Raison D'être

New Face

Anastasia

Lorenzo Amoretto. The name was smooth as it slipped out the tongue eloquently, but Amoretto sounded so familiar. Like I've heard it somewhere. Shaking off my thoughts, I put the bowls I finished drying away before making my way over to the living room wondering what I should do in the meantime.

My eyes wandered over to the bright light streaming in through the windows, so that's where I went. My breath hitched as I was in awe. It  might sound stupid, considering it was grass that looked so well-manicured, but I wasn't used to such a sight. Leaving me in a sea of green, I stepped down the stairs onto the patio, before my attention diverted to the woods on the side of the property not far off. Was it still his land? Dismissing the thought, I followed the path as it led to trimmed bushes that looked to be a maze on the outside. It wasn't. Rather it was a rush of colors and a small fountain in the center of the garden. Admiring the flowers, I sat on the bench and remembered how I would always wish for such a garden growing up. I wished that I would live in a quaint home, preferably one with flower beds and a porch, so I would look over and see my children playing. Wishes. That was all they were. But then I heard barking...

A large Doberman approached me and intimidated by the size I backed away. Slowly, backing away till the back of my knees hit the small stone bench that I stood up on top of. The dog circles around me before finally settling in front of me panting. Unsure of what to do, I hesitantly reach out my hand for the dog to sniff. And it does, followed by a lick. I laugh as the dog's tongue tickles my hand. Feeling comfortable, I pet the dog attempting to look at the collar before another Doberman comes barking with its leash dragging behind.

"Piccolo merda, Tyson come back here!" [little shit]

A tall muscular man comes into my frame. My eyes trail his folded sleeves exposing the veins branching across his forearms, the first few buttons were undone slightly exposing a toned chest, before finally settling on the man's face. His hollow cheekbones, sharp jaw, piercing brown eyes paired with thick brows made him look stunning but intimidating. His slight curl in his rich brown hair was disheveled after the jog; a curl that hung perfectly over his face made his look even more enticing.  He was good-looking but not as ravishing as Lorenzo. Wait, what?

Lorenzo had a slight Italian accent giving away his ethnicity, but there was no hint given from him when he spoke. "I see why they came back here. Hello there, who might you be?"

"Anastasia," I said, hoping I sounded how I wanted to.

"I see Lorenzo finally gave in," as he eyes my form drowning in Lorenzo's clothes.

Unsure of what he means, I furrow my brows to which he responds, "You're his whore, no?" So he was Italian, my suspicions were confirmed with his slight accent at the end. When what he said registered, my eyes widened. A whore?

A little flustered, "uhhm, no. I was actually just hired as a maid."

With not a hint of remorse, he simply says "oh, I see. I didn't know Lorenzo was hiring. I'm Niccolò," he says as he offers his hand. Putting mine in his, he brushes his lips against my knuckles making me feel funny. The gesture, when done by a man as attractive as him, makes me feel strange. I wish Lorenzo would do that? Shaking away my inner thoughts once more, I give him a small smile.

"I'm sorry for my mistake earlier, it's just you're the only other woman I've seen here other than Laura."

Nodding, I assure him, "it's alright. Mr. Amoretto hired me 20 minutes ago, so it's really my first day here."

At that, he smirks before suggesting "I see, so would you like me to show you a tour of the place?"

Unsure, I raise my hands to deject, "Mr. Amoretto promised he would-"