Scott McBaran's POV
I was looking at the blue sky of the city that has been my home for the last few months as I was handling my company's technology and cybersecurity that came from here, most of them. I was happy to know that I was back here but I don't know why Karla was sighted here.
And it did not sit well with me when I know that Italian men can be forward with a beautiful woman like my Karla.
I gripped my hands into a fist after I was walking out of the airport. I did not take my private plane when I was experiencing the normal living of my job. I was not the CEO of McBaran's Tech but only an IT department guy.
I was walking down the streets before I was hailing for a cab. I was walking toward the cab before I was hitting someone that I did not see her there.
"I am so sorry," I said in Italian before I was helping her up. She was smiling at me as her grey orbs were looking into my soul.
And I don't think it moved unless it was green orbs. Now that was another story.
"Scusi," she said before she was dusting her outfit. By the looks of it, she was in her early twenties. I have to go but she was smiling at me.
"This happens all the time. I was such a klutz," she said in Italian as I was smiling at her.
"No harm is done. Are you alright?"
"Yes, I am. I am so sorry for running into you. I just can hardly wait to see my niece and nephew, there they come. Excuse me," she said as she was walking toward a couple. The man was silver-eyed and the woman has the most uncanny violet eyes and they were holding two children in their hands.
One boy, one girl.
I smiled when the woman that was hitting me earlier was greeting them. I was looking for the cab again before it was empty. I sighed as I went inside the cab and I was smiling at the driver.
"To Giovanni's Hotel please," I said before he nodded and we're off to the hotel. I was looking at the city as the cab was moving along the streets. The busy street and the hustle and bustle of the city. I was happy to be in this hectic world again before I sighed.
I was looking at the impending hotel that was in front of me. I was smiling before I paid the cab driver and we were parting ways as I was rolling my luggage and I was inside the lobby.
I was smiling at the receptionist before he was giving me my keys to my suite. I was a permanent resident in this hotel so they all know who I was.
An IT guy that can afford a hotel suite.
I was smiling when I was punching the button of the elevator before it was coming down right now. It was not busy and crowded and when I was looking at the elevator when it opened, I was greeted with the greenest eyes ever seen.
I was frozen to the spot before the elevator was opening in slow motion. The woman was looking straight ahead as I was taking in her appearance in a matter of seconds.
Sunset hair.
High cheekbones.
Straight nose.
Kissable mouth.
I was still looking at her before she was walking past me. I was taking a whiff of her perfume as it was alluring as she was.
Honeysuckle, now that's my new favorite.
I was opening my eyes again before I was turning to look at the woman that was walking in Louis Vuitton high heels before she was putting on her sunglasses and she was walking down the street before getting inside her car.
It was a Lamborghini before I smirked at her style.
So, she's high maintenance. No matter, I can afford her.
I was walking inside the elevator before I was punching my floor as the elevator was closing again. I was looking at my reflection before I was thinking of that woman.
Now, who could she be?
Karla Kuznetsov's POV
Just kill me already, I thought as I was sighing when I was reading the menu. I was in a 5-star restaurant as I was looking at my target in front of me right now. I was supposed to get some information from him but this pervert was grazing his foot along with my calves.
I think I might punch him later when I was done with him.
I closed the menu before I was blinking a few times at him as I put the menu down. He did that as well.
"So, Mr. Rossi,"
"Please, you can call me Emilio," he said with a charm. I cannot think why he was being a pervert right now. I mean, he was a successful billionaire and all. So why would he want to have the attention of a Russian escort?
"I don't think that this was working out. I think I want to tell you that I will be leaving the country later on," he said as he was looking at his hands on the table. I arched my eyebrows at him as I was listening to his confession.
Am I hearing this right?
I blinked a few times before I was chuckling at him. I was leaning forward before I was looking at him.
"And why is that, Emilio?" I asked as I was putting my chin in my hand as my elbow was on the table. Emilio sighed before he turned to look at me.
"Don't get me wrong. You're pretty and all but I don't feel…the sparks that keep this alive. I know that I paid you to go out with me and all and I think that was just was a waste of time. Both of our times," he said as I was looking at him. I nodded at him.
"I agree," I said before Emilio was looking at me. He blinked.
"You do?"
"Yes, I think you are a wonderful person, Emilio. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. I'm sure out there, there will be someone that will see you for who you are and I know I did. So I wish you a good future ahead then," I said as I was raising my Chianti before he was clicking his glass with me.
"To our future then, apart from each other," he said as I was smirking.
"Indeed," I said as I was sipping on the champagne before we were eating the food that just arrived. I was smiling for the first time as I was trying to get the best of him of any information that will be useful for me.
"So, what will the conference be for tomorrow?" I asked Emilio as he was dabbing his mouth. He smiled before he was looking at me as he was sipping on his wine.
"I don't think that you would be interested in the business conference, Karina. It would be boring as hell," he said as I was smiling at him.
"So, you think I cannot handle it, is that what you think?" I asked him before he was chocking on his drink. I smirked before I was putting the meat into my mouth as I was munching it slowly.
As ladylike I can.
I was tired of being this perfect lady when all I wanted to do was boxing, kicking someone's butt, and just do stuff that will make me feel alive.
Like inflicting pain to the criminal and punching someone.
"NO, that's not what I meant,"
"But you imply it to me. So I think you were talking that women such as myself cannot do anything boring and dry. You think that we should be stuck in the kitchen and do the traditional things that we were taught to do," I said as I was looking at him before I was dabbing my mouth.
Emilio was staring at me before I smiled. I sipped on my wine as I was clearing my throat before I was looking around the restaurant. There was nothing suspicious, well, as if I was not in this room to find the target.
And get some info from this man right now.
"Karina—"
"No, no. It's fine. I understand. You're in your world, and I will be in mine. Everybody wins," I said before I was looking at the person that was coming inside the restaurant. The arms dealer that I was waiting for.
John Pravin.
He was a convicted criminal that The Femme Fatale organization failed to get him in. I was on the task now as the organization was disbanded and it's up to the International community to come together and take him out.
And I was the chosen one. Lucky me.
I was looking at Emilio before John was entering with his wife. I was gripping my hand into a fist before Emilio was talking to me.
"Sorry?" I asked him as I was not listening to his question. He laughed before he was looking at me.
"Don't you have any other man in your life? Why are you doing this job?" He asked me as I was looking at John. He was smiling at his wife and my heart tugged at the sight.
No, he's a criminal. He will not be a good man later.
I was looking at the couple before Emilio was clearing his throat. I turned to look at him before I was smiling.
"It seems that you are preoccupied with stuff. Is it a man, I wonder?" Emilio said before I was smiling at him. I was unaware that he was moving his feet up from my calves onto my thighs now.
Okay, that's it. I'm out of here.
"I'm sorry but I think I have to go. My father was sick when I left him earlier. I need to get to him now," I said as I stood up abruptly before I saw that Emilio was almost fall off from his chair before he recovered it well.
I think I might kill this man right now for being a pervert but we were nothing right now. So I might get away from him as soon as I can.
"Please, I was joking. Can I buy you a drink later?" He asked before I was shaking my head. I have to get out of here as we were attracting attention.
"Thanks for the offer but no—"
"Come on, it is Friday night. The night was still young," he said before I was trying to control my anger before I was being pulled into a hard chest behind me. I smelled an expensive cologne that was hitting my nose.
Giorgio Armani.
I turned to look at my savior before I was looking into the garnet eyes as he was looking into my eyes. We were standing there as if the time stood still before he moved his hand and we were in the moment again.
"I'm sorry, but this lady will be with me now," the stranger said before he smirked at Emilio.
"No, she was mine—"
"And did I heard that you were breaking up with her? So, she's single and I will be taking your place now," he said before he turned to look at me. I blinked at him. What was going on?!
"You don't even know each other's name," Emilio hissed at us before the stranger smiled.
"Silly me. Where are my manners? The name's Scott. And you are, honey?" He said as if the endearment was something that came naturally to him.
"Karina,"
"Karina, it suits you, honey," Scott said before he turned to Emilio. "There. We are not strangers now. So, if you excuse me, we have dinner to catch," he said as he was steadying me before we were walking away from Emilio.
"But we just ate,"
"At this place? Not a chance for my date," Scott said before we were out of the restaurant and I don't even know if I should trust the guy.
"Look, mister, if you're looking for someone to be your plaything, I am not interested—"
"You talk too much," Scott said before he pulled me in and he did something that I never did with anyone.
Except for Alan.
He kissed me for the first time after I disappeared from the grid.