Chapter 10
Angela
"Stop complaining! You look freaking hot! With a capital H,” Emily declared, eyeing me in the mirror with approval as I tugged at the hem of the mini black dress, trying to cover a little more of my thighs. The silk dress was pretty, no doubt, with a cross spaghetti strap neckline. But it hugged my curves a little too tightly. Not that I didn't enjoy looking sexy, but I didn't want to flash everyone.
“I'm really not sure about this. It shows too much skin, Emily!” Technically, this girl had barged into the mansion, telling me we were going to one of her friend’s parties, whom I did not even know. And was not even invited to. Since Lorenzo had been extremely strict with my security with the ongoing incidents in my life, obviously I did not want to provoke the lion and leave my only shelter for now without informing him. So I called and told him that I was going out with Emily. But with a little twist.
She told me to tell him we were going shopping instead. I did not see any point in lying, but Emily insisted that he would not let me leave, given how he had his men watching me like hawks and reporting everything back to him. She got all the insights from Giovanni. Which makes me wonder sometimes, they have been spending an awfully good amount of time together.
Lorenzo did not have a problem with me going out, but he told me that I would have to go with his guards in one of his cars since he was very busy with some work. He specifically said and I quote, ‘ Make sure your phone and the guards are with you all the time.’ Something about the fact that he cared about my safety made my heart flutter.
“First, you're making me lie to Lorenzo about where we're going, and now the dress. Something tells me he's not going to be happy if he finds out,” I remarked, feeling the weight of guilt settle in. It was frustrating knowing I was deceiving him, even if it was for something as trivial as attending a party. I mean, it was not necessary. I'm sure he wouldn't have minded me going anywhere. Besides, why did I even feel the need to satisfy him by letting him know where I was going in the first place?
“Girl, he ain't your dad that you're worried about upsetting. Why do you even care? Is there something I should know? Are you falling for the big, bad Alpha? I thought you said it was nothing. Just a silly crush?” Emily's frown made me pause, her words hitting a little too hard.
“I mean, I'm practically living in his house. I should be considerate and not add to his troubles,” I reasoned, trying to justify my unease.
“Like what? Causing an accident while you strut down the road, sporting that sexy ass and looking like the sexy princess you are? Trust me, girl, even if you do go to jail for that, I'm pretty sure he could bail you out. I mean, he did cause all that drama at the club and saved you, didn't he? He would surely have his way with the police. So chill,” Emily waved off my concerns with a flick of her hand. “Besides, no one is going to tell him. Plus, I already know he's already in deep for you. So one solid puppy eyes from you and bam . All problems solved,” she added, her assurance only leaving me more bewildered.
“First, the club where he caused the drama is practically his own. Second, we're leaving with his men. How are you going to get rid of them?” I retorted, feeling a surge of sass bubbling up. “Third, what does it even mean that he's in deep for me?” I pressed, eager to unravel the mysteries surrounding Lorenzo's actions.
‘You are mine.’
That surely had to mean something? And the kiss? Maybe he does like me.
“You, my girl, are forever going to be clueless. No one, and I mean absolutely no one, lets somebody stay in their house without a reason, for free!” Emily pointed out, her words hitting me with a dose of reality. “And second, we don't have to worry about his men,” she continued, her plan unfolding with theatrical flair as she draped an overcoat over my shoulders and tied it neatly above my belly. “We're going to go to the mall, like you told your man—”
“Well, he's not my man,” I interjected, feeling the need to clarify our relationship status.
“Yet,” Emily teased, flashing me her trademark cheeky smirk. “While they wait outside the mall, we're going to escape from the backdoor and ditch them,” she explained, her gestures adding an extra layer of drama to her plan.
“Is that really necessary?” I questioned, still unsure about the need for such elaborate measures.
“Yes. Because you're a free woman. He doesn't own you. You can come and go as you please,” Emily reminded me, her words resonating with a newfound sense of liberation.
“Why do you have to make everything so dramatic? It feels like an escape scene from a movie,” I remarked, adding a touch of skepticism to Emily's grand plan.
“Trust me, girl. Life's no fun without some drama,” she quipped, her enthusiasm infectious as we prepared to embark on our clandestine adventure.
“His men are going to report back to him anyway when we don't show up.”
“We won't take that long. On average, a girl needs four hours for shopping. We'll surely be done before that.”
As we stepped outside the mansion, we were greeted by the sight of an orange Lamborghini parked alongside a Mercedes G-Wagon. My jaw dropped in disbelief, mirroring Emily's stunned expression. It seemed our escapade was about to take an unexpected turn, courtesy of Lorenzo's unexpected generosity.
The G-wagon had exactly four men sitting in it, all dressed in black. One of them got out of the car and opened the door of the Lambo for me.
“I’m Christopher. Capo said that you can drive his car. We'll be right behind you.” Oh . My jaw dropped as I turned to face Emily, who had a similar expression as me. Obviously, we two broke knuckleheads could only ever dream about riding in a Lamborghini. Let alone driving one.
“And what were you saying about him not being in deep for you?” Emily teased, her smirk widening as she enjoyed my stunned reaction.
“Shut up,” I muttered, unable to suppress the flutter of excitement building within me.
***
"Come on. Loosen up, will ya?" Emily nudged me, downing another shot of martini. We managed to escape Lorenzo's guards a little too easily, to my surprise, thanks to Emily's meticulous planning. Her friend, James, was already on standby at the back door of the mall to receive us when we made our escape. Emily had even taken the liberty of setting my phone on airplane mode to ensure we would not be disturbed by what she called 'our guard dogs'.
"Out of all the places we could go, you had to take me to a club?" I remarked, feeling out of place between Emily and James, who seemed to be trying a little too hard to impress me with his pickup lines.
"Well, it's not my fault my friend decided to have her birthday party at a club. And it's not that bad. Just enjoy yourself for once," Emily urged, taking another shot with Gusto, another one of her friends who had a great body.
"Yeah, and where is this guest of honor anyway?" I asked, feeling a twinge of annoyance at being dragged to a club against my will.
"Chill, babe. She'll be here soon," James interjected, his attempts at flirtation falling flat. "By the way, do you have a band-aid?" He continued, earning an incredulous look from me.
"Why?" I raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
"Because I just scraped my knee falling for you," James replied with a cheesy grin, prompting me to roll my eyes so hard I thought I might see my brain. It was undoubtedly the worst attempt at flirting I had ever witnessed. That had to be the hundredth attempt at ‘making a girl lose interest in you instantly.’
"Sorry, guys, we're late. Beth took forever to get ready." A familiar voice interrupted our conversation, prompting me to frown as I turned to see the bunch of people who had entered the booth. "You know how she is," the voice continued. Emily eagerly stood up to hug the only other girl besides us, who I'm assuming is Beth, dressed in a striking red mini dress. Following her were two guys, one with jet-black hair and the other with sandy blonde locks, his distinct hair color sparking a sense of familiarity.
"Oh, don't blame me. You know Jeremy gets carried away easily," Beth remarked, playfully elbowing the black-haired guy in the stomach.
"Please, I have zero interest in hearing about your sex life," Emily chimed in, finally breaking the hug to greet Jeremy, Beth’s boyfriend, who hadn't spoken a word till now, while Beth went on to hug Gusto. All this time, I was curious to catch a proper glimpse of the blonde.
"By the way, this is my plus one for tonight, Ang—" Emily began to introduce me, but she was cut off by him.
"Angela?" The blonde-haired guy exclaimed, and as he stepped forward, I could finally see his face, recognition flooding over me like a wave.
"Jacob!" I squealed in delight as he closed the distance between us, enveloping me in a warm hug.
"Damn, feels like it's been years," Jacob remarked, the surprise evident in his voice.
"Because it has been, you oaf," I teased, struggling to hug him properly due to his muscular frame.
"Cousins?" Beth inquired, raising an eyebrow at the sight of our reunion.
"Nope," Jacob replied, popping the 'p'. "Old neighbors and," he met my eyes with a soft, knowing look, "very good friends."
"Ohhhhh! You sure just friends?" Beth teased, wiggling her eyebrows, causing Jacob to blush slightly—an unexpected sight, considering he was always the tough one.
"Of course. Angela is already busy pining over someone else," Emily interjected, earning a death glare from me.
"Really?" Jacob frowned in curiosity.
"You know she's all talk," I assured him with a shake of my head. "But it's good to see you. I wasn't expecting you here , really."
"Yeah, same. I'm glad it's... you." Jacob's words trailed off with a hint of sincerity, bringing a smile to my face.
“Alright, alright. Let's cheers to celebrate the reunion," they all gulped down a shot, but I stood there awkwardly with the glass of shot in my hand, feeling a little out of place since I had no plans of getting drunk.
I was relieved when Jacob replaced James next to me as we sat down, noticing the slight look of disappointment on James' face when Jacob practically pushed him aside to sit next to me. I preferred sitting next to someone I knew and was comfortable with.
"Okay, let's play never have I ever. Instead of putting a finger down, the person has to take a shot," Beth suggested, and I immediately knew what I had to say.
"You guys play. I'm out," I said, feeling agitated. It had been an hour and a half since we had escaped the mall, which meant the guards would find out sooner or later about our absence. And that would only anger Lorenzo, possibly resulting in him throwing me out of his house.
Make sure your phone and the guards are with you all the time.
The only thing he had specifically asked me to do was the one I wasn't doing. All thanks to Emily. How fantastic!
"We're all playing. You can't say no to the birthday girl, Angela," Beth pleaded, giving me her best puppy eyes. Damn, she was good at this.
"Fine." I sighed, giving in reluctantly.
“Ok, I wanna go first. Never have I ever snuck into a restricted area for a thrill.” Well, that was a safe one. Something that I would not be so shy about exposing. So I drank a shot. Jacob, Jeremy and Gusto drank as well.
“Bitch, when? Why didn't you take me with you?” Emily asked, disappointed.
“I didn't know you then.” I shrugged, dismissing the topic.
“Ok, my turn,” James Chimed. “Never have I ever flirted with someone just to get a free drink,” Emily drank along with Jacob and Beth. That made Jeremy scowl in Beth's direction with a raised brow.
“Chill, it was you.” She told him, making his posture relax instantly.
“LMAO. Ok, my turn!” Emily cheered rather enthusiastically. “Never have I ever fantasized about someone I shouldn't have.” I knew why she did that. Her eyes were fixed on me as she said those words. It was clear what she was trying to show everyone, making me glare in her direction. Everyone drank except her, and I fumbled with the shot, not knowing if I should or should not have it. I knew I was a light drinker. “Come-on baby girl. Don't be shy now.” Emily poked my arm before I took a deep breath and joined the others in raising my glass, the tangy taste of the alcohol serving as a stark reminder of my own recklessness. As the warmth spread through me, I couldn't help but feel a rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins.
The acidity burned down my throat as I winced slightly at how strong the drink felt compared to the first time. I think it was just my third shot. Or second? Who knows? Because I was already starting to feel lightheaded. Gosh, this was a bad idea. Really.
“Never have I ever had a wet dream about someone I had a crush on,” I heard Jeremy ask before everyone drank except him. I drank as well. Because the person who was my answer to the last two statements was the same.
This time, when I kept the glass away, I felt dizzy as the room blurred before my eyes. My thoughts wandered off as I giggled, remembering the kiss I had with Lorenzo all of a sudden, making me feel hot.
“Is she okay?” James voiced his concern.
"I'm ecstatic!" I giggled, flashing a thumbs up before anyone could respond. "Let's continue. This is getting exciting," I cheered, clapping my hands eagerly. "Oh! I have an interesting one! Never have I ever—" My sentence was cut short by the abrupt bang of the door swinging open, stealing my attention. But any annoyance melted away as my gaze landed on those silver eyes and that oh-so-charming face I often found myself daydreaming about. Damn, I was even dreaming about him now! He looked even sexier when he was angry. Wait, why was Giovanni intruding into my fantasy? I needed to kick him out. I blinked forcefully, trying to banish Giovanni from my imagination because it felt wildly inappropriate to entertain thoughts of Lorenzo with Giovanni lurking nearby.
A scowl creased my forehead when Giovanni stubbornly remained in place by the door behind Lorenzo, his expression one of disappointment as his gaze flicked toward Emily. But before I could dwell on Giovanni's odd behavior, my attention was stolen by the sight of a very furious Lorenzo striding toward us. He kicked at the table in front of us, sending shot glasses tumbling to the ground in a cacophony of shattering glass.
Wow, my dream was suddenly brimming with action. It was a rare occurrence, but I found myself enjoying it. I could not help but clap cheerfully, feeling the excitement bubbling within me, oblivious to the tension thickening in the air as my companions leaped to their feet.
"What the heck, dude? Who do you think you are?" Jacob's voice rang out, challenging Lorenzo, whose eyes darkened ominously. In the blink of an eye, Lorenzo drew his gun from its holster, aiming it in Jacob's direction.
“Your death.” Lorenzo’s voice was grim. My eyes widened, and my jaw dropped in awe. Why did that seem so...
"Hot!" I blurted out, earning startled glances from everyone. I quickly covered my mouth, realizing I was only supposed to think that.
"Mr. Martinez! He's Mr. Lorenzo Martinez," Emily interjected hastily, perhaps attempting to redirect attention. "We... we know him." She shot a pointed look at her friends, silently urging them to catch on. I watched as their jaws dropped in recognition of the man standing before us.
"Yep!" I added, popping the 'p'. "He’s Lorenzo. My Lorenzo..." My words trailed off and slurred at the end.
"What she means is... Angela knows him. Very well a—" Lorenzo's stern look at her cut through Emily's faltering explanation.
"He's... well, he's..." Emily stumbled over her words, unsure how to finish her sentence, before Lorenzo's firm directive interrupted her.
"Out! Everyone!" He barked the order, making everyone tremble, and in an instant, the room cleared out as they scrambled to vacate the premises.
He advanced toward me with a menacing aura, his movements calculated and deliberate. As he kneeled down to my level, resting one knee on the ground and propping his elbow on the other, his voice took on a velvety tone that sent shivers through me.
"Haven't you been a bad girl today, Dolcezza ?" His words were like silk, weaving a web of allure around me. His intoxicating scent was making it hard to concentrate.
"It was Emily's idea," I replied, my voice as innocent as a kitten's purr as I peeked from under my lashes, biting my bottom lip.
"Was it? And where the hell is your phone?" Despite the anger in his tone, the way he spoke sent a wave of arousal through me.
"Emily has it," I confessed, pointing towards the door through which she had disappeared moments earlier.
"I see," he nodded, his demeanor still threatening. "How much did you drink?" His gaze bore into mine, demanding an honest answer.
I paused to consider his question before raising three fingers. "Two shots," I admitted, slowly adding another one, feeling the weight of his scrutiny. I honestly did not remember how much I drank at this point.
"Clearly," he remarked, raising an eyebrow in acknowledgment of my inebriated state.
"Can I say something?" I asked, biting my lip coyly, causing his eyes to flicker down to my lips.
"Yes," he grunted, his voice thick with anticipation.
"You look so hot when you are angry. And sexy," I confessed, unable to resist the urge to compliment him. His eyes met mine, his expression shifting into one of amusement as he tilted his face ever so slightly. Slowly, a lethal smirk spread across his lips, captivating me with the danger that lurked in it.
"Do I?" he teased, his velvety voice sending a thrill through me.
"Mhm. Very," I murmured, unable to tear my gaze away from his lips as they moved with tantalizing precision before I started leaning in. "Too handsome.”
***