Chapter 4

Emiliana

“So you’re still not talking to your father?” Giovanni spoke against my head, his voice raspy having just woken up. My head was pressed against his bare chest while I traced the lines of ink beside me. 

“I think you know the answer to that.” I croaked back. Despite my cold response, Giovanni continued to trail his fingertips up and down my spine sending excited shivers along my skin.

It was these moments that I lived for. These intimate moments of happiness that had you soaking up the bliss.

“Stay with me.” Giovanni muttered against my skin causing me to look up in adoration at him. “I’ll sort everything out, I just want you here.” 

In the back of my mind, I knew what I wanted. I wanted to say yes and forget about the fact that my parents wouldn’t take too well to my leaving. But this wasn’t about them, it was about me and my happiness and my father had temporarily stolen that from me when he put me at the head of the corporation. Now I was free from those shackles. My cousin had just been announced as the next CEO and that meant I no longer felt binded to that life. To the thought of living up to my father’s expectations.

“You don’t have to decide right now, if that’s what you’re thinking?” Giovanni’s voice softened. He lifted me by the chin until his sharp green eyes searched mine. 

“There’s still so much of the world I want to see,” I swallowed thickly, gathering the courage to continue my thoughts aloud. “I’m not ready to cut my dreams short.” My voice came out like a squeak. 

I was finally growing into my own independence, not having to rely on Giovanni yet I still needed him in my life. A small part of me had still felt empty not having him in my life, as much as I tried to move past it all. I hated how that made me sound but it was the truth.

“You can go wherever you want, I would never stop you.” Giovanni’s softness echoed in his words, his eyes held the adoration and certainty I needed. “But I need you in my life.”

That was all I needed to hear for my decision to become cemented. Giovanni had confirmed and reciprocated my own feelings and I had never felt more confident that we were on the same page. So I relished in the time we spent together because if history was anything to go by, who knew how long it would last? 

One week. 

One whole week of bliss before I had to return to New York. Back to reality. 

My time spent during that week mostly consisted of me exploring the vast gardens set back from the house while Giovanni remained cooped up in his own study. 

The gardens were stunning, the arrangement and assortments of dahlias, irises and yellow jasmine brought it to life. Giovanni’s place overlooked a similar mountainous view like his grandfathers, minus the washing sounds of the sea. I spent a lot of time exploring what I could of the house and surrounding land, never growing bored of the fact that I would be calling this home.

The sun was constantly casting golden rays over the landscape, gentle winds breezed through the stems of the plants and it brought a welcoming chill to settle on my skin. If this is what life would be like forever, I could have easily called this place heaven.

When Giovanni wasn’t preoccupied with work, we spent the little time we had together tangled in the sheets. Giovanni seemed so intent on making up for lost time that we barely made it far from the bedroom to eat. 

The week had skipped by far too quickly and before I knew it we were boarding the plane back to New York. I had managed to keep my whereabouts of the last week low key from my father, and Carlos who had arrived shortly after myself, had also agreed that I needed to have a face to face conversation with my father.

Giovanni agreed to join me on my visit home and a part of me was glad that I wouldn’t be facing my father alone. Yet I couldn’t help but feel it more appropriate to speak to my father on my own, at least until his inevitable anger wore off.

Stepping off the plane, I instantly felt a shift in Giovanni’s demeanor. He was on edge, even more so than I. At least we had another day to settle in before attending my mothers birthday party, because I sure as hell needed to acclimatise before battling my father.

Carlos and Vinnie were quick to pack the car that was waiting for us across the tarmac, in their own discussion as Giovanni and I approached. I glanced nervously between all three men and my apprehension didn’t go unnoticed. 

“Why don’t you get in?” Giovanni muttered against my forehead, following his words with a gentle kiss before guiding me through the car door.

In a matter of minutes we were driving towards the city, weaving through the traffic as the cabs blurred into a yellow smudge.

Nostalgia ran through me, entwining with my veins like ribbons of memories. I felt the gentle encouragement of Giovanni squeezing my hand, replacing all my worries with his strength. 

“We’re here.” I heard the soft words enter my dreams. A gentle hand stroked over my cheek, coaxing me awake. I blinked back the heavy brightness of lights that towered over us. I wasn’t sure whether to be happy or anxious at this point as I looked up at my apartment building. It was one step closer to realisation that I would be leaving this all behind.

Giovanni must have sensed my hesitation because he gripped my hand in his and refused to let go until both my feet were planted in the hallway of my apartment.

“Just how I remember it,” Giovanni smirked and dropped a kiss to my temple. Vinnie and Carlos rounded the corner with our bags in tow, muttering something in Spanish before making a hasty retreat.

Despite my curiosity over their conversation, exhaustion was fighting me on every step I took. It was only ten in the morning but I was definitely feeling the effects of jet lag and I could hear my bed calling. 

As if Giovanni read my mind, he guided me to my bedroom. “I have some calls to make.” He said as I perched on the end of the bed. 

My eyes closed as soon as my head hit the pillow. I was still wearing the clothes I had travelled in but I didn’t care, all I could focus on was the plushness of the cloud beneath my head and the dreams that followed.

I felt the covers shift, my body bounced softly as I felt the tight warmth of Giovanni’s arm around my waist. It was familiar, comforting and safe. Never had I felt so at peace with where I was, with Giovanni. 

I could see the streams of light trailing through my curtains as my eyelids fluttered open but made no attempt to move because I felt Giovanni pull me closer to me. The action only solidified my decision, that just like Giovanni, I needed him in my life. We needed each other like air and as pathetic as that sounded, it was true. 

Giovanni was the only person I felt whole around, like I could be myself and he fully accepted me for who I was. Flaws and all. He completed me, made me feel safe and so much more. 

I heard his soft breaths. Felt them skating over the sensitive skin of my neck. I must have fallen asleep pretty swiftly earlier, because I don’t remember as much as Giovanni getting into my bed. 

I turned to face him. Staring in adoration at how truly beautiful Giovanni looked with the gentle rays streaming over his face. His dark lashes cast delicate shadows over a small part of his face, while his lips were pressed together.

Rolling over, I checked the time on my phone. It was seven in the morning which meant I had slept, uninterrupted for a solid fifteen hours at least. I must have needed it because I certainly felt refreshed and alive.

Giovanni shifted as I removed myself from his clutches. I tiptoed towards the door, hoping not to wake him. I was almost out of the bedroom door when my phone’s ringtone blared through the room. 

I instantly winced. Giovanni shot up and I almost stumbled to retrieve my phone from the side table. 

“It’s my mum,” I whispered apologetically. “Hey mama.” I answered, closing the bedroom door behind me with a soft click.

“Mimmo!” She screamed. 

Clearly my mother still had no idea what quiet meant or what time it was for that matter. But her excitement was all I could focus on so I paid no mind to the aching headache that was brewing behind my eyes.

“Happy birthday Mama.” I whispered in response.

“Why are you whispering?” Her voice calmer than before but still holding onto some of her squeals.

“Giovanni is sleeping.” 

“Oh…yes. Carlos told me he came back with you. How is he doing? Will he be at the party tonight?” My mother reeled off a further five more questions before finally stopping for air and allowing me the chance to speak. 

“I was going to come alone,” I hesitated, thinking carefully over my next choice of words. “I wanted to speak to you and Papino first.” 

The line was silent for a moment. Then the sound of muttering followed in the background before my mother’s shrill tone bounced through the speaker. 

“Okay! We will see you later.” 

After saying our goodbyes, my mother hung up and I was left to stew with thoughts. Of how I was going to broach the subject that I had decided to move across the world.

I didn’t have much time after that to think about how my parents would react though. Giovanni wouldn’t allow it. He had done everything within his capability to ensure I was kept busy, occupied with Oli who came to visit and then our habitual mulling over a choice of outfits for my mother’s birthday party that night.

Six-thirty rolled around far too quickly and I was finally stepping out of my room in a gold glittery pencil skirt and a black scrappy camisole top. It was simple and elegant and by the way Giovanni stared at me from the other side of the room told me he approved.

I smiled back at his adoring gaze, but it soon faltered when I noticed his own attire. A black dinner suit, paired with his usual crisp white shirt and a pocket square that almost matched my skirt.

“Gio,” I took a step towards him, noticing now his eyes flickered to my lips from a brief moment. My fingers gripped at the lapels of his suit jacket before smoothing over the folds. 

“Principessa,” he answered with an approving growl. 

“I told you I’m doing this alone.” 

Giovanni gripped my hips, pulling me close to his chest and dipping his head to nuzzle into my neck. 

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” His tone was stern, unremoving and unrelenting. “I’m coming with you.” He dropped a kiss to the sensitive spot on my neck, causing my eyelids to flutter in anticipation for more. More of him.

“Uh…” I stumbled through my words, faltering when his lips connected with my ear lobe. Heat began to pool between my legs. Giovanni knew exactly what he was doing, and I was putty in his hands. 

A throat cleared behind me causing me to jump and Giovanni to pull away, readjusting himself. Vinnie was smirking, clearly enjoying the way my cheeks flushed under his gaze. 

“Cars outside.” He nodded towards the door before disappearing. 

“At least let me talk to him first,” I pleaded as I turned back to face Giovanni. He nodded in agreement, lacing my hand in his. “Alone.” I added.

There was a still silence between us for a moment before Giovanni finally spoke. “I’ll think about it.”