Chapter 54: Chapter 54

An hour later I find myself at home, getting ready for work. There’s no one home but me, Chrissy and Conrad must’ve started early. Luca seemed tense the rest of the time insolent with him before they dropped me off on their way to the airport. He had very little to say, most of his attention was pointed at Rosalia with her current state of whining.

“I still don’t see why I can’t stay with Aunt Nessa till you return!” she stared daggers at Luca from the front seat.

“Because you are under my protection while you’re here in New Zealand and since I won’t be here, neither will you.” He pinched the bridge of his nose sighing with distress.

“I’m of flying here, there and everywhere. I just want to stay put for a while.”

And here I thought the kid wanted to spend time with me!

“I can always leave you there with your papa!” He growled.

“Argggghhh!” Rosalia screamed before she turned around facing the front again.

They both started speaking in Italian between themselves which had me thinking I should take up Italian. I'd hate to feel left out, once our son is born and grown, conversing in Italian with his father keeping secrets from me.

Look online and book Italian lessons! I make a mental note in my head.

When I exited the Beast, Luca took me in his arms and held me longer than usual, he kissed me as if he'd never tasted my kisses before. Placing his open mouth over mine, he devoured my hungry lips. When his tongue found mine, he stroked it greedily, sucking on my bottom lip before he stood back and kissed me the forehead; while I tried to keep my jelly-like legs standing.

“I'll see you in a few days, Tesoro.” His voice sounded like he was in pain.

“I'll miss you.” I was on the verge of crying.

Damn hormones!

“I'll always be thinking of you.” He said.

“Please take your medication and let me know if you need anything. Anton will be your driver till I get back.”

I watched as he got back into the Beast, I continued to stare down at the street for a few minutes even though I could no longer see them.

The alarm on my phone snaps me back to reality. I'm tired as hell and I feel bloated to the max. Aunty flow doesn’t have me feeling or popping outta my pants. I considered taking a personal leave day, because a hot bubble bath, filled with scented candles is something I Crave right now along with days worth of sleep. But given all the days off I’ve recently had to take off during my visit to my parents I decided to pull up my big girl socks and battle the day out. The heated weather makes everything a hundred times worse.

I out my phone from my bag, my hand also comes across the ring box. I take it out and have another look at it, taking the ring from its stand, I slide it down my finger and admire how well it fits and how right it feels against my skin. I wish I could say yes to Luca and be one hundred per cent happy with my decision. But I know I won’t and I’ll have major doubts. I take the ring back off and place it back in its box, setting it on my bedside table. If I carry it around with me I’ll only want to slide it on my finger and leave it there.

‘Outta sight, outta mind' I say to it, before walking out my bedroom door.

During a lunch break, I find myself in Sanz office. He has amazing air con and when it's on full blast I don’t find myself wanting to puke my guts out.

“You wanna come hang with Carlos and me for lunch tomorrow at the rugby club?” Sanz asks with his mouth full of food.

I just finished telling him how I nearly blessed the seafood ‘Eight’ restaurant by nearly chucking my insides on their marble floor. He thought it was hilarious and I had to use all the willpower I could consume to avoid throwing my water bottle at his head. Then I told him Luca knew I was pregnant the instant his eyes saw my belly, I fell asleep and woke up at four this morning only wearing one of Lucas tops, how he cooked me breakfast, him having to leave so suddenly and Rosalia giving him a hard time.

“I’d love to. I’m sure you and Carlos will be able to keep me entertained.” I smile at him.

“I'm sure Carlos will be down for a threesome. None of us has boned a pregnant woman before. But, I have heard you’re so.. much tighter down there, sucking on the cock like a greedy little sucking fish.” His face lights up like a kid eating chocolate cake.

“Fuck you!” I crack up laughing at his crudeness.

“That would be the whole point of the threesome Nessa.” He rolls his eyes as if I was a prude.

“Oh, ha-ha-ha. You jerk.”

I lean forward, picking up a poem from his table and fling it at him. He flinches when the pen hits him on the head.

“Bully.” He wipes a fake tear from his eye.

“Perve.” I throw back at him.

“That would be Mr Perve to you.” He smiles brightly, proudly accepting the fact that he’s a perve.

“You want us to pick you up or..”

“I’ll meet you there. Lucas appointed one of his drivers to chaperone me.”

“Look at you... Ms fancy pants.” A smile plays on his face.

“Either I’m lucky or it is just another way for Luca to know my every move.” Annoyance laced my words thickly.

“At least your not alone Nessa, he must care for you deeply even if it is to keep a hawking eye on you. I wouldn’t go through the trouble for someone who didn’t mean nothing to me.” He stares at me with a serious face.

“Maybe... I need to get back to class” I say as I stand.

"Don't get it twisted either, I still despise the prick," Sanz says thickly.

I suddenly feel sad, I still don’t know where I stand with Luca. I suppose I’ll have to wait till he gets back and have a serious talk. Everything he does can always look double-handed, making it difficult to know where you stand with him.

****************

After work, I ask Anton to make a quick stop at the supermarket. I'm wanting a fresh bowl of their chicken noodle soup. Even though it is like a hundred degrees but I’ve gotta find something I'm able to keep down. I tell Anton it won’t be necessary for him to follow me In, I don’t plan on being long.

He agrees to remain in the car and tells me I have fifteen minutes max before he comes in to get me. I get to the deli area and wait to be served. There’s not much of a line but people are starting to crowd the area.

“Hello, Vanessa.” A familiar voice greets me.

I turn to see who it is and Mikal is standing right behind me with a sardonic look on his face.

“What the fuck do you want?” I say through gritted teeth.

“Oh... Nothing much. Just wondering how your pretty young self is doing.” He mumbles low enough only for my ears to hear.

“I was doing fine up until you showed up and ruined my day.” I take a step forward trying to put some distance between us.

I feel him move with me and his hand rests on my hip, he holds me firmly against his front and I scream in my head wishing someone would look my way and see how uncomfortable I am with him. I instantly regret my decision to tell Anton to stay behind and understand why Luca wants me with one of his men at all times.

“I'll be seeing you around princess.” He says in my ear.

“Don’t fucking count on it.” I turn around and face him.

“Soon..” He says and walks away.

Tears sting my eyes.

What the fuck was that about?

I think to myself.

No longer feeling hungry, but intensely creeped out. I quickly leave the supermarket and walk as fast as my feet will take me back to Anton. My eyes continuously darting everywhere trying to seek out Mikal.

Anton jumps out of the driver's seat the minute he sees me approaching.

“Everything okay?” He looks at me with a disturbed look on his face.

“Yes,” I say, willing my trembling body to ease.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

His eyes stare out towards the carpark scanning everyone walking close to us.

“Can we leave,  Please?” The pit of my stomach starts to sink further.

“What about your soup?” He looks at my empty hands.

“I’ve suddenly lost my appetite “

“Luca won’t be happy once he finds out.” He sighs.

“Then don’t tell him.” I run my hand through my sweat cladded hair.

“He's my boss. I. Have. To. Tell. Him.” He looks at me as if I’ve just asked him to commit a crime.

“I won’t tell if you don’t.” I plea.

Anton doesn’t answer. Instead, he opens the door for me and waits till I get in before he closes it and takes me home.