Chapter 3 Giulia #2
He growls, “Yes, I’ll circle the block endlessly.
” I love the irritation that makes his voice tight and strained.
I love knowing how much he wants to say but doesn’t dare speak.
I might not be the kind of person who will tell Daddy on him or whatever he thinks, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun letting him believe I might.
Enough thinking about him. I leave his psycho ass behind, crossing the sidewalk so the crowd can swallow me up. They sweep me up and carry me into the building.
Squaring my shoulders, I take a deep breath and remind myself it’s the first day for a lot of these people too.
Here goes nothing.
* * *
By the time my fourth and final class of the day is over, a few things are clear.
One, I don’t need to worry so much about dressing up.
I want to look nice, and I have plenty of clothes to choose from, but most people I’ve seen are pretty much dressed down in jeans, tank tops, shorts, and sneakers.
That’s good to know. I’ll have enough work to do without worrying about dressing for a fashion show three times a week.
Two, I’m not the only person who feels like a little fish in a big ocean.
I’ve seen plenty of nervous glances and watched people scurry to the back of the room to find a seat as if they were hiding from something or someone.
I can’t be the only person coming from a small, private school who feels years behind everybody else when it comes to life experiences.
Three, American Literature is going to be my favorite class this semester.
Class ends early, since according to the professor, some people might not register until the cut-off date at the end of this week.
I can’t wait to get my hands on the books on the reading list and curl up in my room with the whole stack of them.
Anything related to reading and analysis has always been my favorite.
I’m almost disappointed I have to take any other classes.
I’m feeling pretty good as I file out of the room, at least until I remember I have to see Alessandro again.
My phone is in my backpack, and I reach inside out of habit, prepared to text him that I’m ready to go, but there’s still almost half an hour until class was officially supposed to end.
This could be a chance to look around, maybe grab coffee at one of the stands in the courtyard between this building and the one next to it, and hang out for a little while.
I want to feel like I’m part of things, not a visitor who pops in and out a few times a week.
The only problem is that all the tables in the courtyard are occupied by the time I make it outside. My heart sinks a little, but I walk up to the stand anyway and order an iced latte, then reach into my bag for my wallet.
“Oh, I’m sorry!” a girl almost squeals when she knocks me against the counter from behind.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch her flipping off the two guys who walked behind her, and who must have shoved her into me.
They barely glance over their shoulders, scowling, before they continue walking away.
She turns to me, frowning. “I’m sorry again. Hope I didn’t make you spill anything on yourself.”
“Nope, I didn’t get my drink yet. No worries.”
Her smile carries relief, and her pale blue eyes twinkle as she holds out a hand. “Brynn. Nice to meet you. First day?”
“Is it obvious?” I ask, laughing as I shake her hand. “Giulia. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Are you here with people, Giulia?” she asks, looking around. Her long blonde ponytail swings when she turns her head. She has a fresh-faced, California-girl vibe going on, but then I’m only going off of what I’ve seen on television. I don’t have much real-world experience to fall back on.
Somehow, it’s not embarrassing to shake my head and admit I’m alone. “Just getting some coffee before heading home.”
“Here on campus?”
I have to shake my head again, this time with a heavy heart. “No, I’m commuting from Long Island three times a week. How about you?”
Only now do I remember we’re standing in line.
I step aside so Brynn can order an iced matcha latte, then we move away to wait for our drinks.
“I’m living in the dorms, my roommate and the girls who live next door are over there,” she explains while pointing to one of the full tables, where a trio of girls chat while scrolling on their phones and tablets.
God, I wish I were one of them. I wish I didn’t have to go home or sit in a car with somebody I hate, but could hang out with friends instead. I wish I could be young.
When we get our drinks, she nods her head toward her friends. “Come meet the girls.” She makes it so easy, leading me over to them and introducing me to Serena, Maddie, and Olivia.
“Didn’t I just see you in class?” Serena asks. “I remember thinking how pretty your hair is.”
“Oh, thank you. So is yours,” I tell her, admiring her red waves. “I think that’s going to be a really fun class.”
“And I think I’m in your Sociology class,” Olivia tells me. “Professor Miller?”
Hope blooms in my chest. Maybe I don’t have to go through this alone. “That’s right.”
“I’ll save you a seat next to me on Wednesday, if you want,” she offers, toying with the straw in her cup so her freshly polished nails gleam in the sunshine. “We have that project coming up for our midterms… maybe we could be partners.”
“That would be great,” I agree. Better than great. I don’t want them to think I’m a total loser or whatever, but I could cry right now. I hoped and wished everybody would be this kind, but I didn’t actually think I would get this lucky.
“Are you sure you really have to go home right after class?” Maddie asks with a sympathetic look. “Could you maybe come back on Friday night? They’re having a party, sort of a way for everybody to meet each other.”
“You could stay with us!” Olivia offers, while Brynn nods excitedly.
“You can’t miss out on everything,” Serena insists.
It’s a tempting idea. I mull it over as we get up from the table, texting Alessandro that I’m ready to go.
I’m worried he will try to find me otherwise, and I don’t need to get a reputation for psychos following me around campus.
We reach the sidewalk close to where he dropped me off, and I look up and down the block, expecting him to pull up the way he did this morning.
“Who is that?” Brynn whispers before grabbing my arm and squeezing hard. “No, don’t look,” she whispers. “He’s staring at you. Don’t make it obvious.”
“He is so hot,” Olivia sighs, peeking around me to get a look. “Gorgeous. Is he a student here?”
“He looks too old,” Maddie decides. “Like thirty, at least.” She wrinkles her nose.
Serena blows out a low whistle. “Age is just a number. I would take any class he was in.”
This is ridiculous. I try my best to be casual, throwing a glance over my shoulder, then groaning when I confirm my suspicions. “Don’t bother,” I tell them.
“You know him?” There’s an almost manic light in Serena’s dark eyes when they lock onto mine. “Who is he?”
He’s my driver, and he somehow managed to find a spot at the curb. I can only imagine how he must have watched for hours, waiting for something to open up as he rolled past again and again. I hope he doesn’t expect me to feel sorry for him.
“He drives me to and from school,” I explain. Please, don’t let them ask for more details.
“I might need to come home with you one day,” Olivia decides. Maddie takes another look at him, then blushes, looking at the ground. He must have returned the stare.
“Seriously,” I insist while my skin crawls with discomfort. “He’s not worth it. I’m sure there are a hundred guys around here who would be worth going after.” I turn to look at him again, and he lifts his brows, expectant. Okay then. Message received.
After exchanging numbers with the girls, I brace myself for whatever is about to happen before turning on my heel and walking over to where he waits.
“Please, take your time,” he mutters, opening the back door for me. “I have nothing better to do than stand here and add money to the meter.”
“I’m five minutes earlier than I would’ve been if class got out at its regular time,” I retort.
“Your little friends had better not make you late every day, or we’re going to have a problem,” he warns.
I look up in time to see his expression harden when he looks in their direction.
I don’t want to follow his gaze, since it would seem obvious we’re talking about them, but I would bet they’re waiting around to watch us leave.
“And don’t even think about trying to go against what your father wants.
If you want to make plans with those girls, go right ahead, but don’t drag me into it. ”
How did he know? Who am I kidding? He’s the sneakiest, most devious person alive.
I’m sure he knows every trick in the book, probably another reason why Papa assigned him to me.
He would rather force me to spend time with someone I loathe, somebody who has caused so much pain, than allow me to be an adult. And dammit, I’m sick of it.
I’m a lot shorter than Alessandro, but standing straight and tall helps the difference feel less extreme.
“The last time I checked, you were employed by my family. So it’s your job to do as you’re told.
Don’t forget you wouldn’t be working for my family if you hadn’t almost killed my sister-in-law, so excuse me if I don’t give a shit whether or not I get you in trouble and make you lose your job. ”
A wave of pride slams into me, and miraculously, much of the anger bubbling in my chest settles. Finally, somebody told him what he needs to hear.
Then something happens. A change in him. Almost like his features shift and rearrange themselves into something dark and sinister. His eyes turn to two pieces of flint, brutal and merciless, while his lips tighten to a thin slash across the bottom of his face.
Yes, he did almost kill my sister-in-law, didn’t he?
And here I am, kicking the hornet’s nest when I should know better. Dread skitters its way down my back, making icy fear pool low in my belly. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.
But just as quickly as he changed, he flips back to his bland, unamused expression. His silence speaks volumes as he opens the back door so I can get into the car. I’m shaking a little as I do, but push my fear away as he slides behind the wheel.
I don’t want him to see how freaked out I am.
Although I get the feeling he probably knows.