Chapter 18: My Fictional World of Love

Chapter 18: My Fictional World of Love
Renee’s POV
“Welcome to our Paradise!” Andy said gesturing into a beautifully decorated room.
I walked in with admiration in my eyes. This was a beauty to behold. I never thought a house this old could have such an interior.
Andy helped me settle into our room, making sure our luggages were arranged neatly by the wardrobe and that I had everything I needed. 
Then he turned to me with that calm yet mischievous smile of his and said, “I have a quick meeting in Venice, just a short one. Make yourself comfortable, okay? Someone will come in to prepare breakfast for you. Eat and rest off the jet lag,” he took my hand and gave me that look that always melted my heart “when it’s twelve… get ready… I’ve got a surprise.”
I squinted at him suspiciously. “Another surprise? What surprise is it this time?”
He only chuckled, stepping closer until his scent, that familiar warm, woody cologne, filled my lungs. “Would it still be a surprise if I told you?” he whispered, brushing a kiss against my lips before I could protest. My heart stuttered like a schoolgirl’s. And before I could say another word, he was gone… leaving me standing there, smiling like an idiot at the closed door.
I sank into the huge bed, hugging a pillow, still feeling the ghost of his lips. The room was beautiful in a quiet, old-fashioned way… aged stones, wooden beams, and tall arched windows that opened to a view of water canals glistening beneath the morning sun. Even though the house was centuries old, it held a grace that only history could give.
I let my head rest against the pillow and laughed softly at myself. I felt like a teenager once again the way my heart skipped every time Andy looked at me, the way my stomach fluttered when he smiled. I’d never known this kind of peace, not even during my marriage with Clark.
Just when I was about to drift off, my phone buzzed on the side table. Lydia’s name flashed across the screen.
“Good morning boss!,” her chirpy voice filled my ear the second I picked up.
“Morning, Lydia.” I yawned, rubbing my eyes.
“I dropped by the house to brief you earlier but I was told you left with Mr Kinsley….I just wanted to let you know that Marlene had been blowing up your second line since yesterday…”
I slapped my forehead. “Ah, the lunch date…” I’d completely forgotten about it. Between last night’s… activities and this morning’s surprise trip, meeting Marlene had vanished from my brain.
“I forgot..” I finally said, sighing “anyways, just turn off that line for now,” I said firmly, sitting up. “And also cancel our attendance to Sarah’s daughters playdate, send Amara and her daughter, Rosie, on vacation.. anywhere at all. I don’t want Sarah showing up at their doorstep uninvited and figuring it out.”
Lydia paused. “Got it. Anything else?”
“Yes. You’re in charge while I’m gone. Handle everything, keep up the surveillance on The Wayne’s and please don’t call me unless it’s life or death, okay? I want to focus on Andy this week.”
“Ooooh, I like the sound of it ma’am” she teased, drawing out the word. “Vacationing with your man. Got it. Enjoy it, boss lady.”
“Goodbye, Lydia,” I said, laughing as I ended the call.
After that, the room grew quiet again, except for the distant chirping of morning birds and the faint hum of waves. I took a deep breath, smiling to myself. I needed to look my best for whatever Andy had planned.
Hours slipped by so fast until it was noon.
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the sleeves of the gown laid out for me earlier. It was a flowing 16th-century-style robe, rich in texture, its soft ivory fabric hugging my body while the corseted waist gave me the posture of an old-world lady. My hair was styled in a loose twist, a few curls falling to my shoulders. When I looked at my reflection, I almost laughed.
“Renee Collins,” I whispered to the mirror, “you look like you just stepped out of a Shakespearean play.”
My phone buzzed again… Andy’s message.
“Come outside.”
Curious, I grabbed my small clutch, adjusted my dress, and walked out.
The moment I stepped outside, laughter escaped my lips before I could stop it. There was Andy… sitting in a turtle car, dressed in full 16th-century men’s attire, complete with a doublet, ruffled collar, and black boots that reached his knees. The sight was so unexpected that I burst out laughing.
He looked up, his grin widening when he saw me. “You’re really gonna laugh at me?”
“How can I not?” I gasped between laughs. “You look like you just escaped from a Shakespeare book!”
“I could say same for you…” he teased
“What’s your inspiration for this ridiculous outfit?” I asked still laughing at his boyish looks.
He leaned an elbow against the steering wheel, smirking. “Same reason you’re dressed that way, my lady.”
I rolled my eyes, still smiling as I stepped closer. “You’re impossible, Andy.”
“And yet you love me for it,” he said, stretching his hand out toward me.
I took it, and he helped me into the car.
The turtle car hummed to life as we drove off, the wind brushing through my curls. Venice was awake now… canals glittering under the early sunlight, gondolas drifting lazily across the water, and people bustling through the narrow streets. Andy’s hand occasionally brushed mine as he drove, and each time it did, I felt warmth spread through my chest.
For nearly forty-five minutes, we rode through the city. Andy kept pointing out old landmarks and whispering little pieces of history… the kind of things you’d never find in a tourist brochure. His voice carried a sense of pride and peace, like a man finally living out his dream.
Finally, he slowed to a stop before a large building marked by an engraved sign that read:
“The Montagues.”
My mouth fell open. “No, you didn’t…”
He turned to me, smiling like a man who’d just unveiled a masterpiece. “Welcome, my lady, to your fictional world of Romeo and Juliet.”
I gasped, covering my mouth with both hands. “Andy!”
He chuckled, stepping out and coming around to open my door like a true 16th-century gentleman. The sound of our laughter echoed into the crisp Italian air, bouncing off the ancient stones of the Montague estate.
As I stepped out, looking up at the majestic building before me, my heart filled with something soft and indescribable… the kind of joy that comes from being loved in a way you never thought you deserved.
And as his fingers brushed mine again, I realized… that this wasn’t just another trip to unwind. This was Andy’s way of rewriting our story… giving us both a second chance at the kind of love that I have always dreamed of.