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Word count: 2621

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There was a time when I was a child, very young then. Our nanny taught us a song, which even when she was busy with the cook, we'd always sing by ourselves. Giuliano always loved going out to engage himself in one form of mischievous activity or the other while Stephano would stay around, and either rock a crying Kara to sleep or hug me to his chest.

And we'd sing this song.

'When I was just a little child, I asked my mother what would I be?

Would I be pretty, would I be rich? Here's what she said to me.

Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be, the future is not hard to see,

Que Sera Sera, what will be, will be.'

And ever since, I'd gotten so many beautiful imaginations about my life and where I was going.

Being the baby of the house, I got whatever I wanted and like most girls who grew up in a family like mine, babied and all, I had everything planned out.

It was simple. The typical plan.

Growing up, suddenly falling in love with a tall, blue eyed blonde who'd instantly sweep me off my feet and who also came from the same social background as I did. Then we would get married. Of course we would also have one or two babies while making money through whatever means my parents had been making money.

But I never thought this deep. That I would get into an arranged marriage with a man I already liked so much.

I realized that I'd suddenly began to think that deep as I relayed everything that had happened in the past few days to the girls. Brandon had canceled on us again tonight.

I took a sip of my scotch and waited for them to say something. Rocky was still leisurely licking the lip ring on the left side of her lower lip.

I waited for them to speak.

And it wasn't as if their opinions would determine what steps I would take next in life. But it did somewhat matter, because we had known ourselves for a reasonable enough time to consider what was between us sincere friendship.

And they each had their own impacts in my life, in their own ways. They had been my ride or die, and we had shared moments I had never— and could never share with anyone else.

"Oh my goodness!" Maddy finally sputtered, her tiny eyes widening.

"Girl, what?!" Rocky whisper yelled with equally wide eyes.

"No, for real, you're joking right? Tell me you are." Maddy shrieked. The blast coming from the main hall in the club house drowned her horrible shriek as the dj switched songs.

I shook my head. "No. I'm serious."

"Okay then. Give me a minute to freak out. Because this, is what they call the 'bomb." She made sure to smack her lips as she spoke.

Then they both got up and screamed, flailing their hands in the air and jumping on the couches like five year olds. The sight enough was so hilarious that I cackled for one whole minute, clutching my stomach as I doubled over in hysteria.

"Girls, calm down. Okay, okay. Stop it now and sit like the gentle ladies you are." I stressed the words, patting my flushed cheeks with my handkerchief. Maddy's toned thighs were on display in her turtle neck body hug dress. I'd caught Derek rubbing his hands on it when we just got here.

Derek was her bartender friend who worked here at Red Lady. She claims there's nothing between them but anyone with eyes can see he's attracted to her.

"I never claimed to be a gentle lady." Maddy rolled her light blue eyes.

Rocky snorted, wagging her right index finger at me while shaking her head. She took out her ash brown shoulder length from her face. "Me neither."

They both faced me and then faced each other. Then giggled while sitting.

Maddy cleared her throat, too loudly. She'd always been the loud one in our little group.

"So, tell me about him."

"I just told you everything about him from when we met till when I last saw him today."

"But, holdup, who in hell doesn't know Eros Del Peiro in the whole of Italy? I literally stalk that man on social media. Like he's a damn fine man..and you've kissed him already. Oh my goodness! Too bad he's going off market. But hey, you really don't know him?! How come you never heard of him till this issh happened? He's f a.m.o.u s. Famous." Rocky looked shocked that I didn't know the business mogul and Italian god who was our next door neighbor.

"It's a good thing you're getting engaged to someone so popular. You need some socialization and exposure because only those living under a rock wouldn't know him. He probably has a brother or friend as hot as him. Ahh, you both will make some goodlooking genes for your children to inherit in future." Maddy sighed.

She leaned in and held my hands across the table. She began to pull each finger and crack my knuckles, knowing I enjoyed it whenever someone else did that.

"Look Angela, he was wrong. But it was for your own good that he had to lie. For how long do you intend to keep punishing him?" Maddy asked after some seconds of silence.

"Till I stop feeling like it?" I gave her a deadpanned look.

"But you said he hasn't stopped apologizing. Besides, he was there for you that night. Anything could've happened if he hadn't been there to protect you." She further explained.

I thought about her words and realized that whether I admitted it to myself or not, she was right. Eros was indeed there for me that night, and had made me know he would continually be there, regardless of how I treated him or kept pushing him away.

"Maddy is right, he has apologized. Just forgive him and move on. We know he hurt you by disguising as someone else but it was for your own safety. Besides, from what you told us, it's obvious you're into him..." Rocky trailed off with that childish tone of hers she usually used whenever she wanted to have her way with things.

Rocky was the youngest in our little group, and being the youngest, she easily gained our affection. We were also very protective of her.

While her parents were loaded just like mine, that was all they could offer. She never got guidance or care while she was younger. She had been a difficult child while growing up and till present, she still had anger issues. But she was a great person, once someone got to know her properly.

Maddy's parents on the other hand were middle class, but were never at home, just to make ends meet at all cost.

So we girls decided to buy a house big enough to accommodate each other. Among the four of us, mine and Brandon's parents relationships were still far better than the other two. And that had drawn us closer. It made me and Brandon understand some things about this family thing.

It was important to treasure relationship, because others would give anything to sit at the dinner table and discuss family things in love and genuine care— not like we were allowed to talk at the dining during meal time in the Alfonsi household.

"I'm still thinking about it." I shrugged when their gazes didn't waver.

A female attendant came and whispered something in Maddy's ear. She nodded and the lady left.

"Derek?" Rocky rose a teasing brow, but Maddy's expression was tense as she looked from Rocky to me.

"Hmm. He's vomiting again."

"What?!" I frowned in alarm and we followed her through the backyard.

She was led to the staff restroom where he was heaving and we stood outside.

"Do you need any help?" Rocky called from outside.

"No. You can go. I'll take him home. Sorry our time is cut short because of me." Maddy called back.

"It's fine. Make sure he's alright." I replied from the door.

Rocky shrugged and left with me as I shouted for Derek to take care. Since she brought her car, she left first.

I decided to leave as well.

Walking outside, the cold blasted on my face with full force that had me sucking in a deep breath. The weather this year was being really tricky. One minute there'd be severe cold, then one would wake up sweaty in the middle of the night.

Just as I was about to open the door, a familiar scent attacked my nostrils. My senses heightened, as I wondered if it was who I thought it was.

Could he be the one? What was he doing here?

Two arms engulfed me in a hug and I tensed, my hold on the handle of my car door dropping immediately.

"What the- who-" I tried to swiftly turn around.

"Who else would dare to do this, hmm, Angel?"

My breath hitched as warmness spread through my skin. "Eros?"

"One and only."

"What are you doing here? And why did you hug me that way? I could've hurt you in self-defense."

"You're calling me by my name for the first time. I love it." He chuckled, still holding me close to him. Then kissed my neck softly, slowly, sensually.

"Then I'll make sure I don't call you by it again. Let go." I grumbled, hating the way my body easily reacted to him.

"Hmm no. I don't want to." He breathed. "What are you doing here?"

His arms went around my midsection and he folded them there.

"I come here to have fun sometimes."

"With that male buddy of yours?" His voice got tense.

"No. With another male buddy of mine, not that you have any right to be asking me this, though." And I wasn't lying. I usually came here with Brandon. Well also with the girls but he didn't need to know that just yet.

"You have so many male buddies. I'm jealous of every one of them."

My breath hitched again as his deep voice rumbled against my skin. Fire spread through my bones, breaking my resolve a little.

"I've been thinking of you." He murmured, continuing teasingly. I shut my eyes to regain composure and put him back in his place though right now, he had my toes curling.

All the right words I knew I shouldn't anticipate hearing from him — though deep down I wanted to hear them — were spewing off his lips.

He released me and I turned around. His hands instantly settled back on my waist as he pulled me closer to him. I placed my palms on his chest to stabilize myself

"What are you doing here?" I squinted suspiciously. Was he stalking me?

"Business."

"Indeed." I threw my head to the side when he tried to kiss me.

"You're all I can think of, Angel. I miss you. I had to close meeting at the office earlier today because you kept coming to mind. I realize my fault. I shouldn't have lied to you."

I looked up into his beautiful eyes, scoffing. "Really? You closed meeting with the book characters in one of those novels? Because the last time I checked, that was your job!"

His gaze went hard as he squinted. "You really want to keep punishing me for that?"

"Hmm." I clarified. I didn't push him away though, I didn't want to. He moved even closer and slowly pecked my right cheek.

"I'm sorry." His voice was tight, strained. "You didn't know me as Eros then. It felt great that someone only saw me as a nerd who loved staying indoors and still loved me."

"I don't love you!" I spat.

"Your words counter your body reactions and the look in your eyes, baby. You do love me, angel." He hugged me. His sandalwood smell instantly coated my nostrils.

I pushed him away. "I'll never admit it to you! You lying bastard!" I smacked his chest, but he only nodded and took it all in.

"It's my cross, and I'll willingly bear it."

His eyes didn't leave mine as he smacked his lips against mine. My eyes stung because I felt ridiculous with the way I was standing outside and hitting him when I could just harden my resolve and ignore him.

"Suit yourself." I shrugged, feeling anger slowly building as I remembered how close we'd been before he told me he was Eros and not Donovan.

He went on his knees, shocking me. His head rested on my lower abdomen while his hands spanned my hips, giving me a fluttery feeling.

"What are you doing? Get up!" I whispered harshly through gritted teeth and looked around. He didn't seem to get the message, because his hands on my hips tightened.

He looked up. "I'll stay on my knees till you forgive me."

"You're mad."

"Madly in love with you, yes." Eros countered. The green specks in his eyes drew me in. My stomach fluttered again. I mindlessly pulled at his hair with one hand, feeling the softness.

I looked around.

A little crowd had slowly begun to gather as they watched us and I cursed under my breath because he was a public figure. Of course he would be recognized and he'd probably be on the tabloids tomorrow.

A couple was beginning to record us now, so I quickly leaned down uncomfortably and whispered, "you're forgiven."

"Are you sure, baby?" He looked up doubtfully.

The word 'baby' had never felt more soothing and I rolled my eyes at the part of me that swooned at the endearment.

"I am, Eros. Take me home." I knew he loved the way I called his name. A string of colorful words escaped his parted lips as his eyes widened.

He looked up at me and I nodded.

Feeling weird because despite the walls I'd built around myself, all it took was him hugging me and the walls crumbled. My feelings for him were getting too strong that it scared me and at the same time made me get excited.

Too excited. I wasn't high on sugar, I was high on him. I was high on Eros.

If this was me falling for him, then I would admit that I was terrified. Very.

He got up and pulled me into him, kissing me on the side of my lips. Then he brought out his phone and made a call.

"Come and get it. We'll leave together."

He led me past a few other cars and finally stopped at his. Then he unlocked his car.

With widened eyes, I realized I would be following him home. "My car is-"

"Someone will bring it home. Get in." He patted my shoulder.

I nodded and sat in the passenger seat at the front while he walked to the other side. He started the car.

"I shouldn't have lied to you, I won't do it again angel. You're worth more than that."

"Whatever." I looked on in indifference.

"Don't pull that face anymore, haven't I apologized? Or do you want me to go on my knees again? Or better still seduce you into acceptance..." He chuckled and pecked the back of my hand, making his lips linger more than necessary.

Seduction sounded pleasing. I exhaled loudly at my stupid thoughts.

"You're forgiven. Let's just go home." I heaved a sigh.

"Sure love."

Then we drove all the way home in complete silence.

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