POV: Aletta

I awaken to the scent of a soft aroma of freshly brewed coffee lingering in the air. I open my eyes and swing my legs out of bed, completely hypnotised by the smell.

I can hear muffled voices conversing in the background as I get closer to the kitchen. That's odd.

Once I arrive, I'm surprised to see my father sat opposite a familiar man, and that's when I remember the events of last night.
I look down at myself, taking in my appearance and I realise that I'm still in yesterday's clothes.

Before I can turn around to go and shower and get changed, my father notices me. He offers me a cup of сoffee, and I just can't refuse.

I take a seat beside papa, opposite Angelo, with a confused expression gracing my face.
Papa explains that Angelo stayed the night after he carried me to my room. A pink flush spreads across my face as embarrassment settles in the pit of my stomach, at the thought of Angelo having to carry me to my room while I was sleeping.

I am perhaps the worlds most ugly sleeper. I snore, sleep talk and drool. Basically, me sleeping is a pretty freakish sight to behold.

Also, Angelo carried me all the way to bed, it's no wonder he was so exhausted. I'm not particularly light and skinny like the other girls at school.
I'm not too keen on sport and I prefer shopping with my friends or binge watching Netflix. I'm also quite tall, which couldn't help with my weight, I'm surprised Angelo didn't pass out from having to carry me.

"Did you sleep well?" Papa asks me, and the question takes me by surprise.

I think about the question and realise that, last night was perhaps the best nights sleep I've had in months, possibly over a year, since when Maman was diagnosed with cancer, I wasn't able to sleep well.

Also, after she died, I'd have many sleepless nights due to nightmares. I still do have nightmares sometimes, and my sleeping pattern is very irregular now, probably out of habit of not sleeping well. It's surprising how well I slept.

I look at papa and smile. "Yeah, I slept really well, thanks."
I glance over to Angelo and I swear I saw a faint smile appear on his lips. He looks even more handsome when he smiles.

I think he senses my gaze upon him, due to the fact that he turns his head to look at me. We maintain eye contact for about 5 seconds, without saying a word, until I shift my eyes away.

For some reason his gaze set me alight, making me burn with desire I've never felt before. But desire for what? I'm not sure.

Angelo turns to face papa as well and papa is sat with an amused expression on his face. Papa's eyes shift from me to Angelo and back and forth a couple of times.
As I watch, his freaky grin spreads wider, making him look like the joker.

I'm completely confused, so I ask him what he's doing.

"Oh, nothing." Is his only response. His grin spreads even wider as he responds - I didn't even realise that was possible.

"Seriously papa, you look like a maniac." I say, dead serious.
He glances between me and Angelo so I add, "right, Angelo?". Hoping that Angelo's response will stop him creeping me out.

"I-uhhhh." Angelo doesn't know how to respond. That is the first time I've ever seen Angelo speechless! He always has something to input in any conversation.

"It's fine Aletta, don't worry about it." He stands up from the kitchen stool to turn around and put his coffee cup in the sink.

Aletta? Now I know something is wrong, papa never calls me Aletta; it's always some sort of nickname like principessa.

I shrug the weird feeling off and sip on my coffee - surprisingly, it's still warm.

Papa heads out of the kitchen, saying that he's heading off because he has work to do. Since Gio turned up about 6 months ago asking for papa- I mean Virus' help, he has been doing jobs for him.
Much to my dismay, papa enjoys his job and it pays well, so he often works with Gio.

I say goodbye to him and Angelo does the same.
I go to put mine and Angelo's coffee cups in the sink once we're finished but my phone pings from on the breakfast bar.

I head over to see a message on the screen:

From: Tyler <3

Hey babe, can't wait to c u tonight.xx

Ps.Wear something hot ;)

"Oh yeah! I completely forgot about that!" I accidentally think aloud, a big fat smile plastering itself on my face.

"What did you forget?" Angelo asks curiously, meanwhile putting the cups I left on the side into the sink.

While I text my reply, I answer his question.
"I have a date with Tyler tonight, it's our 6 month anniversary!" I state, slightly over excited.

I send my response to Tyler, that I can't wait, and turn my head up to look at Angelo.

His mood darkens into an angry expression but he quickly masks it with an unreadable face.
He always does that. I can never tell what he's feeling.

His steel eyes look almost lifeless, and his lips are in a straight line. His expression is stone cold, emotionless.

I watch him, trying to read what he's thinking/feeling. Despite my attempts to understand him, his face doesn't shift, puzzling me even further.

"I uhh, are you okay?" I ask, slightly nervously as his eyes remain permanently fixed on me.

"I should go." Angelo replies, his voice monotone with a hint of ice. I almost flinch at the way he said it.

He moves across the kitchen but I reach out quickly and touch his arm.

"Don't go." I almost whisper. I don't know why, but I really did t want him to leave.

He turns to face me and his eyes stare straight into mine. I look back at his silver-grey eyes, trying to see past his blank mask.

My eyes remain glued to his until my phone blares out the song, mercy by Shawn Mendes and I instantly recognise it.

"Is that your boyfriend?" Angelo, asks coldly.

"No. It's Bella." I reply while swiping the answer button on my phone.
I continue watching him as I place my phone to my ear and I can see that he has relaxed at the fact that Bella is calling me. Was he...jealous? No that's stupid, he couldn't be.

I push my thoughts away and focus on what Bella is saying.

Upon hearing the bad news which she is relaying to me, I become disappointed. It's not Bella's fault though.

After ending the call, Angelo asks if I'm okay, since I clearly look sad.

"I'm alright. Today Bella was supposed to help me go shopping and choose a new dress for my date tonight, but she can't make it." I reply honestly not bothering to mask my disappointment.

For some reason with Angelo I never pretend. I'm always honest and I don't feel pressured into putting on a mask of any sorts. It's nice, refreshing even, to be able to have someone that you can be 100% real with.

His face softens from the stone cold one to a calmer one. "If you want, I can always take you shopping?" He offers, taking me by complete surprise.

For some reason I don't think that Angelo is the type of guy to enjoy shopping. I don't want to be a burden or guilt him into doing anything he doesn't want to.

"It's fine. I can just wear one of my old dresses. Thanks for the offer though." I give him a genuine smile, as I honestly appreciate the gesture.

"Honestly, I don't have anything to do today anyways as everybody is busy at the warehouse. Actually, I insist that we go." He replies making me grin excitedly.

My whole face lights up at his suggestion. I feel like I just won the lottery.

"Are you sure?" I ask, just to make sure he's up for it.

"Of course." He replies and gives me a lopsided grin which makes my insides melt and my heart hammer uncontrollably.

Eventually, we arrive at the mall. I head straight for Forever 21, but Angelo immediately stops me.

He shakes his head and walks over in the other direction. I follow him curiously, before asking where we're going.

"To a store." Is his in depth response.

"Which store?" I ask, trying to extract more information from him.

"A clothing store." He says, in a very matter-of-fact voice so I roll my eyes.

"Stop rolling your eyes at me. You'll see the shop when we get there." He says and I'm surprised at what he said.

How did he know I was rolling my eyes? Oh well.

Eventually, we arrive outside a posh clothing boutique. He walks straight inside like he owns the place meanwhile I walk in dragging my jaw along the floor.

He walks over to one of the posh shop assistants and I come up besides him.
He asks the middle aged lady to get me some dresses to try on and my eyes widen in shock. The lady walks off so I turn to Angelo.

"Angelo, this stores so expensive, I'll never be able to-" I start but he cuts me off quickly.

"It's fine, don't worry about it. Just try the dresses on okay?" He tells me and obediently I nod my head.

The lady walks over to me again with the dresses and I go to the fitting rooms to try them on.

I have 6 choices. TI try on option 1 which is a little red, off the shoulder dress. Its simple yet classy. I step out of the changing room, modelling the dress for Angelo, twirling a couple of times.

"What do you think? I ask his opinion.

"Classy and elegant but not too dressy. You look beautiful." He responds and I'm more than satisfied with his response. I blush terribly so I quickly turn and head back into the changing room.

I try on the second outfit which is a white and cream lacy, sleeveless dress.

I repeat the modelling procedure and Angelo gives an opinion again.

"Very angelic." He pairs his words with a cute wink making my knees turn weak.
I chuckle at what he says.

"What?" He questions and I respond.
"Nothing just that you, Angelo, called me angelic, when if anything your the angelic one - after all your name does mean 'Angel'."

He just rolls his eyes at my response before a wicked smirk eases its way into his lips.
"Now, we both know I'm anything but an angel." He says in a low, husky voice, practically whispering it in my ear.

His words make me shiver and my cheeks start burning again.

After changing I try the third dress which is a figure hugging shiny gold dress.

After modelling the dress Angelo compliments me but then says honestly that it's too revealing.

"How's it revealing?" I ask, shocked at his statement. Jeez he's acting like my dad!

"It only just covers your bum and shows way to much cleavage. Do you know what guys will think if they see you in that?!" He honestly replies.

"No, I don't know what guys will think. Care to enlighten me. What are your thoughts?"
My answer makes his eyes darken and him run a hand over his face.

"Just change it, Aletta." He says, not pushing the topic further.

I stomp back into the changing room but come across a slight problem. Of course I can't reach the zip!

Nervously I pop my head out the curtain of the changing room to look at Angelo who is sat casually on his phone.

"Uhh, Angelo. Could you help me please?" I ask quietly, quite embarrassed.

"Sure, what do you need?" He responds and so I reply nervously.

"Could you please undo the zip? I can't quite reach it." His eyes darken again, like they did before and he nods his head without saying a word.

He walks over to me so I turn around so my back is facing him.
I lift up my brown curls so he can access the zip easier.

I feel his soft fingers touching my bare skin ever so gently above the zip as he holds onto the zip.
Slowly, he starts undoing the zip, his fingers skimming my bare back as he pulls the zip down.

His touch leaves a trail of fire as it progresses down my spine. I then realise that he can probably already see my lacy Victoria's Secret bra.

He continues pulling the zip and I realise how low the zip actually goes. His fingertips graze the bottom of my back, just above where my underwear are.

The zip goes just beneath there, revealing my matching lace panties and I shudder as his touch briefly glides over the top of the lace.

He then removes his hands completely and steps out from the changing room without saying a word. I shudder a little as i reminisce in the touch of his fingertips, but I quickly busy myself with trying on the next dress: a royal blue one with a slit in the front and a backless behind with two strips going across.

Nervously I step out and do a twirl.

"Beautiful, but is there a way to stitch up the front and make it longer?" Angelo says quite seriously and I burst out laughing.

"No, this is the style of the dress." I reply still laughing slightly at his comment.

"Well in that case I think you should try the next one." He crosses his arms over his chest and I giggle again whilst heading back.

I try the last two dresses on. The first being blue and with sequins all over and the second a one sleeved little red dress.

Once again Angelo says they're too revealing and I can't help but start laughing again. He even goes to ask the shop assistant if they have any floor length dresses which cover my back and my arms and aren't too low.

I rush over to them telling the lady to ignore him because he's just being silly when actually he was being dead serious.

Angelo decides that his favourite was the second dress (cream and white lacy) but I prefer the two red dresses and can't make up my mind.

In the end he insists that we buy all three no matter how much we argue about it and he pays for them. He wouldn't tell me how much the dresses cost, he just told me not to worry about it and they weren't that expensive.

But I know full well they are. This boutique is where celebrities come to get their dresses. There is no way it couldn't be expensive.

I'm determined to find a way to pay him back. I'm not a leech, taking advantage of other people's money and kindness, so I will repay him, somehow.

We stay at the mall for a couple more hours, getting lunch at a French cafe (which he also payed for!). After, he wants to buy me some new shoes to go with my outfit but I strongly protest. Its bad enough that he already bought me lunch and three very expensive dresses.

I insist that I don't need any shoes because I can just borrow some of Bella's and eventually he gives up protesting.

We arrive back home at about 4:30pm so we decide to watch a film on Netflix.

Angelo wants to watch an action movie but I insist on watching a comedy so we both compromise and end up watching deadpool.

The afternoon is light hearted and filled with banter. Angelo and I seem to get along really well. After today and yesterday, I feel like I've known Angelo forever.

I don't see him as the monster that everybody says he is. In fact, I don't believe he is a monster at all. I know deep down in his heart, Angelo Santovendito is a good man. He's just not had the right guidance...

The film finishes at about 6pm and I decide that I should get ready. I go to my room and change into the shoulderless red dress that Angelo bought me today.
I brush my hair and tie it in a styled fishtail braid.

I apply some light make up. Some red lip gloss to match my dress and some neatly winged eyeliner are the main factors, along with a light blush on my cheekbones.
After about 5000 attempts of doing my eyeliner I finally perfect it and my make up is complete.

I go to my wardrobe to find a pair of heels to pair with my dress when I hear a faint knock at the door.

"Come in." I say turning to face the door. It couldn't be papà as he won't be home until late tonight so it must be Angelo.

My assumption was right as Angelo's figure fills the doorway. He is holding a gift box in his hands and my eyes widen at the sight of it.

"I know you said not to get you anything else, but I uhh, saw these shoes and I just thought of you." He says while rubbing one of his hands behind his neck.

I slowly walk over to him with a smile on my face. He hands me the box in his hands and I take it and go to sit on my bed.
He follows and sits besides me, watching my expression as I remove the lid.

"I uhh, don't know if you like them, but i hope you do. I'm guessing you have the same shoe size as Bella, that is what you said, right?" He rambles as I look at the beautiful pair of black heels. They're simple yet elegant. I couldn't have chosen better myself.

I spring myself onto Angelo wrapping my arms around his neck, embracing him into a hug.
He freezes at first, surprised by my actions and I'm worried that he's going to push me away, but he doesn't.

He returns my embrace, wrapping his strong arms around me. His embrace is so warm and comforting and I swear I could stay here forever.
I rest my head against against his chest, listening to the soothing beat of his heart. He gently rubs slow circles on my back, making me relax even more.

Slowly, we reluctantly pull away from each other and I immediately miss his touch. We exchange a warm smile before he leaves my room.

I put on my shoes, getting ready to leave. I grab my black purse and head to the front door, excited for my date but also feeling quite disappointed for some reason.

I shake the feeling of and Angelo and I head downstairs.

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Author note: Hello there readers!

Just in case you wanted to see what the dresses that Aletta tried on in the store were, here they are in order. (The first one is the one that she will wear on her date).