The quickest way to know a woman is to go shopping with her.
-Marcelene Cox
Leila Fiorenza's POV
After a hearty lunch and a little scene between my new bestie and another abnormal Spanish billionaire inside the cozy little restaurant here in Seville, I formally met Leandro's bodyguard.
"Leila," He said casually, performing the introduction. "This is my trusted bodyguard, Diego. He will help you with your shopping."
"Hello," I greeted with slight sarcasm. The man in question merely bowed in my direction and said nothing in return. So stiff just like his employer and probably loyal to him too. I think I need to modify that loyalty to me.
"I need to go now, wife." He announced as he move closer to me. His trusted bodyguard automatically averted his gaze from us while Leandro placed a light kiss on my lips. "Should I say 'Have fun'?"
"You could say that." I grinned at him playfully. His bodyguard and I watched him ride to his car silently.
Once he was inside the driver's seat he rolled his window down. "I will see you in the estate before dinner." He looked seriously to Diego. "Take good care of my wife."
I waited for him to drive away before I looked at his trusted man. I tucked my hands in the middle of my chest preparing to set down the rules here. I don't want him reporting everything back to his employer. "Let's get some facts here, shadow."
"Pardon, Your Excellency?"
I shivered at the way he address me. I need to convince him to work for me instead of Leandro. Oh, I'm very good at pursuing people to work for me. "Let's make it clear. I don't want you to report my every moment to the Conde. Are we clear?"
He avoided my gaze and murmured. "I think I don't understand what you are talking about, ma'am. I'm just here to help you with your purchases and to be sure that you are not in any harm."
Yeah, right. I thought silently. Studying at him now silently I notice that he's quite a handsome man in his late twenties. I wonder how long he's working for Leandro already.
He must be uncomfortable about my scrutinizing gaze when he asked me. "Are you ready, Your Excellency?"
"I thought you'd never ask." I started to walk in the streets scanning from the glass windows of the designer shop that might catch my attention. So far I could only see the old fashion design that Leandro seems to like. Finally, a design that fitted my taste was on the display in the designer shop.
I automatically entered the boutique and the saleslady greeted me with a smile and helped me fit the clothes that caught my attention. Clothes after clothes I've tried and fitted, I love everything. While Diego patiently waiting for me outside the store an evil thought crossed my mind.
What if I sneak away from him? I asked silently as I discreetly look at him from the glass window. From his well-built form, he's in shape for running around the city searching for a crazy woman like me.
No, I shook my head in resignation. I instantly placed my hand to slightly bump my belly. I can't risk my baby's safety just to get away from Leandro's shadow. For now, I need to endure his presence around me.
"Everything all right, ma'am?" The efficient saleslady asked me when she noticed that I'm frowning.
"Yeah," I reassured her with a smile. "I'll take everything I've fit along with those bags over there."
The woman's eyes nearly popped out of their socket. "Everything?"
"Yes," I answered her with a grinned on my face. While the woman sorts my purchases in the counter area. I knocked on the glass window to get Diego's attention. I gestured for him to come inside to help me with my procurement.
"Oh, thank you very much, ma'am." The woman couldn't take me enough with the things I bought in their shop. "Thank you so much."
I repeated the same scenes in at least five different shops. Buying, clothes, bags and shoes, and accessories along with perfume that I need to use for the next few months before Leandro might allow me to come home.
I smiled to myself. I never knew that I would think that cold, lifeless palace back in Sicily as my home. For years I hated that place I couldn't think of any happy memories with that cold fortress when I was there I felt that I couldn't breathe properly. I wonder why Laila lasted all her life inside that prison without losing her sanity.
My gaze was caught by the beauty salon. I silently touched my long hair I think it's already past time to have my makeover. I opened the glass door and decide to have a haircut and nail polishes as well.
"Welcome," A hairdresser approached me with a smile. "What can I do for you?"
"I need a haircut," I replied as he led me to the vacant stool with a full-length mirror where he would cut my hair.
"Okay, beautiful." He said as he wrapped around me the salon cape. "What kind of hairstyle do you want?"
At smiled at him through the reflection of the mirror in front of us. I want to shock Leandro about my makeover later for dinner. "I want a short hair just barely touching my collarbone."
"Short, huh?" He commented, examining my hair intently. As he started to blow dry my hair. I happened to glance at a high-end fashion magazine at the top of the drawer in front of me. I grabbed it to browse while having a haircut and a smile fitted on my lips.
I knew it I saw that waitress in that little restaurant a while ago. She's the mirror image of this woman in this glossy magazine. She's one of the highest-paid supermodels in the world. Her name is Emerald St. Clair from the rich St. Clair clan of New York City. They could be twins, but how funny was that why would she want to serve tables when she belongs to such a powerful dynasty.
Maybe her resemblance to this Emerald St. Clair was only purely coincidental. I smiled at her name 'Emerald' I heard about those St. Clair sisters who were named after jewels it's not surprising because of their family's business.
I browsed the pages of the magazine to search for Emerald St. Clair's photo. Goodness, they mirrored images of one another just like me and Laila. The flaming red hair, the dark green eyes like emeralds, and the nose and cheekbone it's like they came from the same mold.
Due to my fascination with this supermodel and my new bestie I haven't notice that my haircut was finally done. After that, I continue to roar the city with Leandro's shadow silently trailing behind me with my purchase.
I momentarily stop in front of the maternity dress store. I looked down at my belly and smiled slightly. I think it's high time to shop for maternity clothes. Because sooner or later I have to accept that I would not fit on my favored outfits. So I bravely walked inside and buy clothes for the coming months and a pair of flat sandals.
After a moment I walk out of the shop where Diego patiently waiting for me. "Are you going shop more, Your Excellency?"
I hide my smile as saw him both hands filled with shopping bags. "Nope, let's go back to the estate."
A grateful smile crossed his stern face when I told him that we're done shopping at least for today. "Certainly, ma'am. I parked the car across the street."
I followed him to where he parked the car. I almost sighed with relief when I slid into the cool interior of the car. I never thought that shopping could be this tiring. But I'm glad that now it's done. For now, I would just take a brief nap on the way to the estate.
I haven't heard anything or see Leandro until before dinner in the estate as he promised. The maid informed me that His Excellency had arrived but I didn't at the receiving room to greet him. He wasn't a king or something that he needed reception whenever he went home. So I stayed in my room and let the bitter widow do the welcoming.
I carefully dressed in my room for dinner. I want to show off the new sets of clothes that I bought a while ago. I was almost done when the door of my room suddenly burst to open.
"Leila..." He marched into my office without permission and then he stop and just stared at me silently. "...what did you do?"
"Do you like it?" I presented myself to him with a smile.
"Y-your...hair."
"Pretty, isn't it?" I consciously touched my short hair. When I saw that he's doesn't show any emotion on his face I scowled. "What don't you like?"
He seemed finally recover from his shock. "No, no...I like it. It suits you that kind of hairstyle suits you, wife." He touched the new length of my hair. "By the way, the reason I went here to give you this." He presented me with a new mobile phone that was still inside the box. "For you."
I made a face when I remember my phone that was now at the bottom of the cliff. The photos of my past travel were installed on that phone. I reluctantly took the offered new phone. "Thank you."
"I've already installed my number in that phone." He said, before moving away from my room. "I will just take a shower before dinner. Care to join?"
I raised an eyebrow in his direction. "Do you want me to throw this phone in your face, darling?"
He gave me a disapproving look. "So violent as always." He left my room but before he could close the door between us he managed to wink at me. I couldn't help but laugh at his outrageousness.
I continued to finish dressing up when a knock sounded again in the door of my room. "Come in," I said placing my earrings.
"Mind if I come in?" Lucia asked peeking behind the door.
"Sure." I smiled as I invited her inside my room. I haven't talked to her since breakfast. She was also ready for the stiff dinner in the estate.
"Goodness!" She remarked when she saw the shopping bags in the middle of my bed. "A woman after my own heart when it comes to shopping." She smiled at me when she noticed my new haircut. "You look pretty with that hairstyle. So tell me about your shopping spree did it runs smoothly?"
I laughed when I remove my nearly purchased clothes from the bags. Lucia sat on the bed eagerly waiting for the story of my shopping trip. "Leandro's bodyguard was with me."
"Diego?"
I got arrested the way she spoke the shadow's name. "Yes, why?"
"Did it went well?" She asked curiously, helping me arrange my clothes so they weren't scattered in the huge bed.
"Yes, he follows me like a shadow the whole time."
She stared deep into my eyes that made me more curious. "When you are in his company just don't stare too much time in his eyes his known for casting spells on women when they stare long in his eyes, Leila."
"Did that happened to you?" I asked innocently. "That you fell under his infamous spell, Lucy?"
It seems that my question caught her off guard. "No," She answered hastily, looking away from my face. "There's no way that would happen to me." But I couldn't miss the blush that spread through her cheeks.
I went to the window and stared outside I decide to bait Lucia to test my theory. "Oh, look! Diego is kissing a woman in the garden."
"What?" She ran to the window to see. "That man..." She gave me a disapproving look when she saw the garden was empty of Diego and the woman he's kissing.
I tucked my hands in the middle of my chest and grinned mischievously in her direction. "Gotcha."