ZARA

CHAPTER 35

Dinner so far was going good. While Christiano talked with Mr. Ricchi, i was just observing and taking down whatever i thought id forget on my notes app. Alex would ask me the occasional question, id answer politely but i didn't wanna miss anything so i kept stuff short.

The food is good. We're halfway in and now they're just having polite chat.

"So Ms. King, are you from Italy?" Alex asks me while Christiano and the other man talk. I smile at him.

"Oh please call me Zara" i give him a smile. "And no, I was actually born in London, my mom was from Italy though, i just recently moved here" I tell him. That was too much information. "Sorry i talked too much" i say kinda embarrassed.

"Ah nonsense Zara, youre voice is mesmerising to listen to" he tells me. Well arent we bold. Everyone on the table probably heard us. I smile at him.

"Thats generous Mr. Knight" i tell him. His surname is kinda hot though. We continue to chat back and forth, with him throwing the occasional flirts.

After I finish off my pasta, i excuse myself to the rest room. After checking my makeup, i take out sanitizer from my bag and clean off my hands, then i put on some flower scented hand cream. I would wash my hands but i dont wanna tarnish the snake ring im wearing.

Its from Shein and i dont know if it'll be ok in water. My other ones are fine.

With random thoughts running through my mind i walk out of the restroom into the secluded hall only to be grabbed by the wrist and pinned to a wall.

"What the hell!" i shriek and as my vision clears i see my boss. The fuck.

"Stop flirting with the Knight kid" he says to me. I roll my eyes.

"With all due respect sir, youre only my boss for work stuff, not my love life, why do you get to have even a little say?" i ask him.

"Zara, dont test me, how many times do i have to tell you, i fucking hate you flirting with random fucking bitches" he growls.

I falter a little. He's so hot when hes angry, yum. No! Stop it! Ok back to being a bad ass or something.

"Christiano, babe, im not your girlfriend, and i never commited anything to you, we arent in a relationship, we can have sex with whoever we want!" i exclaim. "God knows you do!" i jab. He sighs.

"I- I wont" he says, quietly.

"What?" i ask. What?

"I wont see other people if you wont" he husks looking at me.

"That-" i pause, "Thats a relationship" i say to him.

"Does it have to be?" he asks me. I blink several times.

"We'll talk about this later, we have company" i push him off me, confidently strutting back to our table, even though im screaming inside.

~

The people just left. My boss is now paying the bill. God i wish i brought my own car.

"Zara" i hear his husky voice. I turn around and see him give the valet a card. I shiver as a cold breeze hits me. "Youre cold" he states, shrugging off his jacket.

"Oh no its okay really" i say shivering as the wind picks up.

"Shh" he shushes, placing it on my shoulders.

"Help me put my arms through?" i ask and he nods, going behind me to do just that. This is surprisingly warm. "Thanks" i say looking at him. He looks more solemn then normal. "Are you cold?" i ask him. He smiles a genuine smile.

"No tesoro, im not" he husks. I nod turning to face away from him. Hes being weird.

The valet person pulls up the car and Christiano opens the door for me. He raises his hand over my head and guides my head in.

"The top is low on this car" he tells me making me nod. Aw.

We drive off and the car ride is silent. After about ten minutes, we pull up to my building. I turn to him and im about to speak when my phone rings. I look to see its Alex. Great he couldn't have waited.

"Why the fuck is he calling you?" he growls. I wince. Ugh. Yea i gave him my number before he left but he wouldn't stop bothering me what else could i do? "You gave him your number?" he seethes again.

"Im sorry okay, he just wouldn't stop pesking me for it. I was tired of hearing him ask for it" i say looking at him guiltily. "Do you wanna come upstairs? Continue our conversation from earlier?" i ask him. He sighs and nods.

Getting out we both make our way up and i unlock my door.

"Have a seat, did you want something to drink?" i ask.

"Yeah, whatever you have is fine" he says watching me move around. I nod.

"Wine maybe" i mumble to myself. I grab my favourite red wine and two glasses and set them on the pretty coffee table. "Is this okay?" i ask him and he nods. I slip off the suit jacket since im warm now and set it aside. Ok lets do this.

"So, this is really awkward but i feel like we should be clear as to why you react the way you do when i talk to people." i put it as straight forward as I could.

"Fuck if i knew" he mumbles. "I dont know cara, it just it makes my fucking blood boil." he says intensely looking into my eyes. Eeshk its like hes staring into my soul. I shiver.

"Do you, uh, d-do you like me?" i ask. Ew this is too awkward.

"I dont know. Maybe i do. All i can think of is you. Like fuck is that normal i dont know-" hes rambling at this point.

"Okay!" i clap my hands. He looks at me. "Maybe we're too sober for this, lets have a drink, drunk words are sober thoughts and what not" i say waving my hand around. Not to mention it'll ease my anxiety.

What could possibly go wrong?