The Stranger
1090 Words
Valessa hated being followed.
It had started three nights ago.
At first, she convinced herself she was imagining things. The same dark sedan had appeared outside the university, then near the café she visited after class. Yesterday, she had noticed the same man standing across the street from her father's office.
Today, he had followed her into a restaurant.
She sat at a corner table, pretending not to notice him.
Her fingers tightened around her glass of water.
The man was sitting several tables away, watching her.
Again.
Valessa looked down at her phone.
No new messages.
She glanced toward the entrance.
Nothing.
Maybe she was being paranoid.
She looked back.
The man was still staring.
Her stomach tightened.
"Okay," she whispered to herself. "This is officially creepy."
She picked up her phone and pretended to scroll through it.
The man stood.
Valessa's heart skipped.
He started walking toward her.
She immediately stood as well.
"Excuse me."
The man's voice was low.
Valessa stepped back.
"Can I help you?"
"I've been trying to talk to you."
"I don't remember asking you to."
He smiled.
It wasn't a friendly smile.
"I know who you are."
Valessa's expression changed.
"What do you mean?"
"I know your family."
That sent a chill down her spine.
She thought of Zoe.
Then Catherine.
Had one of them sent him?
It wouldn't be the first time Zoe had tried to make her uncomfortable.
Valessa looked around the restaurant.
There were people everywhere, but nobody seemed to be paying attention.
The man stepped closer.
"You should come outside with me."
"No."
His smile disappeared.
"I wasn't asking."
Valessa's hand tightened around her phone.
"Then you're going to have a problem."
He laughed quietly.
"You really don't know when to be afraid, do you?"
"No."
She looked him directly in the eyes.
"I don't."
But she was afraid.
Very afraid.
She just refused to show it.
Then she saw him.
A man standing near the entrance.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Dressed entirely in black.
He had one hand in his pocket and the other holding a phone.
Valessa stared.
For a moment, everything else disappeared.
He was ridiculously handsome.
Not the ordinary kind of handsome.
The dangerous kind.
Sharp jaw.
Strong features.
Dark hair.
A straight nose.
And eyes so cold they almost looked silver beneath the restaurant lights.
Valessa blinked.
Wow.
Then she mentally slapped herself.
Focus.
She looked at his left hand.
No ring.
Her heart gave a strange little jump.
Perfect.
Without giving herself time to reconsider, she walked straight toward him.
The man noticed her approaching.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Valessa stopped directly in front of him.
He looked down at her.
"What do you-"
She grabbed the front of his jacket and kissed him.
Dario Lorenzo froze.
Completely.
For the first time in years, the most feared man in the city had absolutely no idea what to do.
Women had tried everything to get his attention.
They had flirted with him.
Touched him.
Thrown themselves at him.
He hated it.
Whenever a woman came too close, his stomach twisted violently. His body reacted before his mind could stop it.
Nausea.
Irritation.
The immediate urge to step away.
But now...
Nothing.
No nausea.
No disgust.
No urge to push her away.
Just shock.
And something else.
Something he couldn't identify.
The woman pressed her lips against his.
Badly.
Awkwardly.
Her hands were trembling.
Dario barely had time to process what was happening before she pulled away.
Valessa's face was burning.
She looked at him.
He looked at her.
Neither spoke.
Behind her, the man who had been following her stared at them.
His expression darkened.
"Forget it."
He turned and walked toward the exit.
Valessa watched him leave.
She waited several seconds before slowly turning back to the stranger she'd just kissed.
He was still staring at her.
She swallowed.
"I'm sorry."
Dario said nothing.
"I know that was incredibly inappropriate."
Still nothing.
Valessa's embarrassment increased.
"I just... I needed him to leave me alone."
Dario finally spoke.
"You usually kiss strangers when you're uncomfortable?"
His voice was deep.
Valessa's eyes widened.
"No."
A pause.
"Actually, I've never kissed anyone before."
Dario's eyebrows lifted slightly.
She immediately regretted admitting it.
"Forget I said that."
His gaze remained fixed on her.
She took a step backward.
"I'll compensate you."
Dario stared at her.
"Compensate me?"
"Yes."
She pulled out her purse.
"How much do you want?"
For the first time, something almost resembling amusement appeared in Dario's eyes.
"You're offering me money?"
"I just kissed you without permission."
"You did."
"So..."
She pulled out several bills.
Dario looked at the money.
Then at her.
"You think this is enough?"
Valessa frowned.
"How much do you want?"
He almost smiled.
Almost.
"No."
She lowered the money.
"Then what?"
Dario studied her face.
Hazel eyes.
Soft lips.
A stubborn expression.
And that strange feeling in his stomach that wasn't nausea.
He didn't like it.
Not at all.
"Keep your money."
Valessa blinked.
"Are you sure?"
"Very."
"Okay."
She put the money away.
"I'm sorry again."
Then she turned and walked away.
Dario watched her.
She didn't look back.
Not once.
That irritated him more than it should have.
Women usually couldn't get away from him fast enough without trying to steal another glance.
This one had kissed him, apologized, offered him money, and walked away as though he were nobody.
Luca appeared beside him a moment later.
He looked from Dario to the restaurant doors.
Then back to Dario.
"Boss?"
Dario didn't answer.
"Are you okay?"
Still nothing.
Luca frowned.
"I've never seen you look like that."
Dario finally turned toward him.
"What did you see?"
Luca hesitated.
"A woman kissing you."
Dario's jaw tightened.
"Find her."
Luca stared.
"The woman?"
"Immediately."
Luca's eyebrows rose.
"Do you know who she is?"
Dario looked toward the doors through which she had disappeared.
His expression became unreadable.
"Valessa Romano."
Luca went completely still.
"Valessa?"
Dario said nothing.
Luca quickly pulled out his phone.
"Should I bring her to you?"
Dario's eyes narrowed.
"No."
He paused.
"Find out where she's going."
Luca nodded.
Dario looked down at his hand.
He could still feel the warmth of her fingers against his jacket.
He hated the thought.
He hated that he remembered the kiss.
Most of all, he hated that for the first time in his life...
A woman's touch hadn't made him sick.
It had made him curious.
And curiosity had always been dangerous.
Especially when it involved a woman named Valessa Romano.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD