I spent the next couple days in bed binging movies and eating mint chip ice cream. It had finally hit me that I was no longer in a relationship with Cole. Megan made me cookies and tried to help me cheer up in various ways. She helped me get rid of anything related to Cole in the house. She said that once I was done with that and after I cried all my tears out I would finally be able to move on.

She was right, I shouldn't let this affect me any longer. I'm only 23 and I still have a long life ahead of me. I need to enjoy summer vacation with my friends before it's time to get a job.

I throw on a black tank top and shorts as I grab my purse and keys.

"Bye Megan, I'm going to go get my heel back from my kidnapper." I yell from across the room.

"Okay be safe." She walks out of the bathroom brushing her hair. "Hold on, I thought you technically didn't get kidnapped."

"I just don't know his name so I call him that." I say waving goodbye and walking out the door.

I run downstairs and to my car. I turn on the AC as I throw my purse to the passengers seat. "Holy shit it's so hot" I say to myself. "I'm so glad I wore shorts." I put on my seat belt and I turn on the radio. I always love to blast music when I'm in the car.

It took a while for me to get to his place since i kept getting lost. All I was thinking about was whether he'd be home or not. I didn't have his number so I couldn't let him know I was stopping by. Worse case scenario is I gotta climb over the gate and break open a window.

I laugh at myself for having crazy thoughts. I could get sued if that were to ever happened.

I finally get to the front of his property and I click the buzzer in front of the gate.

"Who is it?" An unfamiliar voice asks.

Shit what should I say? "Ummm... I'm a friend of the person who lives here." God, I sound so dumb. I hit my forehead with my palm.

"Are you here to pick up something you left?" She asks. "Mr. Russo said someone might be coming by for that."

"Yup that's me." I sigh in relief knowing I'm a terrible liar.

The big gate opens and my heart starts racing. I take a deep breath. Why was I so nervous? It's not like I'm ever going to see him again after this.

I drive in and around the fountain as I admire the huge fancy house I once woke up in. It was prettier than I remembered.

I grab my purse and I walk up the marble stairs to the front door. I push my hair behind my ear and as I lean in to knock, a girl walks out and pauses to glare at me.

She has beautiful long blonde hair and is tall and skinny. She's wearing designer clothes with a diamond necklace. As she passes me she hits my shoulder and I stumble a little.

What the hell is her problem. Who is she? His girlfriend, maybe.

"Don't mind her, she has a bad temper." He says, leaning against the side of the doorway shirtless with his hands in his grey sweatpants pockets. I try not to drool from seeing his muscular body that has some scars on his arms. His tan skin goes so well with the snake tattoo he has on his broad shoulders and the gold cross that hangs from his neck.

I shake my head and look down trying not to get distracted.

"I didn't think you'd be back." He says, grabbing my hand while leading me inside.

I try not to gasp as I look around. The inside of his house is even more beautiful than the outside.

"Yea well it's not like I really have a choice. So where is my shoe anyway." I ask bumping into his back as he stops. He looks down at me and leans close to whispers in my ear. "Oh yea let me get that for you." He runs up the stairs.

I shiver. How was someone so attractive. I would totally let him rail me and--

"Here." He disrupts my train of thought by tapping on my shoulder.

He hands me a pretty white box.

"What is this." I ask as he steps closer to me.

"It's what you asked for."

I open the box and I see my shoe laying on rose petals with a small piece of paper. "Thanks but why so extra." I try holding back a smile.

"Because I am a gentleman." He grins. He has a beautifully smile too. Ugh how perfect can he be.

"Okay well I have to get going." I tell him with a hare of disappointment.

I wish I could stay longer but there's no reason for me to stay. We aren't friends or anything, he's practically a stranger.

"I'll walk you out." He says dispirited, as he puts on his sneakers. He opens the door and places his big hand on my back leading me out. I feel my cheeks get all hot.

"Oh by the way, is the girl that just walked out the one who let me in the gate?" I ask trying to figure out what relationship he has with her.

"No the one who let you in was one of my servants." He says unfazed.

Servants?!?! Was he some kind of prince?

He opens the car door as I get in but he grabs my waist with his hands and tightens his grip. He gazes into my eyes and slowly leans his face down, closer to mine as I look up at him. He opens his mouth as if he were about to say something, but he scrunches his nose, shaking his head as he pulls away.

"Good bye." The desperate look in his eyes made it seem like he didn't want me to leave.

"Bye." I mumble as my head goes blank and I drive off.

What the hell was that. Why am I so confused and flustered around him?

Once I got home, I rushed to my room and opened the note that came with the box.

I started reading not knowing what to expect.

I'm glad I'm the one who got to see you like that. Here's my number in case you need me.

310-***-****

-Valentino

What's that supposed to mean?

I layed on my bed with the note against my heart, repeating his name over and over again in in my head. I closed my eyes and smiled as I dozed off.

***

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. I yawn and rub my eyes as I pick up the phone.

Selena called me over to her house to workout together since I've been lazying around lately. I put on some work out clothes and drove to her house.

"Damn, this place is just as big as I remember." I say walking in the gym.

"Yea, and my father is just as annoying as you remember." She rolls her eyes.

"What happened?" I ask, putting my hair in a ponytail.

"Ugh okay, I'll tell you but this has to stay between you and me." She looks around and then walks closer to me.

"Yea of course." I say stretching out my arms.

"Don't freak out or make a big deal out of it..." She says with an unsure expression. She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. "My father is the boss of the American mafia."

"Yea right" I laugh not believing her. There's no way that's true.

"I'm completely serious, you're my best friend and I'm tired of keeping this from you." She looks at me in the eyes.

"What, ummm..." I say still trying to process the situation. "So the reason why you never told me before is because you had to keep it a secret?"

"Well yea, I just wanted to have a normal life, that's why I begged my father to let me go to a public school and that's where I met you. I didn't tell you before because I was scared you would act differently around me once you knew." Her eyes start to water.

I pull her into a hug. "I would never treat you differently based on stupid stuff like that."

"Thanks Kate" she says hugging me back.

"This is crazy though," I start laughing. "So that's why you're so rich."

She nodes her head.

"So what happened between you and you're father?" I ask remembering why this conversation even started.

"Well, the day we all went to party, I met a guy named Matteo. And he was so cute and so sweet. We exchanged numbers and we hung out a couple times, and now we're dating. Kate, you don't understand I love him so much. The thing is, my father found out and he's overprotective so he did a background check on Matteo and apparently he's part of the Italian mafia."

"Wow that's a lot." I motion for her to continue.

"And he won't let us see each other again for that reason. My father said that if he ever saw us together, he would slit his throat." She says shaking.

"Damn that's gory."

"Yea..." she walks over to the treadmills and I follow her. "I really miss Matteo, so I was wondering if you could help me?"

"Sure, I can help. What do you need?"

"Let's come up with a plan." She smiles.

"A plan? What do you mean?"

"Meet me in front of my house Sunday night at 8 and I'll tell you." She jumps up and down with excitement.