Chapter 3

"I don't have a boyfriend," I huff.

"Oh?" The mysterious hottie raised his eyebrow at me, but the sly smile that crossed his lips didn't skip me.

"And why is that piccolo fiore?" He sat down on one of the chairs, resting his chin on his fist as he watched me.

Italian: that's where his accent is coming from.

"Because he's a lying, cheating scumbag," I growl. "That stupid fuck cheated on me."

"Did he?" He shakes his head. "I always knew he would fuck up one of these days; I didn't know he would do it so stupidly."

"Are you a friend of his?" I wouldn't guess that this guy would be friends with Mike; he's far too old. If I were to guess, he would be pushing forty.

And he is very handsome for his age.

"Something close to that," he shrugged.

"Well, your friend sucks." I grumbled, "He cheated on me after three years of being together, with my best friend, mind you, and didn't even have the decency to even call me."

I hump down on the seat next to him and say, "I guess the three years of my life I gave to him meant nothing to him."

I didn't even realize that a tear had run down my cheeks until he reached over, running his thumb softly over my skin. I shivered against his touch, and I found myself leaning closer.

"Mike is an idiot and has always been an idiot. It's not your fault, Piccolo Fiore, so don't even think it's your fault. Mike is just too blind to see the beauty he has lost chasing something so temporary. He's stupid that way."

The weight of his gaze bore into me, stirring a flurry of butterflies in my stomach, while his thumb traced delicate patterns across my skin, each gentle stroke igniting a cascade of sensations.

Time seemed to stand still as we remained locked in this intimate moment, his hand cradling my face and our eyes locked in a silent exchange. Words eluded me, and the enigmatic expression in his eyes mirrored my own desire, speaking volumes without a single utterance.

"You're drunk, Piccolo Fiore; let's get you home." He removed his hand from my face, much to my disappointment, and stood up, looking at me expectantly.

Then, a devious idea came into my head.

If Mike thinks he can mess around, then I should give him a run for his money.

I look up at him with as much of a seductive smile as I could muster, crossing my leg over the other and leaning into the chair, making sure that my boobs pop out in my dress.

"Are you going to be there?" I slur.

His eyes landed on my boobs, lingering there for longer than they needed to before looking at my face.

"What are you doing, Piccolo Fiore?"

"What? I'm just curious," I shrugged, my fingers threading through my hair, unconsciously revealing the vulnerability of my neck. "Asking questions isn't illegal, is it?"

His silence spoke volumes as his gaze roamed over me, lingering in places that betrayed his desire, fulfilling the unspoken anticipation I had been yearning for.

"So, are you? going to be there?" I tease.

"I don't appreciate the temptation, Piccolo Fiore," he warned, but despite his words, he came closer, his hand running across my chin.

"I'm a man of many things, Sabrina, but patience is not one of them." His thumb found its way to my lips, sliding across my bottom lips.

"Maybe we should find out the limits of your patient then," I whisper, not breaking eye contact as I run my tongue along his thumb.

He let out a soft grunt, removing his hand from my face like his hand was on fire.

"Sabrina..." he started.

"What? I'm not Piccolo Fiore anymore." I tilt my head, a playful smile on my lips.

"Sabrina, don't play with fire if you can't take the heat."

Rising to my feet, I maintained unbroken eye contact as I reached upward, my fingers deftly adjusting the open button of his chest.

"Trust me, I'll dance in the flames." I slid my arms slowly over his chest, feeling up all his abs as I gave him the most innocent smile.

A mischievous grin spread across his face, his eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger that sent a shiver down my spine, my previous confidence slipping out of me as his hand trailed to the nape of my neck, drawing me nearer. The scent of his cologne enveloped me, intoxicating my senses as he leaned in, his warm breath tickling my ear as he whispered softly.

"Don't say I didn't warn you, Piccolo Fiore."

___

SABRINA 

I let out a groan as I felt a bright ray of sunlight on my face, and I turned away with it, letting out a sigh as I practically sank into the bed, and I started to drift to sleep again.

Wait a minute.

My bed has never been this comfortable.

My eyes snapped open, and I was greeted by a chandelier. I felt my panic start to sink in.

I don't own a fucking chandelier in my bedroom.

I tried to sit up on the bed, but the weighted arm draped across my stomach anchored me in place. I felt the warmth of slow, steady breaths against my left cheek, each exhalation a reminder of the presence beside me.

Holy shit.

I turned my face to the breath and met a hot, closed-eyed man sleeping peacefully, his black hair covering a side of his face. My eyes widened in shock, and my panic only increased when I looked down and saw his exposed chest, which continued until his v-line, which thankfully was covered by the blanket.

I didn't- we didn't-

I looked down at my body and saw only a blanket covering my body.

Oh god.

In a quiet prayer, I push the cover away from my body, and my mouth opens in horror at my nakedness.

Oh, my god.

Shit, shit, shit.

How the hell did I end up in this situation?

I just went to drink last night to get over the pain of Mike. How the hell did I end up in another man's bed?

I cracked my brain to remember what happened last night, but I could only remember fragments of the night's events.

I remembered going there; I remember meeting him; I remember him being a friend of Mike; and I remember seducing him to get back at-

Oh fuck.

I let out a quiet groan as the side effect of last night hit me with full effect, and I pressed my palm against my forehead, rubbing to smoothen the massive headache that has already started forming, but it didn't do anything.

I want to facepalm myself so hard right now, but I know that's just going to add to my already growing problems.

What the hell was I thinking?!

Well, I wasn't thinking; I was drunk.

But this could be a kidnapper or rapist, for all I know, and drunk me just went all in for fucking revenge. I was guaranteed that Mike wouldn't know or care, and I don't even remember most of the sex.

We didn't even use protection!

Thank God I'm on birth control, but birth control does not prevent any transmitted diseases.

I have to get myself checked out, but that's going to be after the meeting with the CEO and the preparation of the-

The meeting!

I looked over at the clock beside me, and I held back the cuss that was rising on my lips at the time.

I need to go now.

I lifted the man's arm that was holding me down softly, trying my best not to make any noise as I slipped out of the bed. I look over to him, and satisfied that he's still asleep, I quickly put on my clothes, cussing at myself for waking up so late.

Where the hell is my underwear?

I searched, and it took me a while to find the torn-up white fabric that was once my underwear.

This son of a bitch ripped up my underwear.

Forgoing the underwear, I pick up my shoes and my jacket and head for the door, still kicking myself as I open the door.

With the door swung open, I took one last look at the man still sleeping peacefully on the bed.

I can't just leave him high and dry, right?

He did give me a good night, if the very sore pain between my legs is anything to go by. But then again, I'm willing to bet that I'm not the first nor will I be the last woman he brings here, so there's no point in saying anything to him.

With that resolution, I closed the door and headed for the elevator.

"God, please let me not have any diseases, and I will stay far away from alcohol and men from now on, I promise," I whispered as the elevator swung open.

႐႐႐႐

"Damn Sabrina, you look like shit" Lily, the assistant manager, said as I walked into the office.

"Thanks; I feel like shit too," I mumbled, sitting down on my office chair.

The fight to get here was stressful, to say the least. From the hotel, I had to go home to put on a more appropriate outfit for this meeting because I'm not going to meet my boss, who can get rid of me if he doesn't like me, while I was suffering a terrible headache because I can't find any ibuprofen or aspirin in my house.

This is going to be such a wonderful day.

"Long night?"

"You can say that" I answered, bringing out my laptop from my bag.

"Didn't know that you would be so nervous for the meeting today. You're always so put together and ready all the time." Lily placed her butt on my desk, watching me prepare the Microsoft slides with a disapproving look.

Well, my life has been on a downward spiral for the past week, so forgive me if my brain isn't so put together like it used to be, you nosy snob.

I didn't tell her that, of course, but instead asked, "Is the board room open for the meeting today?"

"It is, but the CEO is running a little late, and we haven't been able to get a hold of him," she shrugged.

"More time for us to get our shit together before he does get here."

"Hmm"

I let out an aspirated sigh, knowing what that meant: "I know, Lily, I was late for an important meeting, and I haven't been myself for the past few days. I'm here now, and I'm attentive, so would you please drop it?"

"I wasn't saying anything."

"You didn't have to." I slammed my laptop closed and stood up, running my hand through my hair to remove it from my face. "The slides are good; let's get them prepped up in the boardroom so that by the time he gets here, he will be ready to go."

Lily kept quiet as we walked up to the elevator, but I knew as I pressed the button for the first floor that it was going to be short-lived.

And I was right.

"I can't believe that we're going to meet THE Ciro," she let out as the elevator doors closed, and I fought the urge to let out a groan.

I and my migraine would be thankful for the silence.

"I've never had the chance to see him in person until today." She trailed her dyed red hair around her fingers. "You know, I've heard a lot of things about him."

"Have you?" I look ahead, wishing I could be anywhere from here.

Unaware of or ignoring my sarcastic note, she continued, "The news is that he's super-hot. like, MAJOR hot-"

Oh god, please save me.

"- but I heard that he's also uptight and walks around like there's a stick up his ass," she snorted. "I also heard that he's a huge womanizer and that he always has a different woman in his bed almost every night."

I won't be surprised; most if not all of these real people love to have their ego fan over and sucked into oblivion, and what else boosts their ego than having whatever you want? The elevator door opens, much to my relief, and I head for the boardroom with Lily on my heels, still having a lot to say about our mysterious boss.

"I also heard that this is most definitely not the only business he has-"

At this point, I've drowned out her voice, instead bending down to hook my laptop to the monitor. I almost let out a whine when I squatted down to plug in my laptop charger, and my mind went to the cause of my sourness.

How did he know who I was?

Even though his face is foggy in my head, one thing that I cannot forget is those piercing gray eyes, and I know that I've never seen those gray eyes before in my life. It made me intrigued, and ultimately worried, about how he knows so much about me when I know nothing about him.

I didn't even get to know his name.

He did say that he was a friend of Mike, and maybe he is, but it doesn't seem likely because Mike never introduced me to him, and I've never seen him and Mike together before.

I'm getting a headache thinking about it, so I stopped and prayed that I didn't sleep with a creep.

A hot creep, but a creep no less.

"Mr. Ciro, good morning." Lily's voice chirped, getting my attention.

"Morning. Sorry, I'm late; I ran into- something."

A wave of tension seized my body, freezing me in place, my eyes widening as I stared blankly at the glowing screen of my laptop, the voice sounding eerily similar to the voice that refuses to leave my brain.

But it couldn't be the same person.

Even in my denial, I still couldn't bring myself to look, my eyes glued to my screen.

"Good morning, Miss Sabrina."

Given no choice but to confirm what I feared, I turned around, and when I looked into the gray eyes, I knew at least some of my questions were answered.