"WOW! Really? Because the last time I checked I am a free woman and I can do whatever I want. So you have no right to tell me who I can dance with or not, or have the right to beat up any guy I am with." I yell "I DON'T CARE! You. Are. Mine! So When I Say No Guy Will Touch You, I Mean No Guy Will Touch You. Because You Are Mine!" he yells back at me _________________________________________________________ Katherine Luciano is a beautiful lady, living with her single mom. She did not know her life would take a different turn the day she goes for a job interview. She meets the one person she wishes she never sees again in her life. The one person who made her high school the worst time of her life, Lorenzo Costanzo. A well-known person in society. He has the looks, the fame, the money, and everything with a lot of mysterious secrets. Does she fall prey to his wrath once again, or change the heart of a cold man?
View MoreI am waiting in a room full of potential applicants—a few who look like strippers—all with the hope of getting the job. I wonder why they come dressed half naked. Is seduction the only way they think they can get the job? Why do some women think so little of themselves? I pray the boss is not like all those bosses who are looking for a personal assistant who helps in other areas like his bedroom, if you know what I mean. A few others dressed more professional than me look like they have been in this profession far longer than I have. It’s making me feel unqualified with my MBA right now.
I was eager to get this job because the money would help my mama and I. Being a single mother is never easy, but she pulled it off. She brought me up in the best way possible. I never really got to know who my father is or where he is from because every time I ask mama about my father, she tells me that he was a one-night stand. And while I believed there was more to the story, I knew better than pushing her to tell me. I am not forcing the issue, and I know she is silently grateful for that.
I am brought back to earth when the secretary calls my name. She is a blond with big grey eyes and a pretty smile. I walk up to her table.
“Hi, I am Joan, you must be Katherine. Walk to the door on the left. He is waiting for you.”
“Alright, thank you,” I say, walking to the door while saying a silent prayer before knocking.
“Come in.” I hear a husky voice say.
I walk into a beautiful office. The walls are painted black with golden lines all around it, with mahogany brown in some places. On my left is a wall adorned with white glass, a tile thing I think, with a beautiful golden line pattern on it. There are two black armchairs and a two-seater couch with a brown wooden coffee table in the middle. The windows have two green plants in front of it. The desk area has this long book shelf behind it. There are two black chairs in front of the brown wooden desk. The person behind the desk has his nose buried in some documents, so he has not seen me yet.
“Come and have a seat,” the man says. His voice sounds very familiar, but I hope it’s my mind playing a trick on me.
“Thank You, Sir.”
“Let’s begin,” he says finally lifting his head. Once he does it’s like all the blood leaves my body, making me freeze on the spot. I can’t believe it’s him. The one person who I thought, or rather prayed, I would never see again. He made my life a living hell in high school. My sworn enemy, Lorenzo Costanzo.
He has changed. He was handsome before, but he is even more attractive now with his grey shirt unable to hide a fantastic chest... I stare into his beautiful green eyes forgetting why I am here.
“When you are done staring, I would like for us to begin,” he says acting like he does not know who I am.
“What is your name?” he says.
Is he really asking me that question? I can’t believe he is acting like he does not know me. Maybe he is asking to be sure.
“My name is Katherine Luciano,” I say, and I genuinely wish he does not remember who I am after what he did to me in high school.
“What school did you go to?”
“I attended NYU.”
“I am talking about your high school.”
“I attended Stuyvesant high school,” I say giving up all hope of him not figuring out who I am.
“Hm, interesting.”
“Can I ask something, sir?”
“Sure, why not.”
“I find it weird that you care only about my high school information. Please, why is that?”
“Did you really think I would forget you, Bella?” He says with a smirk on his lips.
Oh no! He remembers me. He just called me by the name he always used in high school. I am totally not getting this job.
"Then why did you act like you did not know me a minute ago," I say.
"Because I felt like it," he says, still acting like the same jerk he always was.
I don't say anything but give him a look that says ‘seriously?’ I can't believe that deep down I wish he had changed. He stands up and walks towards the windows giving me a view of his gorgeous ripped abs underneath his shirt. He turns his back on me showing off his amazingly broad shoulders. But even with such a fantastic body and a handsome face he still has the heart of a devil. What a shame!
"I want you here Monday morning, don't be late."
"Are you saying I have the job?" I ask.
"Do I have to be more explicit for you to understand?"he asks.
"No, you don't."
"Good! See you on Monday morning with my coffee; black, no sugar."
"Alright sir, but I have to say, we did not even have a real interview. Not that I am complaining or anything."
"Bella, I have known you for almost half of our lives. I know you won't be a threat to me, and from your resumé I knew you were good for the job even before you walked in."
“Oh! Alright then, thank you.” I say, happy I got the job but also feeling worried deep down. Did I get the job because I am qualified, and he knows me? Or is there another reason? I will have to wait and see.
"See you on Monday," I say walking out of his office.
"Don't be late!"
While walking out of the building, I call mama to give her the good news, but she does not pick up. I am guessing she is in a meeting. She sends a message a few minutes later saying I should meet her for lunch in an hour.
I grab a taxi and take it home to freshen up, to meet up with her in an hour.
I get home, shower and change into something more casual. I am wearing a black cami, a NYC tank top, pink and black striped high-waisted pants and a pair of patent leather pumps. I order an Uber to the restaurant we are meeting at.
I arrive and walk in, already knowing where she will be sitting since this is her favourite restaurant.
"Hi, Mama," I say sitting down.
“Hi, baby girl, how was the job interview?”
“It was quite strange, but I got the job.”
“I am happy for you, and what do you mean by strange?”
“I will explain after eating, I am quite hungry.”
About halfway through the meal I tell her how the interview went.
“Mama, you won’t believe who my boss is. It's none other than the mighty devil himself, Lorenzo Costanzo.”
“How many times have I told you to stop calling him that?”
“But that’s what he is.”
“No, he is just a confused man who does not know how to express his feelings.”
“I am pretty sure he has expressed them well by showing how much he hates me.”
“He does not hate you.”
“He does mama, and do you know the funny thing is we were not even classmates. He was my senior in high school. I don’t even understand how he noticed me or had time to bully me when there were other girls in school, and prettier ones in his class, who would die for the attention he gave me.”
“He noticed you because he likes you.”
“How do you know that, mama?”
“I just feel it.”
“Okay, whatever you say. But I still doubt he does, and mama, do you know he acted like he did not know me at first.”
“What do you mean?”
I explain to her about what happened in the office and how much of a jerk he was, but she feels maybe he just wanted to be sure.
Mama left shortly after we finished talking and eating as she got a call from her office.
After lunch I decide to go shopping, because last time I checked my closet it does not have clothes fit for a personal assistant. I also have a lot of time to spare before going home so I take a taxi and go to the mall.
I visit about ten different stores or more, looking for the best outfits that say ‘sophisticated’. I won’t lie, it was hard but worth it. I am visiting the last store for the day when a strange number appears on my phone screen. I answer, wondering if maybe it is Enzo wanting to remind me of something.
I answer and hear the worst news anyone could receive about their mother. The person on the phone says mama was rushed to the hospital while on her way home from the office. She said she fainted, and they tried waking her up but to no avail, so they rushed her to the hospital. I ask the person to send the address of the hospital so I can be on my way.
I take a taxi and ask the driver to drive as fast as he can without killing us. To say I am scared would be an understatement! I am terrified because mama is one of those people who is always healthy and hardly ever gets sick, so to hear she fainted and is in the hospital makes me very scared.
I arrive at the hospital and quickly go up to the front desk to find out how mama is doing.
"Where is my mother?" I say to the nurse at the front desk.
"What is her name?" a lady wearing a nurse’s uniform asks.
"Christine Luciano," I say.
“Your mother is on the second floor. Take the elevator to the second floor. Once you get there, walk straight down the hall. The first door to your left is where you will find her."
“Thank you,”I say taking the elevator to the second floor.
I follow her directions and find the room with no difficulty.
I walk inside and see mama using an oxygen mask to breathe. Oh, my God! What is happening?
I walk towards mama’s side and notice she is awake. Thank God!
“Mama, what is wrong?”
"Don't cry, my baby girl. Everything is going to be fine. I am going to be okay, you should not be worried.” she says taking off the mask to speak to me.
“How won’t I cry mama, when I see you like this,” I say, holding her hands in mine.
“Don’t worry, everything is going to be fine” she says giving my hand a warm squeeze.
A doctor walks in later and asks me to see him in his office about mama’s condition. I follow him to his office praying there’s nothing too seriously wrong with mama. He asks me to take a seat, but I insist on standing. The way I am feeling right now, all I want to do is to hear what he has to say and be by mama’s side. But he insists, so I sit down with trembling hands.
“Your mother has breast cancer, but we can...” he says, but I don’t let him finish talking before I cut him off.
“No-No, this can’t be happening!” I cry before I breakdown in tears.
“Miss Luciano, I need you to be strong. Everything is going to be fine,” he says while he tries to comfort me.
“Your mother needs all the support she can get, so you need to be strong.”
“You are right. I need to be strong for mama,” I say wiping the tears that have fallen and trying to keep the others at bay.
“So, what can we do?” I ask trying to sound strong.
“That’s more like it,” he says smiling reassuringly.
“Your mother is at the first stage of cancer, luckily we detected it in time. She will need surgery, but everything should be fine.”
“How much does it cost?” I ask the one question I have been scared to ask since I found out mama has cancer. Mama and I do not have much money, but you could not call us poor, because we have three meals a day and live a comfortable life.
“$20,000,” he says, and I think to myself, ‘where am I going to get that kind of money?’
“Doctor, I don’t have that kind of money now but I promise you I will get the money within due time. Please don’t stop the treatment for my mother.” I say praying Enzo pays well so I will be able to pay for mama’s treatment and surgery.
“The only thing I can do for her now before you get the money is to put her on drugs until we have to do the surgery.”
“Thank you so much doctor, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I will go and see my mother now.”
“Alright, see you next time Miss Luciano.”
I walk back to mama’s room to find her sleeping. I sit down on the chair beside her bed. I can’t imagine my life without mama—she is the only family I have. I hope Enzo pays well so I can pay the hospital bills as soon as possible. I spend the weekend with mama at the hospital. On Monday she will be discharged, so after work I will be coming back to get her.
10 YEARS LATER It’s been ten years since the war. Apparently, Carlos was making sense the day we were fighting. He is not related to my father in anyway, for which I am grateful. He is the son of my paternal grandfather’s enemy. My paternal grandfather killed Carlos’ father and carried Carlos away when he was a baby. He raised him but never told him about his true identity, but it seems he found out. He became angry and decided to finish what his father started according to him, but we all know where he ended. Enzo and I have never been happier in our lives. We have four beautiful children. Stefano, Thomas, Aurora, and Melissa. Enzo loves his children more than anything in the world. Enzo and I moved to Italy after his father retired. Life in Italy is beautiful. Our children are the best thing that ever happened to us. Stefano is nine years old; he is a replica of his father but has the character of both his parents. He is tall, has green eye
I amstanding outside Papa’s hospital room, praying and hoping for him to get better. “Mama is papa going to be okay?” I ask with tears running down my face. “Yes, honey, all we have to do is pray and hope for the best. Baby girl you don’t have to cry anymore, papa is going to be fine,” Mama says, picking me up off the ground and placing me on her hip while hugging me close to her. “Why is mio angioletto (my little angel) crying?” My uncle Carlos says. “Uncle Carlos!” I say quickly getting down from mama’s hip. “Uncle Carlos, why is daddy not waking up?” I say hugging him tightly. “Don’t worry little one, everything is going to be fine.” “Camilla, what happened?” “We were celebrating Val’s fifth birthday party when gunshots were fired from nowhere. They were aiming for Val, but Marcus got in the way and save
The next morning I wake up at half past noon. I am not surprised, I was exhausted. I walk out of our bedroom to find Enzo. I see him in the study.“How was your night, amore,” I say stepping into the study.“It was good, mi amore, and I am guessing yours was as well, looking at the time you are waking up,” Enzo says kissing my forehead.“You are right. I wanted to tell you that I will be going out with Joan to show her around Sicily,” I say smiling while I sit down.“Okay, just keep me updated if anything happens.”“I will, amore.”“I will be going to Spain with William.”“Alright, be safe and keep me updated too on how things go over there,” I say, standing up from the chair to take my leave.“I will,Bella”“Have you had breakfast?” I say before stepping out the door.“No,” Enzo s
“I missed you all, did you guys miss me? By the look on your faces I guess not.” Carlos says with a fake smile on his face.“What are you doing here?” I say with venom dripping from my voice.“Hello, my beautiful niece, did you miss your favourite uncle?” he says, stepping forward, but before he can reach me Enzo steps in front of me.“Don’t even think about taking another step closer to her.” Enzo says with pure hatred in his voice. I step beside him to calm him down before he blows Carlos’s head off.“Whoa! I mean no harm.” he says like he actually means it.“Keep telling that to yourself, we both know that’s a lie,” I say while glaring at him.“What are you even doing here? Because, I don’t remember inviting you.”Enzo says.“I don’t need an invitation; I am family after all.”“You are not family
It’s Friday, one more day to the ball I have been planning for a week. Everything is ready for the ball. The only thing missing is the dress I am going to wear, and that’s why the girls and I are going shopping later this afternoon. I finish with all the last minute arrangements at the hall before I take my car to meet the girls at the mall. I am meeting up with Sofia, Joan and Victoria. It feels so good to have a car now; it makes moving around so much easier.I arrive at the mall and walk to the store where Sofia said they are at. I say hi to the girls before taking a seat to rest a little before I start the search for the perfect dress.I have been to five different stores, and so far I have not found ‘The one’ like Victoria likes to say. We enter a new shop; I see the dress I have been looking the whole time. I ask the shop attendant to get me the dress to try it on. I try it on, and it fits perfectly. After trying on the dr
The next morning I get up early. I shower and walk downstairs for breakfast. I am dressed in a grey coast scoop dress. I am carrying a white leather tote bag. I am wearing a pair of blackmail bomb heels, with aviator sunglasses. I remove my heels and wear my sandals since I am walking to Enzo’s parent’s place, which is just four blocks away from mine.I arrive at Enzo’s house and I put my heels back on before ringing the doorbell. The maid opens the door and asks me who I am before letting me in. I tell her my name, and she lets me in. She says Enzo is waiting for me in his bedroom, to which she gives me directions. On my way to his bedroom I say hi to Mr and Mrs Costanzo. I knock on Enzo’s door, but the only sound I hear is water running. I enter and decide to wait for him guessing he is showering. I am going through my phone while I am waiting for him. He walks out of the bathroom with only his boxers on, looking amazing as always. I speak up to redu
I wake up with someone's arms around my body. I get more comfortable knowing its Enzo. Then I remember that I am in his house, not my father's house. I can't imagine how worried my family is going to be when they wake up and find out I am not there. I get up and look for my phone to call mama so she won't be concerned, but my morning could not get any more difficult. I pick up my phone and see its dead. I must have forgotten to charge it last night. I will just get home before she wakes up. I have to wake Enzo so we can leave before anyone notices I am not home."Baby, baby, baby.""Mmmmm.""We have to leave before someone notices I am not at home," I say, but it is like I am talking to a wall because Enzo only gets more comfortable on the bed."ENZO WAKE UP," I say shouting into his ears."WHAT," Enzo says, picking up his gun from his side table that he kept incase of an emergency."Oh, it's you, mi amore," he says putting the gun back down."What
“I missed you guys so much, but I don’t understand how you guys are alive. I watched you both die in my arms. That was the worst day of my life,” I say still holding tight to my brother's hands.“We will explain everything later. But first we eat and entertain the guests that should be here any minute,” papa says.As soon as papa finishes speaking, Vanessa comes to announce that the guests are here. The family that walks into the living room just made this whole night a lot more exciting and confusing, when Enzo and his entire family walk in. The surprise on our faces could not be faked—but only between us children—as our parents don’t look fazed by anything that is happening. I am already shocked to see my brother and father, who I thought were dead, alive today. And now I am finding out that my family knows Enzo’s family, but the big question is how? Because even though some of my memory is back, it’s still
The next morning Enzo drops me off at home before going to work. He promised to pick me up in the afternoon so we could go and check out the site for the restaurant. I walk into the house straight to the kitchen, because Enzo was in a hurry so we did not have breakfast. I sit on the stool to try and think of what to eat when another thought occupies my mind.Sometimes I feel like the things happening in my life right now are not real. Like I am imagining all these beautiful things happening to me right now. The one man in my life I would have never expected to make me so happy is the same man making my life’s dream come true. This side of Enzo I am seeing is making it very hard for me not to fall in love with him. I know that I have stronger feelings for him, and I can’t even explain what I feel anymore. But the main question here is, do I love Enzo? Funnily enough, I do not know the answer to that question. But I have a feeling I will be able to answer that soon.
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