Davide - Broken rules
1352 Words
If you knew the right people, things moved quickly and doors opened that would otherwise slam in your face.The right person was his father, Massimo Bonafede. He shouldn't have name dropped but now all the permits were signed and the golf carts would be delivered this weekend. The red tape had never even existed for him.
And Rick had found a pretty girl to run the office.
Davide hoped she was reasonably competent. He wouldn’t be able to spend as much time there as he would like, his father needed him to put the hours in at RRR. Responsibility like that was the last thing Davide had wanted, but when his father went into politics, he signed over ownership of his main business so there was no conflict of interest.
Owning RRR, the company now in charge of rubbish collection and street cleaning in Rome was not glamorous but it was a lucrative government contract and it gave him satisfaction to see Rome’s streets and parks were cleaner than they had ever been. Between that and looking after his large portfolio of rental properties within the city, meant he had less time for his usual antics.
Namely drinking, partying and f*****g.
This is how he had ended up being referred to as ‘boyfriend’ by Stefania. Girls understood how things worked. He was a billionaire playboy with no time for commitment. Yet she was sinking her fake nails in a little too deep for comfort.
With a sigh, Davide finished hanging the last of the large canvases.
“Move it up a little on the right,” said Rick. “Perfect.”
Davide looked around the base of his pet project and was pleased. “Do you think this will work?”
“Of course, there is only one other company offering cart tours and you have invested a decent amount to see it a success. Your business plan is flawless, thanks to me and we have great staff.”
“We know the guides are good because we stole them from the other company. The girl just walked in from the street, she is a wildcard.”
“A very pretty wildcard.”
“Don’t even think about it. Business and pleasure don’t mix.”
“I would be wasting my time. One look at you and she was in love. God, I hate you sometimes.”
Davide shrugged modestly, “I can’t help my blood and the latent resulting appeal. Girls throw themselves at me without knowing why.”
“Oh, they know why. Those blue eyes, six-pack, a Ferrari and a fat wallet,” Rick teased.
“You’re hardly living like a deformed priest, Rick Quilves Martinez.”
Rick growled in response to the use of his middle name, “Business plans and mobile communications are my forte. Strange but girls don't find that, nearly as appealing.”
Davide punched his best friend on the arm. “It would be a dull world if we were all the same. Come on, let’s go for a drink and see if we can find someone interested in your ‘business plans’ and what’s below my six-pack,” he grinned wolfishly.
The best place for a drink midweek was Trastevere, full of students and easy tourists. After a working their way through a couple of bars, despite the heavy flirting with the barmaids and a couple of Spanish girls, Davide found no one that inspired him to leave early, so he suggested dinner.
“I'm hungry.” He sucked up the last of his spritz, “Any ideas?” They stood at the door of the bar and looked at the restaurant across the narrow cobbled street.
Rick nudged him in the ribs. “Is that Emily?” He pointed to a girl that floated her way down the line of tables outside, carrying two trays effortlessly, dodging the busy evening crowd.
She was almost dancing. Davide watched her for a few moments as she served the food to one table, twirled and cleared the next table of the empty plates and glasses. Smiling, she accepted a tip as those diners got up to leave. She glided back into the restaurant.
“Quick,” said Davide. “Let’s grab that table.” He nipped across the street and sat down before Rick could argue.
“You haven’t even checked the menu!”
“Oh, it’s all the same in this neighbourhood. I'm sure I’ll find something,” he said, picking up the menu.
“Buonasera. Oh. It’s you!” Emily had returned to take their order.
“Good evening to you too,” Rick said. “You teach English before desert?”
“Ha-ha.” She blushed prettily. “I’ve got to cover my rent somehow. And I like to eat sometimes too,” she added with a smile. “Do you know what you would like yet?”
They ordered and Davide watched her walk away with a certain appreciation. Yet her clothes hung loose as though she had lost weight recently. Was she serious that she couldn’t even afford to eat regularly?
They ignored the stares that accompanied him wherever they went. A few girls almost tripped over or walked into someone else as they passed. Another waiter brought out their food and a bottle of Barolo. Emily was busy clearing and serving other tables. She resolutely refused to give their table or him a second glance. But it was a conscious effort, it had to be.
His ego bruised, he destroyed his steak in a few mouthfuls and sat ripping his bread into tiny pieces.
Rick laughed at him. “What happened to don’t mix business with pleasure? Something you just said to me, not four hours ago.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You’re wondering why our new protégé is not waiting on us like the demigods we are.”
He swirled the wine around his glass and sniffed, “She does seem to be withstanding my charm.”
“Turned it up a notch have we?” Rick glanced across the street from their table, groups of girls and some boys giggled, blew kisses and snapped discreet photos. The owner of the bar was doing a fabulous trade in cocktails, he raised a glass in thanks as he caught Rick’s eye.
“Shut it, Rick.”
“Well turn it down, even I'm thinking you’d be a good f**k right now. It’s not working on her so do the rest of the world a favour.”
“Hi guys, was everything ok?” Emily finally returned and was collecting their empty plates.
“It was delicious,” Davide licked his lips provocatively, catching her eye. She looked down and turned the pretty pink colour he was coming to expect from her.
“Can I get you desert?”
“No thanks, just the bill,” Rick said, saving her from any more blushes.
She came back minutes later and handed over the bill. She glanced to the crowd on the other side of the street, “Fans of yours?” she asked in amusement.
“Something like that.” Davide counted out the bill and added a huge tip. “Buy yourself some dinner. And lunch.”
“That’s too much,” she protested, counting it up.
“Can’t have my newest member of staff dying of hungry before she starts work.” He put his stern face on and added another 50 euros to her hand. “Don’t share it.”
She stammered her thanks and slid the cash into her apron pocket. “I’ll see you on Monday.” With a shy smile, she was off, answering another table’s summons.
Standing up, he surveyed the crowd and singled out the two prettiest girls. Blonde and blue eyed, their shorts and strappy tops exposed creamy flesh turned pink in the warm Roman sun.
“Let’s go talk about business plans with those pretty girls,” he said to Rick.
Rick laughed as he joined his best friend, sliding an arm around one of the girls. They led them down the street, making the girls feel special, beautiful and desired. Davide inhaled the scent of warm skin of this evening’s conquest, although conquest was not the right word, it was too easy for the son of Venus.
He was ready for the girl to open up to him, and he looked forward to her begging for more as he ravaged her. But he knew who he would be thinking about later tonight, even when he was buried deep inside of… whatever this girl was called.
Emily… Interesting how she didn’t respond to his call this evening.
How long could she resist him?
He threw the rule of never mixing business with pleasure, out the window. Rules never applied to him anyway.
- Writer
