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Maria frowned as she kept uselessly attempting to pull down the back of her backless, dark leather red dress that was barely covering her behind. The cool air was sweeping up her bare legs and underneath her outfit. Her hands went to pull to up the front in hope to cover more of her cleavage but she gave up, sighing as she gazed into the long mirror. She wasn't used to being so exposed.

She reapplied some more of the crimson lipstick across her soft lips. Her makeup was a look she wasn't used to; dark feminine. Maria also hardly ever had red coated nails. They all matched her silk dress, the most important part of her outfit. Her lustrous hair had certainly grown, long and wavy hanging by the middle of her back. With it all down, it made her look a lot more attractive.

Everyone would be there, all eyes would be on her as the opening act. Her chest tightened at the idea of everyone's eyes roaming across her body. Adjusting the thin straps tighter, she hoped the silk dress wouldn't suddenly slip off her body during the dance. Her eyebrows knitted together in cringe at the thought.

But still, she looked alright to herself. Maria was at least glad that the tightness of the dress made her chest look bigger. She turned a little to the side to see her butt whilst moving her hair away; it had slightly more definition. She pulled on the thin, cropped cardigan before leaving the room satisfied to some extent with her heels clicking as she walked, ready to take on the stage.

Meanwhile, Leonardo woke up alone in the dark bedroom simply illuminated by a low, warm lamp. It was a fulfilling rest that was desperately needed.

The large bed was heated by the warmth of his own body that had been covered with a thick duvet during his sleep. He wasn't used to such a massive mattress. Feeling uncomfortably hot, he pushed aside the duvet that he planned to tell Orion to change. With a hand to Leonardo's hot forehead, he yawned, quite content with the rest he had. It was most he had slept since arriving in Greece. New places and weather always affected the way he could sleep.

Leonardo realised that his arms weren't wrapped around a certain cuddly teddy bear that helped him nap. His head turned to see if she was behind him only to find that he was alone in the huge bed. His eyebrows furrowed as he questioned where she had gone.

It occurred to him that time might have passed by quickly without him realising. He remembered the conversation they had before they slept;

"Okay! Okay! Only for an hour!" He heard her laugh playfully, following him to the bed. Leonardo had been nagging her all morning. He was holding Maria's hand behind him, leading her quickly as she scurried along. Maria had given into his complaints. Before she had even climbed on, Leonardo had already pulled her to his side once he was in.

"Ah!" She squealed, bounded by his strong arms wrapped around her. She tried to wriggle out but was trapped to stay close, his arm holding down onto her hip. Leonardo was so tired that he was already beginning to let his heavy eyes close shut. He heard her sigh as she took his hand into hers, interlocking their fingers and keeping it against her beating heart.

"Just for an hour, we need to go. . ."

Her quiet voice slowly muted out before he could head Maria say the rest. His head rested into the nape of her neck; he inhaled in peace, allowing her hypnotising, sweet scent send him to sleep.

"Fuck!" Leonardo exclaimed as he remembered exactly why she had mentioned one hour. He shot up, tossing the rest of the comforter off him as he scrabbled to get his phone that was on the drawer across the room.

18:52

One hour had somehow slipped into five.

He was late.

There was no way he could possibly drive to the other side of Greece in time for her opening performance.

The opening performance he had promised to attend.

He ran his hand through his hand in frustration as guilt began to eat him up inside. With a groan, Leonardo rubbed his eyes, beginning to unconsciously list the different ways he could make it up to her.

The different ways he could make it up to her. Leonardo paused, beginning to register that he was remorseful towards Maria. Since when was he so concerned? His hand rubbed his face as his shoulders hung low. With a heavy sigh of regret, he decided to pick her up after the performance as a form of an apology.

He made his way to the en-suite and splashed cold water onto his face to wake himself up.

His eyes slowly reached the cabinet above the sink after patting his face dry. After a moment's hesitation, Leonardo pulled open the small door. His fingers rummaged around the back through all the clutter that had somehow built up over the last few days before he felt a familiar object he had hidden away earlier than day. Pulling back his hand from the cabinet, Leonardo held the small white box.

Delicately, he lifted the lid as his heart began to thump, recognising the depth of his decision. The radiant diamond sparkled as he gazed at the precious oath he had made. He had spent hours and hours searching for the perfect ring, seeing it right before him was a sight that struck him with awe. Leonardo felt nervous. The time he had spent with her, was deeply cherished. He valued each moment he could spend with the only woman who truly loved him more than he could have ever have loved himself. Her love for someone like him, someone who could never see any self worth in himself has made Leonardo change the way he viewed himself and life.

She loved him for who he was and was the only person he could receive complete comfort in. Leonardo realised over the course of the last few months that he needed to free himself from his own jail in order to live rather than survive, to feel free and have a purpose in life. She became his purpose, his happiness, the love of his life.

He slowly exhaled, a small smile beginning to extend across his face as he took in the magnificence of the ring before him.

It would be hers.

A sense of relief and peace had relived the burden off his chest.

He would finally be hers.

Once he was in his office, Leonardo thought about the day out he had with Maria exploring Athens the day before as he swivelled around on his leather chair.

They had explored the majority of the city in the sweltering heat; the day had flew by so quickly that Leonardo barely remembered half the things Maria had dragged him to see.

One sighting had been stuck in his mind ever since; the older couple who had become engaged at the National Gardens. It was impressive, he had to give the lucky man props for his effort, with all kinds of flowers littered around, a harp playing, a bunch of gifts. It was a little too extravagant for Leonardo's liking but it did leave a wide smile on Maria's face for the rest of the day.

He sighed in frustration and slight discomfort, burying his head in his hands as his elbows pressed against the desk. It wasn't the act of asking that was troubling him, he had a rough idea of how to orchestrate it - it was the actual confession that made him nauseous even thinking about it.

Leonardo never had to confess his feelings - ever. It would a first even communicating how he felt with someone normally in a formal way, let alone romantically. He groaned childishly, as his mind gave him various scenarios of how things could pan out.

What if she rejected him?

His eyebrows creased in embarrassment, his face already beginning to heat up.

There was only one person he knew that had never faced a single rejection in his life.

"Stronzo {asshole}, you're calling me? What have I done wrong this time?"

Leonardo couldn't believe he had gotten so desperate to the point of calling the bane of his existence.

"Vincenzo."

He almost barfed even saying the idiot's name.

"We'll discuss that evening in Spain that I was informed about next time," Leonardo sternly warned irritably, almost forgetting about that incident. He cleared his throat and adjusted his collar uncomfortably whilst trying to think of a way, spontaneously as to how to phrase what he was about to say. It was quiet on the other side of the phone; it must have been one of those rare times Vincenzo was actually at his own residence.

"Anyway. .um. .err. . ." Leonardo never stuttered or stumbled with his words with anyone except Maria. His words were always direct and clear, no questions asked, not a single sign of uncertainty in them. He had not realised that with a simple hesitation of words, Vincenzo already knew something was up with his brother, and it had nothing to do with business.

A guffaw came from the phone. "What is this? An incoming heart to heart? Since when do you call me?"

"Marco. .Marco told me about something the other day and it stuck with me," Leonardo blurted out in a hurried tone. He was trying to hard to sound assured and confident that a lie had sprouted out. There was no going back. He mentally cursed himself and forced himself to keep going. "Something about this girl he's seeing. .he uhh. .doesn't know how to tell her. . .tell her he wants her."

The nerves immediately settled in; not only did he need the advice, he needed Vincenzo to actually believe and take his word seriously.

Leonardo found himself restlessly shaking one leg up and down, sincerely hoping his fake story would come out with a good outcome.

A loud gulp came from Vincenzo. Leonardo slightly glared at the phone, annoyed that in such a serious moment he was drinking something. Anything about his younger brother irritated him but he would still take a bullet for that idiot.

"I guess you do have some sort of emotion," Vincenzo responded more quietly, for once not sounding so playful. Leonardo assumed Vincenzo was surprised he cared that much about Marco when in reality, Vincenzo deciphered that their conversation had nothing to with Marco at all, but his own brother.

Vincenzo switched tones quite quickly, "well, all he had to say is that. He wants her. That's enough." His nonchalant tone almost made Leonardo jump out of his seat.

"That's it?" Leonardo incredulously replied, his eyes wide open.

It was almost as though he could see Vincenzo nodding with the usual smirk on his stupid face. "That's it. Your - His charisma should do the rest."

"Charisma?"

"Lord help me." Vincenzo groaned before continuing, "it's not a wedding speech. If a woman is sticking with Marco, she wants him. There's no need for all the vows."

"But-But she's a different woman," Leonardo added, not sure if he had chosen the right word for her. "She has high standards. She wouldn't settle for that."

Vincenzo chuckled, "oh, one of those ones? I gave up on the serious ones ages ago." The type of women Vincenzo would indulge in reminded Leonardo of Francis. "They love rom-coms and chicklits. Follow that theme and it'll work. 'Baby, I love you', 'bella, I'll die without you', 'there's no meaning of life unless you're in it'. That crap." Vincenzo yawned after his imitations, disgusted by the phrases that cringed himself.

His vagueness was frustrating Leonardo. He exhaled more to calm himself. Leonardo hadn't watched a single one properly before unless forced to watch one with Maria, which he always fell asleep midway through.

"It's more to do with his own character and rizz. That's that makes a good confession."

Leonardo didn't think he had it in him. Charisma? He doubted he had any of that. He was starting to see how the phone call was a waste of energy.

"What? Like yours?"

"Considering there's usually tits in my face when I wake up, yes, like mine."

Leonardo had enough. He became huffy and suddenly snapped, "useless!" before hanging up the call.

"Fucking waste of time," Leonardo muttered in annoyance, rubbing his forehead.

He let out a breath to calm himself before calling the man of the conversation himself, Marco.

"Good evening Don."

"It's Leonardo tonight, not him."

"Leonardo," Marco greeted less formally, his tone was much more relaxed. He was talking to his friend, not his boss.

He switched the focus once more, "Vincenzo seems to like this woman-"

"Vincenzo?" He repeated in disbelief with a scoff. "Likes her ass or boobs?"

Leonardo answered swiftly, "neither, the heart this time-" Marco laughed, confused and surprised by the conversation.

"-obviously, he's just such a whore that he has no idea how to tell her he likes her," Leonardo clearly explained. His last conversation had provided him practice for this one. "And you know there's no way I could even tell him how to - besides the point - the point is-"

Marco chuckled, "the point is, how does a guy confess to a girl he likes?"

Leonardo felt a sense of relief that Marco was understanding him. "Yes, how should I - he tell her?"

Marco hummed before replying intelligently, "being open and honest would be the first step. It doesn't have to be a crafted, overly romantic message - pre-memorising can take away the authenticity of what is said. Sometimes the shorter, the better. It's not a movie, genuinely saying what's on your mind will get the message across."

"So Vincenzo wasn't completely wrong. ." Leonardo muttered in bewilderment to himself, quiet enough so Marco wouldn't be able to hear.

Leonardo thought about it, what it would be like to tell her. To share with her all the love he had been containing in his heart. He nodded to himself, feeling more assured. "Thanks," Leonardo said before awkwardly adding '. .I'll let Vincenzo know."

"I don't think you'll need to," Marco ribbed, sounding devilish all of a sudden.

"I didn't realise you were a relationship virgin, Don."

Leonardo had never tapped the red hang up button quicker in his entire life at the sound of that voice.

His eyes closed in complete exasperation as he held back from shouting profanities in chagrin. "Of course the two of them were in the same fucking room."

He decided to distract himself by switching on his computer and immersing himself into work.

It wasn't long afterwards when Leonardo had remembered his ticket provided access to the live stream of the concert. He knew Maria would be asking whether or not she had seen it. To support her, he chose to watch.

He pulled open his drawer to find it flat at the top. Entering the code into his television that was mounted on the wall before him, Leonardo had managed to enter the stream.

He had tuned in time to see that the concert was commencing. Knowing Maria was the opening act, Leonardo shifted his attention away from the files before him, fully focusing on the screen, waiting for her presence.

Her effortless dance was elegant; captivating Leonardo with each delicate movement. Maria's feet leapt across the vast stage as the instrumental, transcendent music guided her smooth movements. Her contemporary dance began the performance; it was graceful and beautiful, like a fairy freely dancing in the air. A sudden change in tempo shifted the jazz music into a darker and provocative tone.

She pulled off the thin cardigan that hid the rest of her revealing dress; each movement accentuated by it. Leonardo's eyes widened as they ran across her entire tight outfit, her red dress was tempting him to look at certain parts of her he never fully took notice of before - her different, confident appearance had staggered him.

Leonardo immediately shifted his eyes away as though Maria was physically right in front of him. He awkwardly rubbed his forehead and adjusted his position in his seat, feeling incredibly hot. His cheeks and ears were heating up faster and faster. He felt wrong even looking at her, but thousands of people were in that concert watching Maria perform.

Leonardo was never one to critique whatever Maria would do. But in that moment, he unconsciously felt irritated at the fact that all eyes would be on her - seeing her dance in such an intimate way. Her dress was short and whenever she bent down, her dress lifted dangerously high. The camera focused on her smooth looking back, her long legs. He struggled to watch without feeling wrong. The male dancers were behind her, touching her, lifting her up. He caught himself clenching his jaw and feeling that way, automatically telling himself off. But the feeling still lingered.

When his eyes reached the screen once again, her fierce eyes intensely gazed; it felt like she was teasing him, seducing him. Her alluring performance was nothing like the ones he had faced before. The screen no longer felt like a barrier, it was as though she was right before him.

Her captivating body radiated great concupiscent passion that was having an unexpected, awakening effect on Leonardo without realising.

It was her flirtatious smile, the teasing winks from her dazzling eyes, the swaying of her hips, the rolls of her torso. Maria looked different under the warm lights. Clearly, she was having fun; Maria knew what she was doing, the lasting effect of her mesmerising dance. With each impactful beat, her powerful movements controlled each desire and uncontrolled emotion burning within Leonardo.

The thunderous clapping awakened him to his senses to a sudden tingling feeling below. He hadn't noticed how much time had passed. His throat went dry and his whole body felt the hammering of his heart against his rib cage. He was craving her without deciphering the feeling. The invigorating energy coursing within him.

He registered a strong urge within him, a powerful desire he hadn't felt before. Leonardo's eyes slowly lowered and he moved the leather chair backwards away from the desk. His eyes expanded the moment they reached the place that was causing such a feeling.

Leonardo had never experienced that before, or at least remembered that he had. The tingling was intense, unwilling to go away until satisfied. There was an urge within him begging to be fulfilled. His eyes flickered back at the screen and there she was, ending her performance, a teasing and self-assured look on her enchanting face, her makeup glittering under the lights.

Her hips swayed, captivating him and as she left the stage, her butt under her dress caught his attention whilst the lights dimmed, making his unexpected desires worse.

He hated himself for feeling such a way. Leonardo's focus on the concert disappeared the moment Maria left.
All that was left was him and the growing pressure accompanying him.

Leonardo sighed, his hand covering his eyes. He had to leave soon to get Maria.

But how would he fix his unavoidable problem?

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~ Author's Note ~

Leonardo missed Maria's performance! Instead, being at the villa has brought some unfamiliar and intense feelings in him!

Leonardo is thinking of proposing? He is clearly set on this plan, but how will it actually go?

That dance definitely spiced things up for the two of them!

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Thanks for reading!

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