Chapter 151

I was a bit of a brat—emphasis on the bit. My teenage years lacked a typical rebellious phase, thanks to the world's best parents. So, my rebellious streak manifested in my love life: when a man told me what to do, I often did the opposite.

Naturally, I called Edward after getting home.

“I’ll have that dinner with you,” I told him.

“Wait, really?” He sounded surprised.

“Yes, but can we make it lunch on Sunday?”

He agreed. And that's how I found myself in a cute café on Sunday, wearing my new sundress.

“Are you serious?” Edward's eyes shone. “It’s so hard to imagine the hardcore businessman as such a soft father.”

I smiled politely. Thirty minutes into brunch, I realized this was less about him getting to know me and more about him getting to know my father. Edward was a fanboy.

“Can I meet him someday?”

“Someday, maybe.” It wasn't a direct "no," but close enough.

He apparently got the hint, immediately changing the subject. “Enough about that. What about you? Are you seeing anyone?”

I stifled a sigh, pretending to be engaged in the conversation, counting down the minutes until I could leave. I was too stubborn to admit Luca had been right.

“Hi, sweetheart!” My mom greeted me with a kiss. “How was your date?”

“It wasn’t a date, Mom.” I rolled my eyes.

“You can be honest with me; I’m not your dad. Was he cute?”

“Not. A. Date.”

She pouted. “I swear my kids hide their lives from me because of Gabriel. First Alex with Mia, and now you with this mystery boy.”

“There is no mystery boy. I had lunch with a colleague, that’s all.” I reassured her. “And nothing’s going on between Alex and Mia.”

My mother scoffed. “Did you see the way he looks at her?”

I shrugged. Alex said nothing was going on, and I believed him.

“What’s my fault, Freckles?” My father entered from his study.

“Eavesdropping is a bad habit!” My mom scolded, but before she finished, my father embraced her, kissing her forehead.

I loved the way my parents loved each other. If my mother left him for even a week, he'd go berserk. He loved her completely, as if she were the air he breathed, the lifeblood of his existence.

I mostly adored them, but sometimes I envied their devotion.

“The fact that my daughter hides her dating life from me is your fault,” my mom said, a smile playing on her lips.

“Aurora has a dating life?” My father sobered instantly, and my mother and I shook our heads.

“No, your reaction is exactly why I don’t have one,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“She went on a date,” my mom whispered.

“It was NOT a date! Jesus!”

“Whatever you say.” My father smiled, turning to Mom. “I have a friend coming over this evening—”

I interrupted. “I’m going to my room for a nap. See you later.”

I kissed them both, leaving them to their conversation. I’d stayed up late watching a rom-com, so sleep came quickly.

I woke later to a text from Edward: This was so much fun, we should do it again sometime. See you tomorrow!

Do it again? I think not.

I got out of bed slowly, showered, and went downstairs. Roman was supposed to be home for dinner, but the voice I heard sounded like my father talking to my boss.

Their conversation stopped when I appeared. Dad's "friend" was Luca.

“Luca, I really hope you’re staying for dinner,” my mother offered before seeing me. “Oh, Aurora, you’re here. Your boss was just telling us what a nice addition you’ve been at his workplace.”

“Mr. Romano,” I feigned a smile at my boss, in his casual, muscle-clinging t-shirt, showcasing his tattoos. Deep breath. I couldn’t let his presence fluster me.

“Didn’t expect to see you here, Aurora.” His nonchalance would be my undoing someday.

“Well, it is my parents’ house,” I said, maintaining my smile. I vaguely remembered mentioning I spent weekends here.

He couldn’t be here on purpose… could he?

“Join us, princess,” my father said, and I sat on the couch. “So, Romano, I need to ask you, who the fuck is Edward?”

My smile faltered, and Luca’s eyebrows shot up.

“Gabriel…” my mom scolded.

“What? Can I not enquire about the man my daughter’s dating?”

Oh, God. I wanted the earth to swallow me whole.

“Dating, huh?” Luca's voice was amused, but his eyes weren't. They were fixed on my father.

“I’m not dating anyone, Dad.” I announced. “And please tell me you didn’t call my boss here to ask about Edward?”

“So what if I did?” My father replied, unfazed. “That sorry little man took you out on a date. I need to know he deserves my princess.”

“A date, huh?” Luca finally turned to me, and I gulped. His eyes burned with an anger I didn’t understand. He had no reason to be angry, yet his gaze was furious.

“You know what, Sofia, I think I’ll take you up on the offer to have dinner.” Luca smiled at my mother—a smile so fake I could see right through it.

I bit my lip nervously. “You will?”

“Yeah, after all, we have a lot to talk about,” Luca said sweetly. “Gabe, I’ll tell you everything you want to know about Edward.”

A dinner with my parents and Luca was not my idea of a peaceful Sunday. Sunday dinners were supposed to be peaceful. This… wasn't.

“How’s the merger negotiation with Cornell going, Luca?” Dad asked, and I sank deeper into my chair.

“Tougher than I thought,” Luca's eyes flickered to me briefly. “I’m thinking about flying to Madrid tomorrow to see some potential clients.”

He was? As his assistant, shouldn't I be going with him, and Edward? I doubted it.

“You are, huh?” Dad asked before I could.

“Yeah.” Luca nodded. “The expansion turned out to be more of a challenge than I thought. Although managing one of my employees’ social lives has been a challenge in its own right.”

My cheeks burned, but my dad snorted. “I did ask you to look out for her.”

“And I am,” Luca said, not breaking eye contact. “It’s intriguing how someone who’s so meticulous with their work can be so…”

I challenged him with my eyes, daring him to finish. He didn’t.

“Don’t give my daughter a hard time,” Dad playfully warned.

“Gabriel,” Mom shook her head.

“Yes, Freckles?”

“See, this is why she wanted to work elsewhere. She wanted to be treated like every other employee.”

Despite her hushed tone, everyone heard. Embarrassment flooded my cheeks.

“I think I’ve lost my appetite,” I cleared my throat, standing. “Excuse me.”

I fled the dining room, ignoring my mother’s glare at my father. Back in my room, I sat on my bed.

Whose fault was this? Luca’s. Wasn’t seeing me five days a week enough? Did he have to invade my house on a weekend?

My angry Modern Family viewing was interrupted by a knock.

“I don’t want to talk right now, Mom!” I called out.

More knocks.

I opened the door. My lips parted.

“Luca?”

He stepped inside, and I stepped back.

“What are you doing here?”

“I excused myself to go to the bathroom.”

“This isn’t the bathroom.”

“Really, genius?”

“What are you doing in my room?” I asked. “How did you even know where my room was?”

“Followed my heart. It led me here.”

Was he flirting? I glared, raising an eyebrow. “Really?”

He chuckled softly, walking closer. “It’s not my first time in your house, princess.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Apologies, fiorellina.”

Heat rose to my cheeks. I couldn’t help it; that nickname had a way of affecting me.

His demeanor softened. “I’m sorry if you didn’t want me here. Gabe invited me, and I just came over to see my friend. I didn’t think you’d be here.”

I nodded, surprised by his apology. “Just stay away from my house on weekends?”

“Duly noted.” He cracked his knuckles, and I gulped, my eyes traveling from his tattooed arm to his black t-shirt to his green eyes. He works out. A lot.

I immediately dismissed that thought. “If that’s all,” I subtly gestured towards the door.

“Actually, it isn’t.” He moved closer. I didn’t back down. This was my room. I wouldn’t let him make me nervous in my own house.

What I didn't expect was him standing so close. The nerves I’d been suppressing settled in my stomach, but I was too committed to feigning confidence to give up now, so I met his gaze.

“Did you really go out with Edward, fiorellina?” he asked, towering over me.

“It was just lunch.” I breathed, trying to ignore his proximity. “And don’t call me that.”

“Why’d you go out with him after I asked you to stay away?”

I gulped. “I don’t owe you any explanations.”

He took another step closer. “Why, Aurora?”

Because I was being rebellious? Because you specifically told me not to? Because I didn’t want to seem like a girl clinging to her one-night stand?

“Because a girl has needs,” I blurted, immediately regretting it.

I did not. I just did not. Why do I do this?

“Needs?” Luca looked like he wanted to laugh, and it offended me.

“What?” I shot back. “Is it so funny that I can have needs? Or does that make me a slut?”

“No, fiorellina.” He actually laughed. “What’s funny is that you think a man like him can fulfil your needs.”

“Maybe he can.”

“Did he?” One eyebrow arched. “Did he touch you?”

“N-No.”

“Because if he has, I am going to be opening myself up to a wrongful termination act.”

“He didn’t.”

“Make sure it stays that way. And I mean it, fiorellina. No acting out and doing the opposite of what I ask you to.”

There was something scary and exciting in the way his eyes darkened.

I nodded.

“Now about your needs,” Luca bent his head, his lips almost touching my earlobe. My core throbbed. “Keep your balcony door unlocked tonight.”

I gulped. He took a step back.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a dinner to finish.”

He left me a confused and aroused mess, with the mere promise of more.