Serendipity

Chapter 52

Elodie

The days until the banquet blur together, filled with chaotic organizations and meetings on Raffaele's part and horrendous boredom besides the check-ups with the twin's doctor on mine. They're healing and soon, they're likely to be woken up. I'm anxious to see them again but scared all the same.

I want to hold them and talk to them, apologize and just hear their voice yet I'm scared of how they'll feel and deal with everything. What will I tell them? They're so young.

I barely got to see Raffaele, for a quick lunch or dinner here and there but not much else.

At night, when I'm already half-asleep, I'd feel him carefully climbing into bed behind me and pulling me back into his chest. Too tired after discussing my siblings' road to recovery and special treatments for hours, I'd snuggle up to him without opening my eyes. Every morning, I'd wake up alone, with nothing more than a cute note to prove that Raffaele was ever there.

He's like a ghost, close and yet so far. The waking hours we're together, we spend with Matteo. Don't get me wrong, I do not mind the little guy in the least. Watching Raffaele with him warms my heart each time, the look he gives the child, loving and tender, and the gentle way he treats him. I love it.

And yet, part of me selfishly longs for a few hours alone with him. I will myself to be patient though, assuring myself that things will change after the banquet.

The banquet to which Raffaele wants me to accompany him. As his date. It's a public statement and the thought of it should make my stomach flutter. Instead, it makes it clench with anxiety. Me, in a room full of strangers. Criminals.

I should be used to it but after what happened with Dubois, I can hardly stand the thought. And what about Raffaele's fears, anyway? I thought he was set on not making me a target and all that shit. Why the sudden change of heart? I don't want to endanger him and Matteo, and part of me feels like I'm forcing his hand.

What if he feels obliged to invite me because I fell apart after he didn't include me the last time? I'd hate that. Even worse yet, what if he changes his mind mid-party, freaks out, and snaps at me as he did before. I'm not sure I could forgive him as easily the second time.

To sum shit up, I've had too much time to think. Either way, it's too late to do anything about it now, seeing as I'm in the elevator to meet Raffaele in his office. He asked me to meet him there since he's busy with some last-minute preparations.

I take a steadying breath, nervous for no apparent reason. My skin is hot and I wipe my clammy hands on the sides of my silk dress. The smooth fabric brings me little comfort, feeling foreign to my fingertips, too different from my usual, casual clothes.

I lift my hands again to wave some air at my face. It's in vain. The elevator is too stuffy. I can feel the perspiration coating the back of my neck and hastily gather the styled dark locks in my fists to hold them up to the top of my head. Who cares if I'm messing it up, it'll look even worse if I make an entrance all sweaty and flushed-cheeked.

The elevator finally dings, signaling I've reached the top floor and I sigh in relief, shoulders slumping even as my hands stay in my hair. Finally, I'll get some air to breathe. All I need is a few seconds next to an open window before I head to Raffaele's office.

The elevator doors open, but instead of revealing an empty corridor, a dark figure takes up most of the doorway. I freeze, my eyes slowly but persistently taking in the polished shoes, black slacks hugging defined, familiar thighs, then the black jaquette buttoned over the black, fitted shirt. Its folded collar snugly hugs the tan skin stretching over his broad neck and I watch, mesmerized, as his Adam's apple bobs with a swallow.

Raffaele clears his throat, shocking my brain back in commission and my eyes fly up to his. Heat flames up my cheeks at having been caught checking him out so thoroughly but to my relief, his eyes aren't meeting mine. Instead, they're ravenously running up and down my body, flicking around to every little detail and then lingering at a few.

I drop my hands from my hair, realizing my posture is still that of Quasimodo, and straighten my spine. As my palms slap against my naked thighs, Raffaele finally stops eye-fucking me and looks at my face. He's sporting a blush of his own and his jaw is slack as his gaze flicks over my face.

I did my own makeup despite the professional Raffaele had at his beck and call, though the last few minutes, I've doubted even that. Now, seeing his reaction, I'm more confident. Surety settles in my chest, warm and comfortable. My nerves calm a little.

"I'm glad you like it," I tease him. He swallows again before his lips pull into a sheepish grin and one of his hands scratches the back of his neck.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to stare. Just," he breaks off, chuckling to himself. "God, I'll go mad tonight with the suppressed urge to throttle everyone that gets to see you like this. Not that you're not beautiful every day. You are," he assures me, starting to ramble. "Did I make it sound like you weren't?"

Good god, is Raffaele shy? As adorable as it is, I take pity on the young man and stop him from going on with a raise of my hand. Secretly, a burst of satisfaction comes at the way he obeys the silent command to stop so easily.

"Thank you, Raffaele. You said nothing wrong," I assure him, smiling fondly as I step closer. And to think I was the nervous wreck only moments ago. Now, in the presence of a humble Raffaele, I feel as steady as a mountain.

He meets me halfway, hands eagerly reaching for me as soon as we're close enough. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him towards me, craning my neck to kiss him gently. Despite my heels, I have nothing on his height. Part of me likes that.

Likes knowing no matter how short I am, on his knees, he's still shorter. And I'm the only one that gets to see him that way.

Our lips linger and I soak it up. This moment of clarity. We're in a bubble, warm and safe and together. Things are right.

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This chapter was rly fun to write for no apparent reason lmao hope u liked it:))

Have a good day<3