The Italian's Fake Fiancée

33

The next day, after talking business with his father all morning and even going to the cellar to oversee things, Leo was tired and in dire need of a change. He needed a change of environment away from white papers and black inks.

 

As he walked down the corridor on the ground floor of the palazzo, he pulled free his tie from his neck and stuffed it in his pockets. Unbuttoning the first three buttons of his shirt, he sighed as fresh air hit him.

 

The house was strangely quiet he could hear his own shoes as he walked on the tiles. He presumed most of his family members had gone out, and that was why the house was the way it is. He wondered what Paige was doing. If she had gone out with his family or if she was couped up somewhere alone. He had left early this morning he had not had the chance to see her.

 

Last night he returned to his makeshift bed and slept, only to leave early this morning because of the business they had.

 

As he neared their room, a warm feeling settled in the depth of his stomach and anticipation filled him.

 

He pushed the door open and felt disappointed when he didn't see her there. "Paige?" He called and stepped into the room, checking for her in the balcony, bathroom, and walk-in closet.

 

Then he came out and walked back on to the silence that first greeted him when he opened the door and sighed.

 

The air in the room was filled with the scent of her cologne. A derivative of chocolate that made him conjure her up in his mind. Spying the bottle on the dressing table, Leo picked it up and sniffed it. 

 

Inhaling the sweet scent of chocolate and imagining he was sniffing her neck. Leo dropped the bottle on the table and stared at the spot where he had stood last night and watched over the girl.

 

Walking over to that place, Leo looked down at the white bed, only now there was no one on it. He sat down and cupped his forehead in a thinking pose.

 

The charade should have been over by now it's been two weeks. With the act he pulled last night during dinner, he had cemented his position as a good fiance. To his parents and family, he had become responsible, a man who was committed to his relationship and family. On top of that, he was doing alright handling business with his father.

 

He could go now if he wanted to, but he wanted to spend more time with Paige. Something told him once they leave Italy for the united states she would go back to being the assistant who made his life easy.

 

She wouldn't dare talk freely to him, or dare go against him. He wanted her the way she was now, gentle, innocent, and feisty when she is challenged. A woman who would dare tell him she didn't need his apologies and then run away from him for reasons only she knows.

 

Sighing Leo moved to the balcony, taking a copy of La Repubblica he saw on the table there. Probably his father's and found himself a good spot by the wall, placing his leg on the footstool and staring unseeingly at the Italian words written on the paper. His mind lost in his thoughts.

 

Sometimes Paige made him forget he was rich. With other women he knew in the past he was always on guard. Guarding himself against gold diggers and lots like them.