Chapter 19 Sophia
M y opinion about Lorenzo started to shift slightly after the restaurant walk-through. He’s still the reckless playboy who likes to gamble and sleep around, but his demeanor changes completely when it comes to his restaurants. My question is…why? What makes one of the top billionaires of the windy city be one way in front of the public and do a complete 180 behind the scenes? Okay—that may be a bit of a stretch. He’s still his playful, flirty self. That’s one thing I’m sure will never change. But you can tell he’s really passionate about this business.
We all have our reasons for hiding our true selves sometimes. Whether it’s because we’re afraid of rejection or embarrassment. I hide behind my work, my smile, and my loud personality, because I feel so empty inside, it’s better to put on a mask no one can question. I’m Sophia Evans, the girl who loves to quote movies and TV shows, the girl who always jokes around and never takes anything seriously, and most importantly, the girl who sleeps around and plays men. But all of it is a coping mechanism I use to protect myself and avoid being burned. The brighter your smile, the less people worry about you. Even if your glow is fake, people are often too occupied to care. I’ve had a lifetime of practice, too. At home, I was always the brave one. The one who defended her mother when her father was too drunk. The one who always took the blame when her sister did something wrong, so she wouldn’t be punished.
There’s no reason to hide this , though. He’s passionate about the food industry, so what? That’s good. He has a purpose. Or at least that’s how I look at it. It’s difficult to comprehend why he doesn’t share this part of his life. But this also means this is the perfect opportunity for me to bring light to it. Discover why he chooses to hide this part of himself.
“I don’t really have much to show you for today. You can rest, get settled, or whatever. I have to attend non-negotiable Zoom meetings.” He rolls his eyes. “But we can meet later?”
I nod. “That works. It would be good to get ahead on this article thing.”
He frowns. “Already? You haven’t even asked me anything.”
“Still in the research phase.”
“Good luck finding anything.” He laughs. “I can assure you whatever you do find, chances are it’s not true.”
We arrive at the villa, and as we’re both standing at the entrance, I shrug. “I know. You forget I’m pretty good at my job,” I joke.
“That you are.” He gives me a soft smile as he reaches for a purple Madagascar periwinkle and plucks it carefully. He holds it for a moment, and without a word, he steps into my space. His hand tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear, and then he carefully places the flower there. His fingertips graze my skin for a moment, leaving a trail of goosebumps. “ Purple suits you,” he says simply before disappearing into the villa.
Oh, boy. Why did I say yes to this again?
For the rest of the day, I journaled and dove deeper into my research, writing down every thought I had about Lorenzo and the mystery surrounding his life. There are still so many unanswered questions, but I’m sure I’ll figure them out as we keep spending more time together.
As I’m drying my hair after getting out of the shower, I hear a soft knock on the door. I stride to the door and open it, finding Lorenzo standing in all his six-foot-three glory. He’s wearing a pair of jeans and a black summer polo shirt that hugs his broad shoulders and strong arms. My curiosity about how far his ink reaches tames a little as my eyes roam. Besides the random small tattoos he has all over his arm, there’s one that seems to be like a clock with roman numerals, some type of flower, and an ace of spades—how fitting. There’s a tattoo on his tricep that catches my attention, but I can’t get a good look because of the fabric that’s hiding it.
And now my curiosity is sparked all over again. I just want to see all of his tattoos, just once. Is that too much to ask? Strictly for research purposes, of course.
Pft . Yeah. Research .
My eyes keep roaming the rest of him a little too eagerly. He’s all tanned skin and strong, lean muscles. While he and Damian look somewhat alike, there’s something about Lorenzo. His beauty is pure and raw, like a fire that hasn’t yet been tamed, bright and intense, pulling you in without even trying.
He leans against the door frame of my room, crossing his arms. “You hungry?”
It takes me a moment to respond, because I’m totally checking him out and I’m sure I’m being fairly obvious about it. What can I say? The man is on his own level of handsomeness. I’m sure he knows it. Everyone does.
As if on cue, my stomach grumbles. “Actually, yeah. We got anything here?”
He shakes his head. “No. But I’m sending someone to do groceries tomorrow. Get dressed and we’ll go out. There are some wonderful places around here.”
“What category does it fall under for us to have dinner together?” I cross my arms, raising an eyebrow. “Careful, Ace.”
He licks his lips, a hint of amusement glinting in his eyes as he steps closer, his presence overwhelming. “I’m assuming it’s in a safer category than you blatantly checking me out when I knocked on your door,” he murmurs, his voice low and teasing.
The scent of him—smoky and so intoxicatingly sweet—hits me as he towers over me, and suddenly my throat goes dry. I force myself to swallow, hoping it hides the nerves that kick up whenever he’s near.
“Stop checking me out, Blue. Have some manners,” he adds, a knowing smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.
“Don’t act like you hate it,” I retort, recalling what he told me that night.
He grabs a strand of my hair, twisting it around his finger with a playful hum. “On the contrary.” He leans in, his mouth almost brushing my ear, his breath warm against my skin. “You can look all you want and touch all you want, Blue.” His whisper is low and inviting, carrying a weight of secrets that sends a thrill coursing through me.
“You’re an impossible flirt,” I say, a little breathless.
His grin is wicked, unapologetic. “Only for you, Blue. Think you can handle it?”
My back stiffens at his comment, and I take a sharp step back, squinting at him before shutting the door in his face with a mix of frustration and flustered nerves.
Walked right into that one.
His hearty laugh echoes through the closed door as he calls out, “I’ll be waiting outside.”