10

We had arrived at the restaurant after a very long drive. A very long drive where the Luciano Martini couldn’t keep his eyes off of me. My plan worked. He thought he was being slick but anyone could spot those little glances he’d make or maybe the only reason I’d noticed is because I too had been giving him mini glances…

He’d even opened the car door and the restaurant door as we entered inside and sat down, imagine if I actually wore my normal clothes, everyone here is super dressed up. I would look very much out of place. I kind of felt like it already, I mean I know that I’m not anything like these people. I take a look at the people around our table, they’re all wearing luxury clothes and have luxury bags and came looking like a million bucks and then there’s me. I know I came looking nice as well but it feels different for me because I never actually had to buy any of the stuff. I feel like Rory when she started hanging around all of those rich kids. Ugh Gabriella it’s fine. Focus on anything else except for what or who you are there are defo some big fakers in here anyways so you’re gonna do just fine. Breathe. I brought my focus onto Luciano and noticed he was already looking at me. A slight blush rose to my cheeks. When you look at them and they’re already looking…

"Order whatever you want." He said and I nodded. I picked up the menu and looked at all of the options. Shit, all the stuff here were so expensive for what? The food better be nice because this is a pain to look at. Actually, I’m not the one paying, hopefully. Now that I think about it, knowing Luciano so far, he’d never let me pay for my own thing. He may be a playboy but he’s a gentleman. You know what? I’ll eat at home, it’s fine. The waiter came over to collect our orders and I ordered just a glass of water. Luciano’s gaze immediately darted to me.

“Could you give us a minute?” The waiter nodded and left us.

“Now tell me why you sent him away?”

“I bring you to a nice Italian restaurant and you just got a water? I mean, I did say order what you want but that does mean order what you want. I don’t care if it’s a million dollars. As long as you enjoy the food.” I looked down at the menu, the cheapest food they had started at $1,000 the water was $20. I cleared my throat, no one had ever treated me like this. I’ve gotta say he’s not so bad. I nodded and picked what I wanted to order. The waiter had come back and when the food came it looked so good, I get why it’s so expensive, they’re presentation is immaculate.

"This is really good." I said.

"I know, I hope that this date - sorry get together goes well, so that you decide a second get together."

"Do I have to plan our next get together? I am terrible at this stuff, why do you think I've never been on a date before?"

"Oh no I would never leave the planning to you, well not yet at least. I want you to know what a good get together looks like first and obviously you need to know more about me first."

"So go ahead."

"Oh, I am just a g****e search away."

"I'm not going to pull out my phone to have a g****e search on you, plus g****e doesn't always tell the truth you know."

"That is true, it likes to exaggerate every story. It can get pretty annoying."

"I have a question for you." I said.

"Sure go ahead."

"You’re rich and pretty popular I’d say so tell me why you don’t have bodyguards following you around everywhere? I thought that you'd be scared of people stealing your stuff or is that just in the movie?”

"Well I've built a thing called 'trust' with my father and now he trusts me enough to not have them follow me around."

"What is your father like anyway."

"Is this gonna be like never been kissed?"

"You watched never been kissed?"

"Well- no. My sister did and she forced me to watch with her."

"No this is not another version of never been kissed. I work at a restaurant actually."

"You work?" He asked surprised.

"Yes, I'm not rich you know."

"Yeah it's just I haven't met another person who works for a while."

"Now you have. That is an experience."

"About my father, he's a nice man. I mean he's never there but he's generally decent, I think he cares about me but who knows. He's much better than my mother."

"She abandoned you? My parents got divorced, it's been pretty hard going back and forth with the two. It's been pretty annoying and now my dad has a new family."

"I'm glad that you still have your mom...I don't think I'm gonna like your dad very much. I hope you don't mind me saying."

"No it's ok, I really don't think that we would have gotten along but it doesn't matter, I'm just glad that I don't have to deal with their fights anymore."

"I hate my mother. I'm pretty sure she only used my dad because once she got her tiny amount of fame and money, she ditched us. I don't know where she is but I truly do not care, I wish the worst for her. Ugh I'm sorry if this is depressing, this get together was supposed to be fun."

"No it's ok. Most people wouldn't feel comfortable telling anyone about that stuff, you deserved better."

"So did you. Now, are you ready to go to that art gallery?”

"Yes, you said we're going to my favourite one right?"

"Yep. Now come on let's go."

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