The Devil's Desire

My life is full of stubborn heads

LUCIANA

I've had dinner filled with rollercoasters.

I’ve been on dates before, but this one just had to be on another level. Mostly because the guy was insanely hot and I couldn't help stealing glances at him. But again, that doesn't change the fact that he's a migraine in disguise. Still, it doesn't change the fact that I went out with him for business. Just a simple questionnaire caused all this trouble. The state of my company really got me opting for insane solutions.

I haven't even forgotten the fact that he tried to kiss me. Or maybe not? Well, I'm not sure.

But he closed in on me. It felt like my legs were glued to the ground and I was unable to walk away while he suddenly invaded my personal space. What was he trying to do then? All that just to whisper goodnight into my ears?

Good Lord, Luciana!

He's a client you just met.

I shouldn't be getting these kinds of reactions from my body, yet here I am recalling that specific moment. Once his car is out of sight, I walk into the manor. It's not really silent, but at least it's trying for this time of the night. Not Many people live here.

Well, the main one is me and my parents, and mostly we are always caught up with work. Other workers and security guards occupy it too.

My parents own VRE and are recently putting more focus on the construction company project, which explains their absence most of the time. Most of the workers might be asleep but the guards are awake, as always. I walk slowly upstairs to my room when a voice almost startles me.

“Are you just going to sneak in like that ?”

“Mother!” I hold a hand on my chest.

“You scared me.”

“Well, you wouldn't be scared if you weren't trying to sneak in.”

“I wasn't …”

“Uh huh?” She cuts me short before I can even defend myself.

Okay, fine… I’m surely not winning this one.

She waves her hand for me to walk downstairs. Is there any need to rebel at this point?

Then she takes my hand. “Come with me.”

“Huh? Where to? It's late mum?” I ask while she pulls me over.

“Well, who cares about time? I want all the tea.”

My mother, being overly motherly again, something must be wrong.

“Are you sure you’re not fighting with Dad?”

“What? Why would you say that?” She whispers.

“For starters, since when did you shower me with this much attention? At this time of the night? You should be asleep by now.”

She raises her shoulder like she wants to say something but doesn't know what. She exhales loudly and goes on with her act. We are already in the living room.

“Here, sit. I want you to give me all the tea.” She repeats.

“And why are you so interested in my dating life again?”

“So, you two are dating already?”

“I didn't mean that …”

Why would I do that to myself? Date an asshole like Dario? I'm not an i***t. It was just a business date. All that in an attorney to save the company my parents worked so hard to build.

It’s so easy for my mouth to say those words, yet my brain has already started conjuring a hot image of him. If I’m not careful, I might make a fool out of myself in front of my mum and I will never hear the end of it.

“Okay mum, I really appreciate your concern, but there's nothing to talk about. This is just work. And…

Whoever this woman is, I don't want her. I want my mother back.”

_________

A few minutes later, in my room, I open the forms that Dario supposedly filled. I had a glance earlier, but those were the first two documents on top. Not that I'm interested in his personal life.

All I want is to get a house that fits his profile.

Okay, that's a lie.

I’m curious. I want to know if he has someone in his life. A girlfriend, a wife. A child maybe?

I keep ignoring the voice in my head that is wishing for him to be single. It sounds crazy. Opening the questionnaire, I'm disappointed. Not because he has a wife or anything.

Though, why do I feel like I would still be disappointed if he had a wife? Or just someone in his life? I could hate myself for thinking like that.

I shove the thought off as soon as my eyes land on the third page of the questionnaire.

This asshole!

Apparently, he tried to fill some questions correctly and the other parts he filled with my name. He's really a kindergartener. I tap my forehead. Just kill me already.

Wait, did he just fill my name as his wife? If I haven't killed him already, I'm surely going to strangle him tomorrow. Why did I trust that he would do the right thing? But he looked like he was doing the right thing. Besides, the first and second pages were the clear indication.

He was just playing with my mind again.

While at it…

If he filled my name as his wife, does that mean he doesn’t have a wife? I feel some type of relief wash over me, but it's only short-lived. That is not a guarantee. And why do I even care?

My foolish thoughts are interrupted when my phone buzzes.

“Claudia,” I rearrange my mood so that she doesn't notice.

“Hello, hot guys’ type,” she chuckles. My night couldn't get any better.

“You do realize it's bad manners to call someone at this time of the night unless you're in love with them.”

“Aren't you in love with me? Oh, wait, you aren't. Because you're in love with someone else. Dario Morata.”

My life is now full of assholes. Love is surely the last thing in mind. I know Dario is undeniably handsome, but that's all. I could admire him and go back to bed, thank you very much.

I wouldn't set myself up for another heartbreak.

“Tell me about your date? Oh my God. I didn't realize how fast you've become the queen of hearts.”

“Queen of hearts?”

She could go like this for the whole night. And between Dario and Claudia, I'm not sure I can handle both in one night.

“Goodnight girl,” I cut her rumbling short.

“Luciana!” Her voice almost comes out as a screech.

Not tonight.

—--------

While I prepare myself for bed, a memory of my nightmare catches my mind. I’m not sure about it, but it’s always so vague. I try to push away the thought. I'm not into that kind of thoughts. Enough drama for the day.

The next morning, I wake up with a text from Dario. It's not even a surprise anymore.

[My beautiful love, how was your night]

My beautiful what?

I contemplate between ignoring him and reminding him of the reality. The latter wins.

[I told you we’re not in any kind of relationship]

I should have known better.

[I told you we can rectify that by being in a relationship.

Actually, I'm not going to answer that. It's just going to ruin my day anyway.

I want a normal day.

At least for today.

I'll look for a house that fits him all by myself and then force him to it. If that's going to be a success,then it will be a win-win. I decide to dedicate my day to that. The sooner we close the deal, the faster VRE gets back on its feet. I can't just stall because I'm dealing with some hot, stubborn asshole.

Did I just say I want a normal day?

Scratch that.

Since when did my life have any normal pattern?

When I get downstairs, I find everyone in a strange mood. My mother is in the living room trying to calm my furious father.

He looks like he's just received the biggest blow of his life.

I want to ask what happened, but the breaking news on the TV screen answers it all.

And there goes my plan to have a normal day!