Audrey and Valentino have ran into each other. From very different lifestyles, they slowly start to realize that they are exactly what the other has been looking for. Can Audrey break Valentino's shell? Can Valentino show Audrey the finer things in...
Not literally, but figuratively I'm shitting myself right now.
Val nodded his head and held his arm out for me to hook my own with it as he turned us to face his parents and I don't know why I agreed to meeting them so soon.
Listen, I am a confident girl. Hell, I had to be when half of my home town hated me. Well that's a lie... it was most likely 75% of them hated me and the other percentage was just the people who were related to me and not all of them really liked me.
I never did anything wrong back home, they just hated me because I didn't want to stick around. They chalked it up to me thinking I was better than everyone else when in reality I just love computers. I can live on a farm for the rest of my life if I had to, but I was given a choice. Despite my parents not really liking the choice they still supported me when I moved to New York, so I took my thick skin with me and I guess I have to use it in this exact moment.
Oh how the universe loves to play with me.
Valentino's parents stood by a table looking as immaculate next to each other in their matching jet black ensembles. They looked as if the word 'rich' were personified.
Angelo was a spitting image of his larger than life father, but the man had dark brown eyes that mimicked one of Valentino's. While Angelo looked like their father, Valentino was a mix between his parents. His dark brown hair, meticulously pushed back matched his mother's tone that was styled in a beautiful updo. His piercing green eye also matched that of his mothers, but while Valentino's were stern and filled with no nonsense, hers held a warmth of a woman who loved her boys but also the glare of a mama bear about to attack me to be this close to her cub. and geez did they send a chill down my back.
"Mother, father," Valentino said as he reached over and kissed his mom on the cheek while his father pat his shoulder.
If this were my family I'd be gasping from the bear hug my parents would be squeezing me into, but hey every family is different.
"This is Audrey Lacey, " Valentino said stepping back to my side and putting is hand behind my back and I tried not to make eye contact with the cheesing Angelo. His father held his hand out at the same time as his wife and I help both my hands out at the same time and wanted to smack myself in the face as I criss crossed my hands and shook their hands at the same time.
Angelo's snort was hidden as he quickly turned his head to the side to look away from the scene I was making.
"I'm Matthew Price," Valentino's father said when I let go. "And this is my wife, Martina. It's nice to meet you Audrey." His father's voice held a power that made me believe it actually wasn't nice to meet me at all. His wife was quiet as I gave them a small smile and I wrote every piece of this interaction in the diary that's in my head ready to let it play back when I have a moment of solitude so I can cringe later on in peace.
"Interesting choice of attire, there Audrey. What with the color choice and all," Mr. Price said with a tight smile and Angelo flinched next to his mother. But I'm a big girl and men's opinions of my outfits mean nothing to me.
"Well your son didn't explain the dress code, so we have to live with our choices ya know," I said with a big cheesy smile and I swear I saw his mom hide a smirk behind her glass of wine.
Mama said you can catch more flies with honey and all that crap, so I'm going to stay my perky self for these city folk.
"I think she looks lovely," Valentino said with a nod and then changed the conversation to something about the gala with his father. Okay... maybe his opinion matters a little bit to me. And it's definitely because it makes me feel like I'm the most beautiful woman in the room.
"You know Audrey works for Valentino now!" Angelo said and he squeaked when his brother turned his glare on him.
"Is that so?" His father asked as he turned to me with a frown and Valentino cleared his throat.
"Audrey is Valentino's personal assistant as well as a member of the IT department," Angelo said and turned to me with apology in his eyes. My own eye twitched as I looked at him and he looked up at the ceiling with a scrunch of his nose.
"Oh? I didn't know you were in the process of hiring a personal assistant Valentino," his father said as he looked at his son who shrugged and said in a strong voice.
"Situations fall in your lap sometimes."
"We could have gotten someone more qualified through the agency if you were so intent on getting help."
Before I could butt into the rude conversation, Mrs. Price spoke up, taking her son's arm, "Valentino I want you to speak to a friend of mine about a situation she is in."
Val frowned as he looked at me and I gave him a small smile that I truly meant. "I'll be right here, go ahead," I whispered and he looked like he didn't want to leave before being pulled away by his mom. Angelo was pulled into a conversation with a man behind us and I looked at the crowd around me.
"You know Valentino is a billionaire right?" Mr. Price said and I turned around in a circle trying to find who he was talking to and when I met his eyes I arched a brow. Oh... he was talking to me.
His father looked a little confused at me and I offered him a genuine smile. "And he's a Capricorn." Mr. Price turned to face me with his whole body and I nodded my head. "And I'm a Gemini. Now don't go asking me too many questions about astrology because I don't know much about it. But, when I looked at exactly one website and it says that we are very compatible." I smiled at the man again, "sorry, thought we were just stating facts that don't really matter in the conversation between me and you." I know his game and I don't feel like playing, I feel like winning.
"He has a lot of money," he said bluntly.
"And I have a lot of earrings. Should probably clean that box out soon since they're all a little too cheap for your liking I suppose. I'll make sure to wear my best pair of Amazon hoops for the next gala Mr. Price."
We met each other's gaze for a full minute before he nodded his head quietly and I tried not to let my eye twitch again, don't want to make it a habit.
"Audrey, I need to start making a few more rounds before we can head out. Ready?" Valentino asked as he approached me and I didn't let my gaze leave his father's as I nodded.
"Sure am, it was fantastic meeting you Mr. Price, hope the next meeting is just as eventful." I looked at his mother and gave her a genuine smile. "Maybe next time I'll step out in a red number, really wanna cosplay Jessica Rabbit and turn some eyes. I'm not just brains ya know, but beauty too!" Taking Val's hand I turned to Angelo and he frowned at his father behind me before looking down at me with a soft expression.
"We'll see you again?" It seemed like the mix between a question and that of him saying that yes we will be seeing each other again soon. I have a feeling Angelo is close to his younger brother.
"Please Angelo, I'm not going anywhere."
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