04| Options

04|Options.

~~~~

My shoulders relax, atleast i am not being attacked by an assassin. “I am um… I am Amber.” I introduce myself, turning my back to her so I can close the refrigerator.

The woman relaxes. “Oh, hey Amber. I am Viola.” She puts down her frying pan. “ Sorry for this, I presumed you would be asleep till I leave.” Her voice is thick with her accent, raven hair packed in a bun, she isn't dressed like a maid, in fact, she looks like the lady of the house.

I lean against the refrigerator, the cold seeping into my skin, reminding me of the fact that I am still in my thin nightgown, and that I had almost died just earlier today.

“Oh my, I can't believe he left you all by yourself.” Her eyes widen when I limp towards the counter.

“ah, it's nothing, I just sprained my ankle, it should be back to normal by tomorrow.” I inform Viola.

“Oh, you silly girl, you can barely walk a step without support, how is this any good from using a crutch.” She wraps her hand around my waist. “Here, let me help.”

Viola helps me sit on the chair, then she sits in front of me. “ You must be hungry, I will get you something to eat real quick.” She quickly heads to the kitchen and returns with a plate of fruits. “I heard you have had a rough day, eating heavy food might not be good for you, so I brought you some fruit.”

“Thank you.” As I eat, I scan the house, expecting to see Valentino's wife.

“Are you looking for something dear?” Viola notices my little action, my cheek heats up.

“Um, I just, I thought Mr Orsini was married.”

Viola snickers. “That hump? He says marriage is not for him. You are the first girl he has brought in a while.” She folds her hand on her lap.

I cringe. First girl he has brought in a while?

I am his nephew's wife, not some girl he can use for pleasure.

Now I understand where his earlier words come from, maybe his loneliness has finally gotten to him, making him believe he can have anyone he wants.

Including me, the little girl he abandoned years ago.

He is wrong.

I won't give in to him, neither will I cheat on my husband.

Even if he strips in front of me, I won't bulge. Deep down, I know my words are naive, but as long as I don't stay here for long, I can resist him for a few days.

From her words, I deduct that Viola doesn't know who I am, and I would rather leave it that way. After eating, I return to my room to get some rest.

The next day, Viola informs me that a few hours after I slept, a bulky man returned with my luggage and a new phone. It turns out that my phone had been hit by a bullet.

I turn on the new phone and try to recover my messages, the moment I do so, I receive a call from Briana. “Hey Briana.”

“Oh my God Amber, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? Did you get shot?” Her concerned voice drifts from the phone.

“Um, yeah I am okay, I just twisted my ankle that's all.”

“Oh my God, I am so relieved, I thought I would never see you again, I was so busy with preparing everything that I forgot my phone, after seeing missed calls, I decided to call you but your phone was switched off and when I went to your house I…” she sniffs. “I thought something had happened to you.”

Her words warm my heart. “I am fine Amber, someone saved me.”

“oh, thank God, I am glad you are safe, so where are you now?”

“I am staying with my…. My uncle in-law but I will leave in a few days, it's just until my ankle heals.” I lick my lower lips. “Could you help me find an apartment where I could stay until then?”.

“Yeah, okay, I am on it.”

“Um, just make sure it's a safe place I can stay. You know what, on a second thought, just book a flight for me.” I grip the phone tightly.

“Are you sure about that? It took you a while to get this Air programme, it has always been your dream.”

I hesitate, yet the more I think of the dangers I have been through in just a few days of staying here, I make up my mind. “No, let's just leave. I will explain to Ricardo myself.” Ricardo is the owner of the gallery I am currently working with.

We had only just finished an art exhibition two days ago when Caleb decided to show his unlucky face. After discussing some more with Briana, I head for the bathroom for a quick shower.

I drag myself from the bed to the adjoining bathroom, my head hurts, but not as much I expect it to. I shower slowly, feeling drained after everything that has happened.

It's a good thing that I haven't met Valentino since he left, speaking to him has been the most draining part of the day.

Sometimes, I forget who he is.

I walk out of the bathroom after drying my hair with the softest towel I can find and tying my hair up. Then I dress myself in a sweatpant and sweatshirt, all in different shades of purple.

I lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Briana was right, this is my dream, I worked for it, begged for it, had many sleepless nights just to get here and now, am I really going to quit?

A knock sounds at my door. “Breakfast Purple.”

Valentino's neutral voice sounds behind my door.

Purple.

Only he calls me that.

My heart skips a beat at the thought of speaking to him again, but when I remember that Viola is still around, I force myself up the bed and limp to the door.

I open the door and Valentino, dressed in a suit looks down on me, he smells of pancake.

“Come on.” he says and marches down to the kitchen with me following him behind. We eat breakfast in silence, the house is quiet, no sign of Viola, my heart starts thundering up my chest.

“Where is Viola?” I ask as he picks up my plate.

“She returned home.” He replies without missing a beat.

I have more questions to ask but, speaking to him after yesterday feels like a death sentence. When he notices I am quiet, he sits across me, then he slides a card towards me.

“There is a party in a week.” He says. “you will accompany me.”

I frown. “What?”

“I don't like repeating myself, Purple, take my card, my drivers will take you to the boutique, I have arranged everything, it will be safe.”

I fold my hand on the table. “The deal was that I'd stay in your house and not go to parties with you. Besides, I haven't even agreed to stay here yet, I want to return to America.”

“I know,” he replies. “You have an option, of course you can say no, both to staying here and the party.”

“I don't like that.”

“What?” He frowns.

“You order me to do something, then you tell me I have an option, why don't you just order me and I will do it.”

He glances at me, his gaze drifting from my eyes to my lips. “You always have an option, Purple. I am not used to… giving options.”

Options?

I don't have the luxury of that.

“Of course, no one is. I am not staying here though. It's about time I leave.” I stand up, ready to return to my room, but Valentino grabs my hand and pulls me into his chest. My breath hitches, our lips are inches apart, I can feel his big chest on my hard nipple.

I press my thigh together.

Somehow, his actions send a pool of need through my thigh.

“W… what are you doing?” I panick.

~P-Lia~