Chapter 4: The Little Doll's Apartment

Luca's Pov

“Thanks for the invitation, Mr De Rossi but I suggest you don't contact me again.” I listened as Maria said. Thought she was able to hang up but then she added, “I'm not a little doll.”

I closed my eyes as I heard her hang up. She must be feeling tough. I laughed.

“Alex, the little doll's apartment, you know where it is?” I called Alex.

“Yes sir.” Alex replied.

Take me there.

Throughout my ride there, the only thing I could think of was how to best handle the situation without causing any more trouble but couldn't think of any.

******

Her apartment was on the other side of city, where those aiming to be successful live until they're able to climb up the ladder. Maria was one of them.

I knocked gently on her door, trying to be a gentleman and not long, the door swings open. Her innocent face surprised to me.

“Mr De Rossi?” Maria says, my heart soften as she called me, but I tried not to show it.

“Maria, I tried to be a gentleman by inviting you over to an art exhibition I'm really sure you'd love but you rejected.” I said gently.

“Mr De Rossi…” She tried to speak 

“Why little doll,” I interrupted her, “do you know how many women would jump on that invitation?”

“Well, I'm not like other women.” She replied, “especially ones who don't care about what you really are.”

“What I really am?” I asked, taken back. “And what am I, little doll?”

“I'm not your little doll.” She said softly, almost not meaning to.

“I never said you were MY little doll.” I said, looking straight at her. “But you can be.”

She opened her mouth to speak but I moved closer to her and asked, “are you afraid of me, Maria? Is that what this is? You've likely heard the rumours.”

“Mr De Rossi…”

“I won't deny or confirm those rumours because I don't concern myself with such but what I know is I have an art gallery tonight and I want you there.”

“I have asked Alex to get you something to wear,” I continued, “I believe he'll be here shortly.”

I let myself into Maria's apartment. She didn't hesitate to let me pass. I observed it was small but neat. Not stuffy.

I sat on her couch and watched her ask me for a coffee which I accepted, even though I do not intend to drink it.

Alex's call came in, I picked my phone to answer. He said he has the dress and I asked him to bring it up to Maria's apartment. Maria collected the dress box from him at the door and I told her to get ready.

I leaned back and waited. The coffee sat on the table, untouched. She hadn’t said a word since she took the dress. I didn’t expect her to. I knew she’d wear it. I just wanted to see how long it would take.

The apartment was quiet. The kind of quiet that made you think.

I ran a hand down my face. I wasn’t used to waiting. Not for anything. But for her, I didn’t mind.

After a while, the bedroom door creaked open.

Maria stepped out slowly. The dress fitted like it was made for her. She looked beautiful. She hadn’t put on her shoes yet. Her hair was still tied up, loose strands framing her face. She looked like art. Not the kind you hang. The kind you lock up so no one else could touch it.

She didn’t look at me.

“Look at me, Maria.”

She lifted her eyes. I nodded.

“Knew it would suit you.”

She folded her arms. “I’m only wearing it because you wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

I smiled.

“I didn’t ask for one.”

She reached for her purse, her hand brushing lightly against the counter. It trembled, just for a second.

“Nervous?”

“No,” she said quickly. “I just don’t know what I’m walking into.”

“You’ll be with me,” I said, standing. “You’ll be fine.”

I opened the door and placed a hand on her back. She didn’t pull away.

We stepped into the hallway. She locked the door behind her. I turned to lead the way when I heard something.

A soft sound. Like quiet footsteps.

I paused.

Looked down the corridor.

Nothing.

Just a shadow of movement. Gone too fast.

Maria didn’t notice. But I did.

I said nothing.

Just straightened my coat, glanced at her once, and smiled.

“Let’s go.”