CHAPTER 44

"Sometimes, we don't need advice. We just need someone to listen."

•••

Third Person's POV:

Massimo and Kaylee stood in the ballroom, where the former was shaking hands with some man who was tall and not built. A scar ran down his cheek. "Mr. Feorenzo, it's good to see you," he said, eyeing Kaylee up and down with a smirk on his face.

"I don't think I can say the same, Robert," Massimo said with an emotionless face. "Look at her one more time, and I will bury you right here," he threatened.

Robert tore his eyes away from Kaylee and looked at Massimo, shocked and confused. Because Massimo and he had worked together in the past, they had a not-so-bad relationship…at least, that was what he had thought.

Kaylee snapped her head towards Massimo and gulped when she saw his pissed expression. God, why was he so protective? Kaylee bit her lip to stop her smile.

"Sorry, I thought she was just your date," the man said, looking down nervously.

"She is my girl. Not just some random woman."

At this, Kaylee froze as words from a lifetime ago crossed her mind. 'She's my wife. Not anyone special.'

She couldn't help but compare Massimo to that man from her past. Kaylee was not even sure if she was Massimo's girlfriend or something because he had never asked her out, but she still blushed hard as the words 'my girl' continuously rang through her mind.

"Um, please excuse me," the guy said and literally ran out of there.

Kaylee looked at Massimo, her eyes twinkling. "You never asked me to be your girlfriend," she said, raising her eyebrow.

"I was supposed to ask?" Massimo asked, frowning.

"Yes, you were," Kaylee laughed at his stupidity and rolled her eyes.

"Well, I don't think so. Why do I have to ask you to be mine when you already are?" Massimo shrugged.

•••

"The party is boring, Fi. Let's dance together," Stassi whined.

"Calm down, sis. The dance floor is empty," Fiona said, looking around for someone.

"So? F—" Stassi was cut off before she could respond.

"I hope I am not interfering," a guy said from behind them.

They both turned around to see a cute boy in his late teens or early 20s waiting nervously.

"It's okay." Fiona smiled at him, and they both started flirting with each other, even though he was younger than her. Stassi, bored of their conversation, looked around when her eyes suddenly met two striking blue ones—but just as she looked into them, their owner turned the other way.

A smile crept onto Stassi's face, and she thought, 'I caught him looking at me.' She began walking towards Domenico.

He knew that she was coming his way, but he chose to ignore her, sipping on his red wine. He felt a tap on his shoulder and saw Stassi's smiling face looking at him.

"Hi." She waved. Domenico raised an eyebrow at her like he didn't recognize her, and she frowned. 'Well…..rude. Does he really not remember me, or does he not care?' she thought. "Um…I am Anastasia Feorenzo.” She smiled even brighter at him.

Domenico nodded. "Massimo Feorenzo's sister, I guess?" he asked like he hadn't seen her half-naked just one day ago. 'And like that image isn't bothering you,' his subconscious mocked him.

"Yeah." Stassi felt a pang in her heart. The way Domenico had forgotten her hurt her ego. No one, and she meant no one, had ever ignored Stassi before or forgot about her presence—even if they had only met her once or even just for 10 minutes.

But she still played along.

Domenico didn't try to start a conversation and looked around like Stassi wasn't even standing there.

"So, what are you doing here alone? Where's your date?" she asked, trying to figure out if he was already taken or not.

He looked at her with an emotionless face. "I am standing here," he answered, bored.

"And your date?" she asked.

He ignored her again, and she came to the conclusion that he didn't have one. She stood there, silently looking around at the dance floor, which was filled with couples—one of them being Fiona and that boy.

An idea came into her mind. "Can I have this dance?" Stassi asked, holding out her hand.

Domenico looked at her hand for ten good seconds and then back into her eyes. "I don't dance," he said and turned around.

"Well, you can always try," she suggested.

Domenico was starting to get annoyed. "And I don't want to," he said, not even looking at her.

Stassi felt like he didn't think she was even worth looking at. "Oh, c'mon, just tr—"

"Can you leave me alone, desperate one?" he snapped harshly, and she flinched.

Meanwhile, Massimo had been constantly watching his sister since the moment she walked up to Domenico. He knew that his friend didn't do well with women, and he could see that his sister was trying to start a conversation with him. Not wanting Domenico to hurt her, Massimo walked towards them while Kaylee walked to the restroom. As he strode towards the pair, he saw Domenico snapping at Stassi, who flinched in response.

"What's going on here? And don't you ever snap at my sister again," Massimo seethed. Domenico rolled his eyes and started to say something when Stassi raised her head up high, keeping her face emotionless.

"Va tutto bene, fratello (It's okay, brother). He's all bark," she said, and before anyone could say anything, she walked back towards where she and Fiona had been some moments ago.

Domenico stood there with his mouth ajar, looking at her back. What the hell did she just say? How dare she! She didn't even have any idea of what he was capable of. He was pissed, and his breathing grew heavy. No one normally dared talk to him when he was like that, but Massimo wore a smirk on his face because he loved his sister so much. After all, she was Stassi, a sassy bitch, but whatever she was, she was his life, his sister, his baby sister. He turned towards Domenico. "Don't mess with her." Patting his friend's shoulder, Massimo walked away.

Domenico chugged his drink in one go, walked to the bar, and asked for more shots. He was so angry that he took five shots one by one before looking around for Stassi.

There she was, just standing here. Three good-looking guys had extended their hands towards her, asking for a dance. She looked straight into Domenico's eyes and accepted one of their hands, and the two walked towards the dance floor.

This made Domenico flare up in anger. How dare she!