Chapter 4. Tempting Valerio

Rose’s POV

Vicente’s lips curved into a smile as he stared at me cunningly.

"What?" I asked with a chuckle, slowly finding myself getting used to this man, though I often told myself it was a bad idea.

"What do I get in return?" He raised a brow with folded arms.

I chuckled. "Ask away."

"Sure? I don't like being told no for an answer. You should rethink it." He stared at me carefully as I studied his expression. He was flirting, and what's worse, I was falling for it.

"Never mind. I'll just go for it later. Nothing's coming to my mind. Uhm, about those brats, just use their favorite food to entice them," he said as I nodded slowly.

"Do you think it will work?" I asked, not sure if mere food would get them to eat together.

"Just a guess. I don't know," Vicente shrugged.

"I guess you're right," I rubbed my chin thoughtfully. Having meals together would allow the brothers to form some kind of bond.

"Mr. Valerio can't resist barbecued beef and tomato," the housekeeper chimed in. She stood there, staring at us with a smile.

"Miss Rose keeps asking me why you guys don't eat together earlier," she said to Valerio and turned to me. "From your conversation, it seemed you are trying to get them to eat together," the older woman asked.

"Yeah," I replied hastily. Seems this would be easier than I thought.

"You should stage a small feast in the living room and roast beef. Mr. Valerio comes down at 7 pm sharp to pick up his dinner and goes back to his room. I can be absent today and have you take care of the dinner, Miss Rose," she said with a wide smile, and my heart leaped with joy.

"Thank you," I said quickly.

"It's fine. The chairman said to help you however I can," she said enthusiastically and nodded as I immediately understood. Mr. Giovanni must have told her her real mission in this house.

"And Valentino? He will never fall for your tricks," Vicente said with a feigned smile, hating the idea of having dinner with his brothers but pretending to like it to curry my favor.

How did I know? It was so pretty obvious from his looks.

"Let's start with Valerio first," I gave him a calm smile. "The three of us will have dinner, okay?"

"No," Vicente replied curtly, and I feigned a stern glare.

"Fine," Vicente growled and walked away.

"I wish all of them were as obedient as you, Vicente," I smiled in admiration as I went back to my room to go shopping for the feast later.

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"Isn't he coming down?" I glanced at the stairs for the umpteenth time, worry creasing my brow.

"Great. It's better he doesn't come. I prefer having dinner with just you," Vicente said with a flirtatious smile, and I sighed, watching him grease the beef with oil and place it on the barbecue pan.

"This looks so good," Vicente chuckled gleefully.

"You're enjoying yourself quite well," I snorted, feeling like my plan had failed miserably.

"Of—"

"Shit," Vicente smacked his lips and glanced over at the stairs to see Valerio descending, his gaze fixed on what they were grilling. He walked towards it as if an invisible string was pulling him.

"Have a seat; there's plenty to share," I said quickly as he stood, staring at the beef as if his life depended on it.

"If you're not going to have some, just leave. Stop hovering around like a ten-year-old," Vicente hissed in irritation. As if snapped out of his reverie, Valerio turned to look at Vicente.

"Can you desist from talking to me?" Valerio asked with a low tone filled with malice.

"Of course not, you're such a psycho," Vicente replied with a vexed expression.

"Vicente, please," I whispered as Vicente grumbled something and stood up.

"I lost my appetite," he said and stormed out of the house in anger. I quickly stood up.

"And you?" Valerio turned to me, as if realizing I was just there. "What do you think you're doing?" He asked, staring at me coldly, his face no longer resembling that of a child yearning for candy.

"Ms. Carla couldn't make dinner, and I—" I pressed my lips as my throat went dry. He was staring coldly at me, but I couldn't resist the urge to kiss his lips; I felt crazily hot inside.

"Stay out of my business. I'm warning you," he said and turned to leave, but I wouldn't let this opportunity pass.

"It's your favorite. Are you just going to skip dinner because you hate me?" I asked, not sure where that came from, but it worked. Valerio turned to look at me, moving slowly towards me as I moved backward, hating that he kept staring at me like he'd rather eat me than the beef. The chair at my back restricted my movement, and I fell back on the sofa. Valerio leaned close to me, our faces inches from each other as he stared into my eyes.

"That's the problem, missy," he said huskily, his breath fanning against mine. I tried to concentrate on anything else but his lips.

"I can't seem to hate you, no matter how hard I try. Like hell, I've been wanting to do this," he admitted as his eyes moved to my lips. "You are..." The words were left unsaid as he brushed his lips against my cheek, and I let out a moan. It took great willpower for me to stop myself from drawing him closer and satisfying the throbbing ache on my lips.

"Beautiful," he completed as he nibbled on my ear.

"Valerio, I—" I tried to speak, but he cut me short.

"Does Vicente kiss you like this?" The question lingered in my head, and it took a while for me to process it. That was a cue for me to push him away, and he rested back on the sofa while I stood up, staring down at him.

"What do you mean?" I asked, not knowing where I got the confidence from.

"You guys must have fucked….." He asked casually.

I didn't know when I slapped him across the face and stared dangerously at him, waiting for his reaction.

"You!" He stood up angrily, glaring at me.

"I am not a slut," I seethed angrily.

"You were so open to me back then. Is that why you're here? To fuck us?” He asked with a drawl.

I scoffed angrily, closed the distance between us, and tiptoed to look directly into his eyes. "What if I did?" I asked with a cocky smile, a sudden desire to anger him overtaking me. "Jealous that your brother had me before you?"

He held my shoulder with his hand and looked down at my eyes and to my lips. "Don't play games that will hurt you. I can't stand still for much longer," he sneered in anger and released me roughly, turned away, and stomped off.

"Fuck!" I groaned in frustration, hating that I let my anger control me. Now everything was ruined, and I ended up making Valerio hate me even more. What the hell did his last statement mean?