A year in Italy

21

11 February 2021

It was a few days until Valentine and I still haven't heard from Mercy, I was still living with Eliot and he still had one of his bodyguards escort me everywhere. " Get dressed we are going shopping" I heard Eliot say as he found me daydreaming in his bed, " why do we want to go shopping?" I asked him with a smirk. He seemed happy and I liked seeing a genuine smile, he let out a small charming laugh " Wait so I can't spoil my queen?". "Your queen?" I said with wide eyes . I got up from the bed and started getting dressed... " privacy please..." I said as I took of my top and bra, he then smiled and slowly turned around.

A few moments later I finished dressing and then walked up to him and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, " shall we go?" he asked, " yes" I responded. We left the mansion... without his bodyguards this time and it felt so relieving. We then went to a fancy looking clothing store " Boutique Nadine". I then went in with him and was greeted by a woman talking in Italian language "ciao signora, per favore demi cost star cercando e ti austere " she said and I looked at Eliot with confusion, "San Valentino sta arrivando e voglio che abbia un bell'aspetto... capito?" he then replied to the woman. The woman then smirked at Eliot then I put my arms around his waist, " Baby can we please start shopping already" I said as I was marking my territory. " Oh American... right this way ma'am" she said as she led the way.

I then stopped in my tracks as I met eyes with someone familiar, " well.. well.. well, isn't this a surprise?" Justin said, " what the heck are you doing in Florence Justin?" I hissed at him. " Oh no I should be asking you that question... remember my dad is half Italian? well I came to live here now... you know, for a fresh start" he said as he mocked me. " Is there a problem here?" Eliot asked as he sensed the tension happening, " And who are you? " justin asked Eliot with a disrespectful tone. " I'm with the girl" Eliot said trying to contain his anger, " Ha! Hey word of advise buddy, this one is crazy... did she tell you she had a psychotic episode back in America? Did she even tell you the reason why she is in Florence?" Justin said.

Eliot turned to face me, " she told me she wanted a break from you, jerk" He said, " Oh My God typical ex boyfriend shit huh Cami?" Justin said... " The real reason why she ran away from Seattle is because she didn't want a reminder of how much of a whore she used to be, how she would turn men on and not have sex with them, I mean that's practically the only reason why I cheated... You were never attractive. But anyways I have no regrets,  Jessica was a way better replacement" he added. My eyes filled up with tears as he started saying those words, he was only using me. " I wasted 2 years of my life with you asshole!" I shouted at him, " Yeah well I didn't make you gullible that's on you hun" he said with a proud tone.

" Sir you have to leave" One of the assistants said as they escorted Justin out the boutique. I then looked at Eliot expecting him to show sympathy or pity on me, but he didn't, " I'm sorry Eliot..." I said as I ran out of the boutique. He did not bother running after me, he remained in the boutique. I called an uber to take me to Sophia's. On the way there  I kept replaying the encounter with Justin in my head. The uber stopped and I wiped my tears before entering the complex. I got in the elevator and then started feeling emotional again the small elevator started feeling like a trap door, the walls were closing in on me and when the elevator doors opened I saw Sophia's face, " Soph..." I said as  I quickly exited the elevator. "Oh hey!" she said as she held me, " are you okay?" she then asked.

" I just wanted to come see you, you know..." I said as I tried to fight the sadness, she then looked at me with a puzzled look and then took me to the apartment. We got in and I sat on the couch as she went to prepare some drinks. She came back with some ice cold juice and handed me a glass, " So... what's up?" she said, " Oh nothing much just wanted to spend the day with you... that's all" I said as I avoided eye contact with her. " Camilla, I know you love my brother Eliot and it's okay... you don't need to hide it from me because I see he cares for you too" she said as she took a sip of her juice, " I'm sorry I didn't tell you" I said to her. " Yeah but I'm not the person you should be apologizing to, Kai still thinks you have a thing for him but you don't" she added. " That's the problem, I don't know anymore... My feelings towards Kai are strong but the ones towards Eliot are stronger" I said as I faced down.

" I get that, I really do but sometimes I believe if you love something... you should fight for it. It could mean that someone has to lose something they love or someone but in the end you are fighting for you... not anyone else" she said. " what do you mean" I asked her , " I'm sorry it sounded better in Italian..." she chuckled jokingly, " Camilla I come from a family of Mafias I'm sure you know that by now, and what we love we fight for it... even if it means killing a few enemies in the process. After all, that's how we gained respect" she added and I understood her. I was done letting people like Mercy and Justin walk over me like I am an easy target. 

I just had to learn how to fight for what I love... and that was my sanity and Eliot