Chapter 9
The days keep passing, and the restaurant is nearing the end of renovations.
I have to admit I’m pretty anxious to see everything in place.
Just a few finishing touches remain on the paint—I asked them to change the color.
Emma agreed that the private dining area should be lighter, since it’s more enclosed.
Our working relationship is going well. She’s been excellent at what she does, and when I ask for a change, she complains but then does what I ask. After all, I’m the one at fault for approving things and then changing everything.
Today I’m meeting the company that will furnish the place. From what Carter told me, Emma’s sister is heading things up. I haven’t met her yet, but I’ve heard great things about her. They say she’s dedicated and goes above and beyond for her clients. We’ll see about that today.
I still think about the day Emma received that box. The way she reacted really bothered me. We haven’t talked about it since—I’m respecting her space—but I’m guessing it’s some ex-boyfriend who couldn’t accept the breakup. At least, that’s what it looks like.
I thought about asking Carter, but he’s been dealing with some problems at the company, and we’ve barely seen each other. I still need to remind him about the club he promised to take me to. I’m holding my iPad, looking at the design and comparing it to what’s finished, when Emma calls out to me.
“Mr. Mattia.” I turn around and see her with a woman who looks a lot like her, but older. Must be her sister.
“Yes, Miss Emma.”
“I’d like to introduce you to Gabriela. She’ll be handling the furniture.”
“Pleasure to meet you, sir.”
“Hello, Gabriela. And Emma, I’d like you to continue leading the project since you know exactly what I want. You understand my preferences, so I don’t want any surprises or anything going wrong.”
“Of course, sir. Gabriela will only be responsible for putting everything in place, but I’ll be here to make sure everything goes as planned.”
“That’s what I expect,” I say, then walk away to finish checking the other areas.
Being this close to her has been bothering me a lot, because she gets into my head—even more than she realizes, and more than I’d like.
Sometimes I want to grab her, take her to a private room, and fuck her right there.
I feel a desire for her that bothers me at times.
It must be because I haven’t been with a woman in a while. Once I do, it’ll pass.
With that in mind, I call Carter. He answers on the third ring.
“Mattia, I was just thinking about calling you to see how things are going over there.”
“Everything’s going well. We’re almost done—we’ve made all the necessary changes. Now it’s just finishing up and hiring staff.”
“That’s great, but to what do I owe the honor of this call?”
“Remember you were going to take me to a club? I need it as soon as possible, or I’m going to grab your employee right here.” The son of a bitch starts laughing at that.
“I told you you’ve got it bad for her. But do you really think another woman is going to cover up the desire you feel for her? If you think that, you’re dead wrong. Since you’re there, just ask her out.”
“I already told you why I won’t sleep with her.”
“If that’s how you feel, I’ll be at your apartment at eight. I’m going to take you to paradise, my friend.”
And with that, he hangs up. Let’s see if I can kill this desire for Emma by being with another woman instead. I say goodbye and leave. I need to get properly dressed for tonight.
At eight sharp, Carter texts me that he’s waiting outside my building.
I head down quickly and we make our way to Paradise Club.
He parks, and even from outside I can see the place is packed.
At the door, the bouncer directs us to the VIP area, and Carter’s friend comes to greet us—Benjamin Anderson, with an upbeat energy that’s a bit much for my taste.
“Carter, my friend, what a pleasure to have you here.”
“Hello, Benjamin, this is Mattia Bianchi, a friend who’s opening a restaurant here.”
“Ah, of course, I’ve heard about it, and from what people are saying, the place is turning out perfect.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Benjamin. Yes, Miss Emma is really doing an excellent job there.”
“The beautiful redhead who works with you, Carter—she really does excellent work.” When he calls her a beautiful redhead, I want to punch the imbecile in the face. “I still want to renovate my club, and I want her on my project.”
“Emma really is wonderful, and the restaurant is turning out perfect, but let’s save the shop talk for another day—I brought my friend here to enjoy the night.”
“Of course, make yourselves comfortable. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me. I’ll have the waitress take care of you.”
“Thank you!” I’m relieved when he finally leaves.
“What was that about? When he mentioned Emma, your face completely shut down.”
“You’re imagining things. I need a drink.” Just then, a pretty brunette arrives with the menu. I order a whiskey, which comes shortly after.
We’re chatting when I decide to take a walk around the place.
I head downstairs to the bar and order another whiskey, which the bartender hands me right away.
Sitting on the stool, I watch the women moving through the crowd.
None of them catch my eye—until I spot red hair on the dance floor.
She has her back to me, wearing a red dress that clings to her gorgeous body, showing off her curves.
She moves to the beat of the music, and I decide to approach.
“Emma?” I reach out and touch her.
The girl, still with her back to me, feels my touch on her waist. She takes my hand and brings it to her belly, already grinding against me, and I let myself go.
I pull her closer, matching her sensual movements, kissing her neck and giving her ear a light bite.
I squeeze her tighter so she can feel me, noticing I’m already getting hard.
I turn her to face me, and she wraps her arms around my neck—but that’s when I see she’s not who I wanted.
I apologize and leave the dance floor. I must be losing my mind.
And just like that, my night is over. Questa ragazza mi farà impazzire[20].
Chapter 10
The weekend was peaceful. I rested a lot—the ogre didn’t send me any messages or calls, so I took the opportunity to catch up on my reading.
I love romance novels, and I wish I could experience a love like the ones in those books.
But then I think about everything I’ve been through, and the doubts creep in about whether a man like that really exists.
On Sunday afternoon, my mother, my sister, and I went to Central Park. We had a picnic and spent some time watching people out on the boats before going for a walk. It was starting to get dark when we decided to head home—we live a bit far from the park.
Once home, I took a shower and sat at my desk to plan my week, as I do every Sunday.
Since I wasn’t hungry—we’d eaten a lot at the park—I decided to turn in early.
Tomorrow would kick off what promised to be one of the most exhausting weeks.
I said goodnight to my mom and sister, went to bed, turned off the lamp, rolled onto my side, and passed out.
I wake up the next day to the infernal noise of my alarm clock. Sometimes I wonder why I bought one so loud—I’m going to replace it soon. I turn off my “siren,” stretch in bed with a yawn, and decide to get up. Time to go to work.
I arrive at the restaurant, which is taking shape and looking beautiful.
The landscaping is perfect, the wood on the ceiling pairs nicely with the lighter wood floor so everything doesn’t look too dark, and now the furniture is being assembled.
I’m so happy to have worked on this project.
I’m standing there taking it all in when I hear a voice behind me.
“Good morning, miss.” That voice sends shivers down my spine—this Italian is driving me crazy.
“Good morning, Mr. Mattia. How are you?”
“Everything is turning out perfect. I’m amazed by the project—you did excellent work, Emma.” It’s the first time he’s called me by my name, and it catches me off guard.
“Thank you so much, sir. It really did turn out beautiful, but I don’t deserve all the credit—we worked on this together.”
“But the idea of making something rustic yet sophisticated was yours.” I can feel him standing too close.
“True. I thought we could create something different from what you typically see in New York—the wood, the plants, this entire glass wall. It makes the space feel cozy and inviting. And setting the bar a bit further back turned out perfect.”
“Yes, it gives some privacy to anyone who comes in alone. Anyway, it’s been an incredible project, and it’s coming to an end.”
“Yes, you’ll be able to have the grand opening soon.”
“I’m having trouble finding a head chef.
I’ve done several interviews already, but none of them impressed me.
Since I won’t be able to stay here, I need to hire someone who can take full responsibility for the Italian cuisine.
” That news didn’t sit well with me. I already knew he wouldn’t be staying, but why did it bother me so much to hear him say it?
“The right person will come along. Everything happens in its own time. There’s still a lot left to do here, so you’ll have time to sort that out.”
“That’s true. I have a few more interviews scheduled today, and speaking of which, I’m running late. I just stopped by to see how everything’s coming along. You’re doing well, Emma. Keep it up.”
He flashes me a smile and leaves. I really liked the way he treated me today. I have a silly grin on my face when my sister shows up to ruin the moment.
“Don’t tell me you’re falling in love.”
“You’re crazy. I already told you I never want anything to do with men again.”
“Oh, but that Italian is definitely getting to you. I can see it all over your face—you’re enjoying this. And you know what, little sister? Not all men are the same. Besides, he’ll be leaving soon, so enjoy the moment,” she says and walks away.
The conversation I had with Gabi earlier keeps spinning in my head all day.
Could something really be happening? Should I give myself a chance to enjoy the moment?
With that thought, I finish my day. The Italian is getting to me—that’s a fact—but I’m afraid of getting involved.
I’ll let things flow and see what happens.
Whether I’ll end up being the Italian’s, even just once, only time will tell.