"He was about to take her picture. He said... one... two... I love you... and her smile had never been more beautiful."
~~~~~~~~~~
After a week..
7:30 AM Rome
The sudden ringing of the phone jolted Celia awake from the sleep she had fought so hard to get.
If there were a list of things Celia hated in this life, this nuisance would be in the top ten.
With her sleepy eyes, which she struggled to open, she reached for the phone.
She saw the caller ID.
Who else would she have expected?
" Bianca: Seriously, when are you going to get out of my life? "
"Shut up, Celia! I couldn't wait any longer. There's something very important we need to talk about."
" Let me sleep, we'll talk later. "
Celia said as she fell back into bed until she heard:
"It's about Rodolfo."
Only then. Celia opened her eyes and sat up in bed, fully alert.
"What about him ? Tell me!!"
"We'll meet at nine o'clock, at our usual restaurant. I have a class in Bali; I'll come after it's over."
(Then she ended the call.)
Celia nervously bit her lower lip. Bianca doesn't joke about things like this.
"What could it be?"
She got up and took a warm bath to calm her nerves and get ready to go out, because today was a after all.
...
Two hours later at a downtown
restaurant...
"Celia, focus and tell me exactly what happened at Lord de Cavalli's party."
"The Party? What part of it?"
"Did you talk to Rodolfo when I was with Marsilio?"
"Oh,.. a.. actually,"
" Celia. Damn it.."
" yes I did. I was in disguise so I felt comfortable."
" What you two talked about".
"nothing. We just discussed one of the paintings that caught our both attention.".." Why?"
" because he's looking at you like a madman"..
Bianca said seriously with a mixture of fear and nervousness.
"What!! about me?, What do you mean?"
" He asked for a list of the French people who had been invited to the party and asked the lord personally. About you, but he didn't recognize you, but I didn't understand why he thought you were French".
Celia felt a tremor throughout her body when she remembered that night, and with horror she was struggling to hide, she said:
" I spoke some French to mislead him.."
" well someone told him that he saw you with us, so they asked us about you".
Celia's eyes widened..
"what did you answer?"
" I told my father to tell him that you are just a friend who I hung out with at the party, but I don't know anything about you. "
She said this Simultaneously, Celia's breathing quickened..
"Celia.. calm down.. calm down. Okay, breathe.."
Bianca said she was worried about having an asthma attack.
Celia quickly took out her asthma inhaler, trying to breathe until she calmed down completely.
Then she said,
"Maybe because... I saw something I shouldn't have seen."
Bianca furrowed her eyebrows, waiting for more clarification.
"I saw something related to his mafia business.. Maybe I should go and tell him it's me, otherwise he'll suspect that I'm a spy or something like that."
Bianca sighed and bit the inside of her cheek in thought.
"I don't know Celia.."
but suddenly Celia's features changed and she smiled sideways.
Bianca looked at her suspiciously.
" I think I've found a way to find out"
" what is it?" Bianca said expectantly,
" reappearing in his face."
" What!!! "Bianca shouted at her in shock,
"You must joking Celia."
I'll play with him a little...to prove to you that medical students aren't as boring as you describe them."
Bianca said nervously.
"I retract my words. You don't have to prove anything."
Celia laughed. "What?" Did we exchange Roles"
" Celia, Damn, this is serious"
"Just a little game.. Calm down .."
Celia said with a tone of enjoyment and a mischievous glint in her eyes
.....
Grand Palais -Paris-
"The show's starting! "
Rasina said excitedly, watching the Chanel fashion show, her favorite brand.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, as if she were doing the best thing in her life.
however, Alfredo was staring at her instead of the clothes, which weren't even the last on his list of Interests.
He'd never cared about fashion or style; he wore whatever he liked, however he liked.
But here he was today, after traveling from Italy to France, sitting in the front row watching dresses at Paris Fashion Week.
It was truly laughable..
but seeing Rasina's gaze and her excitement made him want to do it a hundred more times.
Rasina sat with undeniable elegance and femininity, wearing a white dress adorned with gold buttons—Channel, of course.
Her long blonde hair, perfectly matching her eye color, flowed in captivating waves.
He wasn't exaggerating when he said she radiated from the audience.
It took his breath away.
"Alfredo, look! It's the same dress as mine. I bought it before it was even released."
He smiled as he looked at the dress on the model, then whispered to her Her ear...
" it looks captivating only because you're the one wearing it."
She laughed softly and felt butterflies in her stomach...
Yes, she's here today with Alfredo only because she said in passing that if he really likes to go off-the-beaten-path on dates, he should take her to Paris Fashion Week, not to a grocery store.
Although she's embarrassed to admit to herself that she really enjoyed that day with him, but at the same time she didn't expect him to take it so seriously and buy the first two tickets to Paris...
This is crazy!!
this man is frighteningly flattering her pride and vanit.
.
.
.
After three months..
Larsen Company
Spring had finally arrived, bringing with it its gentle breeze and vibrant colors..
transforming Rome into a bride adorned with every kind of rose.
The scenery was soothing and filled the heart with beauty.
The aroma of Italian coffee permeated the streets,creating a breathtaking blend with the scent of roses.
Celia was enjoying all this beauty on her way to work, her appearance as impeccable as ever in a fitted pink suit, perfectly suited to her favorite season.
Her ponytail had grown so long that she had to trim some of the ends before becoming Rapunzel.
With her light pink makeup, she embodied spring itself.
She entered the company on time, greeting everyone she encountered. Some employees smiled at her, while others returned the greeting enthusiastically.
Yes, things had changed drastically, and Celia's influence on the company was becoming increasingly evident.
She had become the heart and soul of the company, a source of positive energy.
Rodolfo watched all of this on the security cameras with feelings he couldn't quite understand—a mixture of surprise and unease.
He had never expected this from his employees..
he was beginning to sense the dark aura that... The company was surrounded by، had disappeared...
The sound of a knock on the door brought him out of his trance.
" Yes... "
Celia entered.
" Good morning, Mr. Larsen. I brought you a list of your tasks today. You have an important meeting in half an hour online with an American businessman who wants to announce a new car group and photograph it here in Rome."
" Hmm, okay. "
He said that as he kept his eyes on his computer, avoiding eye contact with her.
At the same time, he was resting his head in his hand as if he was... tired.
This certainly would not be hidden from Celia, as her medical personality quickly woke up.
" Are you okay, Mr. Larsen?"
" Yes, I think I'm a little tired today."
" I can postpone the meeting."
" No, it's okay."
She nodded and left.
Only then he raise his head from his computer, smelling the scent of her perfume that filled his office in just seconds.
Minutes later, she came back again carrying an espresso in her hand.
She entered feeling a little embarrassed..
"Mr larsen.. I thought you needed this.."
Rodolfo looked at her in surprise, raising his eyebrow.
"Did you prepare it yourself ? "
" yes.."
" I thought cooking was not your interest and you didn't know how to make espresso",
he said with a raised eyebrow and a provocative tone.
Celia closed her eyes at the situation she had put herself in. She was truly stupid, remembering what she had said to him that time.
"Hedoes not forget , for God's sake," saying to herself
She bit her lip angrily. This creature never failed to spoil her mood.
"Well, it seems you don't want it. I'll take it instead of you."
She turned to go, but he got up from his desk and approached her.
" Hey,Stop I want it. I changed my mind"
she passed it to him with a terse face, and he took it with a glint of amusement in his eyes.
His proximity caused her a lack of oxygen.
She did not know why this always happened to her when he approached her, so she decided to run away quickly.
She was about to leave until she heard him say...
"Thank you, Miss Malfredi."
She closed the door and returned to her office, a wave of raging emotions sweeping over her...
but she hurried looking for her asthma inhaler.
Damn it. Where is it!!
She leaned on her desk as she She was breathing violently, holding her chest..
until a man entered from where she did not know, surprised,
" Miss, are you okay? "
She quickly pointed to her bag after spotting it in the corner of the room.
He quickly brought it to her and she took out her inhaler while trying to breathe again, and that man was trying to help her until she finally calmed down...
" Miss, are you okay?"
" Yes, much better, thank you. "
She said, sighing with relief again
"What did you come to do in my office?"
Alfredo was staring at her with a look that she did not understand.
"Mr..."
Alfredo came out of his trance.
" Sorry, you reminded me of someone."
" Well, I asked you what you were doing in my office. "
He replied embarrassedly,
"Sorry, I didn't know it was yours, because it was mine one day. Are you a new employee here?"
"Yes, I work as an assistant to the director."
He shook her hand.
"It was an honor to meet you. I will go so as not to interrupt your work.."
Before he left, Celia stopped him..
" Please.. Don't tell anyone about what happened to me a little while ago."
Alfredo was surprised by her request, then nodded,
"Be reassured, miss." and left.
Celia sat in her office again, sighing with relief.
This man... seemed very familiar to her...
but now she must establish boundaries between her and Rodolfo so that this does not happen to her again.
She does not know why, but his closeness hurts her.
so she must be careful...
.
.
.
.
......
༺༽End of chapter ༼༻
Alfredo my gentleman 🫠
What is Celia planning to do with the mysterious woman?
Lots of excitement are coming ..