2. APOLOGY GONE WRONG

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I turned around abruptly and placed a small knife to their throat.

It was a man and I had trouble seeing his face. I didn't hear what he said. I was too focused on the small knife in my hand which, I am glad, I brought from my room with me.

His reflexes were quick as he dodged the knife and instead held my wrist, spun me around and placed the knife to my throat. The loose knot of my robe fell open as his hand, unintentionally, pulled at my robe a little.

Heat radiated from his body as soon as our bodies collided. He placed a firm hand on my lower stomach, dangerously close to my private part.

My breathing picked up and I lifted my foot to hit him in the balls but he jumped open his legs. I took that as an opportunity and elbowed him in the gut making his hold on me loose. Twisting his wrist and spinning around, I pinned the knife back to his throat.

The moonlight reflected on his face and I gasped taking a step back. He chuckled as he raised his hands in the air to surrender.

Adrian.

"Impressive." he complimented with a small clapping of his hands.

My chest heaved up and down in nervousness and I licked my dry lips to moist them.

"What are you doing here?" I opened my mouth to ask.

He smirked and his eyes travelled down from my face, slowly, painfully slow and down till my slippers cladded feet. His adam apple bobbed and his eyes turned a darker shade of grey.

He looked back up at me and blinked confused before snapping his eyes down to my slippers again. Amusement danced on his features.

"Poop slippers?" he asked completely ignoring my question.

I hid one feet behind the other and tucked my hair behind my ear hoping he didn't see the crimson color now painting my cheeks.

"I wasn't throwing money at you. It was a gift for your graduation." he said extending the same black package towards me.

"Thank you but the party's over. You're three hours too late." I said and turned around to  face the city again.

Florence was beautiful, especially at night when you could see the all the city lights under the starry sky.

I tied my robe to cover my front and silently prayed for him to leave. I cannot stand his presence without my heart, mind, body and soul going haywire.

The hair on my neck stood in alert as I felt his presence extremely close to where I was leaning. My hands gripped the metal bars tightly hoping the cold metal would bring ease to my nerves but to no avail.

"I was attending an important meeting. It's a big project for us and could earn us millions in profit." he explained.

I scoffed silently but my heart tugged painfully in my chest. A few million bucks were definitely his priority over someone who was returning after twenty months.

"It's alright. You don't have to explain. Its not like you were here the rest of the times I visited." I shrugged nonchalantly.

I heard the bag drop on the table before he grabbed my elbow and spun me around. His hand cupped my chin as he made me look in his eyes.

"So much anger, piccola raggazza." he said as his eyes darted back and forth between mine.

My lips parted as I looked in his grey orbs which he inherited from his father. Sharp, defined jaw and pointy noise with his upper lip thin and bottom, thick.

"I'm not angry at you. Your presence and absence are of little importance to me." I stated and looked away.

"You grew up in my arms, I know you like the back of my hand." he told as his thumb applied pressure on my jaw to tilt my face towards his.

I blinked and looked at him blankly not wanting to give away the fact that I was literally melting in his arms like a puddle.

"You're not worthy of my any emotion or feeling. You're mistaken if you think I care." I stated in a matter of factly tone.

"The words are coming from here," he paused as he placed a hand on my wildly beating heart and continued, "and this is filled with utter anger for me."

My jaw clenched as I glared up at him. He was six two and I stood at five seven.

"I'll be there next time." he whispered as he caressed the exact same cheek Zia Xenia did.

"I'm not graduating again." I scoffed.

He sighed and rubbed his face in, what seemed to be, irritation.

I wiggled out of his hold and shook my head, "Like I said, it's alright. I'm sure that profit of millions was far more important than a useless party. However, I can't accept this... gift you brought. Nor am I upset with you. Goodnight. I'm sure you can show yourself out." I stated and walked away.

He didn't stop me.

I slept with a heavy heart that night. Maybe, I overreacted but I couldn't pretend to be okay with it. In the past four years, whenever I visited home, he wasn't present. It was either mafia or the company that kept him busy. He always arrived after I left and celebrated that occasion the next day with the family.

In all honesty, I was used to his absences but that didn't mean I was happy with them.

***

"I'm thinking to throw Xenia a party next week on her birthday." dad stated.

We were all gathered in the dining hall for breakfast.

"You do that every year, babe." mom smiled as she poured me some mango juice.

"Thanks." I said and took a sip.

"No. This time Xander and I are thinking of doing it at their place in the backyard instead of taking her out. It will be a themed party in her favorite color." he informed and sipped on his coffee.

He was dressed in a sky blue suit, all set for office. Aless was sleeping with his face buried in the empty plate.

I shook him and he sat up rubbing his eyes. He was dressed for school, too.

"Eat." I ordered as I served him waffles with a side of cut fruits.

"That's a great idea, by the way. I'll help you guys in preparations." I suggested.

"Great, thanks. And also I was thinking of setting up a psychology department in my company." he told wiping his face with a napkin.

"Dad, you're running an oil and gas company. What do you need psychologists for?" I asked with a smile.

"For employees, you know. Its good to enhance their efficiency and work performance. If they can talk about work and it's burden during working hours, their input will increase as they will feel light hearted after venting out their frustration. And psychologists can help them improve themselves." he talked in a pure business tone.

"Point taken." I nodded.

"Then come with me to the office today. I have an important meeting at 11 but afterwards I'm mostly free." he suggested.

"Okay." I nodded.

I changed into a black blouse with a tea pink pencil skirt and paired it with black stilettos. My hair were pin straight and reached till my waist.

"You took exactly ten minutes, impressive." dad stated and I laughed.

We both said bye to mom and left together.

"I heard Adrian came last night." dad said turning to me as the driver started the car.

I hummed in response and looked out the window.

"Still like him?" he teased.

"Dad, I don't even know how you know that." I huffed.

He chuckled, "I'm not blind."

"I was in highschool and he was in college that time. Its over. Done and dusted." I replied.

"Then why did the guards say that he was extremely furious when he left?" he asked.

"I don't matter for him. Must be something else." I replied curtly.

"Well then, good luck for today." he said and I looked at him in confusion but he was already busy typing away something on his phone.

I brushed it off and the car halted outside of the skyscraper named 'Mancini and Co."

The staff looked me up and down as I passed them. I hated when people stared at me longer than necessary.

We finally got into the private elevator and pressed forty-one. After almost two to three minutes, we reached the floor.

The doors opened and my steps halted.

Life must hate me so much.

Zio Xander stood dressed in a crisp black suit with his son, Adrian who was sporting a navy blue suit with red tie. His hair were gelled back neatly and his aura screamed power and domination.

I rolled my eyes and looked at dad who was smiling slyly.

"I disown you." I whispered and walked behind him.

"Is that my favorite niece?" Zio Xander spoke making my head snap up.

A smile lit up my face as I speed walked towards him and hugged him.

"Your father told you?" he asked.

"You knew?" I counter questioned.

He nodded with a small smile of his own, "In fact, I was thinking that you should set up a department at our offices, too." he said expressing his opinion.

I gaped at him, "Are you serious?" I asked incredulously.

"Yeah. We can give you two weeks to set up a team and then you can proceed with the rest of the work." he suggested.

"That's great. I'm happy to help." I smiled and everyone started walking towards the conference room.

I was very much aware of the presence behind me but I was doing an excellent job of ignoring it.

His hand latched around my wrist and he turned me around. Our chests collided and I took a sharp intake of breath. Dad and Zio had already gone inside.

"Stop it. People are watching." I gritted out.

He glared down at me and tightened his hold.

"Fix this attitude, Sylvia." he warned menacingly.

I tried to tug my wrist away but his grip was iron hard. I'm sure it was going to leave a bruise.

"Don't touch me." I retorted.

"This is not you." he frowned.

"A person can change a lot in a span of four years. You weren't here to witness." I spat.

He squeezed my wrist one last time before pushing me away.

I stumbled a bit but quickly composed myself and looked at my wrist to see his fingerprints imprinted on it.

Why am I being this way? I don't like him like that. It was just a stupid crush.

Then why is he on your mind eery second of the day? My subconscious chided.

I ignored it and walked inside to find him already sitting in a chair.

Why does my heart ache for him? I exhaled deeply and sat next to him since it was the only available seat.

The meeting went on for forty-five minutes before the room started emptying.

"What happened to your wrist? Its a nasty bruise." Zio Xander asked with anger brewing in his eyes.

Only now did I feel the throbbing pain in my wrist.

"It's been here all along. I got it when I was in New York. Some drunkard tried to misbehave while we were in the club on my graduation day." I lied smoothly.

"I'm sure you handled him." dad narrowed his eyes.

"You know it." I winked and excused myself to roam the building.

"Wait." Adrian shouted and I stopped but didn't turn around.

"Come with me." he commanded grabbing my hand and dragging me to the kitchen.

I looked at him weirdly as he searched the cabinets for something. He finally took out a transparent box and shut the cabinet.

A first aid kit.

He sat me down on a counter and opened my legs to stand between them.

My breath hitched as he took out an ointment and squeezed some on his index finger before applying it gently on my wrist.

My breathing became heavy and I looked away from his face which was inches away from mine.

His touch did not repulse me instead I felt protected. It was gentle, like he was touching a new born.

"I didn't mean to do this." he whispered nodding his head towards the now purple bruise.

I managed to give him a nod as he moved away to wash his hands.

"I want to take you out for a dinner tonight. I wish to make up for yesterday." he spoke wiping his hands with a tissue.

"Adr-" I begin to say but he cut me off.

"I wasn't asking. Be ready by seven. I'll pick you up." he stated and left as if nothing happened.

Looks like I am going to a dinner.

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