Chapter 16
sixteen
We drive miles outside of Rome, slowing every once in a while for Sebastian to show me landmarks as the sun rises across the beautiful countryside.
We pass a beautiful nature reserve that he promises we can come back to sometime before my time here is through.
Before I can ask him what else we can see, we turn onto a long driveway.
We drive for nearly half a mile before coming to an entrance that feels more formal than any home I’ve ever seen, as though it requires reverence just to enter the grounds.
Tall stone pillars rise on either side of black iron gates, the stone softened by age and wrapped in thick ivy.
Ornate ironwork tops the gate, intricate and old-world, more decorative than defensive, yet unmistakably authoritative.
Even though they’re small, I don't miss the cameras tracking our movements as we pull closer to the gate. It swings open, and anxiety clenches in my gut. I’m not equipped for this kind of lifestyle.
What the hell was Seb doing renting my shitty apartment when he lives like a fucking king at home?
“Don’t go there, Vanessa,” Sebastian interrupts my internal downward spiral, and I blink over at him.
“What do you mean?” I play dumb, masking my emotions.
“I can hear your mind spinning into overdrive from here. I’m surprised smoke isn’t pouring out of your ears by now.” The corner of his lips tip into a smile, and my shoulders relax slightly.
“How could I not be nervous? Do you see this place?” Pulling the edge of my bottom lip between my teeth, the thoughts in my mind shouting my inadequacies.
I don’t belong here.
He doesn’t want me.
He’s just biding his time.
His hand clamps down on my thigh just above my knee, and my mind goes silent.
I don’t know how, out of every other human on this planet, I found the one that makes the chaos become order.
We pull up to the front of a circular gravel drive, pale stone columns rising in perfect symmetry around the prodigious double front door.
Everything is embellished, slightly weathered by time rather than neglect.
A wide portico stretches the length of the villa.
The architecture feels reverent, almost ancient, as if the house was built to be approached slowly, like a museum.
It’s beautiful, so beautiful I want to explore for hours and hours, losing myself in the history of this place.
At the center, tall iron doors stand open beneath an arched transom of stained glass, framing a glimpse of green space beyond, maybe a garden?
Sculpted stone drapery and figures guard the front doors. It’s expansive, almost haunted.
“This place is incredible.” My voice is hushed, barely above a whisper, as I take in everything around us.
“My father would’ve loved to hear your praises.” He replies, his thumb grazing back and forth across my skin.
“You grew up here?” I ask, looking back at him as he watches me intently.
“I did. Many of my fondest memories are held on these grounds. Many of my worst as well. But this is my home. Please consider it yours. There are very few places you cannot go, but my men will make sure to guide you away from those areas for your own safety. The entirety of Italy is at your disposal, Bambina.” He smiles back at me, and I feel a little more of my reservations slip away.
“I think we still have a lot to discuss, but I want you to know how much I appreciate this. You could’ve left me to fend for myself, and I’m not sure how I would’ve managed.
But this…I never could’ve imagined this, Sebastian.
” Leaning over, I kiss his cheek softly, lingering far longer than necessary.
Before I can pull away, his hand grips my throat, tilting my head back and capturing my mouth in a kiss so feral, I can’t catch my breath.
His tongue delves into my mouth, taking what he wants without permission.
His touch is brutal, every fingertip putting the most delicious amount of pressure against my skin.
The darkest part of me hopes it will bruise, branding me with his marks, at least for the moment.
A car door closes, startling me, and I pull away.
We’re alone, Enzo standing outside the driver’s door silently.
“I wasn’t done with you yet,” he says, his voice deeper than usual.
Heat creeps up my chest, and I laugh nervously. I can’t imagine what the people here must think of me already. Seb is obviously their boss in some way. And here I am, some American bimbo he flew in to maul in the Rolls while the bodyguard waits to hold the door. What the fuck is wrong with me?
“I think I need a nap. And definitely a shower. Is there anybody who can show me where my room is?” I pull away, avoiding his predatory gaze.
He looks surprised and almost hurt. I’m too confused to delve into the emotional gang bang going on inside my mind right now.
I just want to put some space between us for a little while.
He nods silently, opening the door for me and stepping out.
Extending his hand, he helps me out of the car, squeezing mine a little harder than necessary.
“Rosetta will show you to your room. She takes care of the daily operations to keep this villa running. If you find you have a problem with something in your room, or need anything we don’t have here, all you have to do is tell her and she will take care of it.
Please show her the utmost respect. She is a vital part of this household.
I have a few things I need to take care of, but I will be back before dinner.
Feel free to explore the grounds, or rest if you need to.
” He places a soft kiss on the back of my hand, not meeting my eyes before walking down a long corridor, leaving me standing in the entry of this palace.
I’m speechless, and a little cold. Did my pulling away really upset him that much?
Enzo hovers in my periphery, and I guess this will be my new normal for the next few weeks.
An older woman emerges from the same hallway Sebastian just disappeared down.
She looks to be in her sixties, but she obviously takes excellent care of herself.
Her dark hair is swept back in a loose bun at the nape of her neck, and she seems to glide across the stone floor in an elegant cream pantsuit.
I could only dream of being that chic when I’m her age.
“Buongiorno, signora. I am Rosetta. Welcome to Villa di Arsenio. I wish Mr. Arsenio had given me a little more notice, I could have been better prepared for your arrival. But it’s no matter.
I’m happy to welcome you and to get you anything you need for your stay.
” She smiles warmly, patting my hand. “Please follow me this way. I’ll show you to your room. ”
“Let me just grab my things from-” I turn to retrieve my suitcases from the car, but Enzo stands silently behind me with them already tucked under his arms. Fucking creeper.
“Enzo will follow with your belongings, Ms. Diaz. Right this way.” She leads the way through several short hallways while giving me a miniature history lesson about the property, the area surrounding us, and the culture of this region.
I take in as much as I can. There are beautiful sculptures, paintings, and tapestries in nearly every room we pass.
I feel like we’re in an endless labyrinth of hallways and staircases.
God forbid I need to go anywhere in this house by myself.
There’s no way I’d make it out alive. Rosetta continues talking, saying something about the original home being built in the 1400s and then renovated nearly two hundred years later.
It’s obviously been modernized much more recently.
We’ve passed at least half a dozen doors with biometric scanners, and there are cameras in every corner, making sure there's not a single inch of this property unmonitored. Even with all the high-tech upgrades, they’ve still kept most of the natural beauty of the villa intact.
“Here we are, your room.” She opens two French doors, letting me into a bedroom just as lavish as the rest of the property.
“Thank you so much, Rosetta. I appreciate your kindness, and I would love to hear more about the villa whenever you have time.” I reply, not having much energy left for socializing.
“I’m happy to tell you anything you’d like to know, Ms. Diaz.
Please take your time freshening up and getting some rest. Enzo will be posted outside your door, and he can call on me any time should you need anything.
There are clean linens in the en suite. I recommend taking advantage of the sauna feature in your shower.
It’s worth it.” She gives me a smile. I don’t waste time wondering how she knows my name.
She seems like the type to know all and be everywhere at any given time.
“That sounds like a dream. Thank you so much. And please, call me Vanessa.” I reply, and she nods, backing out of the room.
Once I'm alone, I collapse on the bed, wondering how I ended up five thousand miles from home in a place so beautiful it takes my breath away, and I still can’t shut my mind off.
My business is taken care of for the time being, and Doug is living his best doggy life.
For maybe the first time in my adult life, I don't have a single responsibility to manage. Yet, I'm more scared than ever before.
Deciding the only thing I can do to clear my mind right now is to shower, I strip off my travel clothes. Laying them on the end of the bed, I grab my essential toiletries from my bag before padding into the bathroom.
Smooth marble walls wrap the room in pale warmth, subtle veining like soft movement beneath still water.
The color palette is restrained, creamy whites and gentle beige, with sharp black accents.
The space creates a balance between luxury and class.
Nothing here is excessive, and it reminds me so much of Sebastian himself.
Turning the water on, a wide rainfall shower head pours from the center as water sprays from six different jets on the opposite side of the stall.
This is opulence, pure, and beautiful. Stepping into the hot water, I let it scorch my skin.
It’s probably much hotter than it should be, but I don’t care.
What is it about women and our love for scalding hot showers?
I know it’s not good for my naturally curly hair or my skin, but right now I don’t care.
I want to wash the haze away from my mind, and this is the only way I know I can do it without relying on Sebastian’s touch.
Letting the water rain down on my face, I close my eyes, breathing slowly as the adrenaline of the day and all the events leading me to this very place catch up to me.
Tears burn my eyes, but I can’t see them, can’t feel them fall as they blend with the water falling down my cheeks.
I don’t really feel sad, or scared, not even angry.
Just overwhelmed to such an incredible degree.
I don’t feel capable of holding my emotions inside anymore.
Pressing my palms into the cool tile in front of me, I let them fall.
There’s nothing like the feeling of a good emotional cleanse.
At least in here, no one can see or hear the sobs wrecking me.
I cry until I feel completely devoid of all the emotion I’ve kept bottled up the past few weeks.
The tension I’ve been ignoring between Sebastian and I, whatever the fuck I’ve been dreaming up with the masked man, the weight of feeling like I have no family, nowhere I truly come from or belong, everything I’ve let strangle my soul before now. I let it all wash down the drain.
“This does not make you a weak bitch, Nessa. Some days are just heavy.” I tell myself out loud because I need to hear the words.
The tears slow as I finally feel like I can take a deep breath.
After what feels like an eternity, I go through the motions of a quick shower.
There seems to be an endless supply of hot water in this room, and I wonder if that's just the beginning of the never ending comforts I’ll find here.
There’s a panel on the wall just outside the shower stall, and I assume that controls the sauna Rosetta was referring to before.
I make a mental note to definitely take advantage of that as soon as possible.
Perhaps at a time when I don’t feel like I might collapse from exhaustion.
Over an hour has passed when I finally shut off the water, ending my emotional breakdown.
I rush through the process of raking product through my curls, wrapping them in my favorite silk scarf so my hard work isn’t ruined by the coma-worthy nap I’m about to fall into.
When I was young, there was no end to the number of times I heard things like “Oh I would pay so much money to have beautiful curls like yours!” Yeah but do you have any idea what it takes to care for hair like this, Karen?
Doubtful. I hated my hair then. It was way more work than I wanted to put into my appearance.
But over the years I’ve learned how to take care of it so efficiently it’s almost second nature.
Pulling another plush towel from the warming rack, I wrap it tightly around myself and walk back into the bedroom.
I'm grateful the heavy drapes are barely open, only casting a small amount of light across the space. The four-poster bed piled high with cream linens looks like the most inviting dream I’ve ever seen.
I almost feel like running towards it, but you couldn’t pay me enough to run anywhere.
I make it to the edge of the bed before a deep voice shatters the silence around me.