Lost in Italy

Chapter 9

“What do you mean you’re going to Italy?”  Eva asked. She came to spend some time with Peyton only to find her packing for Italy. “How long will you be gone?” Eva loved her friend but she wasn’t too sure about her going to Italy with a man she hardly knows. It would be a shame for her to fall into the arms of another man while running from the other.

“Hopefully long enough for me or Antonio to come up with a way to stop Michael and Paolo for good” Peyton had reverted to calling her father by his name. He wasn’t worthy to be called father. She was either going to come back with a plan or not come back at all. It was cowardly she knew that but at this moment she didn’t see a better plan.

“Ok but are you sure that you can trust this man. I mean less than a month ago he wanted to buy the company. Are you sure that he doesn’t have an ulterior motive with you going so far with him. Are you sure he isn’t another Paolo in sheep’s clothing?” Peyton stopped packing and thought about an honest answer.

“Honestly? I don’t know. But what I do know is that he doesn’t look at me like Im some child playing dress up. That he asks for my opinion instead of assuming that I will do what he says. I do know that he held me while I was crying and gave me a way out. Does he have an ulterior motive probably but don’t we all?”  Peyton zipped up her suitcase and sat on the bed. “Eva Im going into this with my eyes wide open, you don’t have to worry about me.”

“Where will you stay?”

“Uhm, he didn’t say. Look will you stop freaking out for a second? I promise to call when I land. But you need to do something for me”

****

“Good Morning Peyton” Things had changed between them since yesterday they could both feel it and unlike Peyton who was doing her best to pretend that things were still the same Antonio was basking in the idea of getting closer to her.

“Morning Antonio” Peyton could feel the air sizzle as he kissed the palm of her hand “Are you ready to go?” “Yes” That came out more breathless than she had planned.

They were in the car and arrived at his private plane within twenty. It seemed that even New York was in favour of her leaving. Antonio got out and before she could open her door he was there, holding his hand out for her. “Thank you” On the plane Anna was waiting on the plan with a list of things that he needed to deal with. He was at her side so much that she almost forgot that he had his own company that he had to run. He showed her a cabin where she could sleep. He left her there excused himself. It was almost three hours later. He found her at the window seat. “I didn’t mean to leave you alone for so long, my seconded needed my help” He sat down infront of her and watched as she looked out. “I never thought that I would be going back” She looked at him. “Where will we be staying?” it had been playing on her mind since Eva mention it. She saw something flash in his eyes but it was gone as fast as it came.

“We will be at the family house. I hope you don’t mind. I thought it would be better seeing that we will be here most of the time instead of traveling every day from my apartment in the city” Peyton’s heart sped up when she heard that. She didn’t know how to face them. Would they even like here. These thoughts were running riot in her head, Antonio kept talking though. “I thought you would be more comfortable with other people instead of just me” The smile that crossed her face was unplanned he had thought of her while making his plans.

“Thank you for being so thoughtful” He took her hands in his and kissed it. "We will find you a way out of this you won’t marry him. I won’t let you” The conviction in his voice did something to her. For a reason she felt that she could trust him. The rest of the flight was spent talking about all the places he would take her whilst she was in Italy. There was no more talk about her impending nuptials. She saw that he was determined to get her out but the big question was why? She wanted to know what his ulterior motive was.

***

She prayed that they would arrive in the evening when everyone was asleep but alas. They arrived early in the afternoon. As they pulled up to estate Peyton’s gasped it was beautiful. It was white and a golden brown. The space between the gate and the actual house was so big that it told Peyton that the Augello family were used to holding parties.

Peyton let out a big sigh it was finally settling in. She was going to meet his family. She did a little research on his family apart from being loaded they all were in different fields. His mother used to be a model which would explain Antonio and the way he looked. His siblings must be something to look aswell. His father passed away four years ago from a heart attack. He started the company that Antonio was running at the moment.

Maria was the sister after Antonio she was a restaurant owner she was married to Carlo. She started that on her own. Then came the youngest son Dante he was a doctor. They were all distinguished how she was going to spend almost a month with them without feeling intimidated, she didn’t know.

The car came to a stop. She was still in her head to realise that Antonio was already out of the car and at the door. As she stepped out her nerves started getting the best of her. He was still holding her hand. Her hands started sweating so she pulled out wiped it down her dress and unconsciously went for his hand again. Antonio smiled, he liked holding her hand a little too much if he had to be honest. He walked to the door but stopped and looked at her, when she turned to look at him, he could see that she was nervous. She had no reason to be. But she was none the less. He wanted to take her mind of it. He didn’t know how so he did the one thing that came to mind. He bent his head and pecked her lips.

It didn’t go further than that but his lips didn’t move. They were soft and smooth. Just as he moved away from her the front door opened and there stood Antonio’s mother. The smile that graced her face had Antonio worried. He didn’t want his mother getting ideas when he himself hadn’t decided on what to do with these feelings.

“Pomeriggo mamma” He finally said he kissed his mother on the cheek. When it wasn’t returned, he look at his mother. She was staring at Peyton who was looking at everything except his mother rolling his eyes at both woman he introduced them “Mamma this is Peyton my friend, Peyton this is my mother Amelia” His mother walked towards Peyton “It’s nice to meet you. Come in we were just about to start lunch” They walked off together. “Toni hurry up we want to eat” came his sisters voice. He laughed. They were going to hound him when he was alone.

It was after dinner and the woman were all on the patio. “So Peyton when did you meet my Toni?” Peyton smiled as she thought back to when she first met Antonio. She told them about how he saved her from the cold. She saw them tense when she told them the date. “He was different since that day, I didn’t think he accepted me but after that week he welcomed me with open arms” Esme said. She was Dante’s fiancée and beautiful. She didn’t come from money so it would be easy to say that she was a gold digger but she was way too nice and sweet.

Amelia watched as the American girl interacted with her family. She couldn’t help but smile. This girl didn’t mind listening to other people and she didn’t mind sharing. She was comfortable and didn’t try to come out better than anyone.

Yes she liked this girl.

She could see this girl apart of her family.