week. No meetings, no travel. Just you and me. I thought we could go somewhere… Italy, maybe. Our honeymoon spot?”
Gia opened her mouth to respond—whether to decline or demand more details, she didn’t even know—but she didn’t get the chance.
“You’re cheating on me?!”
Aubriella’s shrill voice cracked through the garden like thunder, her heels clacking on the stone path behind Marco, who looked pale and frazzled.
“I—I’m sorry, boss,” Marco muttered. “She was hysterical. I couldn’t keep her away.”
“You have got to be kidding me,” Gia sighed, throwing her napkin on her plate and shaking her head—but honestly, she wanted to thank Aubriella, the girl was turning into a God sent.
“Aubriella!” Leo snapped. “You were supposed to be at the spa with Marco. I bought out the entire place so you would be safe and they would take care of all your needs!”
“You wanted me gone so you could sleep with your w***e! You told me I was your number one!” she screamed. Gia’s head slowly turned to Leo and she raised an eyebrow.
“Interesting,” Gia said softly, raising her wine glass as if watching a soap opera instead of sitting at the center of it.
“She’s lying,” Leo snapped, standing up so fast his chair scraped loudly against the stone. “Aubriella, stop this—”
“Don’t touch me!” she shrieked, mascara already streaking down her cheeks as she stumbled toward the table. “You said you loved me!”
“That is not what I said—”
“I gave up everything for you!” she sobbed, grabbing the edge of the table for dramatic effect. “You told me I was your real Luna!”
“Enough!” Leo shouted. “You’re causing a scene!”
Aubriella suddenly crumpled to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut, then crawled across the grass—crawled—until she collapsed against Leo’s legs, wrapping her arms around his knees like a child.
“I can’t do this,” she sobbed. “Don’t throw me away. Please. Please.”
Leo froze. His hands clenched, then unclenched. After a long pause, he lowered himself down and pulled her into his lap. He stroked her hair stiffly, whispering something low in her ear. His anger melted into concern—but it was forced, thin, calculated.
Gia watched the whole thing with dead eyes.
She set her glass down and stood slowly. “I knew it,” she muttered, mostly to herself. Then, louder:
“Enjoy dessert. I’m sure it’s exactly what you were craving.”
Leo glanced up, guilt flashing behind his eyes.
But Gia was already walking away.
That was the exact moment she decided to start using the burner phone.
Gia’d had a smile on her face ever since her text exchange with Dante. His ending sentence still playing in her mind.
If I don’t get my hands on you soon, I’ll lose my damn mind.
Even though she hadn’t texted him since, she felt the same way, and she had the perfect plan to get what she wanted.
It was Sunday, and Leo was already packing for their trip. Gia was pretending to do the same, throwing random clothes into her suitcase. She had no intention of going—and she knew exactly how to get out of it.
Gia wandered into the hallway with a coffee mug in hand—just in time to hear footsteps behind her.
“Oh,” Aubriella smirked, pausing. “You're up early. I thought you'd be sulking after last night.”
Gia took a slow sip. “Well, I’m used to disappointment.”
Aubriella rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I’m going to help Leo pack. He’s leaving for a work trip, and I’m going to need a good f*****g before he leaves me for a whole week.” She smirked as if she’d won something.
Gia tilted her head. “That’s funny,” she said lightly. “I won’t have to miss him—since I’m going.”
Aubriella blinked. “What?”
“Yeah,” Gia said with a breezy smile. “He said he cleared his whole schedule for us. It’s our honeymoon destination. You’ll probably be lonely while we’re gone.”
Aubriella’s face twisted. “No, he wouldn’t—he told me it was a work trip—”
“Oh? I thought you knew,” Gia said sweetly, brushing past her. “Guess he didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”
She didn’t stay to watch the fallout—but she heard the shriek echo through the house a few minutes later—and now was her time to smirk.
- Writer
