The Italian Director Next Door (CASTELLANO SERIES #1)

Chapter 4

As it turns out, this wasn’t just another mother daughter lunch like I thought it would be. There was a man whom I’ve never seen before seated next to her at a table that was far away from the rest of the customers. I breathed in and sighed quietly, hoping that this wasn’t going to be any more awkward than how imagined it to be.

The waitress directed me to my table and my mother gave me a little wave, then gently nudging her partner and he looked up from his menu. As I approached the table, both of them smiled at me and George stood up, offering a handshake in the process. I was rather taken aback because the last man than my mother was with didn’t even bother to acknowledge my presence at all.

“Hello Elizabeth, I have heard so much about you from your mother.”

“And I’ve just heard about you only this morning.” I smiled, taking his hand in mine. “Please, do take your seat.” I said and sat down, leaving my tote at the back of my seat. “I’ve taken the liberty to order for you since I know you don’t have much time for lunch.” Mom smiled at me. “George picked your dish.”

I looked at him for an answer and he laughed nervously. “Is grilled seabass alright with you?” he asked and I thought of the tuna last night that made my stomach churn. “That’s fine, I actually had a heavy breakfast so I don’t think I’ll have much of it.”

Lie, you only had a cup of coffee this morning.

George started the ball rolling when he asked me about my line or work (as if he didn’t already know since my mom probably held nothing from him, I’m not surprised if she actually told him about her email password even). Through this conversation, I’ve learnt that well, for starters, he was a man of charisma with the way he spoke and carried himself. He mentioned that he had a son a little over two years older than I was and when I realized that two complete strangers were about to be step siblings—which is so weird considering the fact that I was the only child of my parents’ failed marriage and I’ve not interacted with any other family members of mine except my own mother who’s love life was far more interesting than my own.

When my parents split, they took their separate ways with my dad moving out shortly. From then on, it was weekdays at moms, weekends at dads until mom was hounded by paps all the time and hence that’s why I had decide to move out of her place, far away from the both of them and I hardly ever visited, with the fear of getting photographed. But then one day, I got the news that dad had decided to move to another state when he gotten wind of his ex-wife’s second marriage again.

Poor dad.

After a while of poking around at my half eaten seabass dish, I casually looked around the restaurant and my eyes stopped on a brunette who had just arrived. She wore a perfect bob with extremely straight, glossy hair with a dress as short as my ex’s o****m. Ugh that poor bastard. Anyway, she was a stranger hard to miss considering her dress sparkled on every corner. She tapped away at her phone screen with perfectly manicured fingers when she sat down and I watched her tilt her wine glass as the waiter dished out the red liquid for her.

George and my mother was laughing about something and I had completely lost interest in continuing our conversation when the brunette had stepped in. I continued to take a few occasional glances at the woman. She signalled the waiter away when he attempted to take her order and I guessed she was waiting for someone. Whoever she was waiting for, I’m guessing would be just as good looking as her.

Not too long after, a tall, broad shouldered man clad in black suit and tie was being ushered into the restaurant. From his back, he looked like someone with a pretty face although I couldn’t make out his face clearly since he was focused on his phone screen. I leaned back against the back rest of my seat, tilting my chair on its legs just a little bit as I watched him walk past the empty tables and stopped at the one where the Brunette was seated at. He looked up finally, placing his phone face down on the table. He looked around casually when the waiter was adjusting the napkin on his lap and after one glace, I quickly turned my head back round.

No it can't be. 

What was that p*****t doing here?

I’m beginning to think that he was following me around. First the gym, then the same work place and now a restaurant?

The waiter took his order and the brunette smiled at him but he didn’t return the expression. Castellano did not look too amused when she reached across the table to hold his hand; I watched him shake it off and pulling his hand back from her. She looked pretty upset but his facial expression did not change one bit.

So this is the kind of women he associated himself with huh? Gorgeous, leggy brunettes with jet black hair with the most exquisite choice of clothing that hugged their curves in all the right places.

Wait, why was I so interested? I mean, that’s his private life and I shouldn’t be bothered. Come on Elizabeth, you can do so much better than stalking your boss and his partner all the way across from the other side of the restaurant.

Laughing at my silliness, I forced my attention back to my mother and her fiancé.

“Honey, did you hear a single word I just said?” Charlotte Andrews sounded upset.

Uh oh, “Yeah mom, every last word of it.”

“So you agree?”

“Uh yea, mom, totally.” And I had absolutely no idea what was I agreeing to, I could only assume it was something about George’s glossy hair or whether I thought they looked good together.

“And there I was writing up at least 50 reasons why you should be my maid of honour.” she said gleefully. Hold your horses.

“I told you she would Charlotte.” George kissed her cheek.

“Wait what, maid of what now?” I hissed, my palms squaring against the table and I sat a little straighter this time.

“Well honey, I had my own worries too about this. I know that you might be feeling a little upset about this idea considering the fact that your own mother is getting married again before her adult daughter does..” she trailed and winced.

“Jesus mom, must you bring that up?” I rolled my eyes, expressing my less to none concern at the statement my mom just mentioned. Marriage was the last thing on my mind as of now, my whole life is dedicated to my career so that no man would ever think any less of me again. Also, the whole idea of this union was completely ruined by watching both of my mom’s marriages that came to naught. A messy divorce was just not my cup of tea at this age.  

“And please, please bring a date with you. There will be paparazzi’s there and they mustn’t think that you’re still single at 27.” She whispered the last part and I was clearly furious.

“Mom, I told you. I’m totally over the whole dating phase. And I honestly think that you’re in no position of giving me relationship advice of any sort.”

Okay Elizabeth, that kind of went too far but I was on a roll. “Besides, I’m not quite sure as to why you’re so keen on marrying me off, and for your information, if I ever were to get married, I’d only do it once.” I was too far gone with my anger and I knew I pushed it way too far. But I was sick and tired of getting told what to do by her, by my fiancé and by everyone else who thought I was never good enough. I spent my whole life thinking I was not good enough, not good enough in my studies, not good enough at my job, not good enough to be in a relationship and now this?

“Elizabeth Danvers.” my mother snapped and I looked up.

“This has got to stop mother. You need to stop hounding me about my love life and force me to understand or accept that life would be so much more beautiful if I began a relationship with anyone. I’m sorry but I think we have two totally different views on relationships and marriages. If I knew the end goal of marriage would look very much like yours, then I don’t want it.”

The flash of hurt was evident on my mother’s face and I absolutely did not want to apologize for it just yet. I lost all reasoning when it came to my mother, as soon as she opened her mouth, it was never a word of encouragement, neither was it any form of care and concern for her one and only daughter. And all she cared about was finding a life partner for me.

George cleared his throat, aware of the tension in the air as we both stared at our wine glasses, not saying another word.

"So uh, we’re thinking about getting married somewhere in early July." George trailed hoping he’d ease up the black cloud between my mother and I as desserts were being placed in front of us with the waiter totally oblivious as to what just had happened. "That's three months from now.” I answered but my mother didn’t look like she wanted to talk about her wedding anymore.

I needed to make up an excuse to take off and thank god my phone was vibrating non-stop on the table. I answered the call and put the caller on hold while I stood up.

“If there’s nothing else, I would like to get back to work.”

“Sure, please, don’t mind the both of us.” I nodded and turned around, hoping my mother would at least say something comforting to me. As angry as I was, I still needed to make sure my mother didn’t and wouldn’t hold my words against me.

“I’ll give you a call when your dress is ready for fitting.” She said and I sighed internally as I left the restaurant, careful to avoid my boss’s table on the way out.

**

"I assume that's the man your mother is about to marry?"

Castellano waited until everyone got off the elevator at a designated floor before he spoke. My ears perked up when he said so. But I was not in any mood to deny it so I just answered.

"Yes." I answered flatly.

"You don’t look too happy about it. Also, I take it as your mom was grilling you with the fact you’re 27 and still single?" he chuckled. "How did you hear that?" I snapped.

"Actually, a few people did, you made my lunch buddy laugh.”

"Glad to know I'm the source of your girlfriend’s entertainment."

"I bet you’re dying to know who was that brunette seated at my table." He said as I heard footsteps against the marble floors of the elevator and I felt warmth radiated off him causing the hairs on my hand to rise. The scent of his manly cologne wafted in the air and I breathed in his scent and somehow I felt it dissipated the anger I had in me from the lunch with my mother minutes ago.

"Breathless with wonder.” I mocked. “Not that I even noticed we were at the same restaurant.” I rolled my eyes and I threw my car keys into my tote while the elevator finally came to a halt, the glass doors sliding open.

“She’s not my girlfriend. If that’s what you think, also I knew you were ogling at your hunky neighbour."

I burst out laughing, "Did you ..." I couldn't control my fit of laughter and I found it hard to breathe after a while. Ethan looked like a chipmunk that got his but snatched away while I laughed at him. "Please don't ever refer to yourself as hunky, Castellano. You’re far from that, tesoro.” I used his term of endearment on him and he looked taken aback.

Ethan glared at me when we both entered the office. Guess he got his ego blown to bits the second I laughed at him and I did feel bad about it. Although...all that laughing made me forget what I was even angry about an hour ago. I thought for a bit at my rude remark then head into the pantry and got out some lemons from the refrigerator and made him a lemonade drink.

I knocked on the door to his office and I heard his approval for me to enter. I sighed for an added effect as I passed the mug with a plastic tightly wound at the lid. "Here's my peace offering, I'm sorry I laughed at you earlier."

"I'm not drinking anything you’re giving me anymore.” I knew he was referring to the coffee incident this morning. “And yes, if you insist, you did bruised my ego, mia cara." He got up from his seat and approached me. I still found it hard to breathe whenever he stood so closely to me but I will never admit as to what it did to my female hormones. Damn you, you good looking piece of meat.

"Exactly, so here,” I took his hand in mine and placed it on his hand.”

He was about to pop open the lid but I stopped him with my hand above his and the sudden touch caught him off guard. “You’d bruise my ego if you can’t trust me with my peace offering.”

He narrowed his eyes on me when he tried again to lift the lid but I only pressed his hand down even more tightly against the lid. “Oh alright.” I relented before continuing. “You can refer to yourself as hunky..." I shrugged and a small smile formed on his face. “You promise you didn’t add any more pepper and all that disgusting s**t in here?”

"I swear to you...” Wow look at that added effect of mine did to him. “That there's nothing bad in this drink, its pure lemon goodness." I said with all seriousness.

He swirl the drink in the mug and he held the drink to my lips, a hand tightened against my arm as if afraid that I’d run away. "You take the first sip, for all I know you probably spat in it to get back again at me for calling out your single ass.”

"Fine,” I bit out. “But I'm telling you, I'm not as disgusting as you think."

“Then prove it.” He nodded towards the drink and I subtly took in a deep breath, taking the first sip and I immediately felt like my skin recoiling; my toes were curled in my heels and I quickly moved the sugar cube from below my tongue to stabilize the burning acidity on my tongue. Elizabeth Danvers also comes prepared.

"See." I said as I mustered the remaining sanity I had left in my brains and put on the best straight face I could, "No poison." I realized my pitch was a little higher than usual.

"Fine, I accept your peace offering."

His first mistake was taking a huge ass sip which then caused his eyes bulged and turn to side to spit it out. "My god you monster!" he said hoarsely. He sputtered and coughed repeatedly “Sei carne morta, mia cara." He released his vice like grip on my arm and searched for what I assume was water on his table, tugging roughly at his neck tie.

It was a good thing that both our rooms were completely sound proof towards the rest of the employees but not to both of our rooms so they couldn't hear their Director screaming at me. I squeaked and started running when he tried to chase me. "You said it was pure lemon goodness!"

"I did not lie about that part, IT IS pure lemon juice. I just forgot to add the sugar."

I whipped out my phone from my coat pocket and took a quick picture of him squirming, chugging down a whole bottle he found on his table. "I trusted you, you little..." he pinched the bridge of his nose."Elizabeth Danvers.."

"I said it was a peace offering, it’s not my fault if you didn't see the good in my juice cleanse."

He glared at me once I made that statement but it dissipated and a full blown smirk formed on his face." Now that you’ve reminded me, there's something really important I needed to do."

"You're starting to freak me out with your calm demeanour." Now it was my turn to be afraid.

"Oh nothing to worry, Lizzy.” Oh we’re on cute name calling basis right now?

“That is all, thank you for your peace offering and I accept it. I'll see you at home."

"You mean in your own home."

He smirked. “You’re dismissed, Miss Danvers.”

**

    It was around 10:30PM when my doorbell began to ring furiously. "Who the hell?" I jerked my head towards the bathroom door and quickly rinse my mouthful of toothpaste and tightened my towel turban. The doorbell rang again and I wrapped my bathrobe around me. “Coming, geez louis.” I grumbled. I quickly slipped on my pink bunny slippers nearby as I ran down the stairs and past the lounge area.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!" a couple of really good looking men in large mustard coloured Mexican hats with moustaches curled to either side holding banjos and shaking the maracas right in my face. The singing continued and confetti blasted around us.

"But it's not my birthday." I said when the music died down. I swear I could hear cricket sounds in the background and a bright flash with a camera shutter sound.

"It says a special birthday service to Miss Elizabeth Danvers' birthday here, we were arranged to give you a.."

"I only have one question.” I said, very much annoyed, holding up a finger. “Is this surprise from Ethan f*****g Castellano?" I asked. “Just Ethan Castellano.” One of them said until some raunchy music began playing on a boom box and all three men pulled out their red and white shirts and began whipping the shirts above their heads. Birthday service? Oh god, this was a strip tease service. God damn it Castellano! I screamed in my head.

They pulled out their moustaches and I looked at it as it fell to the floor. Wait that was fake too?

“No no, I think you’ve all mistaken. It’s the Elizabeth Danvers that’s living in the next building.” I clarified as I tried my best to speak calmly and that’s when I heard Britney once again, blasted on the speakers next door. The nerve of that Italian Director!

“Are you sure you don’t need some good lovin? You look really sad and miserable like what’s stated here on the note.”

They showed me the note and it wrote, ‘To my sad, miserable and single 27 year old colleague, Elizabeth Danvers, Happy Birthday, with lots of love, Ethan Castellano’

Somebody’s dying tonight.

Once I made them leave, I stormed my way over to Castellano’s door and rang the bell furiously. The door opened up almost immediately and it took me by surprise. “Ah, I thought I heard someone singing happy birthday outside our place. Are you having a party at your place?” he asked innocently, eyeing me up and down. Damn, I just remembered that I was in a bathrobe and pink bunny slippers. “Not cool Castellano, not cool. If this is your way of irking a reaction out of me, I’m telling you it ain’t gonna happen.”

“Hey come on, a little entertainment can never go wrong.”

 “I’ll have you know I’m nothing like what you have stated in your note!” I shook the piece of paper at him.

“You sure about that Lizzy?” he asked as he opened the door wider to reveal himself only in a towel which hung dangerously low around his hips. I swallowed hard, taking in the sight of his hard pecks and I momentarily had forgotten what the reason was I had first stormed over here for. I forced myself to look up at the sound of his throat clearing. “p*****t, liking what you see?” He tutted at me, wiggling his finger.

“And here I thought what went under there, but all I can save right now is that, I’ve seen better.” I shrugged.

He didn’t look too amused at my statement. “Here, have some of my birthday cake, and I hope you choke on it.” I shoved the box to him. “We can have this for dessert after our shower.” He shrugged like it was nothing. I gasped, “No thank you, I think I’m more than capable at washing myself.”

“I can’t be quite sure of that!” I heard him call behind me. “Good night!” I slammed my door behind me and I heard laughter. I stood at my door, with my hands on my hips while I thought.

Was I tempted to call him? Yes, I was-considering the fact that I wasn’t wearing anything underneath my robe. My god, what was I thinking?