My book has received so many new readers recently and I'd just like to thank you all for taking the time to read my work!

Happy reading, Sade xx

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BACK AT her office Charlotte sat slumped at her desk. Ever since her lunch with Isabelle, Marie sensed a change in her mood as soon as she stepped into the room. She hasn't been acting like herself for the last few days so Marie decided that it was time to get Bianca on the phone because she knew that whatever happened in the amount of time that Charlotte was away had severely affected her.

So the trio sat in her office as she relayed what had occurred during the meeting with Isabelle.

"Italy? You're going to Italy and you're freaking out over it?"Bianca asked dumbfounded.

"It's basically a free vacation if you think about it?" Marie, bless her soul, said trying to lighten the situation.

"Yes, a vacation surrounded by approximately three out of the top ten most eligible bachelors in the country," Bianca stated, "And you know who's up on that number one spot."

Charlotte grabbed her water bottle from her desk and took a large gulp.

"You're going to need something stronger than that." Bianca mused while receiving a glare courtesy of both Charlotte and Marie.

It was obvious why she was freaking out. Well, at least to her it was. What was her life turning into? Oh how she missed her very normal, and slightly boring life, in Bianca's opinion, right now. To just go home and sink into her couch and watch reality TV shows to her heart's content.

The last few days have been an absolute rollercoaster. The dynamic between her and Nicolas at home took a hit too. She went straight back to the awkward, reclusive ways she was when she just moved in. Even Lisa gave up on trying to initiate some small talk between the two in the morning!

It was just then she heard her phone buzzing, "Oh, look it must be lover boy right now." Bianca said as she snatched the phone off of her desk before Charlotte had the chance to see who it was.

"Oh my gosh! It's his mother!"

Holy shit.

Charlotte rushed to grab the phone out of Bianca's grasp while pleading for her not to click answer. But being true to her nosy self, Bianca not only accepted the call but put it on speaker so they could all hear the conversation.

"Charlotte, hello?" Isabelle's voice rang throughout the now silent office. She shot the most fatal glare she could towards Bianca but the bitch seemed giddy with excitement.

"Hi Mrs. De Luca, can I assist you with something?"

"Natalia and I are going downtown to do some shopping for the Italy trip and I think it would be great if you'd tag along," Isabelle asked.

Her eyes widened slightly in uncertainty but it looked like Isabelle's request produced the opposite effect on her friends as it seemed to have lit a spark behind Bianca and Marie's eyes as they looked at her and nodded vigorously.

"We're going after work if that's what you're worried about." Isabelle made sure to mention.

"Uhh...sure. I'll join you." She agreed reluctantly after a long pause and ended the call with Isabelle telling her that she would pop her a text with the address of the store they would convene at.

"Oh a shopping spree with your future mother-in-law!" Bianca clapped enthusiastically while wearing a wide smile that Charlotte felt the immediate to need completely wipe off.

Charlotte didn't know how this was going to play out but she felt a little stressed. She pulled down the sun visor and looked into the mirror, "You got this. Just need to calm down. It's just shopping. You've been shopping before it's going to be fine. " Charlotte repeated to herself before she left the safe confinements of her car.

She took a deep breath as she pulled open the doors of the boutique. Almost instantly she was greeted by a less than enthusiastic sales assistant who's mood seemed to do a complete 180 when she mentioned meeting the De Luca's.

"Charlotte? Is that you?"

What could she have possibly done throughout the course of her existence to gain this sort of misfortune in her life?

She turned around and much to her dismay confirmed her suspicions, "Mother."

"Well, I must say I am quite shocked to see you here." Her mother said in her usual snarky tone whilst judging her appearance from head to toe. 

"I'm actually here to meet up w-" 

"Charlotte! You made it!"Natalia rushed towards her to give her a big hug with Isabelle in tow.

The surprise on her mother's face was quite apparent. Not only did she never expect to ever see her daughter shopping at the same boutiques which she frequents; but to see her mingling with such an affluent family like the De Luca's was inexplicable.

"Isabelle, it's great to see you!" Barbara greeted enthusiastically now ignoring Charlotte but that was nothing new. 

"Likewise." Isabelle replied diplomatically, "I just thought I'd take the girls shopping to look for something to wear for nonna's party." The look on Barbara's face as she sneakily dropped that tidbit of information was priceless as she shifted her gaze to her daughter with her mouth slightly agape.

"You're going? To Italy? To Alina De Luca's birthday party?" her mother stammered in shock.  

"Of course she's invited. She is Nicolas's girlfriend after all." Natalia replied in a snarky tone.

Charlotte was strangely enjoying this moment. She's never really had anyone stand up for like this before and she definitely enjoyed having this upper hand over her mother who loved being in control of situations.

"So does that mean I should look forward to receiving my invitation in the mail soon," Charlotte had to roll her eyes at this. Her mother was so quick to jump on any and every opportunity to worm her way into events and other situations where her presence was not needed. 

"No," Isabelle answered abruptly bursting Barbara's bubble, "It's an event for family and close friends only. But we need to get going, we have to be somewhere else." 

The three women hastily made their way out of the store leaving her mother with a stunned look on her face. Charlotte couldn't help but feel great satisfaction at what just occurred.



NICOLAS was extremely frustrated. Suddenly his 'relationship' with Charlotte was progressing much faster than he ever intended for it too. He was so used to being in control and having absolutely none in this whole situation made him feel all types of anxiety. It was not a feeling that he was accustomed to and he needed to do something about it.

After his mother had literally dropped a bomb on them during their lunch meeting a few days ago, the air between the two seemed to shift.

Charlotte wasn't her usual self. All the progress they seemed to have made in the past weeks diminished and they were back to their awkward 'hi and bye' stage.

There was only one person who he could talk to regarding this whole ordeal, Sebastian.

"Hello." Sebastian answered the phone after a few rings, "If this call is already beginning with a sad sigh then give me a minute to situate myself before you start."

Nicolas heard some scuffling sounds in the background before Sebastian's voice came through the speakers of the telephone.

"Proceed."

He started off by relaying the whole situation which had unfolded during the lunch with his mother, making sure to mention Charlotte's slight panic attack when she was told that she would be potentially lying to his nonna.

"So let me get this straight. You're losing you shit over the fact that one; you and you fake girlfriend, who is technically your babysitter, are going to take a trip to Italy because your nonna thinks you've found the one and wants to see how the two of you look as a couple so she can picture what her great-grandbabies will look like. And two; you're feeling frustrated because you have to live with Charlotte and she's giving you a case of blue balls."

"She's not giving me blue balls Seb," Nic huffed as he rolled his eyes at his best friend.
"Trust me, looking the way she did at the gala. Those balls were blue without a doubt." Sebastian answered matter-of-factly.

"Well, to me the solution is simple." Sebastian started, "I know exactly what you need. You need to let loose and just be your young self before you officially turn into an old man."

After a moment to think about it, Nicolas reluctantly agreed with Sebastian. He was way too in his head about this entire situation and definitely needed to let loose.

"Well, then I guess it's settled. It's boy's night!" Sebastian bellowed in the most enthusiastic way which was probably slightly inappropriate as he was still at the office.

Nicolas wasn't quite sure if he'd live to enjoy or completely regret this decision. He was allowed to go out and enjoy himself, but why was he suddenly feeling guilty...

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