The toothbrush rubbed over my teeth, as I viewed myself in the bathroom mirror. My brunette hair is at shoulder length by now and it docks on my skin.
Not a heartbeat later, my phone buzzed and a peak on it, let me breathe rapidly.
Matteo.
<<Good morning, Cariña. I hope you slept well?>>
He must've seen the last time, I was online to know when I would be awake. I'm most definitely not going to answer the second question.
<<Good morning, Díaz. How was your meeting yesterday?>>
Writing the last sentence took me a while since I was unsure if that made me sound too interested in him.
<<It was boring as always. I wish I could've spent this time with you instead. Who knows, maybe I have an opportunity today?>>
I swallowed the invisible chunk in my throat down and stopped with my movement.
<<And what do you have on your mind?>>
<<You.>>
<<Not only that, but also the deal. Are you interested in talking about the assignment?>>
Me. I hesitated, waging the pros and cons. He might be a millionaire and a reputable client, although, I don't trust him. He's too attractive and we didn't have a formal first encounter.
What if he touches me against my will? Okay, that is a stupid worry, he asked in a club, while we danced if he could touch me.
<<On the phone? You can call me when you're free, I have a day off today.>>
<<What about taking it to my home? I'm mostly doing home office.>>
Yeah, that was enough to state, that Matteo is just interested in my body.
<<I'm not comfortable with that.>>
<<That's understandable. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound like a creep. Are you comfortable with me taking you out for dinner, perhaps?>>
At least he realized how it sounded. Dinner doesn't sound all too bad, since it's public.
<<Mhm. Fast Food is the only thing I can afford.>>
<<I'm not letting you pay. I pick you up at eight.>>
With that, he simply went offline. Somehow, his demanding tone did something to me. By the way, Matteo didn't ask if I had time for him at eight. As if it was natural, that I would have time for him.
Arrogant bastard...
I trotted into the kitchen, making myself a coffee while yawning my soul out. Carlos sat on the wooden table and read a magazine about fashion, instead of studying all day and night long. I've never seen him doing so and somehow he still passes every exam. For cardiology pretty impressive, I assume?
"Good morning girl, how was your sleep?"
"I slept long but my dreams weren't all too good."
"Come here." He ordered and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a hug. Carlos knew about my past and was very cautious with what he said.
I inhaled his flowery scent, rubbing his back.
"Thank you, for always being there for me, Car."
"Because you do the same, girlie pop. BUT WAITTTT CUT THIS SOBBING SHIT FOR A SECOND. DID HE TEXT YOU?"
I laughed and told him about the situation, showing him our chat. "YES GIRL YOU ATE THAT. LET THAT BILLIONAIRE PAY FOR YOUR FINE ASS!" He dragged me by my hand towards my bedroom.
"We go to a spa, getting your hair, nails, and make-up done." Carlos determined, searching in my wardrobe for an elegant dress. "I told him, I won't go to an expensive restaurant." My index finger wiggled to the left and right. "Shut up. You know damn well, that this dude will take you to the most jaw-dropping, legs trembling, expensive restaurant in San José. So...What about this dress?"
He reached out for a long red velvet dress, which perfectly hugged my waist. „I guess that's too overdressed." „You can be underdressed, but never overdressed, honey. This word doesn't exist."
The day was tiring me out. Nobody knows how much time I spent in the spa, feeling the wobbly substance resting on my face or the hot stones on my back. However, it was soothing and so was my manicure in the nail salon. A one-hour appointment turned into one with three.
A little bit later I sat on my bedroom's chair, while he tugged on my hair, forcing my head back. "OUCH!" "GIRL, DO YOU WANT TO BE PRETTY OR NAH?" I laughed my pain off and tried to think of something other than Carlos causing so much pain, I would be bald in a second.
My heart skipped a beat, as our doorbell rang and my best friend sprinted to the door swinging it open. "LARAAAA YOUR MAN IS HERE!" A look at the clock showed me that it was exactly eight. Not a minute less or more. I gathered all of my confidence to walk to Matteo and Carlos, who were exchanging some words.
"I'm thrilled that Your Highness could visit today." Carlos mocked.
"Talk normally." The blond answered.
"Whatever bitch, thought you would buy me a bag or sum for my poetry skills."
I cracked up at their conversation and stepped forward, to lay a hand on Carlos' shoulder. "I see you guys are getting along?"
"Very much..." Matteo mumbled and leaned against the white wall, which was a major contrast to his black suit.
Oh, how much men in suits make me weak...
If I could do any action without regret or losing my self-respect, I would pull him by his wine-red tie into my bedroom and give him the best head he ever had.
His eyes scanned my body and mumbled some words in Spanish to himself, which I couldn't understand. Behind us, Carlos shut the door with a squeak. Thank you...?
"The more I look at you and see you in this dress..." He uttered, not capable of speaking a whole sentence. One part of me, wanted him to finish his sentence, but the other already knew what it would mean.
"Yes? Continue?" I persuaded, walking past him and pressing the lift buttons. "Never mind." Matteo's placed his hand on my shoulder and with every floor, the lift traveled down, copied the movement of his hand doing the equal action. It slowly grazed over my upper back towards my lower.
As soon as we sat in his car and drove down the avenue, watching the sunlight getting sucked in by darkness and painting San Jose's sky in blue and purple. A slow jazz song played on the radio, as we drove towards the forest.
The forest...? Nah.
"Where are we going?" I questioned with a wobbly voice, grabbing my purse tighter. Every possible worst-case scenario got a vivid painting in my brain and my head started to hurt from overthinking too much. Will he bury me in the woods? Is he a serial killer?
Matteo laughed at my anxious reaction and pulled into the woods, without any other car in sight. "Cariña, are you scared?"
"A stranger drives me into the forest. I guess I should be."
He shook his head in amusement.
"Do you trust me?"
"No."
"Oh. How can I tell you without ruining the surprise?"
I looked back at him, letting out a loud breath. "By assuring, that this surprise won't end with a fatal outcome."
The bumpy road caused the car to rock up and down rapidly.
"Look, we're driving to a city in the west of San José, where I wouldn't have a chance to bury you since the whole 'woods' are covered by small cities." Matteo seemed to be upset about the fact that I would think something like that of him, but little did he know that several women are getting murdered, raped, or kidnapped on so-called 'dates' in the WOODS.
"To which city specifically?"
"Santa Cruz."
I cautiously observed our surroundings for the whole ride, while he had a monologue with me. I drifted off for my part, leaning my head against the window and hoping he wouldn't stop talking. On the one side, I wanted him to stop talking, but at the same time, his voice was so delicate and gave my brain rest. My eyes were calmed by the trees' soothing green and right before I thought we would drive for longer, a beach came into sight, and colorful buildings everywhere.
"It's mesmerizing!" I sounded, smiling brightly at him. "See. It would be stupid to turn around again and bury you in the woods. Unless you brought money with you to pay."
"I did, what about it?" Of course, I didn't bring any money and the only things resting in my bag were my lipstick and phone.
"Lara. I invited you to eat and I like it the old-fashioned way."
"You also treat women the old-fashioned way?"
"Already throwing wild assumptions, hm?"
Yeah, he's too much of a softie to be a woman beater.
We arrived at a beautiful beach restaurant, called ADEGA. Golden Columns raged up to the second floor and a waitress already greeted us.
"I assume, you are a Mister and Miss Díaz?" Miss what? Before I could open my mouth and correct her, Matteo wrapped his hands around my waist and squeezed it. "Yes, we are."
"Oh, that's lovely! For how long?"
"For a year and a half."
Since yesterday apparently.
Her set-up smile was unsettling, as she led us to the second floor. The table for two was reserved for us right next to the window. The yellowish taint spread all across the sky and matched the golden and luxurious interior of the restaurant.
"I'll be back in a minute and take your orders!" The waitress assured and vanished into the staff room. Matteo pulled my chair back, gesturing me to sit.
"Díaz. What've you told them?" There must be a reason why he lied to the waitress and I'm dying to know why. Maybe a couple discount?
He reached out for a card with a pink ribbon and handed it over to me. I scanned the page, not really comprehending why he wanted a chocolate tarté so badly for free.
"I would've bought it, if it existed on the menu. But the restaurant removed it from the sortiment, so couples would visit more. Plus, it's for free."
"Didn't know you were THIS greedy."
He laughed at my remark and oh God. His laughter is perfect and I couldn't help but do the same, just by hearing him being amused.
"You'll understand me, the tarté is flawless."
We both grabbed the menu cards and ordered our appetizers and meals. According to him, ordering stockfish is disgusting, thus I judged him even harder for ordering shrimp and oysters. Which human being in their right state of mind eats stuff like that? There should be a law to ban these from restaurants.
Nevertheless, our conversation didn't fall into silence and he seemed quite interesting to be fair. I enjoyed how his blond hair looked almost golden in the chandelier's delicate light or his white teeth.
"So about this deal..." I started the topic of work, poking around in my food.
"Right, the deal. In two weeks, we fly to Italy and stay there for how long you need to design an office." My jaw dropped before I shook my head.
"In two weeks? That's not possible. I need to book several hotels, save up mon-"
"Cariña. I'll take care of everything. We'll live in one of my houses in Italy meanwhile and I'll take care of fees."
"What if I need two or three months to get the job done?" He grinned at my concern grabbed my hand over the table and led it to his face, placing gentle kisses over the back of my hand and wrist. I trembled at the feeling of his lips on my body, although it was just my arm.
"Then so be it. You'll do a great job I'm sure." How is he so sure of my potential?
"But you haven't even seen my work."
"That might sound creepy, but I looked you up on the internet and what I've seen is quite appealing."
Did he look me up? For my work skills?
"What was appealing, my face or work?"
"Both, Lara. Both."
A blush crept up my face, as I covered it up with a fake caught. "You're a stalker, huh?"
"I could get used to finding out more about you if you're not willing to talk."
"Oh, I'm not that closed about my private life. Don't be afraid to ask me questions, I don't want to wake up next to a security camera."
Matteo chuckled and stroked his chin, considering a question. "What are your hobbies?"
"Sporty hobbies are not that much of my cup of tea, yet I like volleyball. Much more I like cooking, baking, decorating, and reading."
"Reading? You're an intellectual person?"
I laughed at his assumption and nearly choked on wine. "I read things, which you shouldn't consider as intellectual."
Matteo raised an eyebrow at me, reading my facial expression. "Would you mind elaborating on this statement and enlightening me?"
"I'll pass."
An idea that I'm possible into romance got to his brain, as he cleared his throat. His leg moved a bit under the table, causing it to stroke against mine and a wave of tension flooded through my veins. The alcohol got us a bit tipsy, as every second of being near him without touching, seemed to get harder and harder.
"What about you, Matteo? What are your hobbies?"
"As you know, I'm from Puerto Rico and my dad is one of the best surfers from our city, Aguadilla. So surfing is high on my ranking along with cooking, thanks to my mother who is a professional cook. I also like doing martial arts, Jeet Kune Do, to be exact, and spending time with people who mean a lot to me."
Cooking? Is this a dream?
"And who are the people you like to spend your time with?" He smiled and leaned back. "Of course my relatives for example my sister or parents, my friends, and-" Matteo stopped talking for a moment to scan me from head to chest, "people from work or good acquaintances."
"Beautiful."
"Tell me about your family and social environment, perhaps?"
He leaned slightly over the table, interested in what I was about to say. But most of the things I can say about my family are negative.
"Well,...I lived until I was 18 with my beloved mother in a rather small house in the suburbs. My best friend is Carlos, whom you already met today and I have some other people at work I love to talk to."
His smile wasn't one out of happiness, more like one out of compassion.
"Is...Is your mother the only family member you have?" His voice trembled a bit and it sounded like he only asked this question involuntarily.
"At the moment yes. My father died seven years ago in a car crash and my brother died...too? But not because of the car crash, just because he is the biggest jerk to humanity. Of course, I have my aunt and grandpa and other family parts, but mostly I don't have that much contact, only on holidays or special occasions."
"I'm sorry to hear that..." Worry hinged in his eyes, but pure coldness was elicited when I mentioned my brother being a jerk. I'm glad he didn't ask further questions and changed the topic to music, arts, and normal things.
Matteo didn't seem like the guy who would fool you and leave you after one day. He appeared way too interested in my life and had a positive influence on me. While we were eating our tartés (Which were too delicious and I'd lie a second time about being married to him just to get a taste again), he advised us to have a walk along the beach.
Once he paid hundreds of dollars for our meals my jaw dropped and I questioned myself for what he did that.
"I hope you two have a nice evening!" The waitress said with a wink and was happy with her fifty-dollar tip.
"C'mon, Cariña. I'll show you the pavilion at the beach." He promised, leading me by my hand outside. The ocean's breeze caused my hair to flutter in the wind and the water to crinkle into bigger waves.
Our arms stroked against the other, as we walked on the golden sand, clasping around my bare feet.
The light sources guiding us were street lanterns and buildings.
"I know I've already said this, but you look...Breathtaking tonight." Matteo uttered, holding eye contact as we neared the brown pavilion. "Same goes for you." Once we got inside, I let my hand glide over his shoulder, gently sliding my tongue over my bottom lip.
I drank way too much wine...Normally I'm not that straightforward. And didn't we talk about business partners?
Matteo's pupils dilated as they rested without shame unlike yesterday on my cleavage and body in general.
"May I say something inappropriate?"
"The alcohol must have the same effect on you."
I smiled at my remark, folding his tie teasingly.
"It's not just the alcohol, Cariña. It's just you and that fucking dress, I want to tear from your body."
His veiny hand gripped after mine, strong enough to give me a warning, which ought to say: stop playing with my tie. So he took some steps forward, making me take steps backward until my back leaned against the wooden wall. His fingers wrapped around my hips, making sure I was trapped between him and the wall.
"Are you still mostly interested in just business with me? Or is there something more?" He investigated, occasionally breaking our eye contact, thanks to the incredibly high tension.
"What if I told you I'm not searching for something serious?"
"What if I told you, I could make you?"
And with that, he hooked up my leg and pushed his between mine. I gasped at the sudden movement and not a heartbeat later his hand rested on my cheek, pulling me in for a kiss.
Our lips crushed together and robbed any oxygen atoms left in my lungs. I gently bit into his bottom lip. He moaned into our passionate kiss, digging his fingers into my hips and waist to lift me, just so I could feel his erection press against my fabric-covered pussy.
I returned his moan and he smiled, not even daring to break our moment. Matteo was so needy, I started to believe he wanted to suffocate me. He tasted after red wine luckily not shrimps and oysters and I'd rather die than let go of him at the moment.
"Matteo?" I muffled, missing almost all the vocals in his name. "Yes?" He pulled back and my lips felt empty without his warmth. I wanted to feel him all over me again. With my body nearly crushing and even weaker knees.
"What about our deal...?" My concerns about our business, are still stuck in the back of my mind somehow.
"What will all of this change about our jobs? It's not like I'll just use you for sexual needs and let you fall without any money." He assured, shaking his head.
"If I want to fuck you, I'll do so over and over again until you forget what your name is. Don't think I'm fooling you, Cariña."