Chapter 5
Giancarlo
The beeping sound of my alarm rang through my ears, drawing me out of sleep. I stretched, my muscles pleasantly sore from the best night’s rest I’d had in weeks.
A laugh slipped out before I could stop it, soft and warm. I couldn't explain it, not in words that made sense, but I felt good. Light, even. The kind of good that clings to your skin and makes you grin like a fool for no damn reason.
Or maybe it's the thought of Clarissa…
I rubbed my hand on my face and let out a breath before stumbling out of bed. By now, it was clear that it was the thoughts of Clarissa that brought a smile to my face.
She's just weird in all the perfect ways.
As I got dressed for work, the thought of how my day would play out went through my head. I'll drive out of my compound with paparazzi hoarding me, drive to the company and still try to bypass another hoard of paparazzi. I'll get into the company and my assistant will ask me what she could do about the string of news that is flying around and I have a very nasty feeling I'll have my grandfather to deal with later.
“It's going to be a really wonderful day.” I whisper to myself, adjusting the tie around my neck.
“What are you doing, Clarissa?” I asked as I walked into the dining area to see her setting the table. She was in a pyjamas that had teddy bear prints on it and I couldn't help but notice how effortlessly beautiful she looked. Though where she got the pyjamas, that I don't know.
“Setting the table. Good morning.” she replied, turning to give me a brief look.
“I can see that. Why?”
“Don't you eat breakfast in this house? Have I overstepped? I'm sorry, I should've asked you first, I didn't know…”
She was rambling again and uncertainty was swimming in her blue green eyes. I had to stop her.
“It's alright Clarissa. I'm just surprised to see you up early.”
It was the truth, I was surprised. The Women I've brought to my house has never one day woken up before me to prepare breakfast, not even…..
“Ohh– I'm quite an early bird.”
We sat down to breakfast albeit stealing glances at each other.
“I've got a question to ask, out of pure curiosity.” Clarissa began, stealing my attention from the pancakes.
“Go ahead, I'm all ears.”
“Why do you like to remain hidden? I mean, most of your workers don't even know what you look like.”
A smile spread on my lips as I took a sip from the cup of hot chocolate before giving her a response.
“I love the privacy and mystery that comes with being anonymous. If I wasn't anonymous, I wouldn't have found out your ex fiancé was using his office as a hotel room…… no offence.”
I quickly added the last part, seeing her crestfallen face at the mention of her ex. Something that made my jaw tightened as I forced down the anger that was rising in my chest.
“None taken. You saying the truth doesn't change the fact that he's an asshole. God! I was such a fool.”
“No, Clarissa, you weren't. He's the fool for trampling over a woman like yourself.”
“Claire…” she said, trying to hide the smile on her face. I raised my eyebrows in question and confusion.
“Call me Claire. You calling me Clarissa makes it sound too….. formal.”
I smiled but said nothing and just went back to my food. She probably knew, but she looks so cute when she blushes.
“You might want to remain here for the meantime until the chaos of our engagement goes down.”
Red colour crawled up her face as she opened her mouth to speak.
“But I have to go home. I don't have any change of clothes and I can't give you discomfort in your house. I shouldn't have been impulsive on giving you that engagement ring.”
“It's the only option. You go out and you'd get hoarded by paparazzi. Moreover, I'm not complaining about you being here. And if you need a change of clothes, just check my closet. You know my room right?”
She was too stunned by my response to speak , so I just walked out of the house, chuckling to myself.
Just like I predicted, flashes of camera lights pierced the tinted glasses of my window as I drove out of the compound, making me nutter to myself.
“I wonder if these people never get tired of poking their noses into other people's business.”
Using the back entrance, I was able to escape the next hoarde of paparazzi that camped at the gates of the company. I was thankful to my grandfather for making space for an entrance like that.
“Good morning, Mr Caruso..”
“Good morning, Sydney. Before you ramble off what you're about to say, allow me to settle in first.” I quickly cut her off.
Pulling her lips into her mouth, she kept quiet, following me quietly to my office. She watched me take off my jacket, drop my suitcase and power my computer.
“Speak.” I commanded after taking a deep breath.
“Sir, I just wanted to be clear on your orders on how to take care of this one. Should we make them delete their posts? File a lawsuit for publishing lies? Or deny their claims?”
“Filing a lawsuit would cost too much. There are dozens of media houses on it and not just one. And who said they were publishing lies?”
She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
“Is it affecting our stocks?”
“Yes sir, though in a positive manner. Our stocks are up by 5%, it seems people were really looking forward to you getting married, sir.”
I nodded my head, the side of my lips tipping into a smile.
“Ignore it then, it'll…”
The door opened and the air in the room shifted. I didn't need to look to know who it was and to know the fact I might be in for hell.
