Chapter 10 - The unexpected Departure

Damian's POV

I meant it last night when I told her I would take her to Italy or anywhere else she wanted and that really seemed to bother me a lot on multiple levels. Sure I'd taken a few women on some trips in the past but this, somehow was different.

I hadn't been to Italy in a very long time but I was willing to take her there if she really wanted to go, see, that's the problem. I didn't understand what she was doing to me, I was willing to do anything for her, if she so wanted and she didn't even know it.

She noticed me staring at her, she was becoming my favorite view.

"Okay, what's going on?"

"Nothing." I smile

"It's not nothing if you've been staring at me since like you have something to say." Cassie frowned.

"Maybe I'm just enjoying the view." I reach out brushing strands of her chocolate curls away from her face and wink at her.

She shakes her head, "You're impossible." she chuckles.

"If you are nice enough, I could let you in on a few secrets." I whisper to her.

"What's the secret about." she whispers back, mimicking me.

"It won't be a secret if I told you." I tease.

"Urgh!" she shakes her head.

What was wrong with me, I never tried to impress or hang on to anyone this desperately before but I just couldn't let go, at least not yet.

We leave the restaurant to tour and she drags me towards the rental scooters.

"Have you driven any of this before?" I eye the scooter suspiciously.

"No, but there's always a first thing for everything right."

I wasn't really sure about this thing, a sportbike hell yes but this. She was really excited at the prospects of driving this thing, smiling so widely.

"Fine, but any issues with it and we are ditching it." I say warily.

She rode the damn scooter well for a first time attempt, I couldn't see her face but I knew she was smiling, the wind played with her chocolate waves, she was so unguarded, I couldn't remember the last time I let myself feel this way, so free. I had an unsettling feeling in my chest, this was more than I bargained for, I was noticing the littleness things about her and it was gnawing at my insides, I didn't like this.

Cassie

Our first stop was at Dala vile. There were white walls, cobblestone streets, the mediterranean stretching endlessly below. Tourist were moving around, there it was, he was looking at me like that again, smiling.

"Stop looking at me that way." I couldn't help but say shyly.

"Like what?" he stalks dangerously closer to me.

"Like I'm interesting."

He just smirks, "You are interesting." he reaches for my hair again gently tucking a few strands from my face. I bite my lips as nerves set in, his eyes are now focused on my lips.

"Should I stop looking at you like that?" he gently lifts my chin, my legs feel wobbly.

"No"

"No, what" his face is so close to mine, that I can feel his breath.

"Don't stop looking at me that way." I say feeling bolder. Then he puts me out of my misery, planting his lips on mine, it's everything I hoped for and more. The kiss gets deeper, we almost forget we are at the corner of a street. It's passionate yet intense like we've been starved, I really do want more, more of everything he has to offer.

He pulls away almost reluctantly, there's a dangerous glint in his eyes. He rests his forehead against mine, we are almost breathless.

"Would you like to come to London, I know you work in New York as an events planner but umm, I don't know, would you like to just visit like a Vacation, I could always show around." he looks serious this time.

I hesitate for a while. Did I hear wrongly?

"Umm, Okay, I'll like that." I try not to over think this, I smile shyly, tucking my wild brown curls behind my ear.

He was inviting me to London, where he resided, this was good right? That meant he was into whatever this was as much as I was or maybe he asked a lot of women to visit which wasn't a good sign.

My heart did a flip on the inside. What did this mean now? Wasn't this too fast, was I his girlfriend, were we casual. I need to speak with Eva fast.

He smiles widely, like he's pleased with himself.

We decide to walk some more, Damian pushed the scooter while we walked. We eventually stop at a small bakery overlooking the sea.

It was already crowded inside so we sit at the sit outs. Damian goes in to get a few pastries.

"Whoa! Did you rob them inside?" It seemed like he got one of everything they had in there.

"No" he paused "I bribed one of them." his lips twitching.

"And here I thought you only worked on cruise ships." I laugh unable to hold it in any longer.

"I'm a man of many talents." he said with pride.

His phone rings, he looks at the screen and scowl a bit, before picking up.

"What is the issue?" he sounds indifferent.

He listens to the person on the other end for a while, then moves the phone from his ear.

"Fiorelliona, I have to take this call." he says gently then gives me a peck on the cheek like it's an everyday occurrence, then steps away a bit to finish up the call.

There it was the mystery, I could hear him a bit from this angle and there was agitation in his voice.

"How could this happen....." I manage to hear among the many things said. He ends the call and walks back to the sit out.

"I'm sorry Cassie but I need to fix some issues with work but it won't take long I promise." he says apologetically.

"Is everything alright."

"Not really but it's nothing that I can't handle, I'm a man of many talents remember." he gives a tight smile.

"Okay, you go on I'll just stay here and explore a little before heading back."

"Won't you like to come with me?" he says lightly. "I may have a few things to tell you after." he adds

"How about tonight then, at your reservation." I move closer and give him a quick kiss.

"I'll be expecting you." he smiles and returns the kiss which lingers a bit.

A while after Damian left my phone rings. Looking at the screen, it was my mum calling, I pick with a smile.

"Hey mum, how are you doing?"

"Are you Mrs Michelle Adams daughter?"

"Yes, who is this and why do you have her phone?" I say feeling uneasy about this.

"Miss Adams, I'm calling from Harbor view Medical Center were your mum was brought in a few minutes ago, we need the consent of her guardian to operate on her. It would also be better if you could be here."

I leave all the pastries behind, running like hell, I mount the scooter and get to the resort. I don't even know what to do, I'm shaking, I can't think properly, I throw all my things into my box without arranging them. I sit a little to recollect myself.

Damian, I remember him and our meeting tonight, I pick a paper and scribble my number on it. Heading downstairs I give it to the receptionist and tell her to give it to Damian if he comes to look for me, then I check out and head straight for the airport.

*******

They didn't notice the camera from the distance clicking at them all the while.

To them maybe he seemed like another tourist on the street.

He sent a text

{Found him}

And sent the pictures he took.