Stefanielle and Marina Rom-coms

-----Chapter nine

A/N: heyy! Uhm... I kinda wrote this a while back and forgot to post it, hope you enjoy it though😭 

It's later in the day and I'm at Jaina's and Boris's house again. Everyone's there. I've updated them on the whole situation "what do you think? Good move?" I ask "good move; when all is said and done, she's nothing special. I saw her taking her pants off and I definitely glimpsed some cellulite down there." Jay said "good decision. All actresses are mad as snakes" Jaina added, "Boris... what do you think?" I ask "absolutely. Never trust a vegetarian." He says "great. Excellent. Thanks." I'm cut off by grey coming in. he's late as always. "I was called and I came. What's up?" he asks "Danielle has just turned down Stefania Spampinato," Barrett said "you daft prick!" he exclaimed. That's when I spot Jaina casually looking at the gift that Stefania had given me. It was a painting, the original of the Chagall, just like the poster that's on my wall "this painting isn't the original, is it?" she asks "yes, I think it may be." I answer reluctantly. "but she said she wanted to go out with you?" Jason jumps in. "yes... sort of..." I say "that's nice" he smiles "what?" I asked confused as everyone is sort of staring at me, like they all think the same thing but won't say it "well, you know, anybody saying they want to go out with you is pretty great... isn't it..." Jason says "It was sort of sweet actually -- I mean, I know she's an actress and all that, so she can deliver a line -- but she said that she might be as famous as can be --but also... that she was just a girl, standing in front of another girl, asking her to love her." I say. Everyone is silent, staring at me again; like they're taking in what I've just said. "oh damn it. I've made the wrong decision, haven't I?" no one says anything, but grey gives me a big nod. "Boris, how fast is your car?" and with that, we all get into Boris's car where he drives us to the hotel as fast as he can.

We get to the hotel quite quickly and I enter the lobby. "is miss Spampinato staying here?" I ask "no, miss" the man answers. I recognize his voice, he's the same man that I talked to on the phone the first time I tried contacting Stef. "how about miss Flinstone?" I try "no, miss" he repeats "or Bambi... or, I don't know, Beavis or Butthead?" the man shakes his head "right. Right. Fair enough. Thanks." I say in defeat. I turn around, about to leave when the man says "there was a miss Pocahontas in room 126... but she checked out an hour ago. I believe she's holding a press conference at the savoy before flying to America." I turn back to him and very gratefully give him a kiss on the head, which I'm not sure he appreciated but it felt right in the moment. Jason who was behind me the whole time also gives him a kiss on the head which I know was definitely not appreciated considering the expression the man-made afterwards. I don't have time to comment on that though. I run out of the hotel as quickly as I came in. the car speeds through London before we get to the savoy. The whole thing felt like we were in some type of James bond movie, or a fast and furious one perhaps.

As we get to the hotel I rush up to the main desk. Everything seems so slow compared to my pace. "excuse me, where's the press conference?" I ask the man at the desk "are you an accredited member of the press?" he asks. "yes.." I try to act cool as I flash a random card "this is a membership from a candy store miss" he deadpans. Damn it, I guess candy couldn't solve my problems this time. Quick I gotta think of something "that's right... I work for their in-house magazine." I try "I'm sorry miss..." he's about to reject me when Barrett pushes Jaina in her wheelchair to come in "he's with me," Jaina says "And you are?" he asks "writing an article about how London hotels treat people in wheelchairs." She says seriously. Right, I should've thought of something like that. "of course. Madam. It's in the Lancaster Room. I'm afraid you're very late." He says. What a hypocrite. I refrain from rolling my eyes "run" Barrett whispers to me and I do so until I find the right room. I enter and I'm surrounded by an enormous amount of press. Row after row of journalists, cameras at the front, TV cameras at the back. Stefania clearly gives press conferences very rarely, because this one is positively presidential. She sits at a table at the end of the room, beside Caterina. on her other side is a man which I assume is responsible for the PR by the way he is firmly marshalling the questions. "yes... you... Dominic" he points to a journalist "how much longer are you staying in the UK then?" he asks Stef "no time at all. I fly out tonight." She answers in a slightly melancholic and therefore honest mood. "which is why we have to round it up now. Final questions" the man speaks up again and points to another journalist "is your decision to take a year off anything to do with the rumours about Leco and his present leading lady?" he asks "absolutely not." Stef says firmly "do you believe the rumours?" he adds "it's really not my business anymore. Though I will say, from my experience, that rumours about Leco... do tend to be true." The journalists all seem to love that answer as they collectively scribble in their notebooks. The following question comes from a man right next to me "last time you were in London there were some fairly graphic photos of you and a young English woman. Care to explain the situation." Of course, he had to bring that up. I hold my breath scared of her response "she was just a friend... I think we're still friends." Should I take this as a sign that she's out? I need to say something. If the man asked the question it has to mean she's addressed it before. I reluctantly raise my hand hoping the man next to Stef would notice me "yes, you..." he says pointing at me. Oh, thank god. "yes miss Spampinato" I seem to have forgotten to think of a way to address all this. Meanwhile, Stefania hasn't even noticed me yet. She's staring at the table. "are there any circumstances in which you might be more than just friends?" I say hoping that it would be a safe enough question for her to be comfortable answering. I can tell she recognized my voice as she suddenly lifts her head up making direct eye contact with me "I hoped there might be... but no, I'm assured there aren't" she says. I don't want to give up. "and what would you say..." the man next to her interrupts "no, it's just one question per person." He says. I lower my head slightly in defeat. I should've thought of my question more before I asked it. "no, let him... ask away. You were saying" Stefania says. I smile "yes. I just wondered whether it turned out that this.. person..." I start "her name was miss Savre," the person next to me says "thanks. I just wondered if miss Savre realized how stupid she'd been and got down on her knees and begged you to reconsider, whether you would... reconsider." I look at her praying that she agrees to take me back "yes, I'm pretty sure I would." She gives me the biggest smile while nodding. I smile back "that's very good news. The readers of horse and hound will be absolutely delighted I say" she giggles along with a couple of other journalists before whispering something to the PR guy next to her "Dominic... if you'd like to ask your question again?" he says "yes. Stefania, how long are you intending to stay here in Britain?" he repeats the question. Stefania pauses and looks toward me. I give her a slight nod, encouraging her to keep going "indefinitely" she says. And looks back at me. We smile at each other. I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. That's when I realize that the press has finally understood what was going on as I'm bombarded with flashes from cameras and questions. But all I see is Stefania looking straight into my eyes.

A/N: hope you liked the chapter! The last one of this story is coming soon! (late) Ramadan Kareem to everyone who participates and congrats to everyone who got into uni/college!

p.s: I recently discovered that " : ) " this smiley face turns into this  "😀" emoji on phones and since I don't wanna seem like a sociopath I will now be refraining from using it 😔🤚