The next day, after talking business with his father all morning and even going to the cellar to oversee things, Leo was tired and in dire need of a change. He needed a change of environment away from white papers and black inks.

As he walked down the corridor on the ground floor of the palazzo, he pulled free his tie from his neck and stuffed it in his pockets. Unbuttoning the first three buttons of his shirt, he sighed as fresh air hit him.

The house was strangely quiet he could hear his own shoes as he walked on the tiles. He presumed most of his family members had gone out, and that was why the house was the way it is. He wondered what Paige was doing. If she had gone out with his family or if she was couped up somewhere alone. He had left early this morning he had not had the chance to see her.

Last night he returned to his makeshift bed and slept, only to leave early this morning because of the business they had.

As he neared their room, a warm feeling settled in the depth of his stomach and anticipation filled him.

He pushed the door open and felt disappointed when he didn't see her there. "Paige?" He called and stepped into the room, checking for her in the balcony, bathroom, and walk-in closet.

Then he came out and walked back on to the silence that first greeted him when he opened the door and sighed.

The air in the room was filled with the scent of her cologne. A derivative of chocolate that made him conjure her up in his mind. Spying the bottle on the dressing table, Leo picked it up and sniffed it. 

Inhaling the sweet scent of chocolate and imagining he was sniffing her neck. Leo dropped the bottle on the table and stared at the spot where he had stood last night and watched over the girl.

Walking over to that place, Leo looked down at the white bed, only now there was no one on it. He sat down and cupped his forehead in a thinking pose.

The charade should have been over by now it's been two weeks. With the act he pulled last night during dinner, he had cemented his position as a good fiance. To his parents and family, he had become responsible, a man who was committed to his relationship and family. On top of that, he was doing alright handling business with his father.

He could go now if he wanted to, but he wanted to spend more time with Paige. Something told him once they leave Italy for the united states she would go back to being the assistant who made his life easy.

She wouldn't dare talk freely to him, or dare go against him. He wanted her the way she was now, gentle, innocent, and feisty when she is challenged. A woman who would dare tell him she didn't need his apologies and then run away from him for reasons only she knows.

Sighing Leo moved to the balcony, taking a copy of La Repubblica he saw on the table there. Probably his father's and found himself a good spot by the wall, placing his leg on the footstool and staring unseeingly at the Italian words written on the paper. His mind lost in his thoughts.

Sometimes Paige made him forget he was rich. With other women he knew in the past he was always on guard. Guarding himself against gold diggers and lots like them.

But with her, he could just forget he was rich, forget he was her boss, and just see himself as a man. 

Seeing he had not read past a line in twenty minutes, Leo dropped the newspaper on the table and conjured up an image of Paige in her dinner gown smiling at him and he smiled back.

He knew he had always fancied his assistant, but he had never let himself lean in that direction. Nor let himself examine what it was. But with the charade and them living together in the same room, whatever barrier he had against her had broken down. Now she can drive all the way straight to the gates of his heart. And there wouldn't be anyone to stop her.

Sighing, Leo stood up from his chair prepared to find Paige when he spotted a black Maybach at top speed moving skillfully on the track road.

It must be his cousin, Alberto always had a thing for fancy cars and speed, Leo thought as he moved close to the edge of the balcony so he could have a better view. Laughing when Alberto made a dramatic turn with the car, bringing it in a circle before it stopped. The engine roaring in the air. 

He had been about to go down and meet his cousin when the passenger door flew open and a laughing Paige ran towards Alberto and hugged him. 

Upstairs, Leo stiffened and his big body grew rigid as he watched Alberto wrap his arms around her and smiled.

He didn't know what to make of what he was seeing, except he could feel his heart being crushed to pieces as envy and jealousy swamped him whole. He was in danger of doing something rash.

Staring at the girl in Alberto's arms Leo felt rather melancholy. He had never known he was such a jealous person until now.

As though sensing something was wrong, Alberto looked up at the balcony and saw Leo. His eyes opened a little in surprise while Leo stared down at him in accusation and a face which had grown dark to resemble the onset of bad rain.

Alberto frowned and put his hand around Paige's neck and steered her towards the back of the car.

It was just a hug, so why did he feel hurt, and why did he feel like he had been cheated on. 

Running an agitated hand over his hair, Leo turned towards the exit.

When he reached downstairs, he stared at the two people who were yet to notice him. Wanting badly to clear his throat at them, but that would reveal the jealousy slipping in his veins.

Not wanting them to discover this little information. He walked casually towards them even though his heart was boiling like hot water.

But even after all that the first thing he did when he reached them was to grab her hand and separate them, that action was so telling she turned to him and he dropped her hand like hot coal turning his head in the other direction partly to hide his expression from her. "Paige, where have you been I have been looking for you." 

He had intended for that word to be gentle, but because of how embarrassed he was and how he was trying to cover it up. His voice came out harsh.

She stared at Alberto and then at him and scratched her head. "Eh Alberto took me on a tour around the house."

"He did?" Leo's eyes strayed to the man in question. And Alberto raised his brows.

"Got a problem with that?"

"I never said that." Leo tossed back smoothly. Oh, he got a problem with it, but he just won't be saying that to Alberto.

Ever since he made Alberto leave the dining. The younger man had taken a deep interest in Paige. Leo didn't blame anyone but himself. He shouldn't have made himself so obvious. But the woman incited feelings in him. Feelings that warmed his heart and made her presence as important as it is electrifying. Making him want to be in her company, even if it was to sit down quietly beside her and do nothing. That feeling was beyond him, as he was not much used to it. It was a feeling of contentment far beyond anything he ever knew.

Ignoring Alberto, Leo turned to Paige "Have you been to the vineyard yet." And moved forward wanting to block her view of Alberto whose expression she was watching and who in turn was watching his.

"Not yet, Alberto and I were going to...."

"Then let's go there." He grabbed her wrist and started walking.

Because of the spontaneity of the action and Because Paige hadn't been expecting that force she launched forward after him, a gasp escaping her lips. "Boss..."

Leo paused irritated. "Do not call me boss, call me by my name. I have one," He snapped.

She grew silent and stared at their joined hands and then up at him. He could tell that because he had turned his head to look at her at that instant and their eyes met. He held her gaze, running his eyes all over her face. "Well, weren't you going to say something?"

It could be said his gaze was unnervingly direct and at one point had even lingered wistfully on her lips.

Paige opened her mouth and closed. Seeming to be breathing heavily. "You are hurting my wrist," she said in a small voice.

Leo looked down and saw he was holding her in a death grip and released his hand immediately.

Seeing the mark on her skin, he felt guilty 

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, you didn't know." She smiled at him and his heart grew warm.

The urge to gather her into his arms was strong, so he stuffed his hands into his pockets. He could sense Alberto watching him, and he knew the younger man could sense he had been jealous.

For a fleeting second, Leo let his eyes stray from Paige to Alberto. Who was leaning on the Maybach they had just come down from watching everything with calm eyes and looking at him with amusement etched across his face. Leo's face contorted.

"Come let's go he put his hand on the small of her back." Steering her away.

"Where are we going?"

"To the vineyard."

Paige turned her head to stare at the man with whom she had just come back with. "Is Alberto coming with us?"

Alberto? Did he hear right? Why the hell will Alberto come with them. Leo paused and turned her around, holding her on the shoulder. When his eyes landed on her face he said, "Is that all you care about? Alberto." She started to shake her head but he cut her off with his next word. "Is it that you can't leave Alberto or you don't want to come with me?"

"Of course I want to come with you," She said a little too passionately that caused Leo's eyes to sparkle as he stared at her. 

He smiled at her and patted her head. "Good, then Alberto will remain where he is." As he said this, he turned to where Alberto was standing and gave him a fleeting stare, his eyes narrowing in a way that gave him a fierce look.

What exactly did Alberto do for her that made Paige hug him of her own free will?