Silly and hot

~09~

Chiara

I got up and excused myself. All I could think about on that table was how fast the fork in my hand could stab Antonio's visible wrinkled neck. As tempting as it was, I couldn't do it before the eyes of a thousand people in the hall.

I didn't mind going to jail because of him. But what good would jail do me if I haven't gotten my revenge the way I wanted?

"Excuse me, may I have this dance, Miss...?" A soft voice stopped me in my tracks. I peered at his tall figure and met with the most beautiful brown shade of eyes I'd ever seen. Even mine were not as good as his. The wide grin on his sculptured face exposed his straight and perfect white teeth and nice jawlines.

His red hair was tousled up, and his white suit displayed his magnetic presence. Who the hell was this man? And who the hell was I to reject him? I could use a beautiful destruction. 

"Chiara." I placed my hand in his. He looked past me with a smirk before kissing my knuckles. What was that? I was about to turn and take a look, too, but his words and his soft graze on my hand held me back.

"Name's Willem and thank you. It's an honor." He said. I looked around us. "I think everyone else would say otherwise inside this room." The eyes that followed us made me curious about the man's identity even further. I gave zero fucks about their judgemental gazes. 

"Well, it is their loss if they are not capable of picking out a gem in a sea full of dull stones." He winked at me. My eyes narrowed, and my lips pulled up lightly, "That was a good line." Willem chuckled and said. “I’m just learning a few.”

We walked to the dance floor together. His hand was so respectfully above my waist. Who was this gentleman? "So, where are you from?" I cut to the chase. "Am I that obviously foreign?" he replied. "Obviously," I stated. We separated from each other, and he twirled me around before we were back into each other's arms again.

"Is London foreign enough?" He raised his eyebrow, and then his focus went back past me again. "Mhm, so who are we playing tonight?" I blurted. His eyes returned to me, slightly wide. "Excuse me?" He said.

I shook my head. "Your attention is obviously on someone behind me. I'm assuming it is your ex-girlfriend maybe?" I said, following his guide. Willem chuckled, amusement danced on his face. "Sort of."

"Sure thing. Do you want her running back to you looking miserably and crying?" I asked. He grinned widely as he stared at the named person behind us. "Actually, yes. That would be perfect." He uttered, his face unsure of his own words.

"Then hold me like you wanna bang me right here, before everyone else. I mean, if you are using me, at least make it convincing." I deadpanned. His breath was caught as his eyes bore into mine.

He rubbed the back of his neck. "I wasn't planning on using—well maybe I—"I pressed his lips with my index finger, "Shut up and let's actually dance, Willem."

The moment the song got to the bridge, I switched around, slamming my back against his chest. A gasp left his mouth. His hands were warily around my waist. I grabbed them and guided them around my stomach and didn't release them.

Then I swayed with him to the melody. My head was tilted back and eyes shut, not wanting to see the judging faces on us. They might as well enjoy the show. Turning back to face him, my hands wrapped around his neck after guiding his own dangerously low on my waist.

Willem's face was red. And if I kept this up, it would soon be the same shade as his hair. "You seem flaggerbasted. Never danced with a woman before?" I teased, staring at his perplexed eyes. Amusement coursing inside me. Such a man still existed?

He swallowed. "Correction. I've never danced with a woman like you before." Now it was hard to stop the smirk. "You're such a baby." I tugged on his tie and pulled his face closer to mine, his rich scent invading my nostrils. His eyes were glued on mine, timid. "This should be enough to get your ex jealous. Bye, Willem." I kissed his cheek and walked out of the dance floor, leaving him escorting me with his eyes.

As I made my way out of the hall, I came into contact with Carmelo Conti. His face was so dark. The shade that I'd never seen on the most reputable and composed bachelor from Portofino.

I shook my head. "Are we still beefing?" Mumbling to myself as I walked out of the hall, making my way to the balcony instead. I pulled the thin scarf around my neck and threw it away. Both of my hands gripped the rails, panting heavily.

I shut my eyes, and with time, slowly my breathing went back to normal. If it weren't for the threats, I wouldn't be here. If it weren't for my mother's safety, Antonio would've been dead by now. If it were not for Antonio and Enzo, I wouldn't be burying my ego and searching for help from—I sucked in a deep breath.

Something flashed by. With furrowed eyebrows, my hand slowly went to my garter, preparing my knife. I took my time and then turned abruptly. My eyebrows lifted, then a scoff left my mouth, my knife hanging in the air. "This is insane. Are you stalking me? Like, seriously stalking me?" I couldn't believe it.

He was standing in the dark, behind the flower vases, and his wristwatch glinted with his movement. But there was no way I couldn't recognize his scent by now. Sometimes, I felt like he made sure I remembered it.

"I don't know," he walked forward and out of the shadows. His tall and magnificent figure stood just a few steps away from the door and me. He smiled, "Are you stalk-worthy?" He waved the phone in his hand at me.

He was on a call. Fuck me. 

My frown returned at full speed. Carmelo's eyes checked me up and down. Then he turned to leave, but not without me catching the sardonic smile on his face. I couldn't help but bark a laugh, watching his figure return to the hall through the glass doors.

"That silly, hot asshole." At least he smiled at me, and I was able to hold myself from arguing with him. A small start was at least a good start, then nothing at all.