Page 31 of Anastasia

“What happened?” I asked,needingto know more about him

He let out a loud sigh, his eyes going blank as if he were thinking about a distant memory. Just when I thought he was going to share a piece of his heart that he kept locked away, he shook his head and gazed out in the distance. “Doesn’t matter. I was young when I realized that happiness only belonged in fairytales.”

“I guess so,” I whispered, disappointed, allowing my hand to fall from his grasp.He was never going to open up to me..

He cleared his throat. “I will be gone for a few weeks. I wanted to stop by and let you know. See you soon, Bambolina.”

“See you soon.” I smiled even though my heart called for him to stay.

Anastasia

Stepping out of the shower, I let a small smile melt onto my face. Two weeks blew away from me, but I was glad for the time I spent to try and evolve emotionally. Not a day went by without me thinking of Alexandria, but I did my best to begin the process of healing.

Even her doctor, Jacob Flores, managed to help me in a way. We had gotten closer, and I was grateful to have him as a friend. He would listen to me talk for hours, and he always offered the best advice. Jacob was such an amazing man, and I was glad he was in my life.

Not only that, but my mother was finally getting better. She was in rehab and had been writing to me every day. The mother I grew up with was returning to me, and I only wished Alex could see it.

I finished curling the last few strands of my hair before I collided with something hard.

“Bambolina,” Valentino said.

My widened eyes went up to meet him in shock. I don’t think I expected him to return so soon.

I was only wearing a towel, and his presence made me cling onto it tighter. It would take only one tug for me to be completely bare, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted that.

Out of nowhere, his lips came down to meet mine. Butterflies fluttered around in my stomach, begging me to pull him closer, but I couldn’t. I didn’t even get to say two words before he was prancing on me like some booty call. I tried to break away, but that didn’t stop his lips from wandering down my neck.

My gaze strayed in front of me as a loud sigh fell from my lips. Everything was always so sexual with him, and I was tired of it. Pushing him away, I strolled out of the restroom, entering my room, where I turned around and put on a pair of panties without taking off the towel. The sound of Valentino’s footsteps didn’t go unnoticed, but I simply ignored him.

“I just got back, and this is how you treat me?” he teased.

I continued to ignore him as I took off my towel with my back facing him. I quickly put on a white crop top before sliding on a pair of blue jean shorts.

He walked up to me and grabbed my hips from behind before pulling me against his own. I couldn’t stop myself from rolling my eyes when his lips connected with my neck.

“Why are you getting dressed?” he questioned. He reached to my front, where he started to undo my shorts. His lips moved up from my neck to my jawline.

“Mr. Romano?”

“Valentino,” he corrected, annoyed.

I knew he wanted me to call him by his name, but calling him by his professional name was the only thing that made sense. It helped remind me that it was all our relationship would ever be—professional. It shouldn’t be anymore than that.

“I have to go,” I muttered.

“Where? Another date with that doctor?” he asked.

I turned around to face him with narrowed eyes. There was absolutely no emotion on his face and it killed me. I could never comprehend how he could seem so emotionless.

“Are you stalking me now?” I questioned.

He didn’t say anything, leaving me to scoff and push right past him. No more words were exchanged as I opened my door and headed out. I made sure to slam the door shut behind me as I strolled down the hallway.

It had been two weeks since I last heard from him, and I couldn’t understand why he thought it was okay to greet me in such a sexual way. I wasn’t some prostitute who served him for living in his home. I especially didn’t want to be viewed as such by him.

I made it to the kitchen, where Sarah was talking to a raven-haired girl. From the back of her, she kind of looked like Alex. It caused me to fall into a deep state of confusion. I just stared at her, hoping I wasn’t seeing something that wasn’t there.

“Anastasia,” Sarah greeted behind a small smile.

---