CHAPTER FOUR

Later that night, Aurora and I head out for dinner to make up for our missed lunch date. We've just placed our orders, and as we wait for our food to arrive, the gentle hum of conversation fills the air, punctuated by the clink of silverware and the occasional burst of laughter. Aurora's question pulls me back into the present, prompting me to recount my visit to Stefano's office earlier in the day.

"What took you so long at his office earlier?" she asks as she takes a sip of her wine.

"He was on a call, so I had to wait for him to finish before I could drop off the documents and leave," I explain.

"Phew. I was worried he had a problem with the work you did," Aurora admits, her relief evident.

I shake my head. "Nope, everything was fine," I reply, choosing not to mention his little back-end comment about me."

"Speak of the devil," Aurora suddenly says, waving behind me. I turn to see Stefano approaching our table with a tall, handsome guy. His appearance has changed since our earlier encounter; his tie is absent, and his shirt is slightly disheveled. Despite the signs of exhaustion that linger in the lines of his face, there’s an undeniable magnetism to his presence, a raw allure that sets my pulse racing.

As he draws nearer, I can’t help but notice the subtle changes in his demeanor, the weariness of the day etched into every line of his expression. And yet, there’s a quiet strength in the way he carries himself, a resilience that speaks volumes about the man he is.

I brace myself for the inevitable exchange, curious to see how the evening will unfold with Stefano’s unexpected arrival at our table. Whatever the outcome, one thing is certain—this dinner just got a whole lot more interesting.

"Hi, Aurora," he greets her, his voice carrying a hint of weariness.

"Hey, Stefano. How are you?" Aurora responds, concern flickering in her eyes.

"I'm good, and you, Sis?" he replies, acknowledging her fatigue.

"A bit tired from work, but I'm sure you know that."

"I do, and I’m sure you remember David," Stefano says, barely acknowledging my presence.

"Of course, are you guys already done eating, or did you just get here?"

"We just arrived," Stefano responds curtly.

"Great. Why don't you join us? We just ordered our food," Aurora suggests.

"I don't think that will be necessary, Aurora," Stefano declines, his reluctance palpable.

"I insist. Having more people to talk to while we eat would be nice. Don't you think so, Andrea?" Aurora presses, casting a glance in my direction.

"Sure, why not," I agree casually, though his apparent disregard for my presence doesn't go unnoticed.

"It's not a bad idea," David chimes in.

"Alright, I guess we could all eat together," Stefano concedes, though his tone suggests he's less than thrilled about the arrangement.

"Great, David, why don’t you join me here while Stefano sits beside Andrea,” Aurora suggests, motioning for David to take the seat beside her.

“Ok, sure,” David agrees, walking over to the seat next to her while Stefano settles beside me.

“Good, I'll call the waiter so you guys can order your food,” Aurora says, signaling the waiter to come over to our table.

They both place their orders before Aurora initiates a conversation with us.

"So, Stefano, Andrea was just telling me how pleased you were with the work she did earlier. Did you know she has a Master's in Business Management? She would have been an excellent secretary; too bad she does not live in Sicily."

Stefano's response is cutting, his words dripping with disdain as he dismisses the idea outright. "I did not say so, and I doubt she would be good for the job."

I bristle at his dismissive attitude, feeling a surge of anger rise within me. "Excuse me, how would you know if I would be good or bad at the job?"

"Given how you behaved earlier in my office, it's enough for me to know you would be horrible," Stefano retorts, his tone laced with thinly veiled contempt.

I rack my brain, trying to recall my behavior. "How did I behave in your office?"

"You left before our conversation was finished," Stefano replies curtly, his gaze piercing as he locks eyes with mine.

I gape at him in disbelief. Over that trivial incident, he has concluded I'd be an awful secretary? I let out a short, scornful laugh. "Unbelievable."

"Regardless, you failed to impress me with the chance you had," he adds haughtily.

I shake my head, anger surging through me. "I was not trying to impress you, and I would not be your secretary even if you begged me." I hold his gaze defiantly.

Suddenly, Stefano leans in close, his presence overwhelming as he draws near. I can feel the heat radiating from his body, his spicy cologne filling the space between us and sending my senses reeling. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat echoing loudly in the silence that surrounds us. His eyes, intense and penetrating, lock onto mine, holding me captive in their gaze.

"I would never hire you even if I was paid to do it," he hisses venomously. Though his words sting, I'm distracted by his nearness, my body reacting in ways I try to ignore.

I part my lips to reply when I'm abruptly engulfed by the sudden force of Stefano's embrace. The world seems to spin around me as I'm pressed against his solid chest, the warmth of his body seeping into mine with an intensity that leaves me breathless. It's a stark contrast to the icy chill of his words Moments before.

In the chaos of the Moment, there's a sudden crash and the tinkling sound of shattered glass beside me. My senses whirl as I try to grasp what’s happening.

"Are you alright?" he asks urgently, pulling back just far enough to scan my body for injuries, his hands gently grasping my face, concern etched into every line of his face.

"I'm okay," I whisper breathlessly, stunned by his swift reaction.

Relief floods Stefano's features, evident in the softening of his expression. His thumb briefly caresses my cheekbone before he drops his hands. "Good," he says simply, releasing me, his warmth slipping away.

Aurora's voice breaks through the haze of my thoughts, her concern evident. “Are you okay?” I nod in response, still trying to process the events that had unfolded so suddenly.

My gaze flicks over to Stefano as he rises to his feet, glaring at someone behind me. I turn to see a petrified waiter behind me, surrounded by the wreckage of broken dishes and spilled soup. Stefano had shielded me from the impact. I exhale a silent breath of relief, grateful for Stefano's quick reflexes.

Fury darkens Stefano's expression as he towers over the cowering waiter. "What the hell were you thinking? You could have severely burned her!"

The waiter stammers out an apology, his voice trembling under Stefano's piercing gaze. "I'm so sorry, sir," he manages to utter, his words barely audible above the tension-filled air.

Stefano's eyes narrow, his expression darkening as he delivers a chilling ultimatum. "Get the fuck out of here before I empty a round into your brain," he threatens, his voice dripping with lethal intent.

He grasps my hand firmly. "We're leaving. I don’t feel like eating in a fucking restaurant you could get hurt in."

Stefano pulls me away from the table before I can protest and he leads me out of the restaurant. I turn back to glance at Aurora, a questioning look in my eyes, but she merely shrugs in response. It's clear that she's just as bewildered by the events that transpired as I am.

We step outside, and we're greeted by the cool night air, a welcome reprieve from the chaos of the restaurant. I cast a quick glance around, waiting for the valet to retrieve Stefano's car. The seconds feel like an eternity as we stand in silence, the weight of the evening's events still hanging heavily in the air.

Finally, the car pulls up, and Stefano wastes no time in ushering me inside. As we speed away from the restaurant, I find myself staring at him, my mind buzzing with a whirlwind of questions and confusion.

What had just happened back there? The confrontation with the waiter, Stefano's fierce protectiveness... It all seemed to unfold so suddenly, leaving me bewildered and uncertain of how to process it all.

With each passing Moment, the confusion intensifies, fueling the torrent of thoughts racing through my mind as we journey back to the Costanzo estate. All I can do is gaze at Stefano and ponder: what the fuck just happened?