I ain't no damsel in distress and I don't need to be rescued.
Alexandra
"Mi occuperò di tutto da qui, puoi andare."
(I will take care of it from here you may go.)
I dismiss Izabella as we reach the last floor.
I step out of the elevator and offer a friendly smile to the receptionist as the elevator door closes. I take a deep breath and make my way toward the table where Gonzalez's secretary is stationed.
Clearing my throat, I capture her attention. Her heart-shaped lips curl up into a smile, and I quickly reciprocate the gesture. Judging by her appearance and her name, I gather that she's not Italian.
Tai.
"Hello, I have an appointment with Miss Gonzalez," I say. She glances at me and seems to understand. Her grin widens, and she responds, "You must be Mr. Hernandez's girlfriend. Please follow me. Ms. Gonzalez has been eagerly looking forward to meeting you all week long." I follow her, but my smile fades, replaced by a frown.
Alessandro's girlfriend, my foot! I am nobody's girl!
Although it sounds nice-
The actual fuck am I thinking, oh my God.
I shake my head mentally, cursing under my breath,
Oh Alessandro, just wait till I get home!
I clench my jaw, enthusiastically.
"Please go in, ma'am. Ms. Gonzalez is waiting inside," Tai's swift words cut through my thoughts.
I offer her a small nod and a smile before I knock on the door. A gentle "Come in" is the only response from the other side. Twisting the French door handle, I enter and promptly close it behind me.
Before me sits Natalie Gonzalez, the renowned Italian designer, perched on one of her elegant single sofas, the color of the sea.
"Welcome, sweetheart. May I know who you are?" she inquires, her voice steady and sharp.
"Ciao, Ms. Gonzalez. It's such an honor to meet you. I'm Alexandra Miller," I introduce myself, stepping closer to her. As soon as she hears my name, she rises to her feet.
"Oh, my dear, welcome. You must be Alessandro's girlfriend. What a lovely girl he has chosen! Look at those mesmerizing blue eyes of yours—I can see the oceans in them. Your perfectly shaped body and face, not to mention your stunning raven hair. Please, have a seat and call me Natalie," she exclaims.
The enthusiasm in her voice fills the room...
What is she so optimistic about?
She most certainly needs to calm down; she's getting on my nerves rather terribly.
Oh dear God
She placed both her hands on my shoulders and guided me toward one of the couches. Soon after, she settled back into her original spot, her eyes gleaming with delight.
"You can't imagine how delighted I am to meet you," I smiled in response to her compliment, returning the sentiment.
"Likewise, I mean you're a legend in the world of fashion and style. You're truly iconic."
She chuckled, never once taking her eyes off me.
"Well, darling, let me remind you that you're the heart of this story."
I didn't quite grasp her meaning but nodded with a smile.
"So, how's Alessandro treating you? He's everyone's dream man."
I forced a smile, thinking to myself,
Well, he can be rather exasperating. He's the moodiest person I've ever encountered, disappearing when you need him the most. He'll toss a gift he bought you in your face and berate you for being concerned about him. Not to mention, he's the most unreliable person on the planet. He promises to accompany you to your first-ever appointment with a renowned designer but leaves you halfway. He also has some serious anger issues and could benefit from seeing a therapist. Oh, and he pretends his best friend is his girlfriend, not that I mind... well, not much, at least. My inner thoughts screamed.
I promptly clear my throat and grin,
"He treats me wonderfully," I replied.
A chuckle escaped her throat before she conceded, "As expected. Although he might be a pain in the ass and dreadful sometimes, he still handles you with utmost care, like a delicate flower. After all, you are the love of his life." I nearly burst into laughter at her comment but managed to hold back, not wanting to appear rude or jeopardize my future. "So, shall we discuss business, please?" I swiftly changed the subject.
That infuriating man is asking for trouble—
Ten minutes had passed since the meeting concluded, and in that time, I had attempted to dial Alessandro's number more times than I could count. Yet, he refused to pick up.
I let out a sigh and started walking down the road, directionless.
Can this day get any worse?
Before I could finish my thought, the heavens opened, and rain began to pour.
Just perfect, absolutely bloody perfect!
"Oh, come on, Universe. I get it, you're not my biggest fan, but this is a bit much." I stomped my foot in frustration and continued walking, slowly getting drenched in the rain.
After walking for what felt like an eternity, which was realistically just five minutes, I decided it was time to stop wandering around like a lunatic. Getting lost was the last thing I needed.
I sat down on the roadside, the rain soaking me through as I gazed at the wet pavement for what felt like an eternity. Then, my phone rang, and I immediately recognized the caller - Mr. "Who-will-die-by-my-hands-tonight."
With a surge of frustration and relief, I answered the phone and unleashed my pent-up anger, "I swear, once I get my hands on you, you'll never see daylight again! Where the hell are you?"
His voice, deep yet soft, responded with a begrudging apology, "I'm sorry, Principessa. I'm on my way to pick you up. Stay inside the building."
"I left the building," I muttered, feeling the cold rainwater running down my forehead and my clothes clinging to my body, despite the inadequate protection of my jacket.
"Merda. Alright, where exactly are you?" he asked, the tension between us palpable.
"Three blocks away from Natalie Cooperation." I hung up without waiting for his response, my frustration boiling over. When would guys learn to treat their female friends with the respect they deserved? This particular douchebag just—forget it.
A few moments later, a car pulled up in front of me, and I knew exactly whose it was. I hopped in without a word.
He started to apologize, but I couldn't muster the patience to hear it. "Just drive," I interjected, my teeth chattering, my words laced with annoyance. I needed to get home and out of these drenched clothes. Alessandro sighed and pulled away.
Inside the car, I couldn't help but shiver uncontrollably, the cold seeping into my bones. I turned my head toward the heating system button, which he promptly noticed and turned on without any protest. I stared out the windshield, my gaze distant, trying to control my trembling and wrap myself in a cocoon of warmth.
Finally, we parked in front of the estate, and I practically flung myself out of the car, slamming the door behind me. I strode inside, noticing that all the housekeepers were back, their presence infusing life into the house. I flashed a weak smile at the ones I passed, then walked into my bedroom. After locking the door behind me, I made my way to the washroom.
The warm shower felt like a blessing, soothing the tension in my muscles and helping me find a sense of calm after the day's chaos.
.
After drying myself, I slipped into a white sweater dress that grazed my mid-thigh, allowing my hair to cascade down over my shoulders. I donned a pair of socks and made my way downstairs.
"Hello, is there perhaps anything I can help you guys with?" I inquired, strolling into the kitchen, a hint of eagerness in my voice.
"Thanks a lot for asking, but there really isn't much to do, ma'am," one of the male maids responded.
"Please do call me Alexandra; I don't prefer labels," I insisted with a friendly smile, earning a nod of agreement.
I pivoted and headed towards the sitting room, where the fireplace was ablaze, casting a warm glow on the immaculately arranged furnishings.
I picked up a cushion and placed it near the fireplace, sinking down onto it. Cracking open the book I had in hand, I began to read. The surroundings were quiet, and my mind gradually filled with the inked words on the pages, drawing me into the story.
The story I was engrossed in was a captivating tale of adventure and romance. It painted a vivid picture of a fearless young woman navigating treacherous waters, her eyes filled with determination as she sought to uncover the secrets of a hidden civilization. The author's descriptive prose transported me to a world filled with lush jungles, ancient ruins, and the allure of an enigmatic stranger.
I was already halfway through the book when Alessandro's voice broke through my reverie.
"Hey,"
"Hi," I replied, my tone laced with a hint of reserve.
He settled on one of the couches, and I turned my attention back to my book as he started speaking, "I am truly sorry about what happened today. You have every right to be angry with me."
Carefully, I positioned a bookmark between the pages of my book and placed it beside me.
"Look, Alessandro, I'm not mad. I'm just upset... Well, okay, maybe a little mad, but it was just so disheartening to walk into an unfamiliar place, meeting people I don't know. I'm sad because you broke the promise; you vowed to be with me until my career took its place, but you weren't there when I had to take my first step."
He began to explain, his voice measured and tinged with an Italian accent, "You're right, but you have to understand that the Mafia means everything to me. It's the most important thing in my life, so I get stressed over it. You have to understand that, Principessa."
The flickering flames from the fireplace played on his tanned skin, revealing glimpses of a neck tattoo beneath his dress shirt.
"It's okay, but don't forget that as long as I'm here, I'm your right-hand person—or should I say woman? So, I have the right to know what's going on with the Mafia too," I declared with determination.
"Principessa, you know you can't handle the Mafia work, so why bother tiring yourself?" he countered, his tone almost condescending.
I scowled at him, frustration building,
Why does he keep underestimating me like this?
"Look, Alessandro, you need to stop misjudging me. I have more knowledge about running the Mafia than you think, perhaps even better than you."
"You don't even know what the weapons are called, so how can I let you handle the weapon business? It's the smallest career within our operations," he teased, earning a sharp glare from me.
"How can you be so sure that I won't be able to handle the weapon business, Alessandro?"
"It's quite clear to me that you're not meant for the work I do. My job is for men, and it's not safe for a Principessa like you to be involved."
He was seriously getting on my nerves.
"Alessandro Hernandez, I bet I am more capable than you think. Do not forget that I am Alexandra Fox Miller. Never underestimate me. Not only I, but all the other women you will encounter in your life, we can raise hell from below and still smile as if nothing happened."
"Well, then I challenge you. If you can help me secure a deal with the French and Spanish Mafia, then I will reward you with a small gift and will never underestimate you again."
Lucky for me, I know both languages.
I couldn't help but smirk in response, "Challenge accepted, Mr. Hernandez."
"Dinner is ready," one of the maidens informed us.
Both Alessandro and I walked to the dining room, only to see the table overflowing with different types of food. I was shocked – there were only two of us. I took a seat beside Alessandro, who sat at the head of the table.
"What is all this food for? Are there other people coming?"
"No, it's just for us."
I couldn't believe my eyes. The table was laden with an excessive amount of food for just two people.
"But this is so much food for only two people?"
"Well, the table is always like this, even when I'm alone."
I was flabbergasted. "Alessandro, this is wasteful."
"So?" he raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean, 'so'? There are people who don't have a loaf of bread to eat. I understand that you're incredibly wealthy, but you should think of others as well. Instead of making all this food and then throwing it away, why not prepare only what we can eat? I'm sure neither of us can ever consume this much," I continued, and he sighed before finally smiling.
"You really do worry about everything, don't you?" I nodded in response, a slight blush colouring my cheeks as I felt the weight of responsibility pressing on my shoulders. I called for one of the maids, feeling a sense of determination to make things right.
"Yes, Ms. Miller, you asked for me?" The maid arrived promptly, her eyes reflecting curiosity and respect.
"Yes, please inform the kitchen staff that there's no need to prepare all this food from now on. Ensure they only make food for the two of us without any wastage," I spoke with a mix of authority and consideration, and she nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting a sense of duty.
"Yes, miss," she responded and began to head toward the kitchen. But before she could take a step, a surge of compassion and empathy overcame me.
"Have any of you eaten?" I inquired, my voice filled with concern and a touch of guilt.
She shook her head, "No, miss." My heart sank, and I couldn't help but muster a hopeful smile.
"Well, then call everyone. We have more than enough food and space for everyone. Let's have a friendly dinner. And for the guards who are on duty now, store the leftovers for them so they can enjoy a meal later."
"There's no need, miss," she hesitated, politely declining my invitation. But I was determined to make it happen.
"It's an order. Go call the others before the food gets cold. Hurry!" I insisted, and she smiled, a sense of unity and camaraderie in her eyes as she rushed to the kitchen.
Turning to Alessandro, I noticed a mischievous glint in his eye, and he was grinning like a maniac. But beneath his amusement, I could sense a hint of admiration.
Weirdo—
"Sharing makes everything better," I replied with a quick grin, a spark of joy and satisfaction lighting up my face.
It didn't take long before the other maids joined us, their faces reflecting surprise and gratitude.
"Shall we begin?" Alessandro asked with a clear, authoritative tone for everyone to hear. I smiled, feeling a sense of fulfilment and warmth in bringing people together.
Even the coldest of hearts can warm up, and the joy of sharing is palpable in the air.