Chapter 20 XX.
I stood there outside Alessandro's room for a good ten seconds, not knowing how to knock. I feared that I may have overstepped boundaries by coming right to his room to talk things out with him, but I was already here, and there's no going back.
With a sigh to encourage myself, I knocked on the door. Alessandro's booming voice called out. "Come in."
I gulped down my nerves and slowly pushed open the door. I stepped into the room, looking around at how luxurious and dark everything looked. There was not a single colour in this room. It was all black and grey.
The sight of the bed made me blush because I remembered clearly the activities I saw Alessandro carrying out on that same bed some time ago. The memory was already engraved in my head, and it would take a lot to forget about it.
I looked around again, searching for Alessandro, and as if on cue, Alessandro waltz in from where I assumed was his closet with only a white towel tied around his waist and some clothes in his hands.
My eyes widened, and I felt the pulse in my body vibrating at the magnificent sight before me.
Alessandro has a hot body; we all know that. But a hard muscular body, covered with beautiful tattoos and dripping wet with water was another hotness on its own.
I was on fire just by staring at him. My cheeks were probably stained pink, and I was finding it difficult to breathe.
My traitorous eyes trail down to his lower body, and I feel my legs shaking like they were about to give up. I am supposed to not think about whatever was underneath that towel, but I found myself growing hot and excited about this.
Common Rowan, control yourself! You came here to talk to Alessandro, nothing else. Stop being a weirdo.
My eyes returned to Alessandro's face only to find that he was smirking at me. Why the hell is he smirking? It only makes me more flustered and embarrassed.
"Do you like what you see?" Alessandro asked in a teasing voice, and the tone he used sent a shock wave all over my body.
He's not helping my situation at all.
I cleared my throat with the intention of hiding a blush. I didn't come here for this. I really should say what I have to say and get the hell out of here before I combost.
"Well, I... I came here to apologize, Alessandro." I said quickly, trying hard to focus on his face and not his slightly hairy broad chest that's still glittering with water. "What I did at the restaurant today was out of line."
He stared at me for a while, and it left me curious about what he was thinking, but then he sighed and began putting on his shirt. I tried not to look disappointed.
After he was done, he sat on the edge of his bed and patted the other side for me to come sit.
I blushed hard but did as told. Something about that gesture made my tongue run dry.
After I sat beside him, with a reasonable distance away from each other, of course. Alessandro remained silent for a second before speaking. "Im sorry too, Rowan. I shouldn't have burst out on you like that. It's the way of business, and I understand, but I can't help but think that we shouldn't let go of our morals for money."
He was right, but training under Mr Ricci has taught me that no matter what happens, business comes first before anything else. I've forgotten what morals and integrity are as long as I get what I want.
Alessandro was right to say all that about me, but I'm not going to tell him that. "I understand your side, and I'm sorry about that. I know morals are important, but to be a businessman, you have to be cruel, selfish, and inconsiderate."
He raised a brow at me. "Well, are you like that, Rowan Brooks?"
I looked away from him in slight guilt. I've never really done anything cruel. I'm a businessman, but I've never been put in that kind of situation. I don't even know if I would have given in to Mr Jackson's demand and given Tina to him. But of course, Tina is a human, and she can make her own decision. What right do I have to give her to a person when she's not a goods or property?
"You already think I am like that Alessandro. What use is defending myself?"
Alessandro cleared his throat. "For what it's worth, I don't think you're like that Rowan. Those words I said to you at the restaurant were said out of anger. The short time I've spent with you made me realize that you're actually a good person." He rubbed his neck nervously. "I guess I yelled out my anger because I wanted to hide my guilt."
"What guilt? You did nothing wrong." I told him in confusion. If anything, I should be the one feeling guilty.
He looked me straight in the eyes. Forest green eyes warm and heavy with emotions. "I punched you in the face, Rowan. Even though it was an accident, I still beat myself up for hurting you in that manner." His hand lifted and gently held my bruised jaw. It had already been treated, and it didn't hurt that much. But when Alessandro held me so delicately like I was a glass bottle, he was afraid to break, I felt my heart pick up beat.
Alessandro started to lean in. I could feel the blood flowing in my veins and warming every part of my body. I swallowed hard as Alessandro's faced leaned closer. The sound of my heartbeat was so loud. I could swear it was echoing all over the room.
I should move. I should do something to stop him from kissing me. He's my girlfriend's twin brother. Even though I have no intention of marrying the girl in question, she's still my girlfriend, and this would be cheating. It's not fair to her.
Even after this monologue, my body refused to move away from Alessandro, and my lips prepared to welcome his.
Just when his lips almost met mine, the doors burst open. "Sir, your grandfather asked..."
I jumped away from Alessandro like he just threatened to set me on fire. Perhaps he did, because right now, I can't breathe properly.
My heart pounded in ardeline at the fact that I was almost caught kissing my girlfriend's brother.
How sick can this get? What the hell is wrong with me anyway?
"Rowan, I didn't know you were here." Anna said, looking between me and Alessandro in confusion.
"Oh well, I... I..." I scratched the back of my head like it would magically help me form some kind of lie. "I... I was just about to leave."
I looked at Alessandro. He was looking back at me with a look I can't decipher. It almost seems like disappointment.
Wait. Am I seeing things now?
I mentally laughed at myself. Why the hell would Alessandro be disappointed because he didn't get to kiss me? I pushed the thoughts out of my head and literally ran out of the room.
This shit is getting out of hand. I have to do what I must and call off my engagement with Alessandra before doing something I would surely end up regretting.