Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Annalisa 

I was stunned yet again as I watched Cristiano walk away in large strides. What just happened? I was wondering what I could have done wrong when the corner of my eyes caught the maid that was about to leave too.

“Wait,” I called out, and she stopped immediately but kept her head bowed. “Do you think I overstepped my boundary? Is there something about this garden I don't know about?” I questioned.

The maid hesitated for a moment before she finally answered. “He asked us never to touch the garden since his mother… used to take care of it personally. She loved those roses, Miss.” The maid bowed again before hurrying away as if scared of being caught talking to me.

I felt my chest tightened. It was no news that Cristiano had lost his parents at a very tender age. Had I triggered those bad memories for him? But that still didn’t explain why he would want to destroy something that had belonged to his mother. Shouldn’t he cherish it, preserve it? How could he decide to wipe it all away just because I had unknowingly tampered with it?

I needed to convince him before he did something he might regret later on. Without thinking twice, I jogged after the path Cristiano had taken. But even with my jog, Cristiano was nowhere to be found. This was one of the moments I hated being so small, I couldn't even keep up with his walking pace.

I stopped a guard when I realized I didn't know my way in this big property. “Did you see Cristiano?”

The guard nodded and pointed toward the backyard. With a “thank you,” I hurried in the direction of where he had pointed to. But the sight that greeted me made me stop in my tracks.

Cristiano was in the pool with his back turned on me. He had just emerged from the water, and the sunlight glistened brightly on his wet skin. Beads of water dripped from his dark hair as he ran his fingers through it. My stomach twisted for the umpteenth time today. But this time, it wasn't because of, but something else, something I couldn't quite explain. My eyes trailed over his broad shoulders and down to the dragon tattoo on his back. There was something about the way the water glistened against his tanned skin that made me feel…nervous, excited, and confused all at once.

I had no idea why I was on my tippy toes, but I slowly found myself stepping closer. The tattoo on his back was almost like a charm, captivating my attention. Soon, I found myself standing at the edge of the pool, bending slightly as I felt the need to touch it for some reason I couldn’t explain. Just as my fingers inched closer to the drawing, Cristiano suddenly turned, making me lose my balance.

“Ah!” I screamed as I felt the world spinning around me when I fell into the pool. The cold water covered my head and I found it hard to breathe.

“I can't swim!” My voice came out muffled as water filled my mouth and nose as I kicked my hands and legs, desperate to find something to hold on to.

“Jesus, Lisa!” Even though the water was filling my ears, I could still hear Cristiano yelling. In an instant, his strong arms were around my waist, pulling me up with ease. Cristiano lifted me out of the water effortlessly and placed me gently on the edge of the pool.

My chest heaved up and down as I panted for breath, coughing out the chlorinated water I had swallowed. The panic had not completely left me, but I felt safe before him. Cristiano was standing in the shallow part of the pool, his eyes filled with worry as he caressed my cheeks. “What were you doing, jumping in when you couldn’t swim?” His voice was calm, but the concern was evident.

“I—I didn’t mean to,” I stammered, my heart still racing from both the fall into the pool and how incredibly close he was to me.

Cristiano’s brow furrowed, but he grabbed a towel from the railing, wrapping it around my shoulders. “You poor girl, you must be cold.”

“I’m fine,” I muttered, though my already wet cloth against my skin was uncomfortable. I could feel the warmth of his touch through the towel. “I just wanted to apologize…if I did something wrong.” My words came out in a rush as the rush of adrenaline was making me babble.

Cristiano’s gaze softened slightly, before sighing. “No,” he said quietly, almost to himself. “I should be the one apologizing for scolding you.”

I blinked in surprise as I processed what Cristiano had just said. Did he… Did he just apologize? The tall, intimidating man who barely showed emotion, who made me feel small was apologizing to me?

My surprise must have shown on my face because Cristiano gave me a half-smile. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you earlier. It wasn’t your fault.”

“I didn’t know the roses were…special,” I said softly, clutching the towel tightly around me. “Please don’t cut them down because of me.”

Cristiano looked away, for a moment as if he was lost in thought. “They were my mother’s,” he admitted after a long pause. “She used to take care of them, but after she passed, I couldn’t bring myself to touch them. It was easier to just…leave them.”

My heart ached at how ordinary he sounded now. I had never seen this side of him before, this side that wasn’t cold or distant. “You don’t have to cut them down,” I said gently. “I can take care of them…if you’ll let me.”

Cristiano’s eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite tell. Maybe surprise, or even something better. But then he nodded in the sexiest way ever. “You know how to care for flowers?”

“Yes,” I said with a small smile. “I love flowers. I promise I won’t ruin them.”

An almost unnoticeable smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Fine. You can be the gardener if you want.” His tone sounded teasing, but I was really excited to help with it.

“Really?” I asked, my excitement bubbling out of me uncontrollably.

Cristiano chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Really,” he muttered.

Before I could respond, Cristiano gently lifted me back into the pool. I felt my muscles tense up as I instinctively gripped his arm. “I—I can’t swim,” I reminded him, in a shaky voice.

“Just breathe,” he said, his hands steady on my waist. “I’ve got you.” His voice was low and soothing, and despite the fear gripping me, I found myself nodding.

His hands were firm but not rough as he held me, guiding me through the water. I could feel his chest against mine and he was warm despite the coldness of the water. “Relax,” he whispered. “The water can be calming if you let it.”

My heart raced, but not because of the water anymore, but because of him. The way his fingers pressed into my waist, the closeness of his body…I couldn’t think straight.

“Breathe, baby girl,” he whispered in a voice that sent shivers down my spine. My cheeks flushed at the nickname, making me swallow hard as I tried to steady my breathing.

Before I could even process what was happening, Cristiano leaned in closer, his breath warm breath fanning against my ear. His body pressed me gently against the wall of the pool with an intense gaze that made my pulse quicken as I felt his hardness pressing against me. 

But Cristiano didn’t kiss me, though. Instead, he placed a light peck on my cheek and squeezed my butt cheeks gently before lifting me out of the pool again. “It looks like it’s going to rain,” he muttered in a very hoarse voice as he handed me the towel again. “You should go inside.”

I glanced up at the clear blue sky, in confusion. Rain in early June? He should've just said he didn't want me. 

But I didn’t argue. I wrapped the towel around me and headed back toward the mansion.