The Deceived Heiress

Chapter 5

And on that cold night, I felt his warm lips press onto mine, giving me warmth all over again.

Closing my eyes, I groaned and shuddered, thinking of that moment again.

Trying to focus on the paperwork in front of me, I burrowed my head deep in them, but it seemed like I really couldn't get over the memory.

Come on, come on, be productive, Ametrine, forget about that damn kiss!

"Ugh, so useless."

I stood up from my seat and jumped on the bed.

I was now alone in Italy since Blue had flown earlier to South Carolina for her own business, while I stayed behind to ensure that I would seal that deal with Georgiano Wagner.

From my research, his son Gavino was once an intern in our branch in New York, but something happened, and so Patri and Mr. Wagner's meeting was pushed and pushed back until they forgot all about it, until today.

I faxed the documents and agreements to him via his secretary.

I wanted to schedule a business meeting with him to discuss further what I wanted to happen, but he told me that he was busy and to send over the files and think about it.

As much as I didn't like that idea, I knew my battles, and I had to give up this one, or else he might not consider me after all.

Not wanting to leave Italy without success, I asked my assistant and a close friend, Sheila, to send all of my work there to Italy to continue working from there.

You're a troublemaker.

You're a troublemaker.

Eh, you aren't anything but a troublemaker, girl.

Of course, that ringtone.

Groaning, I stood and picked my phone up from the coffee table to answer the call.

"Carnelian, such a pleasure," I sarcastically said.

I walked back to the bed and laid on it while waiting for her answer.

"You gotta help me, sister mine, and I'm in trouble. Oh, stupid me, I didn't know this was going to happen. Oh, dear-"

"What? What's the problem, Carnelian? Don't think that I've forgotten that you still aren't back in Greece yet!" I raised my tone a bit, letting her know that I was dead serious about her going home to help Mother in her bakery.

She stopped going to university, then might as well be a help to business.

"Listen to me, please, Ametrine-"

"Who is that, mi amor?"

And just like that, the line was dead.

Staring at my phone with such disbelief, I could never still get over the fact that Carnelian still acts like a kid.

Father doesn't try to straighten her up because, apparently, he told me that Carnelian would have to learn it independently.

Since I really couldn't focus on what I was doing, I decided to go out and explore Italy while I am here.

I threw on a pair of denim jeans and a sleeveless blue blouse that complimented my skin well.

Putting on a long coat that reached just above my knees, I walked out of my suite with my wallet and phone in hand.

I reached the lobby and decided to stop at Miller's Dishes to order my favorite Hash Brown.

I will never get tired of that, especially after Patri ruined my favorite dish years ago.

Inside, my steps ceased upon spotting the devil himself.

Deciding not to order anymore, I walked to the exit when I heard my name.

"Signora Ametrine, such a pleasure to see your beauty again."

Just like that, I felt the butterflies begin to move around in my stomach again.

I felt my heart flutter as he got closer to me with a smile on his lips and eyes.

No, what the heck am I doing?

I could feel my face redden the same way it did before when I remembered what he said to me on the veranda. Silently, I cursed myself. I should have stayed inside my room, finished my pending work, and then sealed the deal with Mr. Wagner without leaving the room.

But of course, fate wants to play with me.

"Mr. Romano, also a pleasure. I want to stay to talk, but I have somewhere to be."

Yes, somewhere to be, like running back to my room.

"So unfortunate, I heard Mr. Wagner is in one of the V.I.P. rooms here. But go ahead, I'll tell him you said hi."

He smiled and was about to walk away when I grabbed his hand.

Shocks ran through my veins.

I withdrew my hand immediately as Alejandro faced me again with his devilish yet hot smile!

"D-do you know where?" I asked, swallowing my pride.

It would leave a good impression if I could share a pleasant conversation with him along with a delicious meal, and Miller's Dishes is the correct location.

"Of course, follow me." He offered me his arm, but I ignored it and looked straight ahead, not wanting to link arms with him.

"Don't mess up, and it will leave a bad impression on me." He breathed in my ear, rolling my eyes mentally.

I gave him a tight-lipped smile and linked my arm with his before he guided me to the restaurant's second floor where the V.I.P's were.

Walking inside room number six, I prepared to greet him but raised a brow when I saw no one.

While looking around to find him, I saw the waiters had already placed that food on the table. I then glanced up at Alejandro, who had just closed the door.

He pulled a chair for me, and I gladly took a seat.

"So, where is Mr. Wagner?" I asked.

He looked at me deeply, "He must be in the men's room. Give it a few minutes. I'm sure he'll be back."

Nodding at him, I took my phone out and was about to play offline games to pass the time when he gripped my wrist.

"Hands off."

I frowned and tried to pull my hand back, but he kept his grip firm.

"Ti e piaciuto il bacio?" (Did you like the kiss?) I slapped my hand to my mouth to control my gasp because of how bold and confident he was to ask me that question in broad daylight.

"Please, Mr. Romano-"

"It's Alejandro to you, signora."

"Alejandro, that should never happen again. You invaded my personal space, and that could even be classified as s****l harassment."

I c****d my eyebrow at him.

He smirked at me before standing up from his chair in front of me.

He walked to my side and pulled the chair from beside me, "I never asked if I could do it again. I asked if you liked it."

He whispered in my ear before leaving a lingering kiss on it.

Closing my eyes, I shuddered at the pleasure that suddenly shot up my spine.

"Beautiful sound you made there," he arrogantly said, and when he mentioned it, my face blushed and turned into a tomato.

I freaking moaned, goodness gracious!

Standing up to leave, he stopped me and stood up from his seat.

Cornering me to the side of the table, he put little to no distance between us.

"Remember what I said last night, mi amor. I won't wait again for another ten or more years. I will make a move on you, and before you know it? You will be saying yes repeatedly to me and will beg for me."

Breaking away from his hold and presence, I dashed out of the room and out of the restaurant, then to the streets of Italy to take a deep breath.

Curse that man, I will make sure that our paths will not cross again.

===

I recently finished my late dinner and was now drinking a glass of red wine on the balcony of my room. The night was refreshing and was very peaceful.

But of course, someone had to ruin it by calling me at this ungodly hour of the night.

"Hello?" I answered the call without looking.

The silence was all I heard, and I was about to end the call when I heard the familiar voice of a man I had been running away from.

"Why are you still awake, mi amor?"

"Stop calling me, Mi amor, and where did you get my number?" Frustrated at him, I took my phone away from my ear and stared at it, wanting to throw it away.

If I hadn't had my business contacts, I would gladly have done so.

"Have you forgotten, signora?"

Once again, reminding me, and just like that, I remembered a thousand times again.

"Of course not, so goodbye."

"Wait!"

"What?" I boringly asked while twirling a strand of my hair.

"May I ask you out on a date tomorrow in Tuscany?"

When he asked me, I felt my grip on the glass loosen because of how soft his voice was.

My heart thumped at the thought of going to Tuscany with him. But I didn't let him know what effect he had on me.

Clearing my throat, "Sorry, but I am busy tomorrow."

"Then the day after tomorrow."

He was persistent, I could tell.

"Still busy."

"Then after two days?"

"Still no."

"You know me, Ametrine. I will never stop until I get what I want. Do you want me to remind you of my persistence?"

"Alejandro, we might get in trouble for skipping Spanish class!"

My sixteen-year-old self harshly whispered at the seventeen-year-old beside me, who looked in both directions.

He's about to turn eighteen, a legal age!

Yet he still acts like a kid.

"Spanish is boring today, just teaching about what to say at a Spanish business meeting."

He defended as he grabbed my hand before we ran out of the gates of the building we were supposed to be in.

"Hey, come back here!"

My heartbeat quickened upon hearing the security guard calling us and trailing behind us. I rushed my steps as the adrenaline pumped through my veins.

The thrill of getting caught was making me more excited, and the most important thing of all was I was with the man of my dreams who was busy looking forward.

I stared at his face, memorizing his features.

Such a handsome boy I have met.

He stopped, and we hid behind an old building, placing a finger on my lips. We both watched as two of the guards ran past where we were hiding.

"Come on, let's go to the mall."

He was about to retake my hand, but I was breathless and couldn't handle it.

"No, Alejandro, we might get caught and, worse, be reported to our fathers."

I then began to think of the endless list of possible punishments that my father could bestow upon me.

"Don't be scared, Ametrine. I'll be here."

He reassured me and tried again, but I pulled my hand back.

"No, Alejandro. We should go back now."

"Then we're not going anywhere. If you don't, then I won't." He crossed his arms and looked at me daringly; I looked to the side and ran my right palm in my face with frustration.

"Ugh, fine!"

"Ugh, fine then, the day after tomorrow. I have somewhere to be tomorrow." Giving in, I heard him chuckle on the other line.

"Okay, I'll text you the details. Have a goodnight's rest, mi amor."

He softened his voice at the end, making him sound angelic, even though he looked like a devil.

A handsome devil.

Gosh.

I shut my phone off to ignore unwanted calls and messages.

A feeling of excitement bubbled within me.

I didn't want those two days to pass by.

Walking back to the room, I closed the balcony doors to avoid the unwelcomed cold, harsh Italian wind.

Laying down on my bed, I stared up into the ceiling, and unconsciously, a smile crept on my face at the thought of him.

Let me see how persuasive you can be, Alejandro.

Opening my phone when I felt it vibrate, I read the text from him all over again.

It's as if I was back as a teenager and experiencing those first times in my life.

Without replying, I placed my phone back on the nightstand and closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep, but not without him in my dreams.