Earl POV

Shopping with Ashley was the most tiring thing I ever knew. Why in the hell did I agree to accompany her? Watching her trying different outfits until the stores closed was exhausting. Fortunately for me, I didn't have to carry her shopping bags. She had two other men for that, Kane and Aaron. They had at least five bags on each arm. I went to the washroom for less than five minutes and when I came back they already had a few bags in their hands. I was kind of expecting the same treatment, but she never gave me a bag. Well, it wasn't as if I wanted to.

I looked at my watch on my wrist and sighed when I saw that we were in this mall for more three hours and she didn't seem close to finish. How much money did she even bring? When I looked up Ashley came out of the dressing room with a sleek red dress. Damn, I nearly swallowed my tongue. She was very sexy in that dress. Red really suited her.

"How do I look?" she asked before doing a pose.

"Are you finished?" grumbled Aaron his French accent thicker than usual.

Ashley glared at the man before walking toward me, "Boss, how do I look like?" she asked seductively, but I could see it in her eyes that it was a joke.

"As pretty as you can ever be," I teased back in the same way as her.

She laughed before gently pushing me in the chest before walking back into the dressing room. Then I felt his glare, Kane murderous glare. I didn't even dare to look at him. I knew that if I did, I will be in a bigger mess than I already was.

Fortunately, this was the last shop wanted to go, but now she claimed to be starving and wanted to go eat in a restaurant on the other side of the city. Women were so complicated and incomprehensible. They were a different species from us, men.

As soon we were on the street, they called a cab and Ashley told the driver the address. When we arrived there, we all rushed in since it started raining on our way here. We were seated at a table in the corner and were given the menus. To be able to taste everything or almost everything, we decided to share. We ordered two different kinds of pizzas, a calzone, mussels and two different kinds of pasta. For the desserts, we had some cannoli and tiramisu. I had to admit that the restaurant looked good from the outside and was even better once I had tasted their food. The bill though wasn't cheap though. Yes, I was loaded, but not in Italy, well not yet.

Back in the hotel lobby, my walking pace slowed down. I completely forgot that I had to share a room with Kane! Fuck, fuck, fuck. With the glares he had been giving me all day since Ashley's joke, I knew I was going to have it.

Wait. Why was I stressing over it? We weren't even a thing. He acted as if we were a... Couple? I did care for the man because he was a precious subject for my research, but there wasn't anything more.

That sounded unconvincing, even in my own head. Okay, I must admit it, I had been attracted to the sinful and sexy man, but there was no love. Only lust and other weird kinky stuff. Plus, I wasn't even sure if he knew what love was. A few weeks ago, he didn't even know how to smile or what a joke was and he punched that wall down.

"Earl," Ashley called as she pulled me aside from the two other men. "Am I really sharing a room with that man?!" she whispered loudly as she put her hand next to her cheek to hide her mouth.

"Unless you want to share a room with either Kane or me."

"I can't have a room to myself then?" she asked disappointedly.

"Sorry, if you want to complain, do it to Heather, she made the arrangements for this trip."

She sighed and lifted her shopping bags before turning her gaze to Aaron who was already holding half of her bags. "If he is my roommate, best to take advantage on the situation," she smiled.

She walked to Aaron and gave him the rest of her bags before heading to the elevator. I watched amused as the French followed her without any complaint. When they got out of sight, I called for my own lift. As I watched the numbers go down, I felt Kane's warmth on my back. The elevator opened and we both embarked on it. I was kind of expecting him to do something, but he didn't. He stayed silent and unmoving. Even when we reached our own room, we took a shower separately before going to sleep on different beds.

At dawn, we were already heading toward Caesar's tomb with Ashley's equipment this time. The sooner we got there, the sooner we could leave, but if there were any complications, we still had all day to fix it. However, Aaron Anderson decided to stay in bed since it was too early for him.

We showed the papers to the police officers and reached the rock which served as a headstone. I let Ashley and Kane extract the remote as I watched from the sidelines. It wasn't my field of expertise, so even if I helped, I wouldn't be of any help. Instead, I reviewed the files Shelby and Mark sent me yesterday. I may as well be productive. I made a few phone calls, mostly to my brother who was now I charge since I wasn't currently present in the country.

"Earl, you remember I promised you the sight of an old Italian man?" started Shelby making me groan knowing what was about to come.

"Don't tell me, I have to meet him? Let me remind you that I have to leave tomorrow."

"Don't worry, your meeting is today. I'll send you the details later, but did you bring Mark with you?"

"I didn't, why?"

"You need at least a bodyguard, you dumbass! Remember you're the Boss, going to meet the Italian without any protection is insane!"

I rolled my eyes at him and then glanced at Kane, "Don't worry, I have the man for the job."

"Kane is it?" I heard him sigh, "Look, not that I don't trust him or you, but one man is-"

"Don't worry, I'll convince that old man and come back in one piece. If something does happen to me, well, you'll just to have to work full-time again."

Even if we couldn't see each other, I knew he was rolling his eyes at me, "I hope you know what you're doing..."

I ended the call and a minute later, I received the details my brother talked about. I read it carefully and looked at my watch. The meeting was in five hours and the location was in a fancy Italian restaurant. Mostly one of the Italian's property. Kane will have to accompany me as my bodyguard and Aaron my driver, but I still needed a new suit. I guessed I had to buy a new one since didn't bring any with me.

"Earl," called Kane making me look at him. He needed one too. Two suits to buy.

I walked toward them and saw their work. There was a hole that wasn't here originally. It was pretty deep.

"How is it going?" I asked as I leaned down to see inside the hole.

"The remote was deeper than we thought, but we still found it. I just figured you wanted to see it," smiled Ashley as I nodded at her.

I stepped a few steps back, so I could still watch them, but without interfering in their process. They were using all sorts of archaeological materials to extract the remote as if it was made of glass. It was only after another hour before they finally got it all out. Ashley delicately put it in a plastic container before putting the lid back on. She gave it to Kane before starting to put everything back in.

I watched Kane carefully examining the object which was smaller than I imagined. He opened the lid before trailing his finger on it. If he was planning to tell me that it wasn't the remote or whatever what we were looking for, I would be more than mad.

"Is that the remote?" I finally asked impatiently to know.

"It is, but it needs restoration."

"Don't worry, I will take care of it, so give it back to me before anything happen!" warned the archeologist.

"You continue what you're doing, Kane and I have other business to attend," I explained to the woman.

"Do you need me, Boss?"

I looked at her as I thought about it. Then I remembered what Shelby said earlier on the phone. "Finish and join us later. I'll send you everything on your phone."

"Yes, Sir!"

I nodded and then glanced at the man next to me, "Follow me."

I brought my phone to my ear after dialling Aaron number. He will be my driver. His opinion didn't really matter, he would be my driver willing or not. I had no time to lose. While he was taking his beauty sleep, I put Mark skills to good use. I recently discovered that he had a sister and well, guess who she had a date with tonight? Yup, she has a date with Mark. Once knowing that Aaron was more cooperative than ever. So, I gave him the time and the location of where he was going to wait for us. Of course, he had to be dressed appropriately for the occasion. He had to wear a suit too. 

I hailed a cab and once inside, I said, "To the closest tailor."

"Tu vuoi tailleur?" asked the driver.  (You want a suit for women?)

"I want to buy some suits. Bring me to a shop who sells it," I explained more slowly than the first time.

"Non capisco, signore." (I don't understand, sir.)

I rubbed my forehead with my fingers. That will be a problem if the man I was meeting also didn't know a single word of English. I will not be able to close any deals like that. I should have brought someone knowing how to speak Italian or learned the language myself.

"Al più vicino sarto," said Kane in Italian making me look at him surprised as the driver nodded in understanding. (To the closest tailor.)

When I asked him when did he learn how to speak Italian, he answered that it was because he stumbled on an article on the Internet that he wanted to read with no translation. So, he learned Italian in a few hours which was perfectly normal, please note the sarcasm. Not only he was stronger and faster than any human being, he was also more intelligent. Without forgetting of his super metabolism that allowed him to heal almost everything while in the solution.

"That's a good thing then. I have to attend an important meeting this afternoon and I want you to be my bodyguard and my translator if needed. Ashley will back you up if the business goes sour."

"That won't be necessary," stated Kane seriously making me raise an eyebrow at him.

"Why is that?"

"Because I'm more than enough to protect you."

"I'm not taking any risks, plus Ashley is very competent."

"I'm still more than enough," he growled as he clenched his fists. That was new. He seemed mad? But why? Was it because of Ashley's joke?

"Okay, tell me. Why are you upset?"

He rolled his eyes at me for the first time, "Do I really have to spell it out? You're so naïve and slow sometimes."

I looked at him surprised at his little outburst, but still harshly answered since I didn't like his tone at all "Is there something that I need to know?"

He sighed loudly looking exasperated before opening the car's door and stepping out. It was only then that I noticed that we arrived at the tailor.

"Personal matter later, for now, let's concentrate on the meeting," I mumbled to myself to calm myself down as I slammed the door shut. I really hoped that Italian man was ready to kiss my ass or else, I fear that I may kill him.