Alessandro's POV:~
“…ce l’hai fatta?”
(…you got it?)
Dino sighs in front of me, looking tired of my orders already.
“Sì, fratello. Freddo. Non dare una svolta ai tuoi boxer. Starò attento,” Seeing my glare, he changes his light tone to a more serious one, “e se succede qualcosa,” He looks for our cousin who, uninterested in it all as usual, stands by the door, and throws a wink his way before meeting my eyes again. “Franco c'è sempre, vero?”
(Yes, brother. Chill. Do not get your boxer in a twist. I will be careful,) (and if something happens,) (Franco is always there, right?”
I relax my shoulders that have been squared with tension all this time.
I can not help it. I hate to leave my responsibilities on other’s hands. But tonight I have to. In order to attend the gala, I have to depend on Franco and my men to handle things well on their own.
Heels click on marbles and a low whistle comes out of Dino’s lips but those are the last things my ears register because the moment my eyes fall on the grand staircase, my body freezes and everything else stops around me.
Amidst our conversation, Angel has appeared atop the stairs, her beauty brimming the edges of her white gown. Dressed like that, she steals the breath right from my lungs.
Eyes downcast, she descends the steps slowly, holding the sides of her gown.
I had no idea a mere piece of clothing could look so good on someone. But it does on her.
My eyes roam hungrily all over her form, wanting to take it all in just a single glance.
The sweetheart neckline dives deep into the valley of her breasts while the sleeves hang loosely on her forearms. Thousands of tiny, intricate flowers of different coloured fabrics cover the whole bodice and sleeves, trails of which run down the length of the bottom in angular lines. Her feet are visible in a pair of white stilettos adorned with vine-like crystals wrapped around her legs as two maids hold the end of the dress for her, so she does not trip on it.
Moving my gaze up, the sparkle from the single fifty carat diamond dangling on her enticing cleavage reflects in my eyes, making me momentarily blind, but I guess her dazzling beauty is partly contributing to it too. Those golden locks have fallen on top of her bare shoulders in an expertly styled way.
And her face, Oh! Her face. Devoid of any make up, except a light shade of lipstick I do not know of painting her lips, it emanates the silent innocence that I love so much when the rest of her just screams seduction at its peak.
I do not think, any words of compliment are needed here. That goes without saying. But I can say one thing, the dress just got glorified by being worn by her. She raised its worth.
Versace is lucky that my Angel wore its dress.
Coming to the third last step, her feet halt. The maids stop behind her as well. Angel’s slender fingers tangle with each other to create a fidgeting motion. Then she slowly lifts her face and stares at me, awaiting a possible response.
I can see everyone in my peripheral vision giving her encouraging replies, Dino’s being the flirtiest while Damien smiles at her warmly and Franco merely nods in acknowledgement.
My mouth is all dried up. No words coming out as I try miserably to shake off the spell she has put on me.
Clad in all that white, she looks like a fairy, too pure to be touched by a man like me. I fear I would taint her with my dirty hands. Break her with my roughness.
She is not the sort of person I am used to dealing with in my world. I was never gentle with anyone except my family but with her I am because she is so damn delicate and I am in constant fear of hurting her.
God forbid that day ever comes!
Closing the small distance between us, I stare down at her. Standing three steps lower than she is, my body still towers over hers. Angel blinks up at me and looks down, suddenly shy with my unwavering attention. I hook my finger under her chin and pull it up, a whiff of her addicting rosy scent maddening me further.
Her eyes widen a little, seeing me so close, teeth biting on her lip, “How do I look?” She asks in a little voice.
I raise one hand, touching her cheek softly. “You look like an angel,” I whisper, looking into her eyes before gazing at her lips, “my angel.” Then as if to reassure myself that this beautiful woman standing before me, dressed for me, waiting for my words of praise is really mine, I grab her face and connect her lips with mine, staking my claim on her like an animal ready to mate.
Angel stumbles back on her feet at the force of the kiss but I catch her before she can fall.
I will always catch her.
Moulding my body to hers, I taste her to my heart’s content, aware that my family is watching us but still not letting her go and when I finally do let her go, she gasps for breath, holding my shoulders.
After I am sure she has regained her composure, I forward my hand to her wordlessly and she takes it just as silently, trying to avoid the teasing of eyes of everyone while I escort her out.
I hold the end of her gown as she gets into the limo and tuck it back in her seat before settling myself. The car starts towards our destination for the night.
Angel coughs awkwardly beside me and I give her a side eye, knowing completely well that she did not catch a cold. It was just to get my attention.
Ironic, since she is the only thing I can focus on when we are in the same place.
“Myfathercalledmeandsaidthathewantstomeetyou.” She rambles without a pause.
My eyebrow raises.
“As soon as possible.” She breathes out.
“Angel,” I chuckle, turning to face her. “I can not possibly decode a language that fast now, can I?”
Sweeping the hair off her shoulder, I push it to her back, wanting to touch her somehow. My eyes do not disregard the way she shivers slightly at the small gesture as my fingers tap on her shoulder blade gently, the urge to play her like a piano overcoming.
Get a grip, Alessandro!
“Come again. What did you say in the end?” I curl her strands around my fingers, tugging softly to see how much she can bear for future reference.
“As soon as possible?” She asks innocently, unaware of my dirty thoughts.
“No,” I shake my head, “before that.”
Angel tilts her head to the right side where I am playing with her hair, her face and shoulder trapping my palm in the crook of her neck to stop me from distracting her.
“My father wants to meet you.”
Hand still stuck in place, I rub the skin of her neck, obsessed with the way she feels so soft.
“Um-hm. And?” I question absently.
“And that is that.” She says as a matter of fact.
“Then we will go.”
Angel sucks her bottom lip in her mouth, “You will?”
I free her lip with my other hand, “Sì. I too want to see the people who raised my angel.”
(Yes)
She grabs my hand with a bright smile like a kid who got her favourite candy, “You are the best.”
I lean down, pecking her lips, “So I have been told before.”
The sound of her cheerful laugh sounds like music to my ears.
___________________________________
Anastasia's POV:~
As we reach the place of the gala, I see that ours is not the only limo here but it sure is the biggest. Alessandro gets down first, rounds the car and comes to my side. Holding my hand, he helps me get down. It would have been a tough task to step out with my dress without him.
We ascend the steps to the entrance, hand-in-hand, looking like a picture perfect couple. Flashes go off on both sides, cameras trying to take the best angles possible.
I do not know how the reporters recognized us with these masks on that Alessandro gave me before arriving, telling that it is a masquerade, but with the way they have been shouting Alessandro’s name repeatedly, since the moment he stepped out of the car, I think it was quite obvious.
My body shivers a little as I recall the last time I have been exposed to such attention. The police station. Officer Woods. Those flashes and nasty questions from the media. Everything swirls in my mind. I can not help but fear the words that are about to come out of their mouths this time too. I just wish they do not recognize me.
A squeeze to my waist is what brings me back.
I turn to Alessandro just as he leans in my direction. The small-cut lines on his black mask are doing nothing to hide his sharp features while the holes in place of his dark orbs are making them appear deadlier. He still looks breathtaking.
“Are you nervous, mia angela?”
(my angel)
That whiskey breath spreads tingles all over my body.
I chuckle in what is apparent nervousness, “I am trying not to be.” Then gulp, asking in a small voice, “Is it that obvious?”
“No. Just that your palms are a bit sweaty, forehead glistening, and your eyes,” He pauses, wandering his gaze over my face, “your eyes are blinking a hundred times a minute.”
I blink again.
How come he noticed all this so fast?
Another squeeze to my waist. This time more gently.
“Stop. Whatever is making you like this. Stop it. They will not know it is you.” Alessandro motions to the press on my side, “And even if they do. They will not dare go out of line when I am with you.”
I relax my body sideways into his arms and nod.
Alessandro turns me to him, holding my waist and wipes my forehead with his hand, trailing his knuckles down my cheekbone while staring at me lovingly. My heart thumps wildly in my chest at the intense look in his eyes and I hear countless cameras flashing to capture the scene.
Bewildered, I look up to see Alessandro's lip tipping at the side. The smirk on his face is a proof that he did it intentionally, making me glare at him but I blush nonetheless at his devious action.
Inside, the ball room is crowded, not to the point that it gives you suffocation but to the point that you realize all the important people from around the globe are in attendance.
So many gorgeous ladies and handsome gentlemen are gathered here that I start to feel self-conscious again, contemplating whether I am over-dressed or under-dressed for the occasion.
Then thinking about Alessandro's words from earlier, I let it go.
If he says I look beautiful, I do not need anyone else’s approval.
A bald man in a suit much like Alessandro’s stalks to us, “Welcome Mr. De Luca and Miss Hill. It is a pleasure to have you two here tonight.”
Alessandro shakes his hand and I send him a smile.
“Thank you for having us too.”
Alessandro quirks a brow at me. I just shrug in return.
Being thankful does not cost a penny. So why not be?
The man’s face lights up at my reply.
See?
“Mr. De Luca, a lot of people have been waiting around for you. And now that you are here they want to discuss some things.”
Now that I notice, I do see some people curiously watching us from different corners of the room. Guess, they are the ones Mr. No Hair – pardon my language, I blame it on the lack of introduction – just told about.
Alessandro’s arm tightens around me, “As you can see, I am not alone here. We will discuss whatever it is another time. I am sure it is not…”
“It is okay.” I interrupt.
Alessandro looks down at me, questioningly.
“You can go and speak to them. I will be just fine.”
The man, taking the hint, leaves us alone.
Alessandro turns to me fully, “Angel, you do not even know anyone here. I am not leaving you on your own.”
“I told you, it is okay. Nothing is going to happen to me in a few minutes. Besides, I will get to make some friends too. And it is not like you are going for an hour or so. Right?”
Alessandro scoffs, “Of course, not.”
“Then it is all good.”
“Are you sure?” He looks at me with concern.
I know he needs to meet those people for business purpose and at the same time, is worried about me being alone. I adore that he cares about me so much. I really do. But I am not a kid, I know if it was something legal he would have taken me with him and since he wants to avoid it in my presence, it surely is not. So to spare us both, I decide to say. I do not want to hold him back from things just because I can not handle his lifestyle.
“I am. And I need a drink too.” I squeeze his bicep through the fine fabric of his suit.
He sighs, “Come on. I will drop you by the bar.”
“Alessandro, the bar is literally two steps away!”
“You want to go or not?” He glares at me.
I turn on my heels, going to the bar as Alessandro guides me with his hand on my back. He takes out a stool for me and I sit down, done with his dominant nature.
As I ask for a glass of wine, he orders from my back, “Do not drink too much and take care of yourself. If you need anything, I will just be there.”
I follow his line of vision and see a group of men looking at us not far from here, then turn to him and roll my eyes, “As if you will not be watching all the time.”
Alessandro’s hand is around my throat in a second before he leans down to whisper in my ear, “Now now, careful with that attitude, mia angela. I will not hesitate to fuck it out of you.”
(my angel)
I just look forward to the back of the bartender, still as a stick though my thighs clench, mentally begging that he takes longer to make the drink and does not turn around soon.
It will be a hella embarrassing moment.
A hand snakes down my spine. I breathe harder, a moan lodged in my mouth, about to be let out. I part my lips but Alessandro clamps his palm on them.
“Do not dare. Those noises are for my ears only.”
I bite down on his palm in frustration and Alessandro takes it off with a low chuckle. I spin my stool in time to see him licking his palm, at the exact place where I bit him.
I frantically look around to inspect if anyone saw this shameless fiasco. God willing, no one did. Everyone is busy in their circle as it seems.
Alessandro’s smile enlarges, seeing my red and scowling face. Grabbing my head, he places a kiss on my hair and my scowl melts in a second.
“Fuck, I do not feel like leaving my beautiful girlfriend alone. What if someone takes you away?” He groans in fake displeasure and it takes an enormous effort to refrain my eyes from rolling to the back of my head.
“I can only see women here.” I spread my hands on both sides to emphasize my point.
He leans closer, giving me a charming smile that will have any woman dead on the spot, no matter the age, “You are too beautiful to ignore. Even by women.”
After checking my sides, it finally strikes that we are wearing masks so no one will know who we are.
Smirking, I poke a finger in his chest, trying to push him away with all my might, “You flatter me, De Luca.”
Snatching my wrist, Alessandro presses a kiss to the finger I just poked him with, “I always will.”
My smirk falls into a wobbly smile as I stare at him, mesmerized with his words, his looks, his smiles. Just him in general.
Then Alessandro turns and walks away to the group of awaiting men as the crowd parts for him like the Red Sea for Moses while I keep my eyes fixated on his retreating figure.
Have you ever looked at someone and realized, if they go away from your life, it would not be the same anymore?
I just have. And I pray to everything holy, that I do not have to experience what will happen to me if he goes away.
________________________________________
(This is the dress Anastasia was wearing in this chapter, just imagine it with her blonde hair)
Hi, guys. Sorry for the delay but a lot has happened in this time.
I hope, you haven't given up on this story and are still reading it.
I wanna ask something serious and personal.
What is the worst thing about failure? Failing itself or failing your closed ones?
Tell me how is the chapter.
Did you like the dress I chose for the gala?
Did you enjoy it?
What do you expect to read next?
I don't really have an exact date for the next update but I'll see to it.
I want you to shower this chapter with your votes and comments. Only then I'll know if you're into this story or not.
Till then, happy reading!