Chapter 37
Elen a
The days go by in a fly as we are here in Rome, enjoying the vacation while we can. At least I am because in just exactly a week, we are flying back to England and I am not ready to go through thousands of paperwork and proofread them ten times before they get stacked on the read pile.
I want to stay here forever. Rome is a beautiful, ancient city which much to admire but the walking we did the last couple of days has tired my legs out. Maybe something else too but I am not one to complain.
Today we all decided as a group to just have a relaxing day, though I am surprised I can say that nothing unusual happened, only the fact that both his mother and Mio are giving glares and are having a great talk.
I have been staying by Gabriel’s side the whole time we have been here and have been having awesome talks with Nicole. She is a sweet girl and was actually the one who suggested that we go golfing. She said it would be a great idea.
I am not so sure that golfing was a great idea right now because Nicole is beating up a Windmill and destroying it into pieces.
I am questioning how much anger that girl had bottled up to make her do that.
“Woahhhh,” she exhales loudly, a huge smile on her face as the windmill was in pieces at this golf place. “That felt awesome.”
“Honey, I think you have a little too much anger bottled up.” I say to her, I would not be lying when I say that I am worried about that girl. Maybe therapy is a future talk.
“You have no idea how good it felt just now to let it all out.” I let out a nervous chuckle and my eyes widened when she handed me the golf club. “You try it.”
I push the golf club away. “No thanks, I’m good.” I say.
“Suit yourself.” She shrugs her shoulders and turns back around to give the club back to the employer. With the information I have gathered, this place closes soon and will be completely remodelled. Nicole got the yes from the owner to destroy but that does not change the fact that she is crazy. A little.
I watch her as she picks up her glass filled with orange juice on the table next to her and just as the rim touches her lips, it falls back down. Her mood changes right as she looks behind me. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“What?” I furrow my brows.
“The guy from Paris is here.”
I furrow my eyebrows and take a look behind me to see who the guy from Paris she had a photo shoot with and apparently a one night stand. A smile spreads across my face when I see him standing there. “Zanders,” I exhale happily and walk up to him with a huge grin. I haven’t seen him since we came back from Monaco.
Zanders is not much of a hugger and rather hates affection, and like any other person I hate when a person oversteps mine, that is why I never initiate the first hug or even handshake.
“Elena,” he calls out my name with the usual unenthusiastic tone.
“You can act like you are excited to see me,” I suggest, which only gets me a glare back in return. Or rather his neutral expression that looks like he wants to murder me.
“It’s great to see you, Elena.” he keeps his tone flat as he says those words and steps closer to wrap an arm around me. He is tall as hell, basically the tall where I have to break my neck to look up to him. Even taller than Gabriel and that already says a lot.
I shake my head at his words and wrap my arms around his mid waist.
“Why are you here?” I ask as I pull away. “In Italy, I mean.”
“A lot of fucking photoshoots and a fashion week.”
“And the golf place?” To be honest I am only asking this one question because he does not seem like a person who likes to play golf.
“I was forced,” he says and I let out a chuckle at his obvious answer.
Zanders looks away, around the gold place and his eyes slightly widen when he sees the completely destroyed windmill or Nicole or both.
“I am not so sure if you can still golf here,” I tell him the obvious and all I get in return is a hum as an answer. I hate men. What is it with them and their half answers?
Or their freaking humming.
Just spit out one word.
“You men really confuse me with your non- answer answers.” I mumble but somehow that comes out as if I am speaking to him.
I just got another glare from my friend.
“Okayyyy, maybe not a casual talk.”
“How about no talk at all.”
“Rude, Zanders.”
“Elena,” Wow, I think this is the first time he has ever said my name but the next words he says do not make me as happy as my name. “Let’s both not act like we know each other and have something to talk about. Yes, we may be friends but we barely know each other and I would rather keep it that way.”
Ouch, that hurt.
I get that we don’t know each other that well but I thought we could at least try. That is how friendships work, by trying.
I swallow the lump in my throat that had built up from trying to keep myself from tearing up. “I guess you are right. Sorry to disturb you.” I give him a subtle head nod and walk away from you. Soon enough he and his two friends left.
I have heard worse words than him but having my friend - if I can even call him that - say that to me hurt so much but I won’t let that destroy my vacation.
“Nicole,” I tap a finger on her shoulder and she turns around with a curious expression. “What do you think about going to the city tomorrow for a little shopping spree?”
We are staying in a small village in Rome where Gabriel owns a beautiful home and the city does not seem like a bad idea. I know that Nicole is a fashion geek as much as I am, the shopping spree is a perfect idea to bond with my ‘fake’ sister-in-law. Or just generally bond with an amazing girl.
Her eyes widened, spark up at my question. “And here I thought you were too cooked up in bed with my brother to ever ask me.”
Words get stuck as I have no clue what she means with the last one. All she knows is that everything between us is fake and I quite honestly want to keep this relationship until we figure it out a secret. I ignore the first part of her answer and ask the obvious. “Is that a yes?”
“Of course, are you kidding me? I have been dying to go shopping with you but my brother,” she gets louder with the last words as if she wants Gabriel to hear her. “Didn’t allow me to ask you. Can you believe him?”
I laugh at her and Gabriel glares at his sister as he walks up to us. “There comes the fiancé.” She turns away as he steps next to me and wraps an arm around my shoulders.
“Are you talking about me again, Nicole? I thought we agreed on a no gossip about each other rule.”
“Nuh-uh.” She wiggles her finger in front of him and I chuckle. “I suggested it, you agreed but I never agreed.”
“By suggesting it you automatically agree.”
“Nuh-uh.”
“Sorry to burst your bubble but it does.”
“Nuh-uh. Elena, back me up.”
“Well,” I start but stop when she glares at me with her mouth gaped open.
“How dare you?”
“What, don’t blame me! I am just agreeing on the logical one.” I argue.
“I will remember that. Next time you play all smarty pants, I will agree with my brother.” She throws her hair back and crosses her arms over her shoulder as she is done with her statement.
“That will never happen.”
Her arms fell as Gabriel did speak the truth. “True, that was a bad example. You know what, who cares, right?” She walks to me and pushes Gabriel’s arm from my shoulders.
“Hey-“
“Shush.” She holds her finger in front of his face. “You had her for far too long. I need to talk with her.” And with that she loops her arm around mine and pulls me with her as she walks away from the broken windmill we were standing next to.
I turn back to blow Gabriel a kiss as a joke and he acts as if he is catching it, clutching the first to his heart.
My dear, my boss is a secret softie at heart.
“Although I have to disappoint you, I won’t make it tomorrow. Is the day after all right with you?”
I swallow the butterflies away and try to seem as normal with my speaking. He caught off guard with that move. “More than all right.”
“I have to remind you though that it is a Friday and the mall might be packed. I could help you find a boyfriend.” She shrugs her shoulders at me in a cheeky way.
I choke on my own saliva; my eyes widen at her insanity. “Are you mad?”
“What? You can’t be forever fake engaged to my brother.”
Right, she does not know.
“Technically not fake,” I mumble.
“Finally, you are admitting it. You two are not quiet, quite the opposite.. The walls are not soundproof and I am two rooms away.”
“You have heard us?”
“You are impossible to not hear. Do not make me mimic you.”
“Please don’t.”
Oh, dear Lord, she heard us and I will never live this down. She will drag my ears.