" comeback. "
I LOVE AURELIA Emberlyn.
When I say those four words, there's not a single ounce of regret in my tone.
I love her and I'd do anything for her. I'd give her the sun, the moon, the fucking stars if she ever asked.
I don't regret any of the decisions I have made ever since I met her. Only because I know that each and every one of them has led me to this relationship with her.
If I never asked my pretty little secretary on January 29th of the year 2031, who knows how I'd be living right now?
Most likely in an actual fake relationship. One that's purely professional, one that's truly no strings attached and I'd be free to live my life without really settling down.
I loved my teenage and early 20s years. I was the man, I was still the rich, popular guy in college and high school that all of the girls fawned over.
I'm a firm believer of the saying 'Past is past.' Because some things truly are meant to be kept there.
Though, unfortunately for me, some things, and a specific person, escape and come back.
Like her.
"You look like you've seen a ghost, Dante." Marzanna says.
I groan and avoid her gaze, not wanting to accept the fact that my college ex is standing at my doorstep. I thought I had finally escaped my past when I left Italy to take over the company in New York, but life is just full of surprises.
I don't even know if I can consider her as my ex because in reality, we never broke up.
"What's wrong? Are you scared of seeing your girlfriend of eight years?" She says in Italian and chuckles, stepping closer to me and I immediately back away.
The words that I want to say don't come out of my mouth. They're stuck in my throat and when I hear the familiar voice of an angel behind me, I know I'm dead.
"Rainer? Who is it?"
Marzanna's eyes shift to the woman who spoke behind me, her eyebrows raising as she scoffs. I look over my shoulder to see Aurelia standing in the foyer.
She's wearing nothing but her white, lace thong and a matching lace bra that she's hurriedly throwing my black shirt over. Her eyes widen and she's quick to hide behind one of the pillars.
I don't know why but unlike the many times I've seen her walk around the house in nothing but her undergarments, I don't find myself aroused or excited. Instead, my heart feels heavy and it's no doubt due to the woman standing at my doorstep.
Aurelia yells something I don't understand and I turn my head back to face Marzanna, despite not wanting to. She's here now meaning I have to deal with it, and God knows what this woman's plans are now that she's in New York.
"Why are you here, Marzanna?" I manage to spit out. She puts a hand to her hip and scoffs, leaning on her left leg.
"Why am I here? To get you back, of course!" She laughs, still the same way that she did in college whenever Saint made some stupid joke. I fight the urge to roll my eyes but then suddenly, she shoves me to the side and walks right in.
"Hey, Marzanna." My tone is deep and I'm sure she knows I'm serious. I follow her across the foyer, attempting to grab her wrist but she shrugs me off.
"Where's that little girlfriend of yours?"
────
"Go back to Italy, Marzanna. There's nothing for you here."
"It's too late, tesoro—"
"Don't call me that." I growl, my gaze piercing into Marzanna's.
"Your parents already got me a spot at Vincero." She gives me a wicked smile, one that I want to rip off of her face.
My heart only gets heavier and she flinches at the sudden sound of Aurelia's chopping becoming more aggressive. My gaze shifts to her and her eyes tell me I should try everything to shut Marzanna up.
"That sounds great, Marzanna!" She beams and I can sense the fakeness in her tone. I bite back my chuckle, taking a sip of the wine she had forced me to drink with her.
"You're so gloomy now, Uno! What happened to the old college you?" She teases, reminding me of my past with her words. Though her face and presence alone is enough to remind me.
"I don't think we should talk about—"
"Oh, come on. If you ask me I still remember how big of a drinker you were," She cackles and throws her head back, my blood starts to boil. "And don't even get me started on the girls you slept with!"
Her tone goes up a pitch and I clench my jaw, inhaling sharply to try and hold myself back from snapping her neck. Aurelia glances at me, shaking her head slowly as she mixes the batter of something up.
"Just stop, Marzanna."
"Why? Don't want me exposing your secrets in front of your girlfriend?" She grins.
"Fiancée. And no, just the fact that it's none of your business and you shouldn't be here."
Marzanna's grin fades away and appears on my face instead as I stand up from my chair. I brush past the edge of our island and move towards Aurelia, who's busy making lunch in the kitchen, until a hand wraps around my forearm.
"Rainer.." My ex says, in a soft, small voice paired with a slight pout as she pulls me close. Her gaze travels down my body while mine is glued on her hand touching my bicep.
"Don't you miss this?" Her other hand travels down her chest. "Don't you miss us?" She looks up at me with hooded eyes and I scrunch my nose in response.
"I don't miss a single second of my life with you." I reply harshly, yanking my arm out away from her reach. She calls out for me softly when I walk away, approaching my gorgeous fiancée.
Aurelia looks up and glances at me, a sweet smile creeps up on her lips as I snake one arm around her waist. She giggles softly when I pull her close, wrapping my other arm around her too as I stand behind her.
My chin rests on her left shoulder and we slowly rock side to side while she continues chopping vegetables. "Baby, you should entertain your guest." She says with a soft chuckle.
"She'll manage on her own." I whisper into the shell of her ear before nibbling on it softly, earning me a soft whimper and the tilt of her head.
"So she got a job at Vincero.." She trails off, her voice small and low so Marzanna can't hear.
I hum against her skin, nodding slowly. "Yes, but that won't change anything between us."
"Okay." She simply says and I can sense something is wrong. Her chopping increases in speed and accuracy and I chuckle deeply, caressing her sides with the palm of my hands.
"Don't get jealous, tesoro. You know I'm yours." I say before planting a few love marks on her neck. She winces softly and her small yet desperate pleas are enough to rile me up.
"Lunch will be ready in a few minutes, go talk to her." Aurelia suggests and I hold back another groan.
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𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐓 | #𝟏 ✔️
Roman d'amour𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝟏 𝐎𝐅 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐔𝐓𝐘 A U R E L I A : " I applied here to get away from my family and to pursue my career. Not fall in love with my boss. " R A I N E R : " You signed a contract, Gold. That means you're mine and there's no escapi...