A night with Mr. Billionaire

Chapter Five: Family Time

*LUCIA’S POV:*

Sabrina and I slept in her room last night. The sound of her alarm woke me up; it was Sunday morning. How did she not turn off her alarm clock? I almost picked up the clock and flung it through the window. After seeing my reaction, she burst into laughter: “I’m sorry, miss. I forgot to turn off my alarm.” She reached out to the tiny clock beside her bed and turned it off, still laughing loudly.

We usually have a family sit-out every Sunday. Sabrina and I usually make a variety of meals and bake some snacks. I don’t know much about baking. Sabrina does most of the work while I help out with little stuff.

My phone rang and I reached out to pick up the call, it was Marco. We haven’t talked since that day at the event, I’m surprised he is calling out of the blue. “Pick up the call quickly,” Sabrina yelled, I answered the call and his voice was smooth as I remembered it to be.

“Hello, Marco.”

“Hi, Miss Rossi.”

“It’s been quite an eventful week, so I thought to reach out and say Hi.” Sabrina kept whispering some responses to me, “Tell him it’s nice to hear from him.” She said,

I nodded but said a different thing.

“Thank you for being so thoughtful Marco.” This made it sound more professional and less desperate. We did a little catch-up here and there and Sabrina kept smiling at me.

“So when can we get to see each other again, or do I need to organize another event to have you come over to the winery?” We both laughed at his flattery. Unlike other CEO’s I’ve met, Marco sounded so different from all of them, he’s calm, gentle, and considerate with his words. His girlfriend must be really lucky.

“I work all week and barely have time for any hangouts, but I’ll make out time from one of my weekends and let you know.”

“That’ll do.” He said while asking about my best friend, that night he drove me home, I had mentioned Sabrina during the course of our conversation, I’m surprised he still remembers her name. Sabrina’s voice came through from the background, “I’m right here and I’m fine, Mr. Romano.” I just smiled and continued with my conversation, trying so hard to end the call before I said something stupid.

“Do have a good day Marco, it was nice hearing from you.”

“It was nice hearing your voice Lucia, I appreciate your kind words.”

The phone went silent as he spoke, then I suddenly said goodbye. Something about Mr. Romano seemed really unique, the first time we spoke, I just couldn’t help but be soft around him, and today again, over the call, I automatically wore my soft girl garment.

I noticed Sabrina giving me an excited look, the type she gives when her ears are itching to hear spicy gossip.

“Are you going to spill or not?” She finally broke out of her silence.

“There’s nothing to spill.” I responded while getting off to go back to my room, she looked at me and smiled, “You’re not leaving here until you spill.”

Mom’s voice called from the living room, she needed us to start preparing for our Sunday sit-out, the cooking and baking process. Sabrina looked at me, “you know you still owe me this tea, you won’t run away forever.” The truth is there was nothing to tell, but Sabrina won’t believe it, all she wanted was to hear a spicy story about Mr. Billionaire and me.

Sabrina and I went straight to the kitchen and started the process of baking first, then proceeded to put the cooking together. We usually grill some meat and fish, then cook some spicy foods, then bake a couple of our favorite snacks. Baking is a tradition here at our house, Mom and Dad met in culinary school and they both love baking, it’s their way of staying connected to each other.

I’ve always admired the way they treat each other with love and respect. Growing up with them, I’ve always wished for this type of companionship, but right now, I’m not sure I can find that.

Antonio had called earlier to check up on me and also confirm if I still had it in mind to call my account manager the next day. I wish I could tell Sabrina about it but if I do, she would get so angry and make me have double thoughts about it.

I know how reckless Antonio is, especially when it comes to money, but this time around I believe the investment will come through. We've discussed marriage once and he said he needed to have his own money as a man before he could take that step, I support him on that. Giving him this money is just investing in our future.

Soon we were done cooking and baking all we needed to bake. Mom and Dad helped set up the chairs and tables in the garden. Sabrina and I took out the meals and snacks and arranged them on the tables. Drinks were also made available.

Mom and Dad were curious about my relationship with Antonio, mom asked when he would come for dinner. “I’ll let him know you are inviting him over Mom,” I said while looking at Sabrina to see what her reaction was. She seemed calm, the kind of calmness that bothers me, only God knows what will come out of her mouth.

“How about you Sabrina, you don’t talk much about your boyfriend.” Dad chipped in.

“He’s fine Dad, not just worth bringing home yet.”

Family sit-outs are always the best days of the week for me, I work tirelessly and start my week with positive energy. I also miss my parents. I wish I could find their killer and make them pay for it. Maybe not now, I know I decided to let go and live my life without guilt, but the thought of it still makes me sad every time I remember.

That morning, when I returned from Sabrina’s house, neighbors were gathered at my parents’ house. I ran into my house, just to see them lying lifeless, the blood on the couch and bullet wounds are still stuck in my memory..I still remember how I waited for someone to wake me from my bad dream…