“Your boss? Her company? I thought she works in a coffee shop?”
Alessandra seems confused and looks back and forth between us.
They both turn to face me as I try to sink lower and lower into my seat. Do you think at some point I’ll become invisible? Why couldn’t this be a magical train on its way to Hogwarts or something? Where’s my invisibility cloak?
“Elena, what’s going on girl? Why does she think you only work in the coffee shop?” Sophie gives me a questioning look. I can tell she’s not so happy with me.
“Well, I am working in a coffee shop while I’m here,” I say, trying to avoid eye contact with Sophie. “It doesn’t really matter about any of that. I’m here in Italy to relax and chill out,” I say pleading at her with my eyes.
“Girls, spill it! I don’t like secrets. We Italians are blunt and honest,” Alessandra says, locking her artic blue eyes with mine. She looks like she means serious business.
I knew my little white lie would eventually come to an end, so I start to explain.
“Well it’s not so much that I haven’t been honest, I just haven’t given the full truth,” I say as Sophie fake sneezes and I swear I hear her say ‘bullshit.’
“Back in America, I own a large social media marketing firm, nothing too crazy,” I confess to Alessandra.
Sophie puts the iPad down and waves her hands in the air like a maniac.
“Okay quit the shit! Elena does not like to talk about herself. She is a business rockstar. She’s listed on Forbes ‘30 under 30’ for successful entrepreneurs, she’s built this million dollar company all on her own – Rock Star Media. I’m damn proud of you, and you should be too,” she says turning towards me.
My heart swells hearing Sophie’s pride describing my accomplishments.
“Elena, that’s amazing! Why didn’t you want any of us to know?” Alessandra says, looking proud herself. I guess I can take the invisibility cloak off now.
“I guess I just wanted to fly under the radar in Italy. I didn’t want anyone to be my friend for my money or for a connection—which was what was happening left and right back home. I wanted to be liked for me, not the ‘success’ people think I bring them. I couldn’t take any more fake friends or worse, fake boyfriends. It’s exhausting being on guard all the time,” I say, hoping they accept my truth.
“I believe you,” Alessandra says, picking up one of the gossip magazines and holding it out. “I wouldn’t want to see you in here either.”
“I’m surprised Leo never said anything—you really think he doesn’t know who you are?” Sophia chimes in.
“Why would he? I don’t think we are on the same level,” I spit out. But before I can finish my thought both girls turn back to give me a ‘shut up bitch’ look.
“Okay now that that’s out of the way, let’s have some fun!” Alessandra says as our train stops.
I can’t tell you how much I’ve needed this day! Shopping and sightseeing in Milan were incredible. I somehow let both Alessandra and Sophie talk me into buying some gorgeous outfits and the shoes, oh my god, the shoes are to die for! #Shopoholic
We are back at the Armani Hotel Milano and getting ready for a night on the town. With these two I feel like I’m going to be in trouble!
I let Alessandra pick out my outfit for the night—a tight red bandage dress paired with nude heels. Sophie does my hair in long curls swept to one side. They are both wearing little black dresses and Valentino stilettos. I have to admit, my friends are hot!
We decide to go to a popular club to dance the night away. We make it to the club and, of course, it’s packed, but Alessandra knows the bouncer who lets us right in.
At the bar I ask for my usual vodka and Red Bull while the girls place their orders. The music starts to bump and we all head out to the dance floor to shake our groove thangs. I love the feeling of being surrounded by people who are dancing—it makes me feel alive.
As we all move to the latest Ke$ha song, I feel someone place hands on my hips. I didn’t go to many clubs back in the States, I was too busy building an empire, but I know that men never grabbed women like the guys do here in Italy. It’s kind of gross! I quickly spin around to tell the slimeball to get lost but I find myself face-to-face with Carlo.
“Carlo! What are you doing here?” I shout into his ear over the loud music, surprised to find a doctor here. I’m still aware that his hands are on my hips. He’s much more daring than the charming doctor who took me to a nice restaurant and then kissed my cheek sweetly goodbye.
“Elena! You look absolutely bella! I’m here with some friends after a work conference,” he says as he pulls me closer to keep dancing.
I try not to let my mind get caught up in this moment. I remind myself that I’m a single lady and it’s not a big deal to just dance with a guy who you know. I don’t need to read into anything.
We dance for a few more songs with the girls, all hot sweaty bodies grinding together, and when I feel like I need a breather, I excuse myself to go up to the bar.
“Can I please get a water?” I ask the bartender with her enormous breasts practically shoved in my face. Without a word, she hands me the water and continues to flirt with the guy standing next to me.
I’m chugging my drink when I feel Carlo’s hot breath on my neck as he turns me around.
“It’s a very nice surprise to see you here. This trip was boring before running into you,” Carlo breathes into my ear.
“It’s fun to see you again too!” I shout over the loud noise, unsure if he can even hear what I’m saying.
“Do you want to take that water and come sit at our table?” he asks as he nods his head in the direction of a table with stuffy looking guys. I’m guessing they’re all doctors who feel completely out of their element; I don’t blame them.
My feet are absolutely killing me so I take him up on his offer. Carlo guides me towards the booth with his hand pressed into my lower back. Unlike Leo’s strong, confident hands, Carlo’s feel clammy and grabby. Why am I even thinking about Leo in a time like this? Because you miss him. Because you miss the things his hands could do to you.
“Gentlemen, this is the gorgeous Elena Scott,” Carlo introduces me to the fellow doctors and I take a seat. Everyone seems very friendly but with the loud music it’s hard to get to know anyone, so I just sit and smile while slipping off my heels to rub my feet under the table.
As I slip my shoes back on ready to stand up, I feel Carlo’s wandering hand rest on my thigh. Do I want his hand there? I have no freakin’ clue. My head spins and it’s not from the alcohol; okay maybe a little from the alcohol, but more so from my conflicted emotions.
You want a man who didn’t want you and now you don’t want this man who does.
Carlo takes the hand that’s not roaming my legs and cups my chin, turning my face directly at him. His chestnut eyes are trained on my mouth and he hungrily takes possession. His kisses start softly, but quickly he gains his courage and forces his tongue into my mouth.
His hand on my leg starts to inch closer to my sex and I know for sure I am not going to let this guy touch me like this. We barely know each other.
That’s ironic? You let Leo do all kinds of things to you in public—more than once!
Okay inner thoughts, calm down and stop judging me, you bitch.
“I think we should stop,” I say, pushing my hand on his chest, trying to separate us as much as I can in this tight booth.
Carlo looks at me like he wants to cuss me out and I can definitely see the evidence of arousal in his pants.
“You don’t mean that,” he says as he comes in for another sloppy kiss.
I shove him harder this time, pushing myself up and out of the booth.
“Don’t ever touch me again,” I say before running away from this table to where I spot Sophie and Alessandra still on the dance floor. They stand with two extremely good-looking men. I swear they look like they belong to Italy’s soccer team.
�
��I was ready to cheer you on for getting over Leo with that cute guy you were with, until I saw him get a little too touchy-feely! I was about to come lay the smack down on his ass, but I’m proud you took care of it. Are you okay?” Sophie shouts into my ear as she pulls me into a hug.
“Were you spying on me?”
“Of course, did you think I’d let you slip away with a guy I don’t know and not keep an eye on you?”
“Thanks! I went on a date with that guy before. He definitely had some liquid courage in his system tonight though,” I say as Alessandra joins us, ditching her guy. “I think I’m going to catch a cab and head to the hotel. I’m not in the mood for this anymore.”
“No way! We will all go,” they both reply.
Man, I love my friends!
The sun shines into our hotel room but I don’t want to open my eyes. My head pounds from our night out, but I can already hear Sophie and Alessandra laughing in the next room, so I force myself to get up and join them.
I find Sophie sitting at the breakfast table and Alessandra in the hotel room kitchen making omelets.
“That smells great!” I say as I take a seat next to Sophie.
“We thought you’d never wake up, sleeping beauty,” Sophie jokes as she slides over a cup of espresso as well as a plate with an omelet and fruit cup.
“You know you could have woken me up,” I say, taking my first sip. Ah, I love coffee!
“Yeah right, that’s like waking a sleeping bear. We aren’t suicidal!”
They both laugh.
“Okay okay, I’m not that bad, you bitches. But thanks for the delicious breakfast. You guys ready to head to Verona today? I can’t wait to see Juliet’s balcony.”
“Me too!” they say in unison.
16
The train ride from Milan to Verona isn’t as exciting as our first trip when Sophie spilled my big secret. I spend the time looking out the window and wondering what Leo is doing. Everywhere I look I see couples holding hands and it makes me miss him.
But I don’t have time to daydream about things that won’t become reality. Instead, I’m able to catch up on all the business accounts that Sophie wanted to show me, and I even ask her about how she could help the caffé.
The first stop for three girls without boyfriends ironically is Juliet’s balcony. Walking towards the small courtyard and bronze statue, I see that love letters line the walls. Seeing all the testaments of love touches my heart. Even if I can’t find love, it makes me happy to see all these people have.
“So how many of these couples do you think have broken up?” Sophie says looking at the same wall as me.
“Wow you are so romantic, Soph. I can’t believe you just said that. If you write your name up here that’s supposed to mean your love will be everlasting.”
“I’m just kidding! But really, how many?” She laughs.
I ignore her and walk by myself towards the bronze statue of Juliet. It’s an Italian legend that if you touch the right breast of the statue you’ll have good fortune and luck in love. This poor girl, the metal of her chest is worn bare! I’m not sure if I believe in superstitions, but with my luck in love I figure it doesn’t hurt to get in line to feel her up. First, the Trevi Fountain and now this; apparently I’ll do anything to find someone worth loving me.
I stand on the platform, touch the statue’s boob, and as I’m about to step down I notice a small boy standing by himself and crying at the other end of the courtyard. I look around and notice that no one is paying him any attention. I walk towards the corner where the boy is.
“Hey buddy, what’s your name?” I say as I kneel down so I can be eye-to-eye with him. About seven or eight years old, he has dark brown hair and big eyes so green they look like they glow. He reminds me of a baby version of a certain Mr. Beautiful.
He looks up at me with tears in his eyes and says “I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.”
My heart instantly melts for him!
“You know my parents taught me the same thing when I was your age. Did your mom or dad teach you that?”
I’m trying my hardest to get any information out of him to find help.
“My mom,” he squeaks out in between his sobs.
“What does your mom look like? Maybe we can find her together.”
I know by the way he’s looking at me he’s trying to decide if I’m trustworthy or not. I must pass his test because he continues, “She has hair and eyes like yours.” Okay brown hair and blue eyes. Not much to go on here but that’s probably the best description I’m going to get from a kid.
“What’s her name?”
“Serena.”
I’m so proud of this little boy! So many kids don’t know their parents’ first names.
“Will you take my hand? I’m going to help you find your mom.”
He puts his small hand in mine and we walk towards the exit, past Juliet’s wall of love letters. I don’t see my friends either, where did they go?
“Serena! Serena! Serena!” I shout as the boy squeezes my hand.
I notice a police officer across the street and head over to him. Before I get to the officer a woman about my age comes running up to us frantically, screaming and crying. The little boy lets go of my hand and runs towards the woman. They embrace in the biggest hug—all tears and kisses.
“Leo! My precious Leo! I turned around and you weren’t there. I was so scared!” the woman says to my little buddy.
Did she say Leo?
What are the chances? I always seem to find Leos who quickly steal my heart. Or, maybe the better question: are Leos drawn to me because they need me? Am I drawn to them?
The police officer talks to the mother and son and I turn to walk away in hopes of finding my friends. Where the heck are they?
“Wait,” the woman says as she pulls on my arm, “thank you so much for taking care of Leo! He says you wanted to help him find me. I can’t tell you how scared I was when he wasn’t there. You are our angel!”
She pulls me into a hug and continues to thank me.
“Elena! There you are!”
I spin around and see Alessandra and Sophie crossing the street towards us.
“We’ve been looking for you everywhere! What’s going on?” Sophie says as she eyes the police.
“Nothing to worry about. Ready to go? I think this weird trip has gone on long enough,” I reply, “let’s go home.”
17
“Elena, you are really getting the hang of this,” Marco says as he tastes one of my new bakery creations: chocolate biscotti with chocolate chips dipped in white chocolate. I think I’m going to call it “Chocolate Overload.” After my shifts are over I’ve been practicing some new baked good recipes—with Marco’s help of course.
We clean up my mess and I push through the swinging door to lock up, and my breath gets caught in my chest. Leo stands at the counter. My insides instantly turn to mush, seeing his refined face and gorgeous body draped in a dark gray suit with a dark red dress shirt and tie. Did he get better looking since I’ve last seen him?
“Leo. Ciao. What are you doing here?” I mumble, probably looking like a fool with my mouth hanging open in shock.
I look around and realize he and I are the only ones standing in the caffé—where the heck did Marco run off to? Whenever I need him, he’s no where to be found.
“Elena, I needed to see you. I came by the other day but Marco said you were on vacation. I don’t like the way things ended the last time we saw each other in the restaurant. What were you doing with that doctor?”
Why does he care the way we ended things and why does he care if I’m with someone else? He’s already under Victoria’s sheets, and I’m sure he got under Gabriella’s too. What does he need little ol’ me for?
“Leo, you don’t have to worry about me. We are adults, and apparently this is a smaller town than I thought. I didn’t realize we could run into each other so I was thrown off guard when I saw you. I won’t let it happen
again.”
“I don’t want you to be caught off guard when you see me. And I want more than anything to see you again. I miss you. I can’t stop thinking about you. I’ve never missed someone so much. And you haven’t answered—what did you do with that doctor?”
Hold up, wait a minute. He misses me, but Victoria said they were together? And what about Gabriella? Why does he miss me when he has so many women throwing themselves at his feet? I think my brain is going to explode with all the questions swirling inside.
“It didn’t look like you missed me when you were with Victoria cozied up together, letting her put her hand on your leg.”
“Victoria asked me to dinner to discuss a charity event that both of our companies are putting on together. If you looked at the table, you would have seen files and spreadsheets—it was a business dinner.”
“In a fancy restaurant?”
“That wasn’t a fancy restaurant to me.”
Oh. Burn.
“Well, what about her hand on your leg?”
“She placed her hand on my leg for one second, and I quickly removed it. I also let her know that there was no way we would be together, ever. She’s not my type, and you, of all people, should know that.”
“Okay then, what’s your type? Supermodel.”
“No. My type is … you.” He gives me his signature smirk, but I can see that behind his player attitude, his eyes show honesty. I feel my cheeks blush. What is with all this blushing when I’m around him? I used to have a much better control of my emotions … until him.
“Leo, I don’t know what you are getting at, but Victoria was in here before I went on vacation. She told me you asked her to dinner to celebrate. She also made it seem like you two were an item and that you are sleeping together.”
My eyes search his face for an answer, but he remains calm and emotionless.
“That’s not true. And I think deep down you know that. Just weeks ago you were the one in my bed, and there has been no one since.”
My heart jumps for joy! His face tells me that he’s telling the truth, that he’s not with the Ice Queen. He hasn’t slept with her—that lying home wrecker! Why did she say all that stuff? What a low thing to do—even for someone like her. But why I am I surprised?
My Mr. Beautiful: Eternal City Love, Book 1 Page 10
