The Italian's Fake Fiancée

41

*Two days later*

In the study on the second floor of the palazzo, decorated in bland colors of white, gray, and navy blue, and arranged tactically to meet the taste of any man.

The curtains drawn closed, and without the natural source of light created an illusion of detachment from the outside world.

Behind the desk in his office, Leonardo stared at the document in his hands for a long time before he threw it aside and sighed heavily. Ever since he made Paige climax in the garden, the strangest thing has been happening to him.

He has been constantly replaying the events in his head. Of how she moaned and arched her back, the feel of her skin under his hand, and when he was not thinking about that he was thinking about the way her eyes sparkled whenever she looked at him, the gentle way she tucked her hair behind her ear whenever she was nervous or embarrassed about something. And then — her lips.

On one or two occasions Leo had caught himself watching Paige through the window when she wasn't looking. Content in that activity. What surprised him was how often he wanted to do it. So enraptured by her, he barely got any work done. The people around him were starting to notice especially his father. He blamed it on tiredness and illness.

This was madness. Complete and utter madness. Back in California,
It hadn't been like that. He had been everything he wasn't now. Distant, detached, hiding under the facade of an arrogant playboy and wishing for things he knew he shouldn't wish for. He hadn't cared a thing or two about Paige, so what had changed?

When had he begun liking her? Leo sighed and rubbed his temples, closing the file in front of him when it became obvious he wasn't going to get any work done.

When had he begun liking her?
This question he had asked himself several times with no reasonable answer. 

He had excused himself from the charity function his family was attending today, so he could think through this. However, It's been over two hours and he has not been able to figure out anything.

Finally, he put it down since he cared for Paige and liked her immensely, perhaps; he wanted to date her. That was what all this restlessness was about. He wanted to date Paige Compton, but he was scared. It's been exactly one year since he's been playing arrogant playboy. He didn't know how to be anything else. Leo didn't want to mess up and lose his chances. He wanted to be able to express himself well before he said the words. Until he was comfortable enough.

And so if he must date her, he has to strengthen out his life. Which means no more one-night stands. No more picking up girls from strange places.

Perhaps it was time to put that old life behind him. And so before he chickened out on that idea he had called his favorite club in California 'Seven dials' and canceled his subscription. He wanted a clean slate if he was to start afresh with her.

Somehow Wesley got hold of the information and has been pestering him for information.

His phone vibrated again on the table for the fourth time that day and Leo sighed. All this noise was starting to give him a headache. On the third ring, he picked it up and put the phone to his ear. "Hello"

"Leonardo?" The voice from the other end called.

"Hmm."

"Yo man, I thought you died or something like that. Why aren't you picking my calls?"

"What do you want?" Leo asked instead of answering him, suddenly feeling tired.

"What do i want? You left me with the biggest curiosity in the world after canceling your subscription with Seven Dials. I deserve some answers, man. Do you know how many times I asked you to cancel your subscription yet you refused? Now you go on and do just that on a whim." Wesley cried.

Leonardo pulled the phone away from his ear and winced. "How did you know all this?" He said after putting the phone back to his ear. "How did you know I canceled my subscription? Are you stalking me?"

"Stalk you? Ptff. You know I only ever go to that club because of you, though I don't like it. I figured one day you will eventually tire of the alcohol and women and stop." Wesley sighed. "I just didn't think your assistant will be the one to make you." Then he chuckled. "Are you shagging her?"

Leo's face darkened. "That's none of your business," he bit out.

"Good lord," Wesley chuckled. "For you to be this defensive, you are head over heel for this one, aren't you?"

Leo kept quiet.

"Are you in love with her? Have you told her?"

Leo swallowed. He was starting to feel his oxygen level get cut short in his chest. He unbuttoned the first two 🔵 of his shirt and inhaled deeply.

"Don't tell me you are shy and embarrassed about saying you love her," Wesley cooed.

"Who is embarrassed? Cut the crap."

"Then answer the question."

"I just don't know if i love her... yet?

"Ahhh but you have begun suspecting."

"Yes... I mean no. Damn it, Wesley don't put words into my mouth."

"God, you do love her," Wesley said with a certainty that caused Leo to curl in embarrassment and a hint of color to stain his cheek.

Realizing he had been backed into a corner. Leonardo stood up from his chair and went to the balcony to stew.

"Hello? Are you still there man?"

Leo scowled. He had been about to tell Wesley to go fuck himself when he caught the figure of someone in the pool, and the words died on his lips.

"I will call you right back." Leo hung up on the phone. His phone vibrated a few times in his pockets, but he didn't pick. He allowed himself to stare in the pool's direction. 

All his family members, together with Paige, had gone to a charity event. He was supposed to be alone in the house, yet there was someone in the pool.

He turned towards the stairs, intent on dismissing whoever was in the pool and getting him/her out of their house as soon as possible. After that, he was going to give the security team an earful. How could they be so incompetent as to let a stranger into their home? Let alone their pool.

He could tell with every fiber of his being it wasn't anyone they were acquainted with. Nobody he knew had that color of hair.

However, immediately after playing that thought in his head, Leonardo stiffened as his eyes rested at the woman partly immersed in the pool.

There was something vaguely familiar about her. The copper hair, the height. His eyes located the mole on her back, and he swallowed. It couldn't be her...could it?

And then she turned and Leo's breath caught in his chest. It was her, Lolita. The first woman he ever loved, and the first one to ever break his heart.