Fighting For Mr. Beautiful: Eternal City Love, Book 2

by Passarelli, Caterina

  After the line clicks off, he practically leaps out of his chair, pushing me back onto the floor with his large body on top of mine. He takes the breast he’s been teasing into his mouth and sucks as hard as he can on my tender nipple. I arch my back, loving this sensation.

  Knock, knock, knock.

  “What the fuck?” Leo whispers to me with a look of irritation on his handsome face.

  “Signor Forte, Giorgio is out here ready for your 4:30 appointment,” Natalia says through the intercom.

  “Tell him I need a few minutes,” he says. “Damn it! She’s right, I do have an appointment that I need to take,” Leo says, still on top of me. I run my fingers through his thick hair and claim his mouth with my own.

  “It’s okay, I dropped in on you unexpectedly. You can’t change your whole day around for me. I know what it’s like to run a big office too.”

  “I love that you understand, and I want to one day see your office. You know I’d cancel this appointment in a heartbeat but everything got turned around with the,” he pauses for a moment looking depressed, “shooting.”

  He put his whole life on hold for me once already and it melts my heart. I press another deep kiss to his lips and crawl out from under him to get dressed again.

  “It was my pleasure to service you, Mr. Forte,” I grin at him before I plant another kiss on him—this time on his cheek. He catches my face between both hands and gives me the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.

  “Did I say something funny?”

  “No,” he returns a kiss to my cheek, “but you have said something sassy like that to me before.”

  I did?! What was I doing to service him then? I’m jealous of whatever it was!

  “Have I done this before … in your office?” I’m jealous of that thought too.

  “This? You mean … let me fuck your beautiful mouth?”

  Now look who’s being sassy.

  “Yes that … mouth fucking.”

  “I never kiss and tell, Elena,” he says before smacking my ass as I head towards the double doors to leave. “I’ll call you tonight.”

  I walk out into the lobby and see another businessman with dark brown hair and eyes blue as the sky. This must be Giorgio. He looks up at me with a big smile. I’m going to guess we’ve met before by the way he’s looking at me.

  “Elena! So nice to see you again. I’m so sorry to hear about the shooting and your injuries. I surely hope the police are doing all they can to catch this crazy man,” he says with a thick Italian accent.

  This man? Did anyone say the shooter was a man before? I don’t remember anything from that day. Police are taking leads on both genders.

  I must be staring at him with a blank expression on my face because he quickly turns to Natalia and asks a few questions in Italian—I don’t catch what he’s saying because I feel like my mind is spinning. I quickly say a goodbye and walk away from them both. I stop around the corner before entering the elevator to catch my breath. Something feels wrong.

  I turn back to walk towards Leo’s office when I hear Giorgio talking in a hushed whisper to Natalia, his body language screaming anger. “Wasn’t she just the rudest person? She didn’t even answer my question.” I can’t hear Natalia’s reply but he continues, “Is this guy going to let me in yet? I’ve been waiting out here for 15 fucking minutes. Just because he’s the boss doesn’t mean we all don’t have other shit to do. Entitled piece of shit asshole.”

  Natalia tries to calm Giorgio down and she’s looking at him like he’s crazy, but Leo suddenly opens the door to let his employee in. Giorgio quickly puts a smile on his face and stands up taller, releasing what looked like a posture of anger. He’s transformed into a completely new person.

  “Signor Forte, I’m excited to talk about the developments the research marketing team has made in the last month,” Giorgio says happily as he walks toward Leo.

  What the heck? That was weird. Very weird.

  I make a mental note to talk to Leo about this later.

  “Are you going to finish that?” Marco asks I put my half-eaten pork panini down.

  “Not with you staring at it like you may actually rip my fingers off and finish it yourself,” I say, passing the sandwich across the table towards him. “Be my guest, please.”

  I sip my espresso and open my laptop. Marco and I are officially having our first formal business meeting before the caffé opens in an hour. It’s a Sunday and we open later for the church crowd.

  It’s also been three days since the ‘mouth fucking’ in Leo’s office and I haven’t seen him since. Not that I’m counting the days or anything. Okay, I’m totally counting and I miss my Mr. Beautiful. He’s been super swamped with work and I completely understand. I haven’t had the chance to bring up the weird experience with Giorgio either because it feels strange to describe what I saw over a text message. Now that I’ve had time to think about it, anyone could get a little angry with his or her boss. Right?

  “Ciao Elena, are you joining me for this meeting?” Marco asks, shoving my own damn sandwich in my face while laughing. Why is every guy in my life so sassy?

  “Sorry for spacing out. Okay, let’s talk about what we’ve been doing that’s working really well in the last few months and what we should consider ditching or revamping.”

  I pull up a spreadsheet on my laptop and we get straight to business. We talk through all the revenue numbers since I’ve started and make a giant list of things we could revamp. We also pat ourselves on the back for turning around a lot of disastrous areas. According to Marco, his nonna’s strengths were baking, making a mean cup of espresso, and building relationships with her loyal customers … many who are still regulars today. Her weaknesses were tracking where her money went and paying bills on time … or at all.

  I’m closing my laptop and heading towards the back room to change into an apron—the irony of this situation does not escape me—when I hear a loud pounding on the front door. Our church regulars aren’t usually the kind to beat the door down, so I wonder who could this be?

  “Girl, I can see you! Open the door,” Sophie shouts. I run over to the door and open it, but I’m shocked she’s standing here in front of me. I’ve known this girl since the seventh grade and she still surprises me with how stunning she is. I’d say she’s a spitting image of Blake Lively—long blonde hair draping her shoulders with even longer legs to match. She pushes past me trailing two giant suitcases.

  “What the heck are you doing here? Don’t you have a company to run in Michigan?”

  “Ha ha, Miss CEO who ran away. I came to check on you. What are best friends for?” Sophie says.

  “Uh, Soph,” I say pointing towards her suitcases, “you planning to move here too?”

  “I wish! My boss is such a bitch, she would never let me leave my cage in Michigan,” she says, laughing. “No, this suitcase is practically empty. I plan to buy shoes—and lots of them!”

  “That’s why I love you!”

  We both laugh as Marco walks out from the back room and almost trips while carrying a huge tray of cannolis. I rush over to grab the tray and put them in the display case. It doesn’t escape me that during this whole ‘almost ruined all the baked goods’ debacle, Sophie and Marco are awkwardly staring at each other, not saying a word.

  “You guys forget your manners? I actually remember that you both already know each other—I know you were talking at the hospital,” I say, hoping that pointing out the obvious will awaken my friends from their weird silence.

  “Elena, I have something to tell you,” Sophie says, turning towards me with a thoughtful look on her face.

  “Okay.”

  Now I’m a little nervous. Sophie has never needed to tell me something that required her serious voice. Actually I don’t know if I’ve ever heard Sophie’s serious voice before, ever.

  Bitchy voice—check.

  Loud voice—check.

  Caring voice—check.

  Loving voice—sometimes
(check).

  Business voice—check.

  An “I have something to tell you” serious voice—nope?

  “Marco and I have been talking to each other,” Sophie spits out at me. She’s looking down at the floor turning red. She’s blushing? That’s my signature move, not Sophie’s!

  “Talking as in…? Something you two clearly aren’t doing standing in this caffé,” I say as I turn to look at Marco who looks down at the floor. What’s their problem?

  “Talking as in … getting to know each other better. We’ve been texting, talking on the phone, and FaceTiming—really all you can do when you live across an ocean from each other.”.

  “Are you serious?!”

  “Please don’t be mad! We didn’t want you to think we snuck off behind your back to start a relationship when you were in the hospital. We feel terrible about that,” she exclaims.

  “Mad? Are you kidding? I’m so happy for you guys!”

  I look at both of my friends who quickly lift their heads in surprise. They look at me and smile, and then they look at each other. How cute are they!

  “So you don’t care?” Marco asks.

  “Why would I care? You two are the best people I know. I’m ecstatic you’ve found each other. And I’m a little upset that I didn’t think to set you up in the first place. Damn, where was my head?!”

  “Well you were busy recovering and all,” Sophie says as she pulls me into a one-armed hug.

  “Come over here you crazy Italian,” I say extending my other arm towards Marco. He rushes over and we stand there in a big group hug.

  “Wait a second,” I say pulling away from my friends, “does that mean you won’t be spending every minute of your trip with me?”

  Sophie’s smile falls from her face. “I mean if you need me, I’ll be there every minute, Elena, I promise.”

  “Get real! I’m so glad you have other plans. Not to be rude, but I have to see my man too.”

  We both start laughing in confessing that bros are coming before hoes on this one trip. Marco stares at us like we are aliens, only making us laugh harder.

  After what turned out to be an exhausting shift—we had non-stop customers from the minute we officially opened until we closed around 6 p.m.—I start the walk towards my apartment. My phone vibrates indicating a new text message:

  “Cara, I miss your gorgeous face + delicious pussy. I’ve asked Mateo to bring you over when I get out of work. Please come.”

  “Begging me to ‘come’ & I haven’t even gotten there yet?”

  “Your smart mouth better be ready for what I have to give.”

  He makes my heart skip a beat with the promise of what’s waiting for me when I get to his house. I wave to Mateo when I get to my apartment and send him a text saying I’ll be ready to come down whenever Leo gives the word.

  As I walk up the stairs towards my apartment, I run into Brian as he’s locking his front door. He’s carrying his camera in one hand and an energy drink in the other; he looks just as exhausted as I feel. Dark circles are under his eyes, and I guess he hasn’t combed his wild brown hair in days.

  “Elena, I haven’t seen you in probably a whole week. I’ve missed you! How have you been?”

  “I’ve been doing good. More importantly, how are you? How’s work?”

  I remember that he just started his new photography job.

  “Insane! I’ve been doing projects all over Italy—catching buses and trains to go from location to location. But I got some awesome photos of the Blue Grotto in Naples and the seaside villages in the Cinque Terre. Right now, I’ve got some fancy party to photograph; I decided to pick up some freelance work. I’d love to show you my photos sometime.”

  “That would be nice.” I lie because I’m terrible at blowing people off. I wouldn’t mind seeing his work to support him as a friend. But that’s it—we can just be friends.

  My phone buzzes again and Leo’s name is displayed on the screen, and both Brian and I notice it.

  “Is he your boyfriend?” Brian asks in a monotone voice with his eyes still glued to my iPhone screen.

  “He is,” I say, locking the phone screen and deciding to come clean about my relationship with Leo. “I wasn’t completely honest with you and for that I’m sorry. Leo and I were dating before the shooting. After I couldn’t handle not knowing any of the memories we had together, and the ones I did learn from friends didn’t sound all that great. I decided to take a break for my own sanity, but we have since reconnected and are back together.”

  “I appreciate you telling me that. A girl like you deserves someone really great in your life, and I hope this guy is that for you,” he says before taking a sip of his energy drink, “and I hope this doesn’t mean we can’t see each other in the halls—especially if you decide to do it in your sleepwear again.”

  I laugh at his corny joke and blush at the memory. We say our goodbyes and I go back into my apartment to check my text from Leo letting me know he’s on his way home. I quickly pack an overnight bag, remembering to include some sexy lingerie. I’ve got a few ideas to repay Leo for that fun scavenger hunt. #BoomChickaWowWow

  13

  “Alright Mateo, I’m all ready to go,” I say, rushing down the steps towards the man who I am so grateful is my bodyguard. But I quickly notice Mateo doesn’t greet me with my usually, “Signorina Scott” and smile. Instead he’s looking down the street with a face deep in thought. I don’t even think he’s realized I’m standing at the car door. I can surely open my own door, but I stand there watching Mateo look off down the road. I walk up to him and touch his arm gently. He breaks his serious face and looks at me with a hesitant smile.

  “Signorina Scott, you look lovely this evening. Signor Forte is already at the house. I think the man has texted me five times asking if we’ve left yet,” he says chuckling as he opens the back door for me to get into the town car. Before Mateo has the chance to put up the divider to offer me privacy I ask, “Mateo, what were you looking at just now? You looked upset.”

  “Elena, I don’t want to concern you over something that could easily be nothing,” he says as he starts the car and we head toward Leo’s home.

  “You don’t have to tiptoe around me. Please tell me if you saw something that alarmed you,” I beg.

  I’m not a little girl, and I’d like to be in on what’s going on in my own life.

  “I thought I saw a man standing on the street just loitering for longer than necessary. He wasn’t with anyone, just looking from his phone to the street over and over. He didn’t go into any buildings—and this street is just homes and apartments. When he noticed I was staring at him, he turned around and briskly walked away.”

  “Did you recognize him?”

  “No, he had a hood up on his sweatshirt. It was one of those sweatshirts with the sleeves cut off—like he was out running and stopped—which is what I originally thought. He kept looking down towards his phone; I couldn’t see his face. I’m sorry.”

  I look at Mateo’s concerned face in the rearview mirror.

  “There’s no need to apologize! He wasn’t doing anything wrong. There’s no reason to approach him or anything. But Mateo, I do want to ask you a question. Do you know anything about Leo’s employee, Giorgio?”

  “Giorgio Piccolo? I don’t know him personally well, but I know he works in the research and marketing department of Forte Enterprises. He did an internship with Leo when he was in college and then Leo hired him after because he admired his work ethic. He’s in his early thirties and works a lot. Why do you ask?”

  “When I was at the office the other day, he rubbed me the wrong way.”

  “He touched you?!” Mateo says with anger in his eyes—I can’t help to laugh at my poor translation.

  “No, no. That’s an American expression for, ‘he gave me the creeps.’ He didn’t actually rub me,” I say.

  I can’t stop laughing now as Mateo’s face turns red.

  “Mi dispiace,” he says, a
pologizing for his adorable mistake. “How did he give you the creeps?” Hearing him say ‘creeps’ in his Italian accent is almost as funny as the rubbing mistake.

  I launch into my story about how Giorgio mentioned that the shooter was a man when we don’t know if that’s true. I also tell Mateo about how I overheard Giorgio blow up on Natalia talking shit about Leo and me. Mateo lets me tell him the whole story without interruption, looking between the roads ahead and at me in the rearview mirror.

  “I’m going to check on this, Elena. Thank you for telling me. Next time, don’t wait a few days, immediately tell me if someone rubs you wrongly.” This time he laughs at the expression as we pull up at Leo’s gorgeous home.

  From the first time I saw this place, I feel in love with it. I love this home much better than his Rome apartment. A huge wrought iron gate opens as we pull into the circular driveway. Everything is draped in purple Wisteria flowers and my eye always catches the water fountain covered in moss in the middle of the driveway.

  I find my Mr. Beautiful sitting at the kitchen table with his laptop and a stack of papers in front of him. He’s typing feverishly and starts addressing someone through a Bluetooth he’s wearing, but when he sees me walk in the room he immediately tells whoever it is on the other end that he’s got to go.

  “Working late, Signor Forte?” I say, taking a seat on top of the kitchen table and pushing his papers aside.

  “I’d like to work on something else now,” he says, moving his chair to sit right between my legs. I’m wearing a pair of tiny jean shorts. He picks up my right leg and slowly starts to plant kisses all the way up towards my thigh. I close my eyes and lean back, enjoying the sensations.

  We hear a cough and Mateo says, “Excuse me. I’m sorry to interrupt but Signor Forte I need a word with you if that’s okay.” I blush knowing Mateo’s caught me spread out on the table but he doesn’t make eye contact, thank God!