Chapter 24

Julia

Rolling over I throw my arm over Rome's torso and snuggled closer to him. We stayed up last night just talking and he told me I should sleep next to him which I gladly did.

I must admit that when I woke up next to him earlier, I was a bit surprised that he was still here this morning, and he didn't ditch me like he did the last time.

We had gotten out of bed to freshen up and eat breakfast, but he insist that I come back to bed with him. I never knew he was capable of being clingy. I was actually happy, an emotion that I haven't felt in a long while. Sure, I smile a lot and I appear like the happiest woman, but deep down the only thing I feel is hate, anger and sadness.

Rome took my hand that was resting on his torso and intertwined our fingers before kissing my forehead. I smile at the cute gesture; it was like he knew my thoughts had strayed away and he was trying to bring me some sort of comfort.

"You can't just let me lay in bed all day; I still have work to do." I was not at all complaining. I wouldn't mine staying like this forever, yet I say he's clingy.

He angles his head in a position so that he was able to see me better. "Yes, I can. I can also fire you, as a matter of fact you are fired."

"What, why would you do that!" I ask popping myself up on my elbow to glare at him.

He wore an amuse look, which definitely looks good on him. I'm glad I was able to get these reactions out of him.

"I can't have the woman I'm interested in working as my maid and it was only temporary."

I sigh and lay back down, "I guess I should start dropping off my resumes then."

I was planning to leave soon anyway.

"What do you have in mind?"

"There's a pastry place, down the road I would love to work there." I went there a few times to purchase their strawberry cheesecake which was just so delicious. At first, I was a bit hesitant to buy it considering that it would be my first time eating it and I did not want to waste my money if it didn't taste good. Turns out I made a good decision and that was money well spent.

"Jennie's Pastry Palace," Rome says, "She only hires seasonal workers."

"That's unfortunate," I whisper, "I would have enjoyed working there."

Rome rolls over and hover over me. "I have a better idea, why don't you open your own Pastry shop?"

My eyes widen, was he serious? "I can't just open my own shop Rome, it's not as easy as it sounds especially for someone like me."

He narrows his dark eyes at me, "What do you mean by that?"

"In order to do that then I would have to get another job so I could finance my business."

"Or you could just let me be your business partner, I'll handle the money issues and you can do everything else."

I stare at him, was he being serious. He was already working on his new hotel which probably was costing him millions and he still wanted to help me financially.

"I can't let you do that Rome; you've already done too much and you're building a hotel which I'm sure is costing you a lot."

"Not to sound cocky, love, but I'm a billionaire. I invest my money the right places and it's always well spent. Helping you with your pastry shop won't even leave a dent."

I stared at him bewildered. Sure, I heard all that he said, but I was stuck on the fact that he called me love. It sounded so good coming from his lips.

He chuckles before pecking my lips and siting on the bed, "Go and get ready I'm taking you out."

After spending almost an hour in the shower I finally step out. Drying my body, I then grab my vanilla scent lotion and rub it all over my body before putting on my robe and looking at the girl staring back at me though the mirror. She was genuinely happy for once, she looked less stressed, and her skin was looking better.

I press my phone that was on the last shelf in the medicine cabinet, the time was three thirty-two p.m. I was excited for my first date in two years, especially because it was with Rome. I wonder where he was taking me and what it would be like.

Grabbing my hairbrush, I decided to comb my shoulder length, curly hair in a sleek low bun. Every day I regret cutting it, but it was growing back faster than I thought it would.

About fifteen minutes later my hands hurt but my hair looked good. Just as I was finish washing the hair products from my hands my phone starts to ring. Drying my hands, I grab the phone and roll my eyes when I saw the caller ID.

"What do you want?" I put the phone on speaker since I was still getting ready.

"Damn June bug, is that the way you greet your soon to be brother-in-law?"

"What are you going on about, Josh?" I ask annoyed.

"You sound mad," he says sounding a bit distracted.

I focused on trimming my eyebrows properly before deciding to answer him. "I thought we were friends Josh, you ignored me for days. At one point I thought you were dead in a ditch, but Jimmy convinced me that you weren't since you kept in contact with him."

"I'm sorry June bug, but you should be thanking me. I talked sense into my dumb brother, and I heard he's taking you out, so I assume I did well," he says confidently.

Rome must have told him he was taking me out, even though that doesn't seem like something he'd do. Although he's been different since he returned.

"Do you forgive me June bug?"

I finished my brows and smile at my reflection, my parents weren't the best, but I guess I should thank them for my good genes even though I'm hardly ever confident.

"June bug?" Josh calls since I had failed to reply to him.

"Alright Josh, you're forgiven you better be glad you have a special place in my heart."

Josh pretends to be sobbing on the other line, "Aww Julia, I love you too, but I'll have to talk to you later I have to be in court soon."

"That's fine, good luck."

"Won't need it love, I'm the best lawyer out here," he says sounding a lot like his brother.

"Okay Mr. Big shot, talk to you later."

He chuckles before deciding to call me in the morning to see how my date went. I was wondering why in the morning and not later when the time caught my attention.

"Crap." I have ten minutes left to get ready. Luckily, I had chosen the clothes I wanted to wear already.

Stepping out of the restroom I enter my room and look at my outfit that was laying on the bed. I wasn't sure where Rome was taking me, but I'm glad I had gotten this outfit. Well, I should be thanking Ky and Em since they convinced me to get it when Rome had given me his card to purchase a dress to accompany him to the charity event.

It was a peach dress that hug the little figure I have, it had short sleeves and there was a lace up part in the middle that expose parts of my boobs. It stopped just above my knees and was far out of my style, but they wanted me to try something new, so I did. I paired it with one of those white box-shaped-front heels. I hated them at first but looking in the mirror I actually looked good. My looked reminded me of one I saw of Kylie Jenner on Emmie's Instagram timeline.

Since I was no makeup pro and the only thing, I had was lip gloss that's what I add to my lips, but not before using my brown lip liner to outline my lips. I finished my look with a small white clutch, my anklet that I wore everywhere, four rings, a bracelet, and a necklace. All fake gold but look like the real deal of course.

I was proud of the woman I saw in the mirror. Snapping a few pictures, I decided to send them in a group chat to Ky and Em.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in." I say, right then I saw that Emmie was typing.

She sent several fire emoji and heart eyes emoji with the words, 'about damn time that idiot ask you out'. I burst out laughing and turn to look at Rome. He was wearing a black suit with a white shirt underneath that had the first three buttons open, giving him that sexy delicious man-candy look. His beautiful dark eyes stare at me from head to the toe. His face was emotionless which made me a bit nervous.

"Fuck," he mutters, which made me even more nervous.

"Do I look awful?" I ask in panic.

His eyes widen and he remove his hands from his pants pocket and took a few steps towards me until he was standing a few inches away.

"Of course not, Julia, you look fucking gorgeous. I'm a bit scared now to take you out, what if someone snatches you away from me."

I giggled at the look he wore. He seems to be upset just by the thought.

"Thank you Rome and you don't have to worry about that," I pat his sexy broad shoulder, “You’re stuck with me babe."

He gives me an amuse look before inching closer, "Babe huh? I could get use to that."

Before I could protest about him ruining my lips, he already had his lips press to them. Sighing in bliss the only thing I could do is return his kiss.