Chapter 23: Chapter Twenty Three

*Gabriela*

A week passes with nothing happening. I was getting bored out of my mind and I was desperate to do something. Anything. And Enzo hasn’t said another word about what had happened that night between us and I’m starting to really think he regrets it after all.

I gave subtle hints, but I wasn’t sure if he picked up on them. He just smiled and acted like nothing happened. It was downright insulting to be honest. I had thrown myself at him, he recuperated amazingly and then…nothing.

What was he playing at here? I was starting to become bitter the longer he was acting oblivious to our newfound situation. Being childish wasn’t my forte, but when it comes to him it seemed like I couldn’t help it one bit. I wanted to throw something at him every time I walked by and saw that stupid smile on his face. I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but it was pissing me off.

Well enough was enough.

I was going to start acting out starting today. Apparently my approach was amusing to him, well fine then. I’ll just start ignoring him in return. And the first thing I was going to do was to doll myself up to drive him mad with want, hopefully that is. And to make things more interesting this week the Sarino’s were visiting. Of course, that made me shiver with slight discomfort since their oldest son, Benny was a cheeky slimeball that never ceases to get me to sleep with him.

I was actually surprised that Enzo allowed them to visit since my presence was supposed to be secret, but Giovanni explained that they came this time every year to visit and if he canceled it now it would look suspicious. I agreed. If my father was keeping an eye on this town he would know right away it was odd that Giovanni was canceling last minute on visitors.

After putting on a short summer dress with cupped sleeves with matching heeled sandals, my hair curled in a high ponytail and light makeup, I head out my bedroom door to meet everyone downstairs. Just as I was coming down the hall Enzo pops out of his room and closes his door.

He looks up and freezes when he sees me. His face was expressionless, but I could see the tension in his shoulders, his grip still on the doorknob of his bedroom. I don’t bother to say hello or even utter a word. I purposely flounce by him and straight down the stairs where everyone was waiting. A slight giddy feeling enters my chest to see him completely immobile, but it was short lived when the first person I happen to run into is none other than Benny Sarino.

It was like he was waiting for me to come down. My body involuntarily shivers at that notion. But I was putting on a display after all, so I needed to act my part, even at the expense of this sleezy asshole.

“Gabriela, I’m delighted to see you have returned. I’ve missed our…encounters these last few months.” His smooth voice rolls over me like a caress that I really didn’t want.

Here is the thing about Benny. He was a sly one with his ‘charming’ demeanor and high class attire. The man never wears anything other than top name brand clothing that fit him to the tee. His hair was beautiful. Soft, flowy, and slicked to the side in the newest fashion. His skin was smooth and firm, and he worked out like his life depended on it.

He was a god like being.

However…his personality was shit.

Because of his appearance and background he truly believes he was a gift to all women on earth. He was a conceited, ego inflamed narcissist. He liked to talk about himself and only cared about himself. He even stated to me once that he was quite gifted in the bedroom and that he could make me scream with such pleasure I would be ruined from all other men on earth.

Rolling my eyes there.

Because he made it so known that lower class people were beneath him Giovanni had to ask Maria and Ernesto politely to not make their presence known when the Sarino’s were around. Benny had even looked in disgust at Orlando when the boy was caught by my side one time when we were coming from the fields one year. He had been covered in dirt and grape stains and was sweaty from a hard day’s work.

The comment that Benny left was downright insulting and rude. But thankfully Orlando was forewarned of the Sarino’s that he ignored his comment and left after our goodbyes. Giovanni hated that he had to ask them to leave while they were here, but Benny’s father was his second cousin who was close to him while growing up.

Even though his son was a spoiled rotten human being, thanks to his mother’s side of the family, Mr. Sarino was a kind decent man. How in the world he created such a specimen I will never know. And one of Benny’s pastimes while here was trying to get into my pants and fuck me senseless.

His words, not mine.

And just thinking about it again caused me to shake with disgust. Also, why did he state it that way as if we had something going on between us? Like that would never happen in a million, trillion years. But, against my better judgement, I smile at him like it truly made me happy to see him.

“Benny! It’s so nice to see you again!” I gush, placing my hand on his arm like we were old friends.

He blinks twice with surprise at my reaction since normally I always gave him the cold shoulder and respond with snide remarks just to show how much I really disliked him. Then they flicker just behind me making him smile slowly with a little confusion shining in his eyes.

“That’s interesting.” He mumbles. “Where have you been that you had to go missing on me without a word?” He says in his normal drawl, leaning a little too close for comfort.

I give him a tight smile, sensing Enzo’s presence right behind me. “Just visiting my father in New York-”

I feel a pinch on my side just as Enzo slips past me to head in the dining room. I glare at him for only a second when I see the warning in his eyes. Well, what the hell was I supposed to say? It was a true valid reason. Besides it wasn’t like Benny even knew who my father was since I never brought it up and as far as I knew neither has Giovanni.

“Ah, I’m sorry to hear about your mother’s passing.” He quickly states.

I give another tight smile. It wasn’t like he ever met her, and I doubted he even cared. He shrugs with a sigh. “At least now you don’t have to worry about taking care of her. Burden free and could do whatever you want. I would love to show you around Paris sometime. It’s a beautiful romantic place.” He grins that I think was meant to be sexy.

But his words brought fury to my soul. Clenching my teeth, I seethe, “My mother was never a burden, Mr. Sarino. I would rather take care of her for the rest of my life than to live without her in it. And I don’t like Paris.” I snap and walked away from the dickwad