Ryan sat in front of me, blowing out circles of smoke from my joint.
"Matteo is the same motherfucker like always."
I chuckled at his remark and looked at Grigori to his right who seemed to agree.

"I didn't expect something less from him, to be honest. How is Lara doing?"

"She looked upset because Teo is pretty overprotective and doesn't let her handle things on her own." I rolled my eyes and stood up, playing with the lighter in my hand.

"At this point, we should be used to his obsessions and how he doesn't hold back to get what he wants."
"Will she text you, Ryan?"
He thinned his lips and folded his hands in front of him.
"Maybe, maybe not. No clue. But don't worry, they will leave tomorrow after visiting the opera in Venice. I'll be there too. Guess with whom."

Grigori laughed and took another sip from his virgin mojito: "Is it going to be who I think it is going to be?"

Ryan hummed. "Leon Cafaro."
Grigori nearly spat his drink and put his hands behind his head, which was easy due to his light blond buzzcut.
"Damnnn, I haven't seen this boy in ages."

My head was already hurting from even remembering his loudness and jokes. "Don't remind me of him, I'm trying to get some sleep tonight," I added and Ryan threw in a new topic.
"Lara accused us, that we followed her into the woods. Bro, Grigo what have you done?"

Followed her into the woods? I squinted my eyes at Grigori, who was puzzled. "You did what?"
I got mad and nervous at the mention of her well-being.

"I didn't do anything! Why are you blaming me for something that is probably set up by Matteo?"

Wait, what if someone from our company secretly set something up? However, does this sound unlikely to me? I can think of someone else who would want to harm her to be fair, and if they decide to take action it might be the end of DAI and EF.

"Let's not blame Matteo for one second. Give me some time to figure it out."
Ryan stared the ground down. "I don't know who it was if not us or EF themselves. Anyways, Lara might text me because I promised to tell her something about Gabriel."

Grigori whistled at the mention of this name and took a cigar from my package. Can't these men bring their ones for one time in their life?

"Yeah, she will most definitely talk to you if you promised her that you knew Gabriel. That's going to be fun."

I snorted and expressed, that I'll go downstairs to my secretary.
"By the way, Boss?", Grigori questioned.
"Yes? I do have a name if you're not fond of that."

He showed his white teeth, which sandwiched the cigar between them.
"Can we book the same stripper from yesterday? She was kinda good."

"If that's your most important problem you can do that, I don't mind. As long as I don't need to pay and you save me a seat later."
He smirked.
"Kinda greedy for a billionaire like yourself."

Matteo rented a boat for the penultimate day in Italy to drive from Palermo to an island called Isola di Ustica. We didn't talk for the whole morning and the moment I saw him standing on the deck, my heart started picking up speed.

Last night my brain was active for more hours than I slept and I hope to get some after this drama with him is over. Yet, I need to solve this problem and communicate my feelings which is the harder part.

Matteo leaned over the board to look at the waves, as we set sail. He looked up the moment I came closer and there was a direct spark in his green eyes, which vanished just as fast as it appeared.

"Hey." I began the conversation and slid my hand over the handrail, nearing him.
This time, I was the one to mess up, and thank God I'm not a stubborn person to not admit my mistakes.

"Morning." He responded with a lower and quieter voice than usual. It doesn't matter how his voice sounds, it will always be like honey. So smooth and delicate, making me want to taste his lips because they taste the same.

"About yesterday-" He cut off my sentence.
"It's okay, I overreacted. I understand that you feel pressured to commit and you shouldn't feel like that. Sorry."

I bit my bottom lip, stopping me from letting out a soft laugh. "Oh, Matteo, you don't need to apologize. I'm the one who needs to feel guilty for being unaware of making you feel like your emotions are not being validated."

He smiled, laying his hand on my back. My stomach twisted and turned at his touch, providing my body with warmth.
"Wasn't this argument completely unnecessary because we already had our first date at ADEGA?"

He raised an eyebrow. "You viewed that as a date?"
"I guess passionately kissing doesn't count as a business meeting, so yes."

"What are you trying to say?"
I grinned.
"I will date you under some conditions."

Matteo began stroking my back up and down. "What are these conditions?"

"First, you have to let me into your life and tell me about your darkest secrets. Not now, after some time. Second, let me have freedom with whom I want to talk to, you can warn me of certain people, nonetheless not forbid me. Lastly, not being so overprotective of me. It makes me feel weak."

I held my pinky out to him and he hesitated.
"Lara, you don't need to pressure yourself with dating, we can keep it casual, really."

"I'm not pressuring myself, Díaz. I am serious. You're no casualty to me and neither am I to you. You're caring so much about me and are so good to me, the best decision to make is to give you a chance."

Matteo's lids lowered, withdrawing his hand.
"Have some sleep, you appear to be fatigued. There is a bedroom behind us, you can find the door to it if you go further and then left."
Not the answer I expected to be sincere.

Unmistakably he's doubtful after my declaration and I don't blame him.
I traipsed to the deck chair and laid down. It was too weary to undress and all I required was to close my eyes for some minutes.

Eventually, I got so caught up in my worries about Carlos and Mom at home, that I laid awake instead of a quick nap. Carlos most likely set the kitchen on fire and didn't tell me about it. What if these DAI people will go for my mother? I won't be able to do anything against it and won't be able to forgive myself if something happens to her.

Suddenly I heard heavy footsteps coming on deck. Matteo. Presently, there was no need to fuss with him, so the best I could do was to act asleep. Díaz is a gentleman and wouldn't dare to wake me up if not necessarily.

He was somewhere extremely close to my body and it might betray my starred sleep.
"Someone fell asleep on the deck chair, while having a whole bedroom to herself, hm?"

His arms slipped under me, hollow of my knee and torso, picking me up in bridal style.

This situation reminds me of when I was younger. Someone would need to carry me out of the car when I was asleep. I used this trick every time and my Dad was always the one to carry me to my room.

Melting isn't possible for humans is certainly erroneous, considering my state right now. My body was set ablaze in flames by his hands on my skin.

What is this feeling? Why did I never feel it before him?

Except Adrián Riviera, but we weren't a couple.

Adrián was able to make me feel loved and cared for, yet, it didn't last long until he disappeared and I saw him never again.

His lips touched mine and for the first time in my 15 years of life, I ascended to heaven. "Adrián, please don't leave me."
He gifted me a gutted smile, conveying his reluctance.
"I really have to leave, Lara. It's nothing personal, I swear. There are some people who are after me and I'd need to hide. One day I'll come and get you, deal?"

The day never came and so did Adrián.

Matteo carried me towards the bedroom and placed me carefully on the bed. The mattress cushioned me and I slightly opened my eyes. He went to the wardrobe and got me a pastel yellow t-shirt of his, in a size I would sink in.

His hands grasped after my shorts before he halted and scanned my face.

"I knew that you were awake for the whole time."
He let go of my shorts and put his t-shirt next to me, "I don't want to undress you while you're napping, it's gross to touch a woman while she's asleep."

I beamed at his words and sat upwards to be closer to him. Matteo is the type of guy, who you can stand in front of naked or in the sexiest lingerie on earth and he still wouldn't lay a single hand on you or watch you with lust, the moment you tell him you don't want him to.

"Let's enter the first stage of getting to know each other. What do you frankly think, expect, and want from me, Matteo?"

He cupped my cheek.
"I believe that you're the most beautiful, charming, smart, good-hearted, honest, and grateful woman to ever set foot on earth. You find a way to see the good in people, who are rotten to the core. I expect not much from you, but your affection and loyalty. I want nothing from you since I'll give it all to you. Among everything you ever wanted from a man, all the stars you see in the night sky, every fortune, love, and happiness on this planet. You can trust me blindly and I'll never let you fall. Just give me your word one day and I'll make you mine and take you to places you've never been to, Cariña."

I blinked the wetness in my eyes away, before pulling him on top of me, holding him with the intent to never let go.
"Matteo...", I sobbed, still actively recalling every word he said.

"Shh, it's fine. Now you probably know, why I felt so urged to get to know you. Tomorrow is our last day in Italy and we should spend it wisely."

What did I even do to make Matteo feel this way about me? You can believe that a person you have known for one or two months has a nice personality, but you can't know what they feel inside. I'm so confused.

"What will we do tomorrow?"
Matteo rolled off me and got up from bed.
"We will visit an opera in Venice with Leon and Valentina."

The last day in Italy.
What will change after we're in San José? Will the contact even continue?