He's brutal

Chapter Four

Fabiola’s POV

Despite the loud music, the many celebrities, the beautiful women strutting around, and the fact that my old colleagues from the club were gazing at me, all I could feel was his stare. I felt like the ground should open up and swallow me.

At some point, it was like a blanket over my shoulder. There was no way I was going to avoid it. No matter how long I stayed, so long as I turned around, I would find Alessandro’s eyes on me. As if that was not enough, his staring was so obvious that the others would stare in my direction.

He stared more when I had to talk to unknown people; he would nod in my direction, and these gossip mongers in the guise of my old friends and colleagues would hang around to hear more gossip.

To my surprise, I found out Alessandro Armani was the 10th richest man in the country and one of the youngest. I guess that was why I was being glared at by some ladies at the other end of the party.

I took in a deep breath and a sip of my drink. There again with the stares, and the back of my neck burned. My heart rate had refused to return to normal. The way he stared at me, slow and lazy, heavy enough to make me tug at a stray thread on my dress like a nervous schoolgirl. My cheeks reddened, and I dropped my gaze to the floor, pretending to smooth my dress.

Walking arm in arm into the club with Alessandro was not just a normal thing. It was a statement, especially if it was at the club I had been fired from. Gosh! I wanted to die.

So after Alessandro’s men picked me up, I signed a contract with a condition: Alessandro and I would never share a bed. I was ready to stand on that. And I was surprised that Alessandro agreed.

I mean, I still have my integrity, right? Well, that didn’t matter now. There was no going back now.

After the signing was done, I was shown to my room, and I was shown gowns to pick from by the maids.

Upon asking why, Alessandro walked in and announced that he had acquired the club I worked at and that he was going to open it today. When I tried to make excuses not to go, he gave me a thousand and one reasons why I was in his house in the first place. Like a person being strapped to a chair, I had no other option but to go.

As I made it downstairs in the dress he had picked for me, he stared at me and stopped mid-sentence. He ran his gaze over me slowly and deliberately. I stood stiff like a mannequin. Even though I was covered in layers of clothing, I felt like I was just in my underwear. I quickly moved away, my face the exact color of a fire truck. The way he looked at me made shivers run down my spine, reminding me of old times. Though his eyes were colder now, I could still see the Alessandro I knew.

I gulped down the rest of my champagne and began to feel hot. I looked around for the nearest exit, but I couldn’t find one. Part of the club had been renovated, hence the new structures I was seeing. I beckoned to one of my colleagues and was shown the little garden-like balcony.

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All it took from my mother was a phone call, and I became a mess. Sienna had a heart attack. God! It felt like I was dying but still breathing.

My heart threatened to leave my body. I immediately turned around to leave, but recalled that I had come with Alessandro. I couldn’t just leave. I worked my way back into the party and was stunned to find no Alessandro. Where was he? My eyes scanned the room, and almost immediately, I found him; he was with another woman.

It felt like a smack in my face. Stupid of me to think we were going to be the new couple. I stood there like a fool, watching her spin under the light. I noticed his hand on her waist, and she threw her head back in laughter, and he laughed as well.

I was tempted to say he was happy. My chest ached like someone was squeezing air out of me. He wouldn’t listen to my side of the story, nor my apology; all he wanted was to get even with me. At some point, I caught a smirk from the woman he was dancing with. God! All my life, I have never felt so miserable.

Wait a minute, was that…was that jealousy? I shook my head vehemently. Alessandro and I were in the past; there was no going back. But then why was there an ache in my heart? I dragged myself to the balcony to revel in my pathetic life. I got a call from Mum saying that Sienna was in a stable condition. It was after that that I requested a stronger drink to drown my sorrow.

It didn’t take long before I began to see in twos and threes. Then the last thing I heard was a deep voice saying, “God, Fabiola!” and then I blacked out.

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My eyes fluttered open and closed. Where was I? I jolted up and gasped. What did I just see? I stayed still, waiting for my eyes to focus and my brain to boot up completely. I rubbed my eyes; though they were blurry, I could see pictures of Alessandro everywhere. Oh my God! I clutched a hand to my mouth. Did we…? I raised the sheets and screamed some more. My clothes and underwear were missing. Immediately, I turned and was in for more shock: Alessandro was lying shirtless beside me.

My eyes widened, and my heart thundered. What the hell happened? My brain begged for answers, but unfortunately, I couldn’t provide any.

Quickly, I grabbed the sheets and wrapped them around me, ready to elope, then I heard a voice.

“Running away again, Fabiola?” he murmured without opening his eyes.