CHAPTER FOUR

Gianna's POV;

Throughout the whole night I layed on my bed thinking about what to wear for the family dinner with Adriano and Mr Altamira and what kind of a person Adriano is. I've heard from Laura that he's very cold towards his employees, I couldn't sleep, I kept staring at the ceiling praying that Adriano would be my Prince Charming and I hope he would love for me to be his wife forever.

My alarm suddenly started ringing and I'm still wide awake and I mechanically reached out to grab the clock to shut the noise out.

'oh god, it's already seven o'clock in the morning Urgh'

My stepmom walked in forty minutes after my alarm went off.

"Good morning mom," I said tiredly, looking at her standing by the doorway.

She walked towards me and sat down gently by the edge of the bed. "Morning sweetie, how was your night?" She asked, looking at me with concern. I just nodded because I was so tired and weak.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay, sweetie?"

"Yes, mom," I tilted my head in confusion. Then I clicked in my head that she knew about the marriage proposal.

'of course you silly girl, she knows about Adriano. I mean she sleeps right next to your dad every day. But why is she worried? Is he a bad person?'

"Did you know about the marriage proposal?" I asked her sharply.

She shook her head and held my face in her palms ``Yes, I do. Your dad told me last night, I was angry about it but he assured me that Adriano is a good man. I mean Aaron would never give his daughter to a monster. But the mother instinct in me is still not convinced. That's why I personally came to check up on you baby."

"Mom, Is Adriano a bad person?"

"I don't know baby, but from the rumors I have heard about him, he is a good and straightforward man,"

"Have you ever met him before?"

"No, I haven't,"

I sighed "Okay, let's go downstairs, I'm hungry,"

"Yeah, and I made your favorite today."

"Woohoo, that's why I love you so much mom, you just uplifted my spirit," I said and hugged her tightly.

"Your dad said we're having dinner with Adriano and his grandfather tonight, so get ready as early as possible, we all know that you take hours to dress up. And we're not going with Laura, you're going alone with us. It's time to grow up baby girl." She winked at me.

I stood up and made my way out the door. I stopped by Oliver's room and knocked twice.

"Mum's made breakfast."

I made my way to the kitchen not bothering whether Oliver is following me or not.

Entering the kitchen, I saw my dad already sitting on the dining chair reading his newspaper.

"Come, take your sit sweetie," my stepmom said as she placed a plate of key lime pie at my designated seat at the table.

I don't even feel like eating breakfast right now because I'm not hungry but I have to eat because my parents would never let me go without eating and also the food was my favorite. My stepmom rarely makes mine and Oliver's favorite food except my dad's favorite food.

"How was your night baby?" My dad asked as he raised his head from the newspaper he was holding.

"Awesome dad,"

"Don't forget about the dinner date tonight baby," he said.

"Yeah dad, I haven't forgotten about it and I won't," I replied.

"Good morning guys," Oliver said, coming down the stairs.

"Morning baby," my parents said, colliding with each other.

We all burst into laughter "Morning Oli," I said, still laughing.

"No talking and laughing at the table," my stepmom said, taking her seat.

The breakfast went cool as usual, Oliver and I cleared the table and washed the dishes. I cleaned the rooms upstairs with a broom and mop while Oliver cleaned downstairs with the vacuum cleaner, he's such a lazy boy.

I didn't go to the restaurant today because it was my day off at work which I'm glad for and my parents also didn't go to work because of the dinner date I guess.

I went back to my room, had my bath, and read some natural history books my dad gave me three years ago. I love history, I'm obsessed with it. Till date I wonder why I studied Fashion design instead of History during college.

The day went pretty fast. Was it because of the dinner date or because I was nervous about meeting a billionaire tonight? I just didn't know what answer I should tell myself.

It's twenty minutes past eight right now. I walked over to my wardrobe and I didn't even know which dress to put on. I had to dress faster and earlier than everyone else because they all think that I take some much time to dress. At last I picked a very beautiful black dress which had a tiny strap and stopped below my knee. The dress hugged my body perfectly. Laura gave me the dress as my birthday gift last year. I have never worn the dress because I had no occasion to go to, but today I am going on a dinner date with a famous billionaire and needed to look good and be comfortable.

'Urgh I'm already shivering, calm down Gigi, he's a human being too for god's sake'

I told myself, like seriously I needed to calm my nerves because I was shivering like a drenched dog.

 'Dog? Seriously Gigi? Urgh' I hate myself'

"Gigi, come on let's go baby," I heard my stepmom yelling out.

"I'm coming, I'll be down in a bit, I promise," I said back.

'Well I guess I'm done dressing up, let's go downstairs gigi'

"I'm ready, shall we?" I said coming downstairs.

"You're such a turtle baby," my stepmom said and I giggled.

My stepmom wore a gray gown that reached till her toes, but it didn't hug her body. 

'well I guess I'm the one who needs wear a befitting dress because the dinner date is all about me'

I walked out of my house and stopped as my father stood near his car dressed up in a suit impatiently waiting for us. I nervously walked over to my dad's car and sat in the back seat. My dad's car was a four seater car, my dad sits on the driver's seat, while my stepmom sits on the passenger's seat and Oliver and I take the back seat.

"Are you okay baby?" My dad asked me while driving.

'No dad, I'm really nervous and scared right now. Let's go back home please'

"Yeah, sure, I'm fine dad," I said smiling, reassuring him. I rubbed my face tightly. I normally run my face and palms whenever my mind is not at rest like it is right now.

'I needed to assure him that nothing was wrong with me. This is not just about my family, it's about me and my future. I needed to be calm and strong but I was tripping.'

**********

After a one hour thirty minute drive, my dad drove into the parking lot of the most expensive restaurant in Florida.

'Does Adriano own it? Or maybe he just happened to know the owner I guess.'

We all stepped out of the car and a man in his early forties walked to us.

"Good evening Mr Harrison."

"Good evening gentleman. Is Mr Altamira here already?"

"Yes sir, Mr Altamira has been expecting your arrival for the past thirty minutes. Please follow me."

"Sure. After you, gentleman."

Glancing up at the beautiful large building we were walking towards made my breath hitched in my throat. It was absolutely beautiful. We followed the unknown man into the restaurant. Entering the restaurant I gasped softly as I took in the beauty of the semi colored walls and white bright blinding chandelier. My gaze fell on the marble floor as we walked around the place. The interior designer did a great job decorating a whole big and expensive restaurant like this.

"That's Mr Altamira sitting right there," the unknown man said when we spotted Mr Altamira sitting down in a secluded area at the extreme end of the restaurant.

He stood up when he saw us "Welcome, Aaron my boy. Come and take a seat please." He waved at me and I waved back too. He had a bright dazzling smile that adorned his face.

We all walked towards him but the unknown man from before was not following us anymore.

"Welcome, welcome. Please be my guest," Mr Altamira said firmly as he engulfed me in a very tight hug and I hugged him back. He smelled like mint.

"Sit down please dear," he smiled and pointed at the chair across him urging me to sit down. 

"Thank you Mr Altamira," I said and quickly sat down because I was exhausted from the long journey.

'Long journey? Seriously Gigi, Urgh I hate myself'

"Oh please dear, there's no need to be formal. Especially now that we're going to be a family very soon, okay?"

Just hearing that from Mr Altamira made my stomach clenched and my heart started to hammer wildly in my chest. I gulped and nodded nervously.

"I hope you all are not exhausted from the long drive," Mr Altamira said from across the table.

"No, no, no Eddie, we're all good right?" My dad asked all of us with a wide bright smile crossing his face and we all nodded back in response.

Almost half an hour goes by and with each second that goes by, I grow more nervous and panicky. I kept on imagining the good pleasantries we would exchange.

"Uhm Eddie, where is Adriano?" My stepmom asked taking a sip of her wine.

Mr Altamira stretched on his chair "We came together two hours ago, but he was called for an urgent meeting. But nothing to worry about he's on his way here. He promised me that he is going to come back in an hour and Adriano never breaks his promises. So you don't need to worry yourselves. Just relax and feel free." He assured us.

I leaned back into my chair inhaling and exhaling nervously, I closed my eyes. And just when I thought I was going to explode with anticipation, the sliding door leading to where we were seated opened wide and a guy made his way through.

"Is he back?" Mr Altamira asked sharply.

"Yes sir," the guy said in a low mannered voice.

"Alright, send him in please," Mr Altamira smiled widely and nodded as he stood up and motioned with his hand to the guy.

"My deepest apologies for being late," a very deep masculine voice said walking towards us.

My throat went dry and I held on to my chair as I turned around to look at a man hovering towards us.

My jaw dropped as I took in the sight of the man standing straight and well postured in front of me.

Perfectly sculpted face with light pink thin lip, wavy curled raven hair, straight nose, green eyes shining like gold and incredibly well defined jaw with high puffed cheek bones that emphasized the plain of his face. He stood straight taller than all of us. And I can tell he probably works out with how his tuxedo fits perfectly against his torso. From the way he walked you can tell he exudes power and a sense of righteousness just like his grandfather.

'Oh black Jesus, save me. This man in front of me is power and fame combined together itself. He is Adriano freaking Altamira. My soon to be husband. I'm so in love with him.'

"There you are, son. Come on. Meet the Harrisons, my would have been family." Mr Altamira said, chuckling.

All of us stood up to greet him. I kept staring at him as he shook hands with my family. The moment it was my turn to greet him, my nerves broke down and I started sweating profusely.

I felt a pair of eyes on me and as soon as I looked up, I made contact with glittering green eyes. My stomach growled in fear and I felt a little bit dizzy. 

'Oh god this is so embarrassing.'

"Hi" I quickly said to him and I sat back down, looking at everyone with a confused look on their faces.

'What just happened? Huh?'