Are you ready for dessert?

ELENA'S POV

There was a tense silence between us and I felt a tingle within my belly under his heated gaze.

“Stop bluffing” I said trying to disguise my nervousness with a laugh.

His gaze didn't falter and he kept staring at me with the same look.

“I'm not” his tone was smooth and so believable that I almost choked on nothing.

Luckily the lady came out again with a tray of steaming food.

“Here” she said,unaware of the tension at the table.

She placed the food on the table and I smiled at her in appreciation.

She returned it with a glare and I immediately looked down at the food. Well she's not a big fan of me.

“Do you need something else?”, her sweet tone was back as she turned to Luca who eyed the food and looked at her.

“No. Leave” he said simply.

Her gray eyes dimmed but she kept up that tight-lipped smile and scurried away.

“She seems nice” I muttered, ignoring his eyes that didn't want to leave me.

“Don't let looks deceive you” He said simply.

I cleared my throat and picked up a fork while salivating at the aromatic chicken fettuccine Alfredo in front of me. The creamy sauce and tender chicken looked heavenly, and I couldn't wait to take a bite.

Luca picked up his fork and nodded at me.

“Go ahead”, he said.

He watched me as I grabbed the cutlery knife and cut into the piece before stabbing it with more force than needed while bringing the piece to my mouth, the flavours exploding in my mouth, almost making me see stars.

“Good, right?” He asked.

I nodded, eager to take another bite and he chuckled, eating silently.

“So mind if I ask you some things while you talk? You can also ask. Also don't Forget our game of three questions but we can play that after you finish eating” He said.

I nodded and slowed down on eating. “Alright. Ask away”

“What's your full name, age and where are your parents?”, he asked.

My hand reaching out to cut another piece stilled and i shrugged.

“Elena Rosetti. 24. I don't know. I don't remember when my parents threw me out. Said something about me being a curse” I said with a shrug. I had learnt to live with it

“They must be horrible persons”, he seethed with rage.

I looked up at him and smiled. “They weren't wrong”

His eyes flashed with anger but it wasn't directed at me. “They have never been so wrong. You're so much worth more than that. You are not a curse. You are a blessing.” He said, with conviction in his eyes.

I cleared my throat, dropping my fork back unto the plate.

“So why do you want me to follow you to your business deals? I didn't realize that I would have to interact with the people around you” I inquired, eager to change the subject.

He sighed and his gaze changed into something more sympathetic.

“As much as I hate go admit it, you are useful in that aspect…I don't want to go into details but whatever I do, nothing will happen to you” he assured.

At this point, I would thrown myself off a cliff if he has asked me to with that voice of his.

“So tell me, are you an only child?” I asked, watching him as he reached out to grab his glass of wine.

His hand froze midair and he took a deep breath before bringing the cold glass to his lips, his Adam's apple bobbing as he took a slight sip.

My gaze was drawn to his lips and I had never been more jealous of a glass cup. Lucky glass. How I would kill to be in it's position…on his soft lips…as..

“I'm not actually” he said, not noticing the look I was giving him.

I snapped out of it and stared at him with curiosity.

“Oh really? I didn't see your sibling at the meeting though. Was he or she not around?”

He dropped the glass back to the table and he looked down at the table, his hand reaching to grab the napkin off the table.

“It's kind of a long story. He's no longer in the family. You don't have to worry about him” Luca explained, offering me a smile.

I didn't return it, my inquisitiveness getting the better of me.

“Your younger brother?”, I asked.

He shook his head and sighed again, his leg tapping the floor in thoughts. “No…” he said thoughtfully before he continued. “Twin brother. Luigi. That's his name” he said looking back at me.

My eyes widened and I had to close to my mouth that had fell open in the process. He chuckled seeing my reaction.

“Let's get past that. You still owe me three questions” He reminded.

I nodded absentmindedly and he leaned back In his chair with a mischievous smirk.

“Are you scared of me?” He asked.

“Sometimes”

“Do you wish you had never agreed to this?”, he leaned forward on the table

“No, it's a perfect arrangement for me. It benefits us both” I said, taking a sip of the bittersweet wine.

He nodded and asked his last question.

“I noticed your gaze on my lips earlier. Did you want to do something?” He suddenly asked.

I coughed and spluttered on my drink making him burst into laughter. If I was not mortified, I would marvel at the way his laugh sounded just as beautiful as him.

He smiled at me and raised a brow. “I'm just kidding. I think we're done with the food, right?”

I quickly nodded, my cheeks heating up.

His eyes shone with a mischievous glint. “Are you ready for dessert? At home? Because I am”

I almost choked on my own spit. It could mean literal desert or…

The man just stood up and cackled again before smirking.

“Get your mind out of the gutter. I meant actual dessert” he whispered before slipping into the room by the side of the cafe, leaving me there.

That little piece of…