CHAPTER 39
Knock knock
The knock came without warning..
Three firm taps came again this time less hesitant and more assured.
Mia stiffened instantly, the reaction was immediate and instinctive.
She pulled back too quickly, nearly slipping as she tried to get off his lap, her hand catching briefly against his shoulder for balance.
Her breath hitched, eyes wide startled and with unsureness, like she’d just been caught doing something bad.
Marcello didn’t move at first.
His hand remained at her waist for a second longer than it should have.
Then slowly, deliberately, he let go. By the time she had stepped away, smoothing her sleeves, trying to steady herself, he was already leaning back in his chair again composed and unreadable, one hand resting against the armrest like nothing had happened.
“Come in,” he said, voice even.
The door opened, and Grayson stepped inside, his presence filling the room in a different way—structured, alert and observant . His eyes flicked briefly to Mia then to Marcello.
“Sir,” he greeted, nodding once.
Marcello returned the nod, calm and controlled. “Grayson.”
Mia stayed where she was, off to the side now, her fingers curled into the fabric of her sleeves. She didn’t look at either of them, her gaze lowered, like she was trying to disappear into the ground.
Marcello noticed, of course he did.
He noticed the way her shoulders had drawn in slightly… the way she kept shifting her weight… the faint flush still lingering across her cheeks.
His jaw tightened just a fraction.
“What is it?” he asked, tone sharper than before but not enough to question.
Grayson didn’t react to the shift. “I came to check if Mia had eaten,” he said simply. “Luca asked me to make sure she doesn’t skip.” At that, Mia’s head dipped a little more.
Marcello’s gaze moved to her briefly then back to Grayson.
“She hasn’t,” he replied. "I was just about to take care of it.” There was something in the way he said it but Grayson wouldn't dare question it.
Grayson held his gaze for a second longer this time.
Just then
Mia shifted, then finally spoke, her voice soft, careful.
“I can go with Grayson…”
Marcello’s eyes moved to her.
Slowly.
For a second, it looked like he might say no.
The word sat there unspoken, heavy in his throat then his gaze flicked away from her, hisjaw tightening just slightly. "Hmm,” he grunted giving a nod
Simple. Flat. Like a permission ... but it didn’t feel like it.
Mia hesitated like she was waiting for something else… a change in the answer maybe but when it didn't come, she nodded faintly then muttered a small “Okay.”
She moved toward the door, her steps quiet, almost too quick now. When she reached it, her hand paused on the handle, fingers curling around it like she might turn back
but she didn’t.
The door opened and Grayson straightened slightly when she stepped out, his attention immediately on her.
“You ready?”
She nodded again, avoiding his eyes this time.
“Yes.”
His gaze lingered on her for a brief moment taking in the lowered head, the slight tension in her shoulders before he stepped aside to let her pass.
The door closed behind them with a soft click.
Then silence
His gaze stayed on the door for a long second, unreadable, steady until something in his expression shifted.
His jaw tightened.
Slowly, he leaned forward, elbows resting against his knees, one hand dragging down his face as he exhaled through his nose.
They were being careless.
Careless in a way he never allowed himself to be. This wasn’t something that could happen again. They can't get caught. His eyes lifted slowly back to the door and lingered there for a moment.
He couldn't stay away even if he wanted to, especially now that he got a small taste of what it would be like when they are together.. they'll just have to be more careful from now... Atleast he hoped they would.
The next morning, Mia woke up feeling… good. She stayed in bed a little longer than usual, staring at the ceiling. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the day before and she smiled to herself.
She liked it
She liked everything he made her feel.. she couldn't explain it,.. everything just felt right.
She thought about the little moment they had in his office. The way he’d held her, The way his voice had sounded when he spoke to her, like she belonged to him and with him
She blushed at the thought.. " that's silly" she said to herself.. She pushed herself up slowly, brushing it off as best as she could.
Coffee, that would help, something normal.
She made her way through the house with that idea, trying to settle herself back into routine. The kitchen first, then maybe Grayson, just to see if everything was the same as usual.
But when she reached the study, she stopped.
Marcello was already there.
Dressed in his tailored black designer suit looking as dashing as ever and quite composed. A cup of coffee sat untouched near his hand as he spoke to Grayson in low, measured tone something about schedules.
Mia lingered near the doorway for a second before stepping in, her fingers curling slightly into the sleeves of her sweater.
“Good morning,” she said softly.
Marcello didn’t look at her or respond to the greeting. Instead he hummed just as quiet but distant.
Grayson glanced at her briefly, offering a small " morning princess" before returning his attention to Marcello. “I’ll handle it before noon.”
Marcello nodded once. “Make sure you do.”
Silence followed.
Mia stepped a little closer, hesitant. “Um… I wanted to ask—”
“Later.” The word cut in cleanly and final.
Her voice stopped instantly.
Marcello still hadn’t looked at her.
Her fingers tightened in her sleeves.
“Oh… okay.”
She stepped back without thinking, the small movement catching Marcello's peripheral view then she retreated back to her room with a frown .
She never understood him , one minute he was nice and the next he acted like he hated her .
. Mia blinked back her tears as she sniffled .
. 'maybe he didn't want her here' she thought and that made her even more sad and her chest tightened slightly.
The rest of the day passed by so slowly as night settled in. Mia had kept to herself more than usual during the day.
She stayed in her room, tried to read, tried to sketch, tried to do her homework but her mind kept drifting back to that morning. She hadn't even slept now and it was getting late.. almost midnight.
She couldn't sleep
She replayed it over and over, wondering if she had done something,if she’d said something wrong, She was now lying on her side, facing the wall while her mind was unsettled.
Just then
Two soft taps came through her door
Her eyes flicked to the door, her brows pulling together slightly already guessing who it was.
She pushed herself up, crossing the room and pulling the door open
And there he was.
She didn’t step back immediately and just looked at him her brows pulling together slightly in a frown.
“…what?” she asked, a little sharper than usual then she gasped. She's never the type to snap at someone even when they did wrong.. so she was taken aback by her own reaction and muttered a small" sorry"while biting her lips with nervousness.
" Let me in baby" he grunted. She was hurt and he knew it.. because she had also surprised him by that reaction but he had quickly masked it.
Mia stepped aside letting him in and Marcello walked in, closing the door behind him quietly, and for a moment neither of them spoke.
Mia moved back a little, putting space between them, her fingers curling into her sleeves.
"You were very mean this morning,” she said her voice trembling slightly while giving him a disapproving look for his actions. Marcello exhaled slowly through his nose, his gaze dropping for a brief moment before returning to hers.
" I know and I'm very sorry baby but I had to.. " he trailed off...
" Why, .. don't ... Dont you want me here?" she confessed what had been bothering her,.
" No no no, of course not I always want you here with me.
. don't you ever think that . " Marcello pinned his gaze on her showing her how serious he was.
She needed to know how much it pained him that they couldn't do things freely, that he had to act that like that so she wouldn't be taken away from him because if Luca ever found out, their little relationship would end even before it began.
" Look baby" he lifted her chin demanding that she'd look at him then he continued " I need you to know that sometimes I'm gonna do things that hurt your little heart but that doesn't mean that I don't like you .
. I like you too much that I wouldn't take it if they take you way from me.
" She furrowed her eyebrows at him clearly not understanding what he meant.
He hated doing it but she had to know
" If your brother ever finds out about us I wouldn't be able to see you anymore" he explained
" Luca.. why.." she asked
" That doesn't matter now baby, I made a promise that I wouldn't mess with you, that's why we need to be very careful."
Mia’s eyes dropped for a second, her chest tightening at the thought.
“I don’t want that... I don't want to be away from you” she murmured.
Marcello’s hand stilled against her face.
“Neither do I.” He lifted his hand, brushing it gently against her cheek then he continued " If want to see you, I come to you.
Here. Please tell me you understand sweetheart.
" He begged then she nodded and he quickly grunted a disapproval.
Mia noticed and quickly muttered a small "yes" .
Satisfied with the answer he gave a small nod.
Mia looked up at him again, her voice softer now, almost shy.
“…you still hurt my feelings.” Marcello’s gaze shifted slightly, something tightening in his chest before he stepped even closer, his hand sliding more firmly along her jaw.
" I'll make it up to you I promise, what do you want.. name it and you shall have it."
" Umm well I don't know... Maybe ice-cream " she trailed off.
" And you'll have it .. Is that it.?" He smirked at her, amused at what she'd asked for.
She thought about it for a second then smiled at him and said " yes." Marcello’s gaze lingered on her face, taking in her features. God she was so beautiful. His thumb brushed her cheek once more.
“Come here,” he murmured inhaling her scent that drove him wild.Marcello let out a quiet breath, his hand still resting against her, grounding himself more than her.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
The space between them felt smaller now.
Closer.
His gaze dropped briefly to her lips then back to her eyes.
Slowly, he leaned in carefully, enough for her to pull away but she didn’t.
So he captured her lips with his. The kiss was so soft and tasted like strawberries. His mouth danced against hers in a slow rhythm like he was drowning in it's softness and he let it consume him.. because this...this was his heaven and he could do it all day.
He felt an unfamiliar fullness in his chest that felt dangerous and exciting at the same time.
Then he pulled back hesitantly to give her enough space to breathe and she moaned at the loss of his touch.
And that sound made him think of diving back in but he knew he wouldn't be able to stop himself then.
His forehead hovered close to hers, his breath slower now and more controlled because for the first time, Marcello understood just how much he wasn’t supposed to want this.
And how much he already did.