Cara's pov
When Luca said I was moving into his place, I'd imagined a spacious, comfortable apartment with zero warmth and a city view. I had even gotten a little more creative and conjured up a Hades lair sort of dwelling. Nothing prepared me for the fucking state of the art penthouse that was thirty times bigger than most people's apartments.
The moment the elevator dinged open to the foyer, my jaw hit the floor that stretched out in grey marble tiling with white inlays. I basically floated across the foyer like Alice when she first landed in the wonderland, my eyes alight and I moved down the short wide hallway that contained only two openings. The first was an open four-panel pivot patio door that led to a forest-y terrace with an infinity pool.
Holy shit.
The man had a fucking infinity pool in his house.
I bounded into the other opening I discovered was the living room and my eyes grew even wider.
The space was as large as a hall, the walls an immaculate white colour with two thirds of them occupied by huge floor to ceiling windows. A half wall kitchen occupied nearly the entire stretch of the other end, stacked with food stock sitting visibly in transparent wall mounted shelves in a doorless pantry.
Pans and pots of all kinds hung from wall mounted hooks, all shiny and looking like they've never been used. The whole kitchen looked like it hadn't been used with its squeaky clean grey marble countertops and kitchen island. An 8-seat dining table was next to the kitchen, looking all luxurious with its plush seats and gold rimmed glass surface.
Black, wide asymmetrical sofas and armchairs formed a half moon sequence in front of the large windows, a large faux fur rug lying beneath their metal legs.
A large arch opened into another hallway I deduced to contain the stairway and other spaces. I looked up to the high ceilings with drooping chandeliers and inbuilt white lights.
The entire space was incredibly large yet didn't feel hollow and empty and maybe that was because of the multiple statues, paintings and flower plants that decorated the place. Even the strict color choice of black, grey and white couldn't kill the vibrancy.
I just couldn't believe that this was going to be my home until further notice. The reality exceeded my expectations. It made me genuinely perplexed why Luca had slept over in my wretched shoebox of a place when he lived in a house like this.
It was basically a resort straight out from the Maldives.
The place was beyond my league yet it was every inch Luca. I could picture him doing the most ordinary things in this extraordinary place and it somehow fit.
"So, still refusing to stay here?" Luca drawled behind me.
I wiped off my dreamy expression before turning around to meet his annoyingly handsome face. The biggest understatement I've ever made hissed out of my lips. "It will do."
His eyebrow quirked and the corners of his mouth lifted in a roguish smile. "I'm glad my humble abode meets your standards."
I fought back a twitch of a smile. He was so fluent in sarcasm which was my favorite kind of humor and it made it impossible to stay mad at him.
Remembering my luggage still in his hand, I tried to reach for it, feeling bad that I let him carry it all the way here. He swatted my hand away.
Well, I tried.
"So where do I sleep?" I piped, eyeing the archway. "How many rooms are in there?"
Luca began making his way there and I skipped along to match his pace. "Two guest bedrooms and a laundry room on the left, one guest bedroom and a gym on the right-"
We haven't even gone up the stairs and we've already counted three bedrooms. Luca let me get a quick peek at the mentioned areas and I noted how big the guest rooms were. It made me curious to know how grand the master bedroom must be. I stole a glance at Luca, would he let me see the room as well? I mean he had seen mine and slept in it so it was only fair.
I was led up the curved floating staircase to the second floor and my mind was blown again. There was a second living room, three more bedrooms including the master bedroom, Luca's office, a library and a sauna.
My awed gaze met Luca's and I'd never felt unequal to him like I did at the moment. "Which one of these rooms will I be using?"
His eyes clouded over. "That one."
My eyes followed the direction he was pointing to and they widened. "But that's-"
"Yes, bambina. My bedroom." He said dryly before turning away and headed just there.
I swallowed and trailed after him. "Why yours?" I asked even though I was delighted that he wanted me in his space. I noted the distance between the room and the others; too long. I wouldn't be able to sleep a wink knowing he was that far yet still close.
"Because I want you there." He stopped to open the door and the intensity in his grey eyes when it met mine made me inflate with flutters.
He opened the door to a darkly furnished room that was bigger than my former apartment. A king-size bed sat in the middle and to its left was a big window with an overlook of Chicago city. The space was quite airy and I could already tell that I'd be comfortable nesting here.
A blush spread across my face when I glanced at the bed again. Our activities were going to be a whole new level of creative in a bed like that.
Luca left me to unpack, not before leaving me breathless and dazed with a passionate kiss. He had a couple of calls to make and some reports to go through unfortunately and told me to find him in his office if I needed him.
I was done with unpacking in no less than ten minutes. There wasn't much to unpack and used up only two compartments of the huge shelf Luca had cleared out for me in his walk-in closet.
With nothing else to do, I decided to explore the place, noting the endless rows of suits that hung on racks and the various array of ties and expensive watches. It felt surreal to be in the space Luca got dressed. Would I have the honor of witnessing him dress up tomorrow? My nerves tingled with anticipation.
When I've taken in every single corner of the bedroom, I slipped out and toured the rest of the floor. After minutes of aimless wandering, I landed at his office door, indecision taking over my bones as I lost the ability to knock on the door. Although he told me to find him, I didn't want to interrupt whatever serious business he was occupied with. He'd already spent more than half of the day with me, I shouldn't be anymore greedy. I backed away from the door and padded downstairs.
I was coming out from the archway when I heard voices approaching. I froze, apprehension splintering across my belly. Who were they? Luca's men? Or had the men from my old apartment found me here? I went cold with fear. Hide, I needed to hide.
"Look who we have here." A man with reddish brown hair and a wicked gleam in his dark eyes drawled.
His partner also came into view, his own expression the complete opposite. Serious and unsmiling.
I found both to be frightening.
"Who are you?" I demanded, backing away.
"I could ask you the same, sugar." Reddish brown hair said.
The other man said nothing as his unsettling gaze ran over my form, the crease between his forehead tightening even harder. His cold hazel eyes met mine. "You're Cara." He deadpanned.
I wasn't given even a second to affirm because the other guy suddenly cut in, "Who's Cara?"
I might be imagining it but the frowning dude seemed to be glaring at me for some reason. I didn't even know the man.
"The don's stepsister." He responded, the word "stepsister" coming out with a sneer.
I didn't imagine that now, did I?
Reddish brown hair's face pinched with confusion. "The boss has a stepsister?"
"Yes, Santino. The old don has been remarried for months now. Do you ever know anything?" Frowning dude bit out.
Santino, as I've learned, flashed me a roguish smile. He stretched out his hand. "I could kick myself for not knowing a beauty such as yourself had been added to the family."
I took his hand, an awkward chuckle escaping me. "It's fine. I, personally, have to remind myself of the fact everyday else I forget."
Santino's smile grew into a full-blown grin, his perfect teeth on display. He faced frowning dude. "I like her already."
I like him already too.
"I suggest you refrain from repeating that in front of Luca." Frowning dude drawled, spearing me with a knowing stare.
My entire body grew hot with mortification. The man knew, he knew I was just more than a stepsister to Luca. It was why he appeared hostile from the get go.
Where was the window? I think this is the part where I jump to my death.
"Ignore him," Santino said to me. "Being sour is his default setting."
Frowning dude was already heading upstairs, his gait as standoffish as his attitude. I frowned, he hadn't even bothered to introduce himself.
"I gotta go now or Dominic and Luca are going to start the meeting without me." He shook his head. "Assh0les, the both of them."
Dominic, that was the asshole's name. I mused through what Santino had said. To be honest, I did see a similarity between Dominic and Luca when we'd just met. Luca was still very much an assh0le but he was my assh0le and could be a sweetheart when he wanted to. My mind flashed back to earlier when he'd bathed me and washed my hair.
Santino was giving me a curious look and I realized I was straight out daydreaming. I flipped my hair to mask my embarrassment.
"So Santino huh? I can tell that you aren't socially-challenged like them."
A hearty chuckle left him. "Please call me Santi." He began walking past me, his steps slow. "I hope to see you around Cara. We can bond over our tales of being victims of rude assh0les." He winked before disappearing up the stairs.
I grinned, I really liked Santino. He reminded me of Cadain, even though that aura of innocence was lacking. Santino might be a fun guy but I could still peep the darkness behind that mischievous sparkle.
Dominic on the other hand, disliked me for fucking the boss or maybe I was just being paranoid. Whatever the reason was, he was obviously a new addition to Cara's haters club.