The Man Who Only Loved Me In Person

The seaside breeze brought the smell of diesel and salt to the little seaport. Giulia Romano dried her hands on her apron and leaned in against the counter of Caffè Aurora, which was the only restaurant which remained open after midnight in Porto Vento. It was a small urban town which was between a military base and the vast blue sea. Soldiers came and went. Sailors drank too much. Tourists came in summer and disappeared when the wind became cold. But Giulia stayed. She always stayed. Another beer, came the cook, working in the kitchen. Giulia heaved a sigh and took the bottle opener. “Coming!” Her black dress fitted her figure to the extent that men stared longer than expected. She detested the design of the uniform, which made her receive tips more frequently when she put it on. And tips were all that she could pay to rent. She turned towards table four without raising her eyes. Another beer, said she, making the bottle evident. Then at last she raised her eyes. And froze. The fellow there just was out of place. Too polished. Too expensive. His hair was dark and well cut, his jaw was keen, his suit was worth to Giulia more than a yearly salary. However, what struck her most of all was the manner in which he gazed at her. Like he was already bored. As though no subject in this town could attract his attention. “Thank you,” he said lazily. His voice was smooth. Confident. Annoyingly attractive. Giulia forced a polite smile. “Anything else?” The man leaned his head, examining her. “You’re new.” “I’ve worked here three years.” “Strange,” he said. “I would have remembered you.” She was sick of his audacity. “Maybe you don’t pay attention.” The end of his mouth was uplifted. “Oh, I pay attention.” Then his eyes gradually swept his face and onto the rest of her body and up again. Giulia crossed her arms. It is free beer so long as you quit destroying the view. The man chuckled. You know you are a waitress with a sharp tongue. And you are too full of yourself to reach here. That earned her a full smile. “I didn’t introduce myself.” “Did I ask?” “Matteo De Luca.” The name meant nothing to her. But as he said it, two soldiers at the other table abruptly turned their heads. One of them was whispering. Giulia noticed. Matteo noticed too. His smile grew. You are quite ignorant of who I am, eh? “No,” she said flatly. “That might be refreshing.” She grabbed her tray. Well, Matteo De Luca, have a good time drinking your beer. He said something more before she could walk away. “Sit.” She stopped. “Excuse me?” “Sit,” he repeated calmly. Giulia laughed. “I’m working.” “You’re curious.” “I’m not.” “You are.” He was confident in an outrageous way. Still… She didn’t walk away. Matteo noticed that too. “Five minutes,” he said. “I’ll make it worth your time.” Giulia rolled her eyes and sat down. “Fine. Five minutes.” He sat up and looked at her over again. “What’s your name?” “Giulia.” He said Giulia slowly, as though it were a taste. “You don’t belong here.” “Neither do you.” “That’s true.” “So why are you here?” Matteo gave the table a slight knock. “Family business.” “What kind?” “The complicated kind.” The restaurant door flew open before Giulia could pose any more questions. One of these soldiers was very tall, and his uniform was dusty on the road. He scanned the room. Then he came to look on Matteo. There was an immediate change in the temperature of the room. “Matteo De Luca.” Matteo sighed. “Ah.” The soldier walked closer. His face was not amiable. You are so full of yourself to come here. Giulia looked between them. “Do you two know each other?” The soldier ignored her. This city is no longer a part of your family. Matteo flushed cold. Fourths of this town was put up by my family. Your brother is running the other half now. Silence. Giulia blinked. “Brother?” Matteo’s smile vanished. “Yes,” he said quietly. “My brother.” The soldier leaned forward. “And he won’t be happy to see you.” Giulia could feel the tension go up her spine. There was something of a serious nature going on. Matteo slowly stood. She did not expect him to be as tall as he was. Alessandro, tell him, I said to him, that I am not seeking permission. The soldier clenched his jaw. Before he realises that you are here, you should get out. Matteo smirked. “I hope he does.” Giulia stared at him. “Why would you want that?” Matteo glanced at her. Darkness had come into his eyes. Because I have come back to get something to belong to me. “What?” But Matteo didn’t answer. Rather, he drew a few bills out of his wallet and threw them on the table. “Keep the change, Giulia.” He began to walk down towards the door. Then he stopped. Turned. And looked straight at her. You are too fascinating to be in this place. Her stomach tightened. And you are trouble, she replied. Matteo smiled slowly. “You have no idea.” Then he walked out. The door shut behind him. A flame broke out in the whole restaurant. Giulia turned to the soldier. “What just happened?” The soldier stared at her as though she had just gone in a blaze. You never know who that man is, you see? “No.” He exhaled slowly. “That was Matteo De Luca.” “And?” He is the son of the wealthiest family in Porto Vento. Giulia shrugged. “So?” The soldier dropped his voice. And the sibling of the most perilous man in this town. A chill ran through her. “Dangerous how?” The soldier hesitated. Well, I suppose, the De Luca brothers haven’t spoken in ten years. Giulia frowned. "Why?" However, the soldier had already started to leave. She was left with a single unpleasant idea. Why had Matteo treated her as if she were important? She dismissed the idea and went back to her job. However, she failed to notice anything outside the window of the restaurant. Matteo De Luca remained standing beneath a streetlight across the street. observing her. and using his phone to slowly dial a number. He said just one sentence when the call was connected. "I've found the ideal girl to ruin Alessandro." Giulia chuckled with a patron inside the café. Totally ignorant... that she had recently turned into a weapon in a brotherly conflict.