5. When Life Gives You Lemons
Chapter 5
When Life Gives You Lemons
Antonella
I throw as many clothes as I can into my suitcase, similar to how I first took the plunge to move out of my hometown. Back to square one.
Homeless?
Technically no. Living at a stranger’s place is not on my bingo card for this year, however, here we are.
“Sorry, I’ll be another minute.” I huff as I run to the bathroom. I pull out my phone to text the only person I can in this situation.
“Take your time.” He chuckles.
I catch a glimpse of him leaning against the doorframe, scrolling on his phone with his white sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The veins on his forearms are popping out.
Jesus Christ.
I’m about to start salivating , or frothing out the mouth. It’s been too long since I’ve been with a man. And never with a man like this one here. Doing a slutty doorway lean like he doesn’t know what he’s doing.
I rapidly shake the image from my mind and finally send my text.
Is living with a stranger a bad idea? I’m desperate. I mean, I already said yes.
Audie
Is he hot?
Yes…
So much, it’s borderline illegal.
If you won’t, I will :)
Well, that settles it.
A new life for Toni.
I throw my few bottles of hair and skin care products into a plastic bag. Everything I need until tomorrow. My make-up bag, hair brush, and most importantly, a toothbrush and toothpaste.
I trudge into to the bedroom again, throw the bag into my bigger bag, and zip it shut. “Okay, checklist. Phone charger? Check . Purse? Check . Laptop and charger? Check . Clothes? Check .”
“Are you talking to yourself, amore?”
“Myself.” I pull out the bag with a little bit of a struggle while giving Giordano a grin. He puts his phone in his pocket and grabs the two bags from me. I attempt to snatch the bags back from him, but he moves them away. “I can carry?—”
He cuts me off. “No need. I got it from here, amore. You worry about locking the door behind you. Got everything you need?”
“Yes.” I open the door for him since his hands are full and flick the light switch off.
“Thank you.” He chuckles, walking out first.
“Thank you .” I tug the door forcefully until it clicks into place and lock it. “Where do we go from here?”
“We’re going to walk back to the café, get in my car, and drive to where I live. Okay with you?”
He’s carrying most of my things, so driving is probably the safer choice, anyway. This is him repaying me for the coffee, but why do I get the strongest inclination it’s going to become… more?
Won’t I owe him in return? But if I did something for him, then he will owe me. And then, it becomes a constant cycle of back and forth IOUs .
Maybe him being in debt to me isn’t bad, after all.
“This is your car?” I raise a brow as my eyes go round with surprise.
He clicks the button on the key fob he’s holding. The car unlocks and the trunk opens. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s… a sports car. Like an expensive one.”
“Yes, and ?”
“Is it even legal?”
“Are you insinuating I do illegal things, Antonella?”
Perhaps . I click my teeth shut as he places the bags into the trunk of the expensive car.
“Sit,” he commands. Say less. Who am I to deny myself the opportunity? He opens the passenger side door for me and gives me one of those pesky little smiles. “Now, the fun begins.” He laughs, starting up the engine. “Buckle.”
Again, with the commanding.
I roll my eyes while buckling the seat belt. He pulls off and zips through the traffic. My eyebrows fly up as I lurch backward, mouth dropping slightly agape. I grip onto the sides of the seat for dear life. “I’m sorry, street racer. Speed limits exist for a reason.”
“We’ll arrive there safely. I promise, amore.”
His promise doesn’t give me any security though. If anything, his continuation of speeding through the—now-less-busy Chicago streets—gives me anxiety. Nauseating.
Please be a short drive.
Thankfully, it ends up being about ten minutes away toward the lake. He pulls up to the security gate and he punches in some numbers. “I’ll give you the code when we go inside,” he says.
This is a fancy condo or apartment place. My eyes go wide in awe at the intricate detailing on the wrought iron gate.
M?
I nod. “I’m thankful we’re finally not moving a thousand miles per hour for a moment.”
A smug smirk twitches at his top lip, though he says nothing as he presses down on the gas, nice and easy.
He knows how?
He drives up the half-circle driveway around a giant white terracotta fountain in the middle of the light green grass. When he parks, I practically fling myself out of the car, landing on the plush green grass. I sit there for a moment, praising the ground.
“ Madone ,” I whisper.
“No need to be dramatic. Surely the driving wasn’t too awful.”
My eye twitches and I shoot him a glare.
He chuckles as he pulls my belongings out of the trunk. “Come on, amore.”
I sigh, dropping my shoulders. “ Surely wasn’t too awful .” I repeat his earlier statement under my breath.
He turns to face me directly, eyes flickering with a fiery passion from my defiance. Probably something he isn’t used to receiving from people often.
I scrunch up my nose, staring right back at him. I probably shouldn’t say anything snarky to someone helping me out in my situation… I can’t help it.
“Did you… did you just mock me?” He cocks his head while scratching his chin.
“No. ”
“Huh, I thought I detected something… of the mockery tone.” He arches a thick dark brown brow, while loosening the black tie around his neck.
“Nope.” I purse my lips, popping the ‘ p ’. “Nothing of the sort.”
I need to stare anywhere besides him. Right now. My eyes quickly dart over to the building, the first time I’ve taken a good look at it.
Holy shit .
He lives in a mansion? Of course he does. My jaw drops to the floor. It’s veritably breathtaking.
“Oddio, I thought the gate was an entrance for like… a fancy apartment complex or something. Not an entire Mediterranean Italian villa .” I pause, taking in the new surroundings. My new temporary home. Though I’m not sure if I’ll ever truly want to leave. “It’s stunning.”
The floor lights lit up the bottom of all the windows and along the long walkway from the driveway to the steps leading to the front door. The grassy area inside of the semi-circular driveway has a gigantic, three-tier, white terracotta fountain.
His hand moves underneath my chin, pushing my jaw upward to make direct eye contact with him. My teeth click shut. “No need to catch the flies in your mouth, amore.”
“I can’t believe you live here.”
“You live here, too.”
“Are we even in Chicago anymore? I’ve never seen a place like this here…” My eyes wander from his face again to the beautiful scenery.
“I had it custom built right on the lake. Trust me, the house is blocking it now, but the backyard view is nice.” He holds his arm out for me to take. I slip my arm through his and pace along side him.
This is absolutely insane.
He opens the door and allows me to go inside first. My eyes went round, yet again. Everything’s lit up with a soft, warm white glow. The rich wood staircase in the dead center of the room is a warm and cozy espresso brown color. The tiles are a bright cream color, elegant and inviting.
“Let me show you to your room, amore.” He gestures toward the stairs. “Let you get settled in and I’ll show you around.”
I catch a glimpse of the living room as we walk up. The floor to ceiling windows give a lovely view of a tomato garden, and a humongous in-ground swimming pool—entirely lit up with blue ambient lighting for the night.
“Questo modo,” he whispers in my ear as we reach the top of the steps. He leads me all the way down the hall and the last door on the right.
He pulls his phone out and frowns. “This room is yours. There’s an en-suite bathroom. If you’re ever hungry, the kitchen is right off of the staircase to the left.”
I reach for the handle, but he stops me. He places his hand underneath my chin and pulls my face up toward his.
Butterflies in my stomach again. And elsewhere . If he keeps grabbing me this way, I may… develop a complex.
“If you need anything, give me a call. Unfortunately, I need to leave. Work emergency. Tour will have to take a rain check, but feel free to help yourself to absolutely anything or give yourself one.” He stares at me intensely.
The sparks are already igniting between us—I have to ignore it. He’s a nice guy helping me out. That’s all this is. I bob my head up and down like a madman. Stop it, Antonella.
“You have my number in your phone. Correct?”
“Yes.” I laugh as I reach for the handle, again.
He stops me, again . “I’ll be back before you notice I’m even gone. Don’t hesitate to call me if you have any questions. Maria’s also here.”
Maria ? Who’s Maria? Did he have a girlfriend this entire time? Of course .
I huff and fling the door open without another word. I don’t care if it comes across like a bratty tantrum. He has been practically leading me on the entire day and now wants to drop the bomb he’s got another woman here? He could’ve at least been honest about it.
I pad into the room, ignoring the rest of what he’s saying. Who am I to think he’d be infatuated with me anyway? The whole flirting thing aside. We’re living in the same house. That’s it. We’re going to be friends. Roommates. Nothing more?—
“ Antonella ,” he says. I stop walking, however, I don’t look at him. “Is there a reason for the attitude shift?”
“Nope,” I say, popping the ‘ p ’. I half-expect him to leave, but he’s still here. “Don’t you need to go? Work emergency, right ?” I ask.
Maybe it’s all a lie and he doesn’t want to hurt my feelings. I mean, why is he concerned anyway? About my attitude —I lick my lips before biting down on my tongue.
Down girl.
“Yes, amore.” He’s closer to me now. Directly behind me.
“Allora… why are you still here? I can settle in myself. Thank you for your hospitality. I’ll find Maria .” Her name already tastes bitter on my tongue. Am I being too obvious? I’m coming off way stronger than I normally do. His presence alone makes me feel like I’m outside of my skin.
He snorts, which quickly morphs into a full blown laugh. A cute laugh—deep, like his voice.
I turn, crossing my arms. “What’s funny, amore ?” I copy his nickname for me.
“You.” He pats the top of my head. I glare up at him through my furrowed brows, my nose twitching slightly with anger. “Your jealousy is adorable . I’ll keep it in mind.”
I squint my already twitching eye. Everything’s twitching. I’m convulsing. What the fuck is wrong with me? I need to calm down. I probably look insane to him. I stutter, “I-I’m not?—”
“Maria’s my housekeeper,” he states flatly. Slowly, a smug grin appears on his face. I want to smack it right off of him. I don’t. But I want to. “I will keep in mind the passion you articulated when you assumed I love another woman.”
Love another woman.
Who does this guy think he is?
“I-I’m totally not—” I stumble on my words.
He raises a large, veiny hand up while laughing. “Please, save the explanation. Let me live in the moment, amore. I’ll see you tomorrow. “I’ll be at my office for quite a while. Should you need anything—” He scratches his chin. “Um… There wasn’t a car in the driveway back at your apartment.” He squints in accusation.
“Because I don’t have a car.” I click my tongue. “I always walk or take the train when I go visit my parents or Audie.”
His eyes darken with a mixture of anger, and something else I’m not entirely sure of. “That ends this moment. And whenever you need to go anywhere—” He pulls out a set of keys. “You always have a car to take. Emergency or leisure.”
“Giordano,” I say his name as a groan. “I can’t possibly take one of your cars. I haven’t even driven in years. You’re too generous.” I don’t take the keys. It’s all way too much. I’m overwhelmed.
He grabs my hand and places the keys in them for me. “No such thing, amore. I’d rather you be safe when going somewhere. Walking from here is dangerous, especially at night. Have a lovely evening, amore.”
My breathing hitches in my throat. I squeak, “Bye.”
When the door shuts, I release the huge breath I’m holding in my tight chest. I let him read me like a book.
My new, temporary , bedroom is bright and airy. The white, sheer curtains line the floor to ceiling windows on one wall, showing the gorgeous view of Lake Michigan. Sunrises here are going to be epic —my favorite.
I’ll have to wake myself up early to enjoy it.
The entire room has a plush grey carpet, every step bounces beneath my feet. The bed has a white canopy above with pink tulle netting around it. The silk sheets and comforter are a beautiful blush pink which matches the netting—elegant, cute. There also has to be like eight silk pillows on the bed.
I mean, who needs this many pillows?
The nightstands and dressers are a white wood which also matches the canopy bed. Everything matches in here.
It’s aesthetically pleasing—like one of those blogs. I’ll give him that much. He can design a room.
And oof, the all marble bathroom. A jetted tub, big enough to fit two, count it— two —people, with a TV in front of it. A walk-in shower with four heads? Again, who needs a shower with this many heads?
Oddio.
It's pure luxury here.
“Antonella’s a princess now,” I whisper.