21. Dream Life
Chapter 21
Dream Life
Antonella
Freshly fucked. Freshly showered. Freshly unemployed. I’m living… a dream. Not the dream. But a dream. Though, I’m still pissed he had to go back to work, leaving me wanting more.
I finish blow-drying my hair as my phone starts ringing away. I press my tongue on the inside of my right cheek as I answer the call from the unsaved number.
“Hello?”
“Hi, is this Antonella Vitale?”
“Yes?” I ask, unsure of who the person on the other end of the line is.
“This is Richard, from The Estate Times. You submitted your résumé. I’m calling to tell you?—”
My heart is accelerating at an incredible speed. My vision tunnels along with ringing in my ears. Please , good news. This is my dream job.
“You’ve been hired on our team. Can you start tomorrow?”
“Absolutely! Thank you so much for this opportunity.” I try to keep my cool on the outside, but on the inside I’m screaming.
A massive weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. This is the position I have been dreaming of, even better than my old one. Odd how I didn’t have to interview for it. But, I’m finally going to be writing columns in the newspaper!
Do I mention the fact I didn’t interview? How can I be hired already without a formal interview? The connections he has truly have a significant amount of power.
“Wonderful, bye.” He ends the call without another word. Kind of rude, honestly.
Should this be another red flag—wanting me to start so quickly? Like the last one? This one’s different though.
I shrug off the feeling, and pull up the text thread between Giordano and I. The way he sounded before he left, I probably shouldn’t bug him if he’s busy. However, I’m over it.
Buzz buzz , stronzo.
Me, again.
I got the job!!! Thank you so much for all your help.
I then swipe over to Audrina’s thread and call her.
“Audie!”
“Holy cannoli, che ?” She laughs.
“I got the job!” I giggle with overwhelming excitement.
“Congratulations, girl. I knew you could do it.”
“Want to come over and celebrate tonight?”
“To the glorious villa-mansion you live in now? Of course I do! Ask him if he has any brothers or friends he could spare for your dear best friend. Ya girl needs some sort of magic in her life.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I roll my eyes. “We’ll go over to the liquor store and get something yummy, ‘kay?”
“Be there in two hours!”
I click the end call button and pick out the most comfortable leggings and sweatshirt I own. My phone vibrates.
Giordano
Auguri, amore. There’s no better fit than you.
Couldn’t do it without you.
I smile at his message as I grab my purse off the dresser and shut the door behind me after I walk out of my suite. He did say I can take a car whenever I need one…
I suppose the matte black coupe will do. A devious smirk spreads across my lips. He won’t mind me taking it one time. In fact—he’s encouraged it before.
Two hours later, Audie’s here like she said she’d be. She’s staring at the car with her jaw practically on the floor, gawking.
“Audie.” I snort, pushing her shoulder.
“One, since when do you drive? I didn’t even know you could drive. Two, where did you get this car?”
I shrug. “I’m borrowing it. I have my license, but we’re about to find out today.” I laugh maniacally as she hesitantly sits in the passenger seat.
“Please don’t kill me. Think of Gianna. What would she do without her mother?”
“No promises.” I grin at her.
“ Tone. ”
“My cousin, Rosalina, races cars for a living. A little fast driving never hurt anyone.” I stick my tongue out and pull off hastily.
“Yes, it literally does.” She grips onto the sides of the seat. “And she’s a professional. You haven’t driven since before college . ”
“Semantics.” I scoff. Okay, so maybe I have been spending a little too much time with the speed racer. Adopting his driving habits and all, I ease off the gas pedal a bit. She sighs in relief. We pull up to the security gate and I punch in the code, waiting as it slowly opens.
I accelerate and hit the city streets at record speed. She grips on for dear life—yet again. “How’s Gianna?” Audie’s adorable eight year old daughter, from a previous marriage.
“She’s… fine,” her voice is timid.
“I know that tone. What’s wrong?” I raise a brow, attempting to remain concentrated on the road.
“The school she’s going to. It’s private. And the kids… they can be cruel.”
“Oh, Audie.” My facial expression shifts from concern to a full blown frown.
“I know, I know.” She shakes her head. “It’s not going to get much better. Unless I pull her out, and change schools, again .”
“Where is she right now?”
“She’s with her dad and Charlotte for the weekend.”
My lips curve up into a smile as I pull into the liquor store parking lot. Charlotte’s Gianna’s step-mom, and an extremely nice woman—from the few times I’ve met her in person. They all get along well.
“We need a drink.” I pull around to the liquor store I frequent.
“Do we ever.” Audie practically flies out of the car after I cut the engine. “Oh, ground… never thought I’d see you again.”
I give her a blank stare, tilting my head. “But did you die though?”
“Yes, bitch. I did.” Her hand flies up to her neck, exhaling large puffs of air. “I think I saw the Virgin Mary.”
I shake my head as we walk into the small corner store. I grin at the owner who’s standing behind the counter.
Rico Bellucci’s an older man who has owned the liquor store his entire life. He has a wife and two kids. One boy my age, his oldest, Francesco, is married to a woman, Alara. I’ve met them a few times, and I’ve seen Francesco more often. He’s in and out handling cash.
His youngest, Lorenzo, is usually handling boxes of various things, their muscle man. I’m assuming liquor, since it’s a liquor store after all. But, I never have seen him open the boxes inside the shop. Always the backroom.
Rico keeps trying to set me up on a date with Lorenzo, but I have a thing where I don’t mix my favorite liquor store interest… with love interests.
A bad idea.
“What’s the most expensive bottle of vodka you got here, Rico?” I ask as we head straight to the back. If Giordano wants to spoil me, I’m going all out.
“ Expensive ? Usually you go for the cheapest. Did I hear you right, Toni?” He chuckles, walking out from behind the counter to the back section where the vodka is. The shelves are lined with about twenty different brands.
“Celebrating today, Rico. I got a new job!”
“Congratulations, figlia.” He gives a half-smile as he pulls one of those fancy looking crystal bottles off the shelf from behind a locked cabinet. “This is the most expensive bottle I have. It’s ten thousand dollars plus tax.”
“Charge it.” I giggle as we walk up to the counter, pulling out Giordano’s card. This will show him . I’ll spend his money out of spite.
“Tone—are you sure?” her voice cracks.
“Don’t worry about it.” I wink at her. “It’s entirely covered.”
“Enjoy your evening, ladies.” He places the receipt into the bag with the bottle. “Antonella, Lorenzo is still available…”
I roll my eyes, taking the bag from him. “You know I don’t mix business with my personal life.”
“I have to keep trying.” He chuckles.
Ah—this is the life. Audie and I are sitting on the couch in my suite with a large charcuterie board on the coffee table and trash reality TV playing in the background. Face masks on, our feet in little soaking tubs, because according to Giulietta, it’s a must.
She’s right.
“Allora… you never answered my question. Does he have a brother or friend?” Audie nudges my shoulder while quickly raising her eyebrow up and down, and winking. “I can get used to this. You’re living the life.”
“Only a younger sister. I haven’t met her yet. He has a friend…” I tap my chin, thinking about Xander. “Doesn’t sound available.”
She pushes my shoulder as she reaches for a piece of cheese off the charcuterie board. Staying in and getting hammered is my favorite way to do it, instead of spending a bunch of money at a club surrounded by strangers.
“You gotta link me up, girl,” she slurs. “This vodka—this vodka girl—bellissima.”
“Oh, you’re getting cut off soon.” I laugh, taking a shot. Lightweight . She goes out less than I do—and that’s saying something. “Listen.” I roll my eyes. “He doesn’t tell me anything.”
“ Anything ?”
“Not a single thing. I’m still trying to figure out who he is; what he does.”
“I suppose it’s better this way. What he does is dangerous. He’s dangerous.” She takes another shot of vodka. “I mean, the Mafia… and take this with a grain of salt, since it’s only speculation. The Marzano’s are a popular name—infamously. Seriously, you don’t know?”
“How do you know?” I nudge her shoulder with my own.
She squints. “How do you not? Have you been living under a rock?” She gestures to the room.
“ No .” My smile softens. “You sure you don’t know of the name because of his business? It’s a tech company and?—”
She shakes her head, recognition dawning on her face. “Sei innamorato.”
“W-what?” I snort as I take another shot. “We’re just friends!”
“Liar.” She sips on her vodka soda making loud bubble sounds, raised brows and all.
“Am not!”
Am too.
Thinking back to how he’s able to make me tremble underneath his touch. How it’s all I crave now. I’m addicted to him.
I’m not going to spill the beans, because then I’ll have to admit she’s right. Instead, I roll my eyes; the effects of the booze are kicking in.
I’ll happily remain living in Egypt— directly in the river —where I belong. In denial.
I can’t even think or see straight. Time for bed. We dump the water out in the en suite bathroom and finish getting ready for bed.
I snort. “There’s no way I just so happened to bump into my soulmate in a café one day. And now I’m going to live in a dream world for the rest of my life? Sei pazzo?”
Am I gaslighting her? Maybe a little bit. Nothing to do with her, and everything to do with myself. Mi dispiace, Audrina.
“No, but God does have a crazy sense of humor, sì.” She snorts.
I shake my head, squeezing my eyes shut. “I’m going to go to sleep.”
“This is an amazing thing to do for someone he met…” She hints.
“I get it, Audie,” I say.
“I mean this whole suite… And the view !” She groans as she plops down on the side of the bed next to me.
“ Audie. ”
“Okay, okay. I’ll shut up now.” She stays silent for only a moment. “I mean you only bought him a three dollar cappuccino!”
“Audrina!” I shoot up and give her a sleepy, angry, drunken glare.
“Sorry, I—I can’t wrap my head around the entire situation.” She laughs, pulling the thick comforter over herself.
“Me either,” I whisper as she finally stops yapping. She’s right on the money, though. We’re more than friends. I’m not ready to fully admit it yet or tell her every little detail—sleeping with him, easy . Admitting I’m in love? Hard . And now, I have to add another tally to my sheet because my best friend speculates.
Serial Killer ||
Mafia Man ||||
FBI Agent ||
Is a ceo
I don’t even remember falling asleep, but the vibration from my phone wakes me up. I crack open an eye, noticing it’s not my phone. It’s Audie’s. I roll over and find Audie knocked out.
I push her. “Audie.”
“Hmm?” She groans.
“Your phone.” I roll back over and close my eyes again, yawning.
“Pronto—” She yawns, too. “What?” She shoots up out of the bed instantaneously.
My heart climbs into my throat, automatically assuming something’s wrong with Gianna. I sit up, looking through the sheer curtains to remotely try to tell the time of day. It’s still dark outside. I swiftly snatch my phone up off of the nightstand, checking the time. One in the morning.
Fuck.
“I’m in Chicago. It’ll take me an hour. Which hospital?” She’s getting dressed faster than I’ve ever seen her and flinging clothes into her overnight bag. I flick the lamp on for her so she can have clear vision.
Hospital? My palms are sweating and my heart is beating against all pulse points. I don’t want to bug her and make her miss important information. I’m dying here in a ball of nerves.
“Okay.” She ends the call, tossing the phone onto the bed. “There’s an emergency, I have to go—” she chokes out in a sob. “Mateo’s in the hospital.”
“Oh, my God. I’m so sorry, Audie. Do you need help getting out?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No. I still have the code.”
I walk with her downstairs. “Do you want me to come with you?”
She shakes her head, again, hauling her bag over her shoulder. Her keys shaking in her hand. She whispers, “No. You stay here.”
I pull her in for a hug. “Ti voglio bene.”
“Ti voglio bene,” she whispers, hugging me tighter back. We walk out onto the front porch and a light turns on. Damn, Giordano and his security. As if the gate isn’t enough.
“Drive safe, it’s dark out.”
“I drive safer in the dark than you do in the daylight.” Her attempt at a lighthearted laugh ends up mixing with another sob.
“Vai.” I wave her off, shutting the door behind me. “Always saying some shit.”