Forbidden Feelings
1274 Words
The dining room was as silent as a grave. Dante didn't look at me, not even once. As much as I told myself I was relieved, I couldn't fight the bitter feeling that was left in my heart.
Caleb hadn't uttered a word either, and he didn't even allow himself to openly look at Dante.
Along with the feeling of disappointment, my heart was heavy with guilt. I had just one child and yet, I couldn't shield him from the negative things I was supposed to. I dropped my fork, suddenly uninterested in my breakfast.
"Good morning everyone." Leo walked in casually. "Hmm, breakfast smells wonderful."
Dante stopped eating, but his gaze remained glued to his plate.
"I'm sure you also agree with me, right?" Leo leaned towards Dante, smiling brightly. "Sophia's a really good cook, isn't she?"
Setting his fork aside, Dante raised his head slowly. "Could you move? I'd rather not have a man's face so close to me, especially when I'm eating."
If you could kill a person with a look, I'm sure Leo would have dropped in that moment.
"Right, sorry." He flashed an apologetic smile and continued his meal. "I have good news for everyone," he announced without looking up. "Our company is throwing a party today to celebrate our partnership with Elysium Autos."
When I heard that name again, I perked up, my eyes immediately finding Dante's.
He was already staring at me, an uncommon softness in his dark eyes.
I had no idea why but tears began to flow from my eyes. At the sight, Dante looked away quickly. Too quickly, almost as if the sight was painful to him.
"Little man," he said, though his came uneven. "Do you own a tux?"
Caleb shook his head. "I'm not allowed to attend daddy's parties." He confessed sadly.
"That's right." Leo confirmed. "He's only eight. What could he understand about the business world?"
"This isn't a business deal Leo, it's a party." Dante's tone made it clear that he wasn't asking for permission. "Sophia, you and Caleb will come with me after breakfast to pick something out for the party."
Caleb looked at me, his eyes wide with expectation as he waited for my answer.
I swallowed, casting sideways glance at Leo. I knew he would want me to come up with an excuse to decline, but I didn't want to. As much as Caleb wanted to, I wanted it too.
Before I had the chance to answer, I heard someone's heels clicking on the tiled floor.
"Leo, I'm here." A pitchy female voice called out. "Leo- oh." She froze when she noticed everyone.
"Lily? How did you get in?"
Caleb folded in his seat, obviously trying to avoid looking at her.
"Hmm? Oh I have a spare key." She flashed the key for me to see. "I'm here to see your husband."
Her voice was hostile, and I wasn't sure but I could have sworn I heard a tinge of mockery when she said 'your husband'.
Leo quickly pushed his chair back and jumped to his feet. "Right. Dante, you'll take Sophia and Caleb. You can have dinner without me."
At the mention of his name, Lily looked at Dante. "Dante? Like THE Dante Marino? Oh my goodness, it is him! She took hurried steps forward till she was standing in front of him. "Wow, you're a lot more handsome in person than on TV or magazines. I am a huge fan of yours.
It feels like I'm meeting a celebrity -well, in a way, I am." She reached out, touching his shoulder.
Dante didn't react to her touch, but he didn't push her away either.
"Oh my, you're so muscular. I can tell even through the shirt." She raised her hand to his chin, still smiling flirtatiously. "Oh my,"
He sat completely still, even as her hand caressed his face.
I shot up, unable to take it any longer. "Miss Lily -"
Caleb pushed past Lily and hugged Dante, shielding him from her touch. "Daddy is your friend, but Mr Dante is mommy's friend." He said without looking at her.
Dante glanced at me, his brow raised and his thin lips curled up to one of the most sweetest smiles I had ever seen on his face. "You heard the little man," he said to Lily, but his eyes were still fixed on me. "Your friend's waiting."
"What are you doing Lily? Let's go." Leo was frowning, glaring at Dante like he was the one flirting with Lily.
"Wait, where are you going?" I asked. "And why does Caleb's babysitter have a spare key to our house?"
"Our house?" He raised a brow at me.
I cleared my throat. "Even if it's your house, I should have known."
"Why?" He moved closer to me, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Don't get ahead of yourself because Dante is here."
I didn't know when Dante left his seat, but I felt him behind me. Or rather smelled him. The fragrance of jasmine and mint invaded my senses, making me weak in the knees. His put his hands on my shoulders and pulled me away from Leo. "Okay, little man, why don't you grab your jacket and we can go? It's pretty cold outside." When he spoke, it felt like his voice was vibrating deep in my core.
It took all of my restraint to keep myself from leaning into him.
Leo eyed Dante and I but didn't make any comment. He turned and walked out with Lily following close behind him, but not before casting a final glance at Dante.
Even after we were left alone, Dante didn't remove his hands from me. "Elysium Autos?" I asked, my voice coming out more quiet than I expected.
"You came up with it. Remember?" His voice was also dropped to an almost whisper, his breath fanning my ear with every word he spoke.
I nodded.
It was six months after we met, I was already adjusting to his arrogant attitude. During lunch, he just walked up to my table tossed a bottle of chocolate milk at me. "I gave you a gift, now you have to give me something too." He said nonchalantly as he sat next to me.
"Is that how it works now?"
"Hurry up. I don't have time."
I rolled my eyes and asked, "What do you want?"
"Have s*x with me."
"What?!" I got up to leave but he pulled me back.
"I need a name for my company. I inherited it from my father and I want to change the name. It's an automobile company."
"Hmm.... How about Elysium Autos? Elysium is paradise in greek mythology. So your tagline could be paradise on wheels."
He ruffled my hair and got up. "Too cheesey. I'll think of something else."
Now, thinking back on that memory, after that day, I only saw him one last time before the fire accident that supposedly took his life.
"Dante,"
"Hmm?"
That simple sound was enough to tear through my restraint. I tried to turn to face him but he hugged my shoulders, holding me in place.
"Don't." He sounded almost breathless. "Just stay still." He buried his face in my hair. "This isn't my business, and it clearly wasn't a part of my plan but..." He heaved a deep breath, like it was hard for him to say. "...if you want me to save you, just come to me."
Unable to find any words, I nodded, that simple promise spreading through my entire body, feeling me with a kind of warmth I hadn't felt in a long time.
- Writer
