f I v e

ROSA

I sat down to the meal I had just made, when Marco strode in.

"Good afternoon, gorgeous."

"Do you usually talk to girls like that?" I teased, hiding a smile.

"Only the gorgeous ones. Where's everyone else?"

"Out on business."

He slides in next to me causally, before a questioning brow was raised. "Nothing I need to know about?"

"I'm sure they didn't call you 'cause you're fresh. My dad might need a little more than a few days before he fully puts his trusts in you," I grimaced. "Just ask my dad. If he needs you to know I'm sure he'll tell you," I advised.

"Can't you?" He probed.

I shifted awkwardly in my seat. "I don't want to without my dad's say-so."

"You seem to be more clued in than I am. I didn't realize Enzo has been telling you all this," he gave me a curious look, muttering more to himself than to me.

I shrugged, dismissing his curious look. "Well, he wasn't lying when he said he'd be bringing me into the business."

"All the more reason to stick to you. But for now..." He murmured, then blinked twice and smiled towards me. "How about we move on from all this talk of business and deals? I bet that's the last thing on your mind," he added.

"Sorry?" I blinked in confusion.

"I bet you can't stop thinking about what happened in the library," he said, suddenly whispering. A blush appeared on my face, and he grinned.

"Oh, can't I?" I snorted. "I think it's something we shouldn't do again," I sighed.

He moved in closer. "Are you saying that because that's actually how you feel... Or because of what your father said?" He hinted.

"My father, your boss," I replied with a frown. "I don't want you to be in trouble because of me."

He leaned over and whispered in my ears. "Do you know how easy secrets are to keep?"

"You tell me," I breathed out. He leaned back to his normal position and took a bite of my food. A large bite. "Did you skip breakfast or something?"

"I always skip breakfast."

"Haven't you heard that it's the most important meal of the day?" I quipped.

"I'm always swamped with work," he supplied.

"Work, huh? What did you do before coming to us?" My brows burrowed.

"Hustled, like everyone else."

"Did you have a regular job? Or something less... Legal?" I stuttered, not able to hid my inquisition.

"It's all in the past." He slide behind me, his body now glued to my back. He hugged me, and his hands pulled my hips towards his body. The smell of him filled my nostrils as warmth spread throughout my body.

"W-what are y-you doi-ing?" I stammered.

"If you're so concerned about my breakfast habits, you could always teach me something to make, or just let me have another taste of this." He picked up my hand and played with my fingers. He meets his mouth with my forefinger, licking it slowly and sensually.

He played around with it as if he were licking my tongue. And soon enough, he forgot about our hands, and we met in a mind-melting kiss. The kiss went long, with eagerness from both of us, and I felt my body like a wave, pulled against his.

But without any warning, he dragged himself off me and stepped away from the table. "That was nice."

"I--"

"See you around."

I watched as he took a swig of my drink and disappeared behind the door.

***

"You have to tell me more about this mysterious guy you keep texting me about!" Natalia, my best friend said.

"Shh! He could hear us," I shushed, basically pushing my fingers to her lips.

"Don't be paranoid," she shook me off, "no one's here." She was putting on a black, light turtle necked blouse, with a pale brown skirt. Though we were both light skinned; she had a very certain glow to hers, accompanied with a very distinguished and enviable nose.

"Well, Tony nearly caught us together," I added.

"Yeah, I've heard him griping about Marco," she scoffed, her wavy brown hair bouncing on her shoulders.

"He was so mad when Dad chose Marco over him!" I silently shook my head.

"Of course," she snorted and frowned, "He thinks he deserves everything under the sun. So, what does your guy look like?" She grinned, expelling any foreboding expression.

"I'm used to seeing the same faces... But he's so hot, it's hard to keep myself from staring at him when other people are around," I squealed, a large satisfied smile on my face.

Just then, Marco walked in on us. "Hello, ladies."

Marco?!

Did he hear what I just said about him?

"Well, hello there!" Natalia drawled, totally eye-fucking him. "You sure do seem to make an impression on people," she sang.

He furrowed his brows in confusion towards her. "Have we met before?"

"This is my best friend, Natalia," I filled in for him.

"Nice to meet you, Natalia. I'm Marco Rossi, but something tells me you already knew that," he chuckled, looking sideways at me but turned his attention back to Natalia.

"Have you known Rosa for a long time?" Marco asked.

Natalia confirmed with a nod. "Yes. We grew up together. She's my cousin," she disclosed.

"Cousin?" A frown appeared on his face as he stiffened, and his eyes squinted with curiousity. "Does that mean--"

"Yeah. I'm Natalia Pagano, Tony's sister." She revealed rather grimly.

"And before you ask, no, they're nothing alike," I put in.

He visibly relaxed. "I hope not because your brothers a pain in the ass," he not so causally mentioned.

"That's the worst you have to say about him?" Natalia questioned, a hint of surprise laced in her words.

They both laughed.

But despite the attention that Marco was giving Natalia– she is beautiful, after all– he slides an arm around my waist. He pulled me closer, not concerned with what Natalia might think.

"Lucky for him, I have Rosa, who makes living here very entertaining," he remarked, his tone playful. "That said, duty calls."

He picked up some paper that had been left on the coffee table, smiled at us, and headed towards the door. But he stopped before he closed the door behind him, and smacked his lips to mine, in a kiss.

"Oh, my God!" Natalia screeched, obviously thrilled. "That guy has got some balls . He was so straightforward," she commented.

"He is with me," I shrugged.

"And he's not scared of Enzo?" She spoke, and I noticed the concern in her eyes.

"He doesn't seem to be," I remarked, wondering why and how Marco wasn't fazed by my father at all.

"Even though your dad keeps close watch over you?" She chimed in question.

"Yeah, but he thinks we can keep this a secret. I think he figured out I told you about him, and that's why he wasn't trying to hide it." I stopped and chewed on my bottom lip a bit before I turned to Natalia.

"Do you think we're making a huge mistake?" I groaned shakily.

"Well, seeing as he's the only one who's been willing to completely ignore Enzo's orders like that," she started.

"Hm."

She continued, "Still... I don't have to warn you how Enzo will take things if he finds out," she added cautiously.

I sighed heavily. "I don't know what to do about all of it..."

"What's holding you back the most," her light brown eyes held mine in question.

"The fact that dad won't agree," I hastily said. "You have no idea how on edge I always feel," I said dejectedly, as my shoulders slumped.

She sighed. "Having a dad like yours isn't easy, I get it," she sympathized, patting my arm.

"I love him, but sometimes I wonder if he could consider my needs more," shaking my head, I added, "but it might be too soon to think about any of this."

"Try not to overthink it, and just enjoy your time with him," Natalia advised, a smile playing on her lips.

"You're right. Anyway, let's get out of here," I suggested.

Natalia and I spent the rest of the afternoon together, talking and window shopping. It felt good to be able to get some distance from my family. From their eyes.