The Italian's Proposal

Chapter ONE

Chapter One

Two months ago

Timothy Giannato was excited about the surprise he had prepared for his beloved Gia. A journalist he had been dating for over a year. He was the typical heartbreaker and longed lover for every woman with two fingers of judgment. An Italian with a passion for automobiles, racing cars. 

When Timothy finally heard the key in the apartment door, he stood behind the door of the room he shared with Gia every time he slept over there. His heart began to race, smiling he watched out of the corner of his eye as the door slowly opened. 

He was going to take a big step that night. He had been with her for a year now, everyone at home adored the journalist, and he was sure he had found the woman to settle down with. 

On the bed he had placed the same petal of red roses in the shape of a heart, with his hands that were only practical and skilled at driving and closing deals. On a small table he had placed the champagne with which they would celebrate her yes.

It was then that he heard a series of laughter and a voice speaking urgently. Gia seemed to have come with company. Timothy frowned at the surprise, but told himself that perhaps, after leaving the newspaper his girlfriend had decided to have a few drinks at home. She had always been surrounded by women and men, who admired her for her work and her beauty. 

Timothy had thought twice before deciding to ask Gia for her hand, he had told himself that he was not ready yet, but his mother and father had a different concept. He was used to making them happy since he was a boy, he was their only son, and he didn’t want to give them a hard time. For that reason, even without being completely sure, he told himself that the best way to get to know each other was to get engaged and live together for a year or so. 

He had gone to close a deal in Spain, a week away from Manhattan and Gia, so he had decided to come back two days early and surprise her. He loved to see how her curls fell down her back and how her laughter spread joy and happiness wherever she was. 

That was one of the things he loved most about her. Her way of taking life slow and relaxed, and still doing a flawless and straightforward job. 

He heard a couple of voices heading into the room and stayed behind the door to surprise his girlfriend.  He knew that his mere presence would make Gia’s friends leave, half of them didn’t like him, because they had thrown themselves at him in the past, in search of passions and his fortune, and he had rejected them in the blink of an eye. 

The Giannatos were a family from Italy, with pharmaceutical, marketing and advertising companies, and owners of a racing car tournament firm. He oversaw most of the business, as was his first cousin Hamlet Giannato.  They had grown up together, surviving the fame and business of both Giannatto brothers. Hamlet’s brother had died in a traffic accident months earlier and the family was just beginning to get used to not seeing him. He was also a race car driver just like Timothy. 

Time passed and Timothy didn’t understand why his girlfriend was taking so long to come in, when clearly those had been her intentions all along. 

Minutes later he heard something fall and the door open. He almost melted into the wall to avoid being hit by the door. 

Just as he was about to step out to surprise her, he was stunned at the sight of his almost fiancée. 

Gia was kissing a man. 

In her bedroom. 

Timothy couldn’t believe his eyes. They were so focused on enjoying their caresses that they didn’t notice someone watching them behind the door.