Minutes Before The Miracle

CHAPTER - 38

Thought of the chapter:-
Rome is the city of echoes, the city of illusions and the city of yearning.
- Giotto Di Bondone

-x-

STEVEN

Rome, Italy

"Don't tell me you own this hotel too. We just reached here and the next thing I know is you own half of Italy," Emma says as we check into our suite.

I chuckle and look at her as she walks around, observing the paintings and glass work.

"Why did you not refuse when I booked a single suite for both of us? And to answer your question, no, I don't own half of Italy, nor do I own this hotel," I answer, looking intently at her moving form.

"Thank god!" she exclaims, fingering the silver metal vase and moves towards me. To my utter surprise, she holds the lapels of my unbuttoned suit coat and tugs them towards each other. I raise an eyebrow and she winks at me, a naughty smile playing on her lips.

The guts of this girl!

"Would you rather we stayed in two different suites?" she asks.

Would I?

"I think I got my answer," she whispers and unhands the lapels. "What are your plans for today?"

I look at my watch. "I have an afternoon meeting. We can go to the restaurant or order in lunch if you want. Since, you were jumping in the plane to reach Italy and go sightseeing, I think we will do that in the evening, unless you're jet-lagged."

"Yes! I am sooooo excited to finally see Italy," she whisper-yells and behold that beautiful smile. "What about tomorrow?"

"We will be going to the vineyard."

"Don't tell me you own it."

"Well, I inherited it but if you put it that way..." I smirk.

"Wow. You own a vineyard in Italy. That's crazy!"

Now that Emma is busy daydreaming, I order in our lunch because looking at the way she is lying on the bed and staring at the ceiling, it's obvious that she is exhausted to the bone, no matter how persistently she refuses. And even in this haphazard state with her messy hair and crinkled clothes, she looks breathtaking.

God! The things she does to me.

After having a hearty lunch and telling Emma to be ready by five, I head out for the meeting.

-x-

It's twenty minutes past five and Emma is legit testing my patience rather than getting ready.

I am sitting in the living room, answering my mails since the past twenty five minutes and there's no sign of Emma coming out. I can't remember waiting for this long even for my sisters.

Finally... I hear the clink of the door opening.

"I think I told you to get ready by..." Trailing off, I literally gawk at her. "What the hell are you wearing?"

"A dress.

By the way, it's a nice change to see you in a casual T-shirt and jeans than the usual business look. Makes you look more approachable."

By dress, she means a really short, barely reaching till mid-thigh cornflower blue dress with spaghetti straps.

Seems like I have to chase away many guys and give death glares to others.

"I want you to change..."

"Before you finish that statement, let me make it clear that I am not changing. If you are not okay with it, then you can stay back but I am going out to explore this spectacular city," she cuts me off mid-statement, putting her hand on her hip.