I was about to close the office for the day, my brain buzzing from the endless edits on the presentation my team had to give. Weeks of work, and now I felt stuck. I sighed and rubbed my temples.
Then my phone rang loudly.
"Dante...." I muttered picking it up.
"Aria." his familiar voice came through, warm and easy.
"I'm around your office, thought maybe we could catch up for a bit.... if you don't mind and I brought something for Lorenzo."
I froze for a second... for Lorenzo? My chest tightened. Alessandro would probably lose it if he knew, but Dante has always been a good friend and he he's always been good to Lorenzo.
"Alright...…" I said casually
"Just for a little while."
"Perfect! I'll wait downstairs."
After the call ended, I immediately tried calling Alessandro, but his line wasn't connecting. I sent a quick text before grabbing my bag and leaving the office.
...…..
"Hey" he said as I slid into the seat across from him.
"Hey." I said back smiling also
We started with small talk, laughing over minor things, catching up on life... his eyes kept flicking to mine, like he wanted to read my soul.
"You look.....… different," he finally said.
"Happier...…."
I shrugged my cheeks warming.
"I've been trying and it's been so easy with Alessandro. He's been a great partner and dad and I can't be happier."
"I'm glad"
He reached across the table, handing me a small box.
"This is for Lorenzo."
I opened it and Inside was the ultimate dream gift for any child.... a remote controlled stunt car set, sleek and hightech with all the features a kid could ever imagine. It was looked like it cost a fortune and Lorenzo would go crazy over.
"He's going to love this." I whispered, touched.
"Thank you so much Dante." I smiled genuinely, glad to have such a kind and supportive friend in my life.
Dante smiled softly also.
"I'm genuinely happy for you Aria.... You deserve it...… you deserve to be happy."
"You do not look happy though." a deep familiar voice said behind me.
I turned slowly.... Alessandro.... He looked calm but from I knew that fake facade.... He was furious...
If looks could kill Dante would already be dead.
The cafe suddenly felt too small and I realized we were the only ones present.
"Babe….… I..."
He cut me off immediately.
"We're not talking about this here."
"We'll continue at home."
Then he saw it.....
The gift bag.
Lorenzo's name written on it.
Something in him snapped.
He moved so fast I didn't even register it.
His fist slammed into Dante's face so hard the sound was sickening.
"Alessandro!" I screamed
Dante tried to get up, spitting blood.
"You're fucking crazy...….."
"This is the last time you come anywhere near my family."
"If you ever step one foot closer to them again..... I won't hesitate to end you."
"Stop it! You're disrespecting my friend." I snapped at his unnecessary outburst.
He turned to me , eyes now burning with anger, jealousy and possession.
You're defending him now?
"No!" I shook my head quickly.
"I'm not defending anybody."
"I'm just..... I texted you... I told you I was meeting him. Why are you acting like this?"
"Does any of this look appropriate to you?"
"You met him alone.... Laughing... while he buys things for my child like he has a place in my home."
"That's not what this is." I whispered.
"Man, you really need to chill—"
Alessandro turned on him so fast Dante went silent immediately.
"Say one more word." Alessandro warned.
"and you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
Silence fell.... He looked so dangerous and I was taken aback at the whole thing.
Isn't this my sweet boy?
What the fuck is going on?
My throat burned....
"You don't trust me." I whispered.
He looked back at me then.
And for the first time, his anger wavered.
"I trust you." he said.
"I don't trust him and I don't trust what I stand to lose."
"Take this as my last warning" then he turns, walking to me his hand grabbing my hand as he pulled me away with him out the cafe
I turned to Dante mouthing an apology.…..
"I'm sorry"
He nodded still plastering a grin on his face not wanting me to worry about him even after being humiliated and it hurt even more cos he doesn't deserve any of this.
The moment we stepped into the house, I didn't wait.
I turned and walked straight to the room.... I was equally furious and his footsteps followed me.
"Why did you meet that man alone?"
I stopped but didn't turn.
"After I warned you to stay away from him." he added.
"So now I need permission to breathe?" I snapped.
"So because I'm your woman, I'm not allowed to have friends?"
He laughed coldly.
"That man is not your friend."
"Dante has been nothing but good to me and Lorenzo!" I shouted.
"Nothing but good and look at how you acted!"
"You punched him," I continued.
" In a public place..... Did you even think for one second what would happen if someone recorded you?"
"You shouldn't even be meeting another man," he said sharply.
"Do you hear yourself? Sitting with him. Laughing...…. Letting him look at you like that."
I scoffed, hurt flashing through me.
"I am not your property," I said.
"You don't own me and you don't get to control my life as you please just because you're Lorenzo's father."
In one swift move, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his chest.
Hard.
His eyes were wild with fury.
"I'm trying to protect you," he growled.
"You think that man is being nice because he's a good person? You think he doesn't want you?"
I pushed against him but he didn't release me.
"I am doing everything," he continued.
"everything to protect you and my son."
I stopped struggling.
My strength left me all at once.
Tears slipped down my face as I looked at the floor.
"I love you." I said quietly.
"I love you so much..... but you have to trust me."
"I would never hurt you," I added.
"You're the only man I want and I don't want anyone else.... Can't you see that?"
His grip loosened.
His eyes softened just a bit but the fear was still there.
"I'm scared to lose you." he said, almost to himself.
"Even now..... even when you're mine."
"If you keep doing this." I whispered.
"you'll push me away and that will be the beginning of the end for us."
I pulled away from him and tried to hold me again.
He reached for me again
But I stepped back.
"I need space."
Then I turned and walked into the bathroom locking the door.
The shower came on and the water drowned the sound of my sobs as I slid down against the tiles, holding my chest, wondering how love could feel this good.... and this painful... at the same time.