Throwing open the curtains I first saw a black limo parked in front of the house. It didn’t fully click for me right away as I wondered why someone would be renting a limo when it certainly wasn’t prom season.
I tilted my body slightly in one direction to try to see who the driver was. Instead, and to my shock, I saw Blake standing by the limo door. He wore a familiar dark colored suit and his hair had been slicked back. In his left hand he carried a large bouquet of roses.
I heard him shout something to me but I couldn’t make out what it was.
Reaching up I opened the window and leaned my upper half out of it. “What did you say? I couldn’t hear you.”
Blake grinned, “I said that I’ve come to court you and hopefully sweep you off your feet! I love you Amanda and I want to be with you! Tell me you feel the same way!”
I could’ve hesitated.
I could have lied.
I could have done anything but the words that came out of my mouth surprised even me.
“I love you too!”
Blake grinned more, “Then run away with me Amanda Granger! Run away with me and we’ll be happy forever! I promise that we will!”
“Yes, of course I will!” I promised.
“Then pack a bag and run away with me tonight! We’ll tell the family that you’re fine and will be away for a few days.”
“Will you wait here?”
“Of course! I’ll wait for as long as it takes!”
Grinning from ear to ear I found myself slamming the window shut and running as quickly as an Olympic sprinter to my bedroom.
I threw a bunch of my nicest clothes into a suit case. I don’t even think I bothered folding them as I was in such a glorious rush. At least I was able to close the suit case.
Before hurrying out I changed into some of my nicer clothes for Blake. I didn’t want him to be seen with me wearing frumpy clothes. If I was to be with Blake it was time I dressed nicely.
Despite wearing a nice pair of flats I kept a pair of practical shoes with me just in case I needed them for something.
True to his word Blake and the limo were still waiting for me when I came outside and locked the door behind me.
“You waited for me,” I said with a smile.
“I told you I would!” Blake replied. He pulled me into his arms and gave me a quick kiss. “Are you ready for a new adventure with me? I have a surprise inside the limo.”
I didn’t know what to expect inside the limo but I was excited for the possibilities. Once I got inside I felt myself gasping out loud. Around us were carefully organized bouquets of beautiful roses as well as a large envelope.
“What’s this?” I asked when I picked up the envelope.
“Open it,” Blake said. “Open it and we’ll travel to that place together.”
I did so and soon learned we would be visiting Italy for a romantic trip together.
With Blake at my side and a trip to Italy I was giddy with excitement and love.
I liked this feeling and hoped we would be together and very happy together. When I told Blake this he simply said three words.
“We will be.”
Part Two
When Blake announced our trip to Italy I was more than a little excited. Italy! The place of so much heritage and the Roman Empire! Imagine walking through the streets of Pompeii! The museums! Imagine walking through those! I had to admit I was a little more than excited for this trip. We could go anywhere in the world and visit there for as long as we wanted. The possibilities were endless and the world was practically our oyster.
Blake chuckled a bit at my reaction. “Excited?” He asked as he got settled.
“Are you serious?” I joked making him laugh again and shrug.
“There is a lot to Italy.”
Italy! I felt another jolt of excitement at the possibility of going there.
I began to gush lightly, “Imagine the history! Think about going down those streets and how many old buildings there are! Before, when I was your personal assistant we did nothing but business things. There was never any time to explore and go have fun.”
“That is true,” he admitted. “I haven’t seen Italy for the fun of it in a long time. It’s always been business related stuff.”
“This time it’ll be different,” I said and smiled.
Blake and I could go exploring and not have to worry about business. As soon as I thought that I had begun to wonder what about other people? Blake was a billionaire and he was sure to be recognized somewhere. There were also people who might not approve because of our skin colors.
If Blake was worried or had thought of that he gave no sign. During my time with working for him I had learned Blake did sometimes like to jump into things feet first and worry about everything else second. It was something I both liked and disliked about him. Some countries and places would not be so accepting of an interracial couple or of us just for our skin color.
I felt the limo slowly stop. For a minute I thought we were at the airport until it began to move again. It was a good thing I had paused otherwise I could’ve ended up outside the limo and tumbled out onto the street. That would have made for a rather embarrassing and potentially dangerous situation.
“We still have a little ways to go yet,” Blake’s voice said. “I asked the limo driver to take a different route. It takes a little longer but that way we can avoid disrupting the school buses and kids when they get out of school.”
“Handsome and considerate,” I flirted as I looped my arm around his.
Blake smirked and blushed. I had to smile as it was the first time I had ever seen him blush before. In a way it did make him seem more human and like the rest of us. I don’t know why I had thought “like the rest of us.” I suppose it was some sort of reaction to not being familiar with having a rich boyfriend yet.
I had never imagined this, I really hadn’t. Like my sister I thought I would marry a nice middle class fellow and live a simple life out in the suburbs like everybody else.
Instead now I was with a billionaire and I hadn’t yet told my family.
“My family!” I suddenly exclaimed.
“Pardon?” Blake asked.
“I haven’t told them where I’m going!”
“Call them if you think they’ll worry.”
“I really should so they don’t call my home and worry about where I’ve gone off to.”
I saw Blake tilt away from me as he began to rummage through his pocket.
“Where did I put it?” He mumbled to himself. “Ah-ha!”
He removed his hand and pulled out an expensive looking phone. It was about the size of a smart phone but somehow looked more expensive. Perhaps because it was because he owned it.
“How do you use it?” I asked. I was honestly afraid of breaking it! This thing must have had a bigger security code than the president himself! What if I did something that deleted all of Blake’s important files?
“Like any other smart phone,” Blake replied. “You can’t delete anything as I don’t keep my valuable information on it.”
“You don’t?” I asked.
“It would be too easy for someone to steal important information if I were to lose it or if it were to be stolen.”
I nodded, that was an excellent point I hadn’t quite thought of. Which, of course, raised the question of where did he keep all of his valuable items on? I suppose I shouldn’t have been entirely asking those questions.
“Slide to unlock it?” I asked.
“Yep.”
I did so and called up my Auntie as she was the closest family member I still had. When she answered I said the first words I could think of. “Auntie, I’m going to Italy.”
“On a business trip?” Auntie asked. She was about to ask where Blake was hauling me off to this time but I interrupted her.
“No, it’s a personal trip.”
“Really? Can you afford that on your salary?”
“Mr.—Blake and I are going t
ogether.”
She paused and I could practically hear the gears grinding in her head as she was trying to decipher what I was saying. I didn’t come right out and tell her Blake and I were an item but somehow I think she knew. Either way I wasn’t going to mention it right away to her. While I didn’t think she’d completely disapprove I wasn’t sure how much she would approve either. All my boyfriends in the past had been black men. How would she react to a white man in the family? As much as all of us humans like to ignore it there were times racism was alive and well.
I could hear her say something about having to go and to call her when I got to Italy safe and sound.
“Here you are,” I said and handed Blake back his phone.
Reaching out Blake took the phone and then squeezed my hand. “You don’t sound too happy.”
“I’m a bit worried about how the family will feel about you…”
“Because of whom I am or the color of my skin?”
“Most likely because of the color of your skin.”
Blake paused as if carefully choosing his words, “I will do my best to leave a positive impression on them. Now, this time is for us so let’s stop worrying!”
“Right, no more worrying,” I agreed.
Smiling Blake bent in and quickly kissed me, “I think you’ll really enjoy seeing Italy.”
“Where will we be going first?”
“Where would you like to go?”
I grinned at him, “Do you really want me naming all those places I would like to see? How long is our trip?”
“I was thinking we could see Italy.”
Reaching out I grabbed Blake’s arm, “I like the way you think!”
“And I you.”
Gradually the limo pulled up into its parking space and we were free to go outside. It was nice being able to stand again as it meant we were one step closer to going to Italy.
Looking up I could see the gigantic airline building. I could hear the rumble and shriek of the planes taking off and still others landing. I couldn’t help but wonder if the people who worked here long enough had ringing ears at the end of each shift? Imagine being around all that noise all of the time.
Blake was busy helping unload the limo and thanked the driver before gently taking me by the arm and saying that we needed to get inside so we didn’t miss our flight.
Feeling giddy with excitement I followed Blake inside and off to our new adventure.
Being inside the airport was something out of a documentary. People were walking and hurrying everywhere and could’ve easily have gotten lost.
Blake, however, seemed to know exactly where he was going and held my hand as he led me along a path.
We had to go through the usual stuff such as going through the metal detector and removing our shoes. It was times like this that you hoped no one was wearing week old socks. On the other hand, if they were we would probably get through the line a whole lot faster!
It’s funny what you think about when in new places and positions. Before working for Blake I had never been out of the country before but now I was going to Italy on a trip! And a romantic trip at that! I never thought I’d see it but I wasn’t about to complain.
For once riding first class on a plane without having a job to do was a nice thing. I had gotten so caught up in having to do work I had forgotten what it was like to just be able to sit and enjoy the scenery.
Nearby an elderly couple sat together holding hands. Upon spotting them Blake nudged me and said “That could be us one day.”
I couldn’t help but smile at him, “Perhaps one day.”
He grinned at me and nodded.
Above us a voice crackled over the speaker system announcing the usual protocol that went into flying. I had heard it so much I jokingly thought I could repeat all the words in my head and not miss a single one. Still, the guidelines had to be listened to.
There were a few about the trip to Italy but most of it I felt myself drowning out as I was already fairly familiar with what they were saying.
Blake only appeared to be half listening to what the voice was saying anyway. I imagine he was more used to it than even I was!
When the voice was done speaking part of me was grateful for that. My gratitude, however, was short lived as a movie began to play. It was for the latest “it” movie that followed the latest “it” guidelines and so on. I wanted something with substance! Not just the latest “it” movie! It was too bad electronics had to be turned off otherwise Blake and I could be watching some sort of movie on a tablet.
I really hated feeling the mental complaints in my head as I knew I shouldn’t have them. What was wrong with me? I should be happy instead of thinking these types of thoughts. I supposed I wasn’t used to it and felt stuck too much in the past and what would other people think?
There was only one way out of that thinking.
I had to think positive and that was it.
Blake wasn’t confessing to where he was taking me despite my joking prodding. Due to our working together I had already seen a few of the sights including the Leaning Tower of Pisa. You certainly do stand out as a tourist when you’re looking up at it with your mouth hanging wide open. I don’t regret it, though.
When we landed in Italy Blake immediately took me to the place we would be staying. It was not a fancy hotel like I had expected but rather a quaint little bed and breakfast.
At first I had wondered about our translator but Blake knew enough Italian to get us to him. I had taken Spanish in high school and could speak enough to get by and carry on a simple conversation.
“I think our translator has turned in for the night. I should really see about looking into one of those learn a language programs and starting that,” Blake admitted.
“Oh, so there’s something my handsome boyfriend can’t do,” I joked.
Blake laughed, “Yes, I must admit it is my one weakness. I never did learn to be fluent in any one language other than English. I was always being taken from place to place I never did have a chance to really learn the native language. At least I know the major phrases used here and there.”
The little bed and breakfast home was painted a dark salmon color. Around it were other brightly colored homes, villas, and a large lake.
“Where are we?” I asked as a boat quietly sailed by. It was not a motor boat but rather one of those boats with a large white canvas sail. You sure didn’t see too many of those around these days.
“Lake Como.”
Through doing research from what I could pick out from photographs and bits of Italian I could translate Lake Como was part of the Italian Lake District which is an area that is popular with visitors. It’s also known for its fresh air, water, mountains, and good weather.
There were many small gardens around that benefited from the mild climate. Most of the plants and plant life were temperate plants but there were the occasional tropical ones that burst forth in bright colors. I did feel it was a pity that not all plants like these bloomed back home. Imagine what a garden that would be!
Many of the villas had been around since the Roman times, something I found really rather fascinating. Imagine buildings lasting for so long! At the same time I imagine we shouldn’t be so surprised as the arch and other important features in Rome and Italy still remained.
Blake’s translator seemed like a nice enough person though he didn’t speak too often. When he did speak in English it was done with a thick Italian accent. I knew that many Europeans were taught English as well as sometimes other languages to be able to communicate. In a way I wish this was demanded for us in America so we could better learn to communicate with others. Think about how much smaller the world would be if we all knew one other language.
With the help of Blake’s translator we were told that the lake is shaped like that of an inverted “Y”. Two branches started Como in the South-West Lecco and in the South-East. They joined up together half way and the lake continued all the way up to Colico in
the North.
If I had known where we would be staying I would have brought a camera to take photos. Blake, however, had my back and thought of everything. I took multiple photos of the mountains, the lake, and anything else that looked interesting. I didn’t want to forget it and I suppose some part of me wanted to turn it into a scrap book when I got back home. While I wasn’t entirely into scrap booking I knew people who were.
“Having fun?” Blake joked as I snapped a photo of a little motor boat.
“With you I’m always having fun,” I replied.
Next up was one of the biggest tourist attractions in Italy and with good reason! Pompeii was a huge area that held a lot of fascination for me and others. I had grown up hearing the documentaries on the twenty-fourth day of August in 79 AD. At first I didn’t know if Blake was humoring me because he knew I wanted to see Pompeii. Any fears I had were washed away when he seemed to be enjoying himself.
Blake slid his arm around my shoulders when we came across the plaster casts of bodies that were now locked behind glass.
“Imagine how it would’ve been,” Blake said quietly. “It really makes you think about just how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken away by disasters either man made or natural.”
My mind went back to when I was a child and the TV station was airing their documentary. It was obviously the camera man who was running down the street with sounds of voices and screams playing in the background but it felt so real to me at that young age. I kept on thinking that the people needed to get away. The morbid part of me had wondered how they died. I suppose all children did when it came to something they didn’t fully understand.
At the same time Blake was right about life and how easily it could be taken away.
Yet, learning about Pompeii was quite the gift. What happened with Mount Vesuvius gave us tremendous insight into the life of people living two thousand years ago. As much as we did learn about them there was still even more to learn.
Human life and how much we knew and didn’t know about it was fascinating. Pompeii had so much history to it! It was only one part of Italy that had even more history to it.
The Alpha Billionaire's Unexpected Baby: A Billionaire BWWM Pregnancy Romance Page 37
