Just Breathe Mi Amore

Ch. 5

The TV show Friends is playing in the background. I am curled up on my side trying to get some rest. I think it is about seven a.m. but my phone is dead, so I am not positive. My bag is back in the alley, so I don't have my charger. I've gotten an hour or so of sleep. I've mainly just have been tossing and turning or watching Friends all night. Every time I close my eyes, I just see Brad on top of me. The TV has really helped keep me calm and not freak out. I've always found TV as a great distraction.
The door starts to creak open. I immediately shut my eyes and try to act asleep. Thankfully, my back is too the door. I hear footsteps approach me. The sound of something clanking on the night stand makes me stiffen. Then I hear the footsteps walk away from me.
"I know you're awake. I'll be downstairs if you need anything," Dante's thick Italian voice makes me shiver. I hear the door shut. Giving it a few seconds, I roll over onto my other side. Dante had brought me a tray of breakfast food.
I prop my pillows up and sit up. Placing the tray across my lap, I see a note on top of the silverware. It says: I didn't know what you would like. You're welcomed to the kitchen if you prefer something else.
How sweet. I haven't had breakfast in bed in a long time. The food he brought up was some pancakes, a bowl of strawberries, two strips of bacon, and a glass of orange juice. Just looking at it makes my mouth water. It's like my stomach just processed we haven't eaten in a day.
After scarfing down the warm delicious food, I set the tray back on the night stand and place my hand over my stomach. I let out a sigh of content. I feel so full. Should I go downstairs? I should at least go thank him for the food.
I throw the covers off me and stand up. My arms go up in a stretch and I let out a small squeal. I pull my shirt down to make sure I am completely covered and walk out of them room. Remembering how he brought me up here, I find the stairs in no time.
My hand rests on the railing and I take my time descending the stairs. The movement making me wince from the pain in between my legs. Eventually, I reach the bottom. Okay, now I am lost. I go behind the stair case and take in the part of the house I have yet to see.
An archway that leads to the living room and unlike his bedroom, everything is white in here. A white rugs rests underneath a light beige L-shaped couch. The wall straight in front of me has tall vertical windows. The wall left to the windows has a white tiled fireplace with a TV mounted above it. Wow. I wonder what he does for a living.
"Who are you?" A low Italian voice echos from behind me. I snap around, startled. A tall man with features like Dante, leans against the stairs. His hands are shoved in his pocket and his face has no emotion.
"Who are you?" I ask calmly, not sure where this conversation is gonna go. The man just starts to walk towards me.
"Dante!" I scream out, "Dante!" I hear footsteps slap against the tile and Dante comes in my line of view.
"What is it Paisley?" Dante looks between this guy and me, "Val, step away from her." Dante's voice is commanding. As if Val was taking orders, he takes a few steps back from me. I run to hide behind Dante's back.
"Val, will you please leave and tell the others not to come here for today," Dante sighs. Val nods and walks out of the house. Others? More people live here? Dante turns around to face me.
"Are you okay?"
"Who was that?" We both talk at the same time. Dante let's put another sigh. His one hand runs through his hair.
"Valentine. He's my brother. He lives here as well," Dante explains. I nod my head. He places both hands on my shoulders making me stiffen. I've never been touched by a male with good intentions. At least, I hope he has good intentions. So far, he has been very kind to me with everything he has done for me.
"Come with me to my office," Dante orders. Without letting me respond, he scoops me up into his arms.
"I can walk now, you know?" I whisper.
"I know," is all Dante says. I let him take me to his office. The sudden fear that it is some playroom or torture room crosses into my thoughts.
"Please put me down," I plead. He immediately sets me on my feet. I shift on my feet, the tension is now awkward. I twiddle with my thumbs.
"What is this office of yours?" I awkwardly question. He gives me a funny look.
"A regular one?" He says as if I asked a weird question, but starts walking back in the direction we came from. I scurry after him. Dante ends up taking a seat on the couch. I sit a few cushions away from him, bringing my legs up to my chest.
"I have some questions," Dante's hard glare rests upon me, but I avoid it like the plague, "that is if you're okay with it?" I nod my head. He lets out a small sigh.
"Do you live in New York?" Dante asks. I shake my head no.
"What are you doing in New York?"
"Starting fresh," I give Dante a vague answer. I wonder why he cares. I figured this was a let me give you a place to stay and you can leave in the morning type situation.
"Do you have a place to stay while you are starting fresh?" Dante questions while putting quotations around "starting fresh". I shake my head no. What does he get out of these questions?
"Do you have a job here in New York?"
"Not yet, I was gonna try to see if there was an entry level position at this company I saw was hiring," I tell him. He nods.
"So, you need a place to stay?" Dante states more than asks. I shrug my shoulders and play with my thumbs.
"Well, you can stay here," Dante starts but I interrupt him.
"That won't be necessary. I got this handled." Dante just hums in response. I stand up from the couch.
"Well I appreciate everything you've done, but I don't want to be a burden for you any longer, so I'll be on my way. Just let me change," I inform him and go upstairs. Once I'm in his room I put my jeans on. I throw my coat on and zip it up. Hopefully he won't miss this shirt, because I am keeping it. It's too comfortable.
I walk back downstairs and to the front door where Dante is leaning up against the door frame. His eyes watching me like a hawk.
"Well, Ms. Paisley I hope to see you again," Dante gives me a respectful nod. This is so awkward for me. Out of habit, I bit my lower lip. Dante noticed and I see him slightly frown. I thank him once more and step out of the house.
"Before you go, how are you getting back to where you need to be," Dante asks. I haven't gotten that far honestly. I was just gonna walk.
"Just wait a second. I'll drive you to where you wanna go," Dante disappears behind his door. A second later he is back with a jacket on and keys around his finger. We walk towards the car together and he opens my car door. I sit down on the passenger seat and he shuts the door before jogging around to his side.
He gets in and puts the keys in the ignition. He backs out of the driveway and starts the thirty minute drive. I keep my eyes focused on my hands that are fidgeting in my lap.
"So where am I taking you?" Dante asks.
"Salvatore Enterprises," I tell him. I see the corner of his lip tug up. I wonder if he's heard of it. The rest of the car ride is silent.
We pull up in front of the extremely tall building. It's so shiny. You can see the reflection of the car in the glass. I internally groan. I hope I get this job. Even if I am just gonna be doing janitor work.
"Well, good luck Ms. Paisley," Dante says, a hint of humor in his voice. I wonder if he thinks it's stupid for even trying. I thank him for everything for a third time and shut his car door. Dante speeds off and I look back up at the intimidating building. Oh boy.