~Edwina~ I groan as my eyes open adjusting to the bright light that fills the room. My head is pounding and I feel like shit as my eyes finally adjust to the unfamiliar large beautiful room. I force myself to sit up feeling the soft cushioned mattress below me and I notice the king-sized bed that I must have slept on.I don't remember anything from last night since it was all a blur. Fear grips me on realizing that I'm not in the same clothes I had on last night rather, I'm dressed in a man's dress shirt that smelled of outrageously expensive and sexy earthy sandalwood. "Don't worry Tesoro, nothing happened last night," comes a deep voice from across the room startling me and making me jump. "What the hell?"I whisper yell my eyes finally finding the man and I clutch the virgin white sheets closer to my body. He's sitting on the verandah whose glass doors are wide open letting the cool breeze fill the room. He's dressed in a black dress shirt with a shiny expensive black Rolex wa
~Edwina~ "See you around Princessa," says Alessandro as the car pulls up outside the company building the doors automatically open and I step out Alessandro drives away. "I swear I will one day strangle you," yells my best friend Krystal as she storms up to me my eyes widening in shock. "What the hell?"I ask wondering what time she reached here as she stands in front of me asking in a high pitched tone, "Where the hell were you last night Ed?? And you better not feed me any form of bullshit!" I sigh knowing how dramatic Krys can be as I say, "How about we talk about this in my office Krys where we will not cause a scene?" "Sure," she mutters frustratedly as we walk into the building. "I call you many times last night and you never picked up. Where were you?"Krys asks angrily once we've settled in my office. I pull my phone out of my bag to see that indeed I had forty missed calls from her. "I'm sorry okay, last night Alexxis and I went out for drinks and shit happened, 'I sigh
~Edwina~ "Oh my God, I'm sorry," comes a lady's voice and I hear Raffaele ask, "Jas?". My eyes look up to see the lady and I'm stunned at her undefined beauty. She has the body of a model and the black dress she wears, clings to her body bringing out her natural curves. Her brunette hair with honey-coloured streaks crashes against her shoulders in perfect waves and for a moment I'm jealous of her beauty. I finally pull my eyes away looking at the mess she has made and I hear Raffaele ask, "Tesoro are you okay?" "Yeah, I'm fine don't worry about it, "I say with a tight-lipped smile as I stand up avoiding the broken pieces of glass on the floor. "Raffaele, is it you?" comes the lady's voice. Raffaele stands up slowly dragging his chair back and hugs the lady saying, "Yes it is." I frown my forehead at their warm exchange wondering what the hell is going on. "Jasmine, I'd like you to meet Edwina," says Raffaele smiling at her like he's very proud to introduce me. "Hello Edwina,"
~Raffaele~ "I'm sorry," says Edwina staring at me her eyes filled with remorse. My fists clench and unclench of their own accord as I grit my jaw turning my head away from her. No woman and I mean no woman at all has ever had the guts to look at me with the same intensity she does and even go-ahead to raise their hand at me. If Edwina was some other woman I would not have hesitated to put a bullet through her brain. I honestly do not know what riled her upon seeing Jasmine considering I spotted the emotion of jealousy flash behind her eyes before she quickly masked it up with anger. When she slapped me, I felt the need to show her who between the two of us is in control but I held back knowing if I did, I would scare her away. I hear Edwina rush to get out of the car and I can tell she is upset by my dismissive attitude as I pull out of the parking lot my throat burning for a drink. "What's got your panties in a twist?" asks Alessandro as we sit in my club and I drag the cigar of
~Edwina~ I wake up to the bell ringing as it sounds across the penthouse floor and I groan wondering who the hell it is. I pull myself out of bed dragging myself downstairs opening the door to a well dressed Raffaele? "What the fuck, "I whisper to myself as he brushes past me walking inside like it's his house. "Good morning to you too Tesoro, "he says in his usual deep sensual voice. I shut the door puzzled why he was here after what happened last night. "What do you want Raffaele?"I say and he stares at me intensely saying, "There's something we need to discuss." "Couldn't we just discuss it somewhere else other than here with me looking like shit, "I say walking to the kitchen and turning on the coffee maker? "No it's important," he says through gritted teeth my coffee already ready as we walk to the living room. "Well?," I ask after a long moment of him staring at me in silence and he goes on, "It's not safe for you here too. Something came up and it happens that Mariano t
~Edwina~ "Tesoro, "comes Raffaele's hardened voice as I continue to sit on the kitchen island. "What?"I ask icily and his jaw hardens and he says, "You can use my room for the nights you'll be here." "Sorry but I enjoy my personal space, "I reply sassily and he says, "That shouldn't be a problem, I have a lot of work to do" "I'm sure you do, "I mutter and he walks away leaving me to ponder over my thoughts, like what the hell is wrong with him? I get that maybe me being upset about last night is kind of irrelevant but does he still have to be an arrogant ass? I sigh standing up tired of wracking my brain for answers remembering the way to his room from the last time I was here. The room is quite familiar and darkened as I walk in, the famous masculine scent of his in the air. I don't know why but a small part of me wished that Raffaele could be here with me. I strip off my clothes walking to the shower where I take my time and when I'm done that's where the problem begins. I ha
~Raffaele~ "Sorry but I enjoy my personal space," says Edwina glaring my way and I say, "That shouldn't be a problem, I have a lot of work to do." "I'm sure you do," she mutters and I turn away from her walking to my office. I feel quite annoyed and frustrated that Edwina is difficult to handle, sighing as I sit at my office desk. My phone rings and I pick up."Hello Raffaele.""Hello Jas, "I reply smoothly and she goes on, "Just letting you know that the warehouse in Italy is fine. All shipments are up to date and there is no form of shady business in the business's bank account." "How about tonight's shipments?"I ask and she says, "Already being transported to the desired location." "Good," I say proud of her work. Jasmine happened to be in Italy for the past month since she is the one who manages and operates the warehouse in Italy whenever I have business here in New York and judging by our unexpected meeting at the hotel, I presume she had come back recently. Our history goes
~Edwina~ The day finally comes to a close and my muscles just feel sore as Elliot picks me up and I give him directions to Raffaele's penthouse. I notice two black-tinted SUVs following us at a distance and I ask Elliot, "Elliot have you noticed the two black SUVs following us at a distance?" "Yeah I have and they were even parked outside the company building when I arrived to pick you up." "That bastard, "I murmur angrily realizing that Raffaele had got me security detail without my consent. "Problem?" asks Elliot puzzled at my outburst and I give him a tight-lipped smile saying, "No not at all." The ride remains silent the black SUVs still in tow until we reach the building and I get out of the car storming inside the building. I storm through the penthouse door full of rage at the level of this man's disrespect heading straight to his office. "What exactly is wrong with you?"I yell walking through his office doors and finding him seated in his office chair. He doesn't respo
Hello dear readers🤭🤭🤭, So the first book in the Elegant series is done🤗🤗, I am quite sad to be ending it on such a note but quite excited for what more is to come☺☺. Hit me with your thoughts and theories🙃. What did everyone think of Alessandro? The capos? Alexxis? Jasmine? Geneva? Edwina? Raffaele? I appreciate all who have read and supported my story from the start🥺🥺 and I am looking forward to seeing you all in the second book where Raffaele and Edwina's story continues🤭☺. A big thank you to all and I really cannot wait to see you all once again. Looking forward to seeing you all on the other side💜💜💜.
Raffaele Something seems to be disturbing my Tesoro and knowing her I know that she is too stubborn to tell me unless she is ready to talk about it. I cannot help but shake off the feeling that she is hiding something from me and does not want me to find out probably the reason why she has been acting all strange ever since we landed in Italy. One thing about me is that I have been trained to read emotions and feelings and I can tell when someone is lying to me about something she has been doing to me for the past few weeks but I have done my best not to seem bothered while deep inside I feel quite livid. I love Edwina but lying is where I draw the line when it comes to having a relationship with someone and as much as I want to act oblivious to her actions I can't help that feeling in my gut that is telling me that she is indeed hiding something from me. I close the door to our room and make my way down to my office to go through some work calling Gio to join me for a little chat.
Edwina Tonight is the night. I will have my driver on standby waiting to take to to the airport and make sure to keep Raffaele away from this or someone will die tonight Bellissima. Make sure to do as you are told to avoid someone's blood being on your hands. xx yours truly. Immediately after I read the message on my screen my blood runs cold knowing that tonight is the night I will be leaving Raffaele to protect him and his men. I try my best to regulate my breathing not wanting to have a full-blown full-blowback with Raffaele just a few steps away from me in the shower with no clue in the world to what is going on. "Hey, are you okay?" comes Raffaele's voice drawing my attention far away from my phone screen to see him standing and already dressed as he buttons up his dress shirt. "Yeah, "I force out shutting off my phone screen and tossing my phone away to avoid any suspicions. One thing I have learned from this lifestyle is the art of hiding my emotions to avoid any suspicio
EdwinaI remain frozen on the spot my eyes meeting Raffaele's darkened gaze as he winces in the process clutching onto his shirt which seeps blood."Cosa è successo?"yells Eleanora her face morphing into a giant frown as she makes her way son who leans against the counter with Giovanni to his left and Rodriguez to his right."I'm fine madre,"grunts out Raffaele clearly in pain as Eleanora genlty kisses his forehead his green orbs never leaving mine."Thank God you are here the man is as stubborn as they come princessa and only you will be able to help him clean up since he does not want anyone next to him,"comes Alessandro's voice from beside me making my gaze shift from Raffaele to him.I nod my head in response no words being able to leave my mouth as I slowly walk up to Raffaele who stares at me a slight frown on his face. I notice the way Gio nods his head in reassurance as I gently take Raffaele's hand in mine."How about I get you cleaned up,"I tell him softly all eyes on our li
Edwina Immediately I head out of Raffaele's office I make my way across the house holding my new phone box in my hand. I shake my head in amusement chuckling at how Raffaele loves to spend money on me without a doubt not realizing that Vincenzo is standing right across from me. "Should I be worried that you are laughing by yourself?" he asks amusement shining in his eyes. "Maybe, "I tell him a smirk making its way onto my lips. Vincenzo just smiles at me in amusement making his way around me to head wherever he is going. "Where are you going?"I ask him curious to know where he is headed. "Just headed out to sort out some business," he says not giving me room to respond as he walks further away. I make my way to Raffaele's room where I sit on the bed thinking about what Raffaele's phone call could be about since he was quick to mention that it was nothing when I asked him. "Damn I need to find something to do today, "I murmur to myself sighing in the process when my thoughts ar
Raffaele Immediately the question leaves my mouth, I observe and notice the way Edwina's body freezes her eyes flashing with slight panic before she quickly composes herself. I try not to read deep into it considering how of late I have made her think I do not trust her while in a real sense it is quite, in fact, the opposite. I trust her with my life and the last thing I would want is to draw us further apart and push her away. "Come here, "I tell her softly my piercing gaze matching hers and she hesitantly walks towards me standing a couple of steps away from me. "Closer Tesoro, "I say my voice going an octave deeper not liking the small distance between us. She does as I say stepping closer to me and I am quick to pull her into my lap her legs straddling me. Her sweet lilac scent fills my senses and I almost go crazy burying my face into her neck and pulling her closer to my body her scent slowly calms my racing nerves. "You smell divine Tesoro, "I growl out gently peppering
Edwina We sit in silence tension filling the air after Raffaele speaks my body filling with slight rage at his ability to suspect that I am being untruthful to him. "Why do I feel like you are suspecting me to be a liar?"I ask rather defensively suddenly not wanting to be in his presence. "I am not Tesoro where is this even coming from?" asks Raffaele his eyebrows furrowing in total confusion at my question. "Yes, you are. It's like ever since I went out with your sisters to the mall you suspect I am hiding something from you?!"I yell my last thread of restraint snapping in half as I take a step away from him causing him to clench his fists at his side. "Are you hiding something from me Tesoro?" he asks his voice laced with venom that I barely recognize the man standing in front of me. I cannot stop the hurt that passes through me at his question which confirms my thoughts that the man indeed has his doubts that I am hiding something from him. "No I am not hiding something from
Edwina I stand infront of our bedroom mirror admiring the way the red gown hugs my body showing off my hour glass figure my hair straightened which is kind of new since it is always curly and bouncing off my shouders. My fingers come up to toy with the necklace that sits on my neck as the door to our bedroom opens revealing a dressed up Raffaele. Our eyes connect through the mirror as he makes his way up to me his arms going around my waist pulling me back into his chest as I admire how handsome he looks in his black suit. "You look beautiful Tesoro,"he says admiration in his eyes causing my heart to flutter at his compliment. "Thank you,"I blush out suddenly feeling a bit hot and bothered under his intense gaze. Raffaele is quick to turn me around in his arms causing me to squeal in surprise as he pulls me closer to him his strong cologne invading my senses. I notice the way he has shaved his beard giving him a dangerous sexy look and I cannot help but feel proud to call him my m
Edwina The next morning I wake up and Raffaele is nowhere to be seen in bed his side of the bed is quite cold a sign that he was probably up quite early. I sighed taking a few minutes to myself thinking how I am going to be able to pull off leaving with Mariano's men without anyone in this house knowing. I notice one of Raffaele's shirts on the other end of the bed as I pick it up and wear it. I am startled by the sound of my phone ringing as I roll over to pick it up the sound of Krys angry voice being heard. "Tell me why the fuck you went to Italy without telling me goodbye," yells a not-so-pleased Krys through the phone. "Well hello to you too, "I grumble out not enjoying the sound of her loud voice in the morning, or at least I think I don't. "Edwina, "scowls Krys and I can tell that her patience is slowly running out. "Someone broke into the manor, "I sigh out rubbing my temples. "Oh my god! Are you okay?" asks Krys frantically her voice laced in worry. "Well other than t