Stella

9

My sweaty skin stuck the leather couch as I moved, waking me. An earthy, woodsy smell invades my nostrils and I look down at my body to see Vincent's big jacket on me.

I peel it away from my body and slowly sit up, much to my stomach's protest.

The clock on the wall reads 4, and Vincent isn't in the office.

I've been asleep for about 3 hours so I get up to stretch my sore limbs. I make my way back to the kitchen and avoid showing my face to the busy customers.

The kitchen is occupied by Scar, Luca, and Vincent. Once they hear me enter, they all look my way with hardened stares as they assess my face.

"I thought I told you to rest." Vincent scolds and comes up to me.

"I slept for 3 hours." I remind him, but he doesn't look satisfied.

I can faintly hear Scar and Luca speaking in Italian to each other while glancing at me once in a while. They're probably talking about my messed up face.

I never gave Vincent the full story of why I was attacked, but that didn't really matter.

"Come on, I'll take you home." Vincent offers and I quickly shake my head no.

"Estella, don't fight me on this. Let's go now." There was no room for arguing in his tone so I knew he had won.

"Bye Scar, bye blondie. Thanks for taking care of the kitchen." I express my gratitude to the two brooding men.

They both flash me a slight smile as I leave with Vincent.

"You don't have to do this, but thank you." I try to catch up with his long strides.

He unlocks the car door and opens it for me. I quickly duck inside and put on the seat belt.

"Pack a bag when you get home." He says as he starts the car.

"What? Why?"

"You're not staying there."

"Vincent, I need to go there. I paid for this month, I'm staying." I argue.

He stops reversing the car and turns to me.

"I'm not letting you stay in the same building as the man who assaulted you."

I understand that he's trying to do something nice, but I can't help but feel frustrated.

He could've asked nicely or talked to me about this before he offered to drive me home.

"Stop fighting me in your head and talk to me, sí?" Like earlier today, his fingers grasp my chin and then me towards him.

"I just would've appreciated if you told me about this earlier so I had time to prepare." I tell him honestly and move my chin out of his grasp.

"I understand. Next time."

"Next time?" I ask in disbelief. He just chuckles at me before finally reversing out to leave.

Anxiety pulls at my stomach as we arrive at my apartment. My place was nice on the inside, but the rest of the complex was a complete wreck.

I didn't want to be embarrassed of the place I called home, but I couldn't help it.

It's obvious Vincent comes from wealth, but me not so much.

Once he is parked, I try my best to run away to pack my things, but I see him unbuckle his seat belt.

"Didn't think I'd let you go in their by yourself right?" He smirks as he walks alongside me.

I can see the weird stares we are getting, or more so Vincent's car.