Chapter 60 Olive Branch
GIOVANNI'S POV
No matter how hard I tried to focus on the documents in front of me, Enzo's words kept echoing through my head.
"You're turning into someone I don't recognize. Someone your father would be ashamed of."
The guilt sat in my chest, although I had been pushing it down since last night, it wouldn't stay buried.
And now, sitting across from her at breakfast and watching her push food around her plate without eating, her eyes fixed somewhere past my shoulder, and now the guilt was crushing me.
She looked defeated, like something vital had been extinguished behind those eyes that usually sparked with fire.
I had done that to her.
I opened my mouth to say something but the words stuck in my throat. What could I say? Sorry?
That would be a lie, because I would do it again if it meant maintaining control.
Or maybe I could tell that I cared? Also a lie, because caring complicated everything.
Except it wasn't entirely a lie anymore, was it?
"Is there..." I started, then stopped.
Arya didn't even look up, she kept moving a piece of fruit around her plate.
I cleared my throat and tried again. "Is there something you'd like to do today?"
She hadn't even heard me and I should have taken the escape route and gone back to my work, let her sulk in peace.
But that damn guilt wouldn't let me.
"Arya," I said, louder this time.
She blinked, finally looking at me with confused eyes. "What?"
"I asked if there was something you wanted to do today." The words came out stiff. I wasn't to trying to... what? Make amends? Offer comfort?
"I don't understand the question," she said flatly.
Of course she didn't. Because when had I ever asked her what she wanted?
I opened my mouth to try to rephrase it when Enzo appeared in the doorway, a coffee mug in hand and that insufferable smirk on his face.
"Are you trying to ask her out on a date, boss?" he asked, his tone dripping with amusement.
"No," I said immediately, glaring at him. "It's not a date. I have work to do in town and I thought…" I forced myself to look back at Arya. "If you wanted to tag along, that's all."
The words came out more defensive than I had intended. Arya was staring at me like I had grown a second head.
"Tag along," she repeated slowly. "To your business meeting."
"Or not," I said, picking up my coffee to avoid her eyes. "It's just an option. Take it or leave it."
"I'll leave it," she said quietly, standing up with her plate. "Thank you for the offer."
She turned toward the kitchen, and I felt something twist in my chest. This wasn't working, in fact I was making it worse. Enzo was nudging my shoulder and giving me a look that said ‘fix this, you idiot.’
"You could shop," I blurted out before I could stop myself. "Or go to a spa. Get whatever you want."
Arya stopped walking. Her back was still to me, but I saw her shoulders tense.
"Spend as much as you want," I continued, the words tumbling out now that I had started. "Clothes, jewelry, whatever women buy when they want to…" I gestured vaguely. “… feel better."
She turned slowly, her expression unreadable. "Are you serious?"
I stood up, suddenly needing to not be sitting while she looked at me like that. "Yes. I'm serious."
"Will you come with me?" she asked, and there was something vulnerable in her voice that made my chest ache.
"No, I have to-" I was interrupted when Enzo's foot came down hard on mine under the table.
I bit back a curse and changed course. "Yes. I'll come with you."
For a moment, nothing happened. Then Arya's face transformed into a bright smile that nearly stole my breath.
She squealed and bounced on her toes like a child.
"Really? You'll really come shopping with me?" She was grinning now. "Can we go to the archery range too? And there's a bookshop I saw online that I've been dying to visit. Oh, and we can try some pizza too!”
"Yes," I heard myself saying, and I was smiling. "Whatever you want."
"Thank you!" She rushed forward like she might hug me, then seemed to remember herself and stopped. "I'll go get ready!"
She ran out of the room, her earlier sadness completely forgotten.
I stood there, still smiling like an idiot, until Enzo's laughter brought me back to reality.
"Shut up," I said before he could speak.
"I didn't say anything." But his grin was wide enough to split his face. "You're just... you're so whipped, boss. It's beautiful to watch."
"I'm not whipped. I'm being... strategic."
"Is that what we're calling it now?"
I sank back into my chair, the smile fading. "I was thinking about what you said. About how I spoke to her family at the restaurant. You were right. I was being unnecessarily cruel."
Enzo's teasing expression softened. "Yeah. You were."
"So this is..." I gestured vaguely. "An apology. Of sorts."
"An apology that involves shopping and archery?" Enzo raised an eyebrow. "That's some apology."
"She deserves a break," I admitted. "From all of this. Even if it's just for a day."
"She deserves more than that," Enzo said gently. "But it's a start."
"Don't push it."
He held up his hands in surrender, still grinning.
Footsteps thundered down the stairs, and Arya appeared wearing dark jeans and a simple white button-down shirt. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail and she was casual in a way I'd never seen her.
She looked... young.
"Ready!" she announced, practically vibrating with excitement.
I stared at her, momentarily frozen. This was Arya without the usual flamboyance of evening gowns and careful makeup.
This was just her.
"Boss?" Enzo's voice held barely suppressed laughter. "You okay there?"
I snapped out of it, standing up and adjusting my jacket. "Yes. Let's go."
I started to offer her my arm but she was already heading for the door, bouncing on her toes with barely contained energy.
I swallowed hard and followed.
Behind me, I heard Enzo chuckle. "Have fun on your not-date, boss."
"It's not a date," I called back.
"Sure it's not!"
The car was waiting outside abd Arya climbed into the back seat before I could open the door for her, still chattering about the bookshop she wanted to visit and whether I had ever done archery before.
"I took lessons as a child," I said, settling in beside her. "But it's been years."
"I've never done it," she admitted. "But it looks fun and I've always wanted to try."
"Then we'll try it."
She turned to look at me, and something soft passed across her face. "Thank you for this. I know you didn't have to-“
"I wanted to," I interrupted, and was surprised to find it was true.
The smile she gave me was blinding.
As the driver pulled away from the villa, I found myself hoping that I could give her one good day. One day where she didn't look at me with fear or anger.
Even if tomorrow we would go back to being captor and captive.
For today, maybe we could be something else… I just hoped I didn't fuck it up.