Don't Mix Pleasure with Business

25. Tour Guide Alex

Megan Lewis

9:20 am

Alex and I managed to get a little sleep on the plane. So we decided to do a little sight seeing before our first Fashion Week event that afternoon. We had breakfast at a wonderful cafe across from the hotel. Alex had to translate for me but I didn't have any problem with that. I don't know what it was, but when he spoke in Italian, it did something to me. After we got done with breakfast, we ended up at the Duomo di Milano.

"The Milan Cathedral." He said looking at the building in awe. "It's construction dates back to the fourteenth century, but the gothic facade wasn't started until around 1600." I nodded and sighed.

"They took their time back then." I said and he nodded.

"Well yeah, but war, politics and a lot of other stuff got in the way. But it was still a usable church during the whole construction." He released a sigh of content. "It's incredible isn't it!? God I love Milan. So much history and beauty." He then looked at me with that smile that he had in the picture on his desk. That smiled that he gave me at his house. That smile he gave me when he confessed his feelings for me.

Alex waved an older gentleman down and started speaking in Italian. "ciao signore, si può scattare una foto di noi, per favore ?" The old man nodded and smiled. He took Alex's phone and snapped a picture of us. Alex thanked him and the man waved to us and he was on his way.

"Where to next Mr. Tour Guide?" I asked and he smirked.

"Castello Sforzesco" He said and I melted a little. "The Sforza Castle." He said as we walked up to the building. "It was first built as a fortress for the ruling family of Milan in the fourteenth century." We walked up to the door and he continued to tell me about it.

"Now it's full of museums and art collections." We went through almost the whole castle and Alex was next to me explaining everything the whole way. We spent most of our time looking at the ceiling paintings done by Leonardo Di Vinci.

"I really want to see "the last supper". I've always loved that painting. It was my laptop wallpaper for quite some time." I said and he laughed.

"That's at the Santa Maria delle Grazie. We can get over there really quick. I know a short cut." That's how the rest of the morning went. We went from cathedrals to amazing museums to wonderful shops. But, we couldn't sight see all day and it got close to the show time so we decided to call it a day and head back to the hotel.

We were standing outside my room in our very ritzy hotel. Alex's room was across from mine. "Maybe if we finish up business earlier, we can finish our tour." I smiled.

"As long as you agree to be my tour guide, I don't think I could make it down the street without knowing one lick of Italian." He smiled and nodded his head.

"Mr. Tour Guide at your service." He said and put two fingers on his forehead and saluted. "So did you bring something new to wear tonight, is it one of mine?" He asked. I shook my head and smiled.

"Sadly no, I don't have anymore Alexander Marino originals. You'll just have to wait and see what I'm wearing." I leaned up and kissed him on his cheek and then realized what I'd done. He looked shocked and didn't say anything. I keep making things worse! We were just getting back to normal! But then again he is being awfully sweet and he smells heavenly! Shit Megan, keep it together!

"See you in a couple hours." I said and walked into my hotel room. I leaned up against the door and groaned loudly. I closed my eyes and hit my head against the door trying to rid myself of the memory of my stupidity but it only brought up a different thought. What if he's still out there!? I stood on my toes to look out the peep hole and I saw him standing there with a smirk on his face. I sighed and started getting ready.

I had to go all out for tonight. The hottest models from seven countries would be strutting their stuff in wonderful clothes so I had to dress to the nines. I showered, shaved and napped for an hour and a half, and then I got out of bed and pulled on a dress that I got from the closet with Ben.

It was just a simple light grey halter dress that stopped right under my knee. I wore a really big necklace and a pair of diamond earrings. I decided to pin my hair up in a bun. I put on light makeup and put on nude lipstick. I grabbed my leather jacket because it might get cold outside. I slid on my heels that had one strap across the foot and one around the ankle. This is a step in what we were looking for in the new line.

There was a knock on the door and I checked how I looked in the mirror before I opened the door. Alex was standing there in grey slacks and a black button down shirt with the top two buttons open. He had his hands in his pocket and his eyes were surveying my body. He nodded his head as if conformation for what I was wearing.

"You trying to match me?" I asked. He looked down at his pants and smiled.

"Ehh, I think we look good." He smirked and stuck his arm out like he usually does. I smiled and wrapped mine into his.

The show was fantastic. The lines were amazing and some of the potential designers were represented very well. And I also kept seeing Alex take sneak peeks at me and I just smiled the whole time.

After the show was over, we raced backstage and went to talk to Madame Missoni. Her business manager was hanging over her shoulder. He was a big guy with a short face. His body proportions didn't match. I tapped Alex's shoulder and he leaned down to hear me.

"Brad says her managers name is Lafayette Valour. You can use your charm on Missoni while I work the hulk and then we can bring them together to seal the deal." I said and he nodded.

"Meet you at the after-party?" He asked with an eyebrow raised. I smiled.

"See you there." I walked over to the guy and he just eyed me. I put on my best flirty smile and started to speak to him. "Monsieur Valour? I'm Megan Lewis from the Marino Fashion branch in New York." He just had this look on his face and it kind of made my skin crawl. Not in a good way.

"Nice to meet you Ms. Lewis. I see we are to meet tomorrow?" He asked.

"We are, but I just saw Mademoiselle Missoni's new Fall line and I was extremely excited about it's potential for our new store and I couldn't wait to speak with you." I tried to keep the flirty smile on my face.

"I'd rather not talk business at events like this." I held back my signature eye roll and went with the bat of my eyes and slightly jutted my hip to the side. That instantly took his attention from my eyes to my body. We became instant best friends. Good thing he's straight, then I would actually have to work.

"Oh, I completely understand but, it wouldn't be hard to just talk about the clothes. I mean, it is fashion week." He moved his eyes up to finally meet mine and then started talking to me again.

I took a look over at Madame Missoni and Alex and he had her wrapped around his finger. She was hanging on to every word that was escaping his lips. We then were invited to go to the rooftop terrace of the building for the after party.