Chapter 10

Not everyone deserved second chances. Sean knew he didn’t but somehow the universe had given it to him over time and again. He looked down at the beauty in his hands. Her arms wrapped tightly around his torso. He couldn’t he any happier.

He didn’t know how she would react if she woke up, but he was happy she was here with him. And that he got to her before Betty could.

“Keep staring at her and she’ll disappear” Dex said. He got up from his seat which was close to Sean’s and bent over to look at Rosalia. “She really is beautiful, don’t blame you”

Sean pulled Rosalia closer to his chest “Keep your opinions to yourself Dex. And sit down for Christ sakes! The jet is about to take off!”

“Calm down man, where’s Anna by the way? Poor girl must be heartbroken” Dex said as he sat down. He put his seatbelt on and watched the pair in front of him. “You never told me how you met her?”

“I don’t want to talk about it” Sean said in a bored tone. He relaxed into his seat signaling the end of their conversation. Instead he looked out the window as his private jet ascended into the sky. He didn’t want to think about what would’ve happened if he hadn’t gotten to Rosalia on time.

He had left that café with tears threatening to spill down his face. He had not expected it to hurt as much when she left. It reminded him of the poor boy left at the stairs of an orphanage as the cold bit his roughly dried skin. She left him just like his mother had.

Anna’s call had put his misery out for a second. He had a business to attend to and wasn’t going to cry over something he couldn’t change. He was already seated in the jet preparing to leave for France when the picture came in. It was Rosalia entering a store, it was the caption that had his heart racing. Let’s play a game.

It had him running out of the Jet and racing madly through the streets. It was a good thing Dex or Anna wasn’t there yet. He didn’t want to answer Dex’s endless questions and he didn’t want his assistant seeing him at a time he felt most vulnerable. Rosalia falling into his hands and Betty looking at him from across the street, a smile on her face was the only second chance he needed.

The little drug he always kept him had proven useful that moment because he wasn’t sure Rosalia would’ve gone with him willingly. He sighed as he looked down at her. He was going to make her feel the same way he felt about her, and he had their entire stay in Paris to do just that.

Sean kept looking at Rosalia their entire journey and down to the Paris cold that whipped at their faces as he carried her to the hotel and up their room. By the time he had her laying in his bed, his arms were already aching. She turned to her side making Sean’s eyes go wide. He didn’t know how she would react. Like the coward he was, he scribbled a note and left it on the bedside table and hurried out of the room.

“I was betting you’d be in there for a good two hours” Dex pushed himself off the wall as Sean closed the door.

“So, you thought just waiting outside my door was the best thing to do?” Sean asked as they walked to the elevator.

“I’m here for a good reason. There’s a problem downstairs, has to do with Anna’s room”

Sean turned to look at him “She’s not settled yet? Why?”

Dex threw his hands up “I don’t know, that’s why I came to get you.”

He shook his head at his friend. A smiling Anna walked towards them with an exaggerated sway to her hips once they got off the elevator. “There was an issue when I was booking the rooms Mr. Derero” She started, smiling sweetly at him “They gave you a double room instead of separate rooms for both of us”

Sean looked at her closely, if anything she looked happy at the fact that there was no room for her. “You can share with Dex, we’re only here for two days. I can get you another room in a hotel close by if you’re uncomfortable with the arrangement.”

Anna nodded frantically at his words “I can’t share with Mr. Dex, he has a single room, so it’ll be uncomfortable.”

“Call the next hotel then.”

“They’re all booked sir” She twirled a stray hair around her fingers “We can just share since you have a double room.”

Sean knew what she was playing at then, but he wasn’t worried. He had Rosalia here with him and his assistant knew not to cross certain lines. Nothing could go wrong. It was just two days.

“Have them take your things up to my room later.”

Anna hugged Sean before any of them could process what was going on “I promise you won’t regret making me your roommate! We’ll have sleep overs, and you can paint my nails and give me some…”

Sean had to shake her violently to detach her from him “You’re getting ahead of yourself Anna, behave.”

Anna nodded in embarrassment as Sean walked past her, Dex following with a huge smile on his face “You got this!” He yelled at her and whooped.

“You have to stop cheering her on Dex or I’ll have to fire her” Sean said as he stepped into the cool breeze that blew his hair in every dimension. It was a shame he would be here for just two days. He loved the cool weather. It was perfect for falling in love. He had a few places he wanted to visit with Rosalia in his mind. All he had to do was convince her to stay with him.

“You have that look on your face again” Dex said with a suggestive tone and wiggled his eyebrows at Sean. “It’s weird that you don’t talk about her. I’m your best friend and I don’t even know her name.”

“I don’t know her name either.”

Dex stopped walking “What?”

“Just drop it okay. Where the hell are we even going?”

Dex was about to answer when Sean’s phone rang, and he walked a little distance before putting it to his ear “Hello?”

His hold on the phone tightened when he recognized the voice. Why couldn’t the old man just leave him alone “I’ve told you we can’t meet, why don’t you just get it?” He yelled in frustration, drawing the attention of those around him and Dex who looked at him worried.

“How do you even know I’m in Paris? Are you stalking me?” He asked exasperated. The idea of someone watching him, slowly following him around unnerved him. It made him feel vulnerable and weak. Like all the money he had, and all the properties couldn’t keep him safe. That was not what a man like him should feel.

Sean was about to tell the man at the other end that he was going to involve the cops when he realized how weak it made him look. He had to deal with this himself just like he had been dealing with Betty’s crazy ass.

“I’ll meet with you on one condition” He waited for the man to answer before he continued “I’ll pick the location” He smiled when the man agreed eagerly. If he was to choose the place, then he would have total control over their encounter.

He hung up as Dex called to him “What?” He asked walking back.

Dex looked at him, panic all over his face “We’ve got a problem.”