Chapter Five

ALESSANDRO’S POV.

Her face depicted shock, but I wasn’t moved. I wanted her to be around me, so I could pay more attention to her and ensure her safety.

She has slowly become my priority.

“Is anything the matter?” I inquired, staring deeply into brown eyes.

She sighed deeply and shook her head. She strode to her desk without any other word.

Even though I knew that it wouldn’t be safe for me to discuss certain things again in my office because of her presence, I still went ahead to bring her here.

I didn’t know why, but all I knew was that I wanted her around me.

I shrugged and went back to my seat, hoping she’d at least say something but she didn’t.

She began typing frantically on the computer, and from the look of things, I figured out that she was already working.

I shrugged and decided to continue what I was working on.

We worked for quite some time, and after a while of not hearing her talk, I decided to break the tense atmosphere.

“Hey, you done?” I said aloud, so she could hear me from where she was seated.

Her fingers stopped halfway as she was typing, and she bobbed her head towards me.

“Almost,” She said simply and continued with what she was doing.

I didn’t know what to say or think, but I consoled myself with the thought of her acting strangely because she was busy.

I was looking for an opportunity to talk to her when an idea struck me.

“Hey Principessa,” I started, but paused and I waited for her to look at me.

In a few seconds, she looked up to take a glance at me.

“Yeah?”

“Could you please help me make a coffee,” I said, adding emphasis on the ‘please’.

She’s the only one I have ever begged, and she’s the only one I’ll ever beg.

“Sure,” She said standing to her feet, but suddenly paused like she remembered something.

“How’d you like your coffee?” She asked, raising her brows.

“I’ll have my coffee black, please. Espresso style, strong and concentrated. One sugar if you would.” I said to her, and she nodded, paying attention to every single detail.

“My favorite mug is the one with the gold trim,” I added, and she bowed and left with a smile.

“What a beauty,” I thought and let out a low chuckle.

Suddenly my phone chimed and my eyes darted to the notification, and I saw a message from my right-hand man.

I shrugged and picked it up, opening it in curiosity.

Just as I opened the message, I realized it was the background check I asked him to do on my Principessa and a small smile spread on my lips.

Going through it, I realized she was just a naive and innocent girl whose life has been a cakewalk and she haven’t tasted the bitter side of life.

Just as I kept on going through it, I took back my words when I realized what she had been through. I clenched my fists in anger the moment I saw that an old man wanted to marry her if she hadn’t run away.

Heaving deeply, I tried to calm myself. She had been through a lot and I began to feel bad that I wasn’t there for her.

Just as I wanted to keep my phone, another message popped in, but this one was a picture that included Amelia and my eyes widened.

“What?” My eyes popped out in shock, as I froze staring at the picture.

“No, this isn’t true.” I shook my head, finding it difficult to believe the picture, and went ahead asking my right-hand man if it was true.

A part of me hoped he denied it, but to my disappointment—it was true.

I wanted to hate her so much, I wanted to dislike her but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

I suddenly remembered that I had asked her to get me a cup of coffee, and wondered what must be taking her time.

I used my computer to check the CCTV camera at the pantry, but to my biggest surprise, My Principessa was being bullied.

Rage consumed me, I clenched my fists and stormed out of my office, ready to teach them a lesson they’ll never forget in a hurry.

They dare touch my woman!

I walked towards the pantry, with each step screaming danger but the moment I got there, all the ruckus stopped.

“What is going on here?” I barked, and immediately, everyone bowed their head in fear except my Principessa.

There was pin-drop silence, but that wasn’t what I wanted.

“I repeat Bonny, what’s going on here?” My voice was low and deadly as I strode towards her, my suppressed fury threatening to take over me.

“She…she just…she didn’t…” Bonny stammered, and it was at that moment I realized that Amelia didn’t do anything.

“She didn’t do anything,” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her darkly.

She shook her head vehemently, “She wasn’t making the coffee well,” She said, and I chuckled slightly, my blood seething with rage.

“Are you the one drinking the coffee?” I asked her, and she bowed her head and she shook it slightly.

“Don’t you dare…” I was saying when Amelia tugged at my shirt, trying to stop me but I wasn’t having it.

“Please don’t do this,” She muttered slowly, and I felt she was scared of them so I turned to face her.

“You don’t need to be scared of them,” I said to her and she frowned deeply.

“I’m not scared of anybody, but I don’t want you doing this,” She said, but I wasn’t having it.

“Is it so wrong for me to want to help you, or to warn everyone to respect you,” I growled at how weak she was. I wouldn’t stay and watch her get insulted in that manner.

“I can fight my own battles,” She said, her voice laced with anger as she turned to glare at Bonny.

Everyone gasped and that was when I snapped back to reality, and my eyes widened.

“Did she just talk to me in that manner, in the presence of everyone?”