Chapter 20 A Date by the Sea
Days become weeks, and the weeks become months. It's been almost two months since my mother's funeral. At this point, her death has become a distant memory to me. Some days, her departure saddens me, but other days, I'm numb to her absence in my life. She may not
All this time, I've been more focused on working alongside my father and Dante to gather the much-needed information involving the Romanos. Unfortunately, we haven't gotten much. It seems like they've gone nomadic and under the radar for the past couple of months after they killed my mother. It looks as though they're avoiding any responsibility after causing pain to my family and me. They even stop partying every day like they used to. It's either that they're planning something or scared of us retaliating.
With Antonio, everything has been going well so far. We've gone on a few dates every week, specifically on the weekends. The dates are nothing extraordinary, though, just some simple dinners and lunches and also picnics by the lake, but I still like them. All those times we were together, we spent eating and talking with each other. I'm not sure if he's been putting on an act or being genuine, but he's been such a gentleman. He always opens the door for me, carries my purse or bag, and he doesn't even mind carrying me if I'm too tired from walking.
Even though the dates are not anything phenomenal or extravagant, he always brings me a gift. Right now, I have two necklaces, three bracelets, and a pair of earrings from him. All of them have a simple design. However, they are beautiful despite the simplicity. I can't help but wear the gold necklace with thin chains and my initial as my daily jewellery. Not only because it's beautiful, but it's also a way to convince Antonio that I like him back and appreciate his gestures.
"What do you think about this dress?" I say as I hold the yellow sundress in front of me.
Today is Saturday. Just like my previous weekends, I will be going on a date with Antonio again. After all the dates we go through together, acting in front of him is getting even easier by the day. So, today's date will be a walk in the park. Not literally. He invited me to get on his yacht to watch the sunset today. Not really a sunset, though, since we're on the other side of where the actual sunset is.
Dante nods. Despite that, he still grabs another dress from the rack: a white, floral milkmaid dress with puffy short sleeves and a maxi\-length skirt. That was my other option. I'm glad he chose that one because I prefer that one to this yellow dress.
"Beautiful, but I think this one suits you even more," Dante says.
"I hate that you always know what's better than my own choice," I say.
I can't lie, Dante always chose the better option than mine. Well, I do want to wear that dress too at first, but somehow I feel like wearing this yellow dress today. Does that mean we have the same taste for things, or did he read my mind again? I still can't stop thinking that he somehow can read my mind, but that would be delusional and paranoid of me to believe that.
"Is it safe to say I know you better than you know yourself?" Dante teases.
"No. Of course, I know myself better," I say, rolling my eyes at his silly statement. Everyone knows themselves better, not anyone else.
"Then why are you doubting your first choice, which is this dress right here, and pick that one instead?" Dante says. See? He's doing it again. He keeps saying the things I have in my mind. There's no way he's not some sort of psychic after all he said to me.
"How do you know I wanted to choose that one?" I ask.
"You stared at this for minutes. Now go and put this on," Dante says.
I change into the dress and smile at my reflection. This dress does suit me better. I chose the yellow one because it feels like a safer option, as it doesn't show my cleavage, but now that I'm wearing this floral dress, I don't mind showing my body a bit.
"What do you think?" I ask.
"Beautiful," Dante says with a smile. His compliment gets me blushing hard, and I quickly hide my burning cheeks behind my hair. If he keeps complimenting me and being this kind to me, I'm afraid I might catch feelings soon. Now that I think about it, it's already too late. I already catch feelings. He probably already knows about it anyway. I just wish he would tell me if he likes me back or not. I'd rather have him rip the band-aid off right now than wait for "the right moment" to do it. I might as well get a heartbreak now before I fall in deeper.
"Alright. Time to go," Dante says.
"Let's go."
Downstairs in the living room, Antonio is already there. He texted me earlier that he had arrived here 10 minutes ago. Now we can finally leave for the port. Just like our previous dates, Antonio drives me in his car, and Dante rides in a different vehicle with my two other bodyguards. As for Antonio's bodyguards, they're riding in a different car as well.
It doesn't take us too long to arrive at the port, only about 45 minutes. Arriving at the port, the place seems to be a bit busy with people also going out to sea with their yachts or boats. I guess they have the same plan as Antonio for today's date night.
There are not many people on Antonio's yacht; There are only Antonio, one of his bodyguards, the captain, Dante, and me. Antonio and I are sitting side-by-side while Dante and Antonio's man stand nearby. I hope Antonio isn't planning to kidnap or kill me while we're in the middle of the ocean. My father said this date is too risky, considering we'll be far from any help, but I insisted on going. Hopefully, nothing's going to happen to Dante and me. I'm trusting my gut feeling this time that both of us will be perfectly fine.
"I'm glad the sky is clear today. By how it's looking now, we'll be able to see a stunning, dusk sky," Antonio says.
"You're right. I can see the colour changing already," I say as I stare at the sky. The side where it leads to the open sea already turns dark, while the sky over the port and the city is starting to turn more and more vibrant with an orange tint. I love sunsets. It's amazing how the sky can have so many different colours when the sun goes down. It's like the sky is telling us that every day can end beautifully, regardless of what happened throughout the day.
"Alessandra."
I turn to Antonio, still smiling at how nice today is. Even though I decided to be in a relationship with Antonio for my family's interests, I can't help but like his company. With how he's been treating me, I might actually fall for him. I hope it won't happen, because if I find out his family actually works together with the Romanos, I'm afraid it would be hard for me to let him go. I guess it's time for me to set my own boundaries. I can't let Antonio get to me. I should be the one who makes him let his guard down, not the other way around.
I look at Antonio, and my heart skips a beat. With my eyes wide, I continue to stare at Antonio in silence. Fuck. Is he- What is he doing? Oh shit. We're going to die. We're so fucking done.