Faith POV
There was a banging sensation inside my head. It felt like I have been hit by a truck and my head was about to explode any minute now. Making some weird noises like a dead animal I opened my eyes painfully as I tried to take in my surrounding. The room was dark with everything in it and the only source of light was a big window which was partially covered with curtains.
"what the..." I grunted; my voice was painfully hoarse.
The realization hit me like a thousand volts of electricity. I tried to remember last night's events but everything came in blurred visions. The last thing I remembered was dancing with some guy and after that my memory is almost blank.
"oh god!! No, please no. Don't tell me I slept with some random guy the only time I went out. How more stupid I can be now." looking down at myself, I was just wearing a black shirt and NOTHING INSIDE. Removing the cover from my body, I squinted my eyes to look clearly around the room. The feel this room was giving me was dark and something ominous making me shudder even thinking about it. Most of the things were black in color and not even a single picture or frame of any person or family was present. This was definitely a man's room, but I pray not.
Trying to gather my emotions and compose my panicked state, I walked out of the room heavy-footed. Not knowing where to go, I keep walking where the long hallway took me. Some noises can be heard in the distance making me aware that I wasn't alone.
of course, how can I be alone; this is not my house or should I say penthouse.
Beads of sweat already formed on my forehead as I reached the stairs across the hallways. Voices were more prominent now. At least three people were talking or should I say shouting at each other in some other language. I guess it was Italian as I have heard my father and even Keith spoke in such a way.
Though my father is Italian, I never got the chance to learn it. My mama, Andrea Rose Martinez was half Italian-half Bulgarian and I was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. So, the only languages I know are English and Bulgarian. I just wish I had learned Italian from mama.
Shaking mama's thoughts away, I stealthily moved down the stairs. Just when I thought I was successful in hiding and can eavesdrop on their conversation even though I didn't understand a single word, I stumbled upon the last stair and face planted on the floor with a loud thud.
There was a pin drop silence. I didn't even dare to make any noise even though I was in pain from falling
The voices that were before all came to stop and I was way too embarrassed to even lookup. But I have to.
Collecting all my imaginary courage, I slowly look up only to see what I can never expect in this lifetime. There he stood tall, looking like a devil from hell in a white fitted shirt with three buttons open and black slacks. Jaws clenched looking way too furious for my liking.
Wait! This is not the time to ogle at my future boss who was looking down at me with so much anger in his eyes. I looked behind him to find two strangers looking at me with amusement and pity? Why would they pity me?
Just when I open my mouth to speak, Mr. Del Rossi spoke to the other two strangers. His eyes still focused on me.
"both of you now, GET OUT" his voice was cold and emotionless, making me shiver out of fear.
Without even uttering a single word they give one last glance to me and walked out of the main hall where I was still lying on the cold floor, unable to move even a single finger under his hypnotizing yet terrifying gaze at the same time.
Collecting one last ounce of my non-existence confidence I spoke.
"M-Mr. Rossi I-I.." and with this every molecule of my confidence wiped out when I looked into his captivating green eyes. Stuttering was something I didn't even know I can do before I met this man.
"Do you have any DAMN FUCKING SENSE how you are dressed up before coming down in front of my men" he snapped at me, his eyes getting darker as it ran through my body looking at me like a prey.
"I-I..wh-what I am doing here Mr. Rossi?" my voice came out meek, opposite of what I am trying to be. I stood up awkwardly under his steel gaze feeling extremely uncomfortable and naked. Practically, I was almost naked, and to make things more awkward my whole face started to heat up, sure now making it like a red tomato.
Not even giving me a second to stand properly, he stalked towards me making me stumble backward as I hit my back to a wall. Mr. Rossi was way too close to my liking, his minty breath fanning over my face as I tried to act normal.
Thousand's thoughts were going through my mind like what I am doing here, what happened last night, where are my friends but not a single thing came out of my mouth. And the way my body reacts to his closeness was something I have never experienced in this life. My heart was pounding so loud that I am sure he can hear it and that tingly sensation down there was something familiar to what I felt when I had that dream of a man just before the interview.
I shifted my face sidewards to distract myself from feeling weird things but I think that made Mr. Rossi even more furious. Both of his hands were on each side of my head, blocking any chance of my escape.
Now I do know self-defense and how to use a gun. After what happened with me and my mama, my dad doesn't want me to leave helpless if something does happen, after all, we can never be sure of the future. Even after everything I have been through in the past, I don't think I can even hurt a fly, and judging by the built and the powerful aura of the man in front of me I can barely move his fingers.
My thighs were clenched together and my hands unintentionally went down to the hem of the shirt, pulling down the shirt out of nervousness and sheer fear. This reaction didn't go unnoticed by him, and by the look on his face, I think he really enjoys people fearing him just by his one gaze.
It's even getting hard for me to know what's going on with my mind and body. As if both of them were in a tug of war. My mind tells me to run far away as if something is not right but my body wants to burn under his single touch. All these emotions are too much to handle for me.
"Were you planning to seduce my men Ms. Martinez coming downstairs barely in any cloth? You should have waited upstairs in that room." there were hardly any emotions on his face and voice which make it difficult to predict what he thinks.
But why I am all worked up for this man now. Sure, he is my boss now but I need my answers. Ugh, what is happening to me.
"Mr. Rossi I when I woke up, I was in some unknown place only in a man shirt with hardly any memories of the previous night. Did some-something happen between us last night?" the last part was barely above a whisper but he sure heard it and the way he started laughing was something I was never expected. It was a laugh that can give you shudders from miles away.
"Ms. Martinez do you know facts before assuming such rubbish things on your own. I'm sure you know how women wrongly accuse men of the higher status for wealth and power and yet here you are assuming things even before knowing what actually happened. I must say I'm disappointed in you." with a sigh he backed off from me with so much disappointment on his face. How can a person show such emotion when he was just like a cold stone mere seconds ago.
Was I too harsh on judging him? I'm sure he was just looking out for his reputation when I came down suddenly in front of them in hardly any clothing. I must have embarrassed him before his friends and on top of that, I have assumed things before even knowing the truth.
Oh god! What he must be thinking of me now.
"I-I am so-sorry Mr. Rossi. I don't mean to assume or rather accuse you of something. This is not what I meant. I mean I-I don't actually remember what happened last night and then all of a sudden, I was here in your house. I-I just panicked." not knowing what to say further, I started nibbling my lower lips out of habit.
I was looking at the floor which seems to be way more interesting than being embarrassed in front of my boss when a jolt of warmth spread across my body. His thumb was tracing my lower lips setting it free from the torture I have been putting it through. This sudden action left my body in a state of shock once again. His eyes were focused on my lips as he traces every bit of it with his thumb.
"Who told you that you can torture what's mine, hmm?" it was hard to concentrate on what he was saying but just the tone of his voice was enough to make my knees wobble, making it hard to stand at such proximity.
"Mr. Rossi wh-what are you doing?" my question was unheard as if he was in some deep trance. Our face merely inches away, giving me a perfect time to look at his beautiful face. Yes beautiful, because nothing can compare to how godly his features were. From his forehead to his jaw, everything was so well defined making me realize how ugly I must be looking compared to this man and the type of women he is used to be with.
But all my senses went out of the window. My eyes flutter to close on their own accord as I slowly lean on to his touch.
No this is not right. You don't know this man. Get away from him, Eve.
But my subconscious mind was not having it, warning me, again and again, to stay away. However, this very moment came to stop when he hastily pulled his hand back and took a step back as if I was some sort of disease, leaving me all flustered in my position.
This action filled my heart with so much hurt but who I was to complain. This wasn't even right to begin with, yet in some way, it did felt right.
Clenching his fingers into a fist, he turned around and walked away, motioning me to follow him. We walked to the kitchen where everything was perfect. Not even a single dust particle was there. Hmm, maybe he was a neat freak! I smiled at my own thought.
"Would you like some coffee before we talk about what happened?" I guess he was back to his cold emotionless voice.
"Yes sir." I replied looking anywhere but him.
I watched as he started making coffee for both of us, looking at his muscles bulge every time he moves just like the day when I first saw him at the seminar hall.
Mr. Rossi placed my coffee in front of me and with his own, he sat just across me watching me intently. I felt like a criminal who sat for interrogation but all I wanted was answers to my questions.
"um so will you tell me what happened last night?" my own voice was doubtful but I needed to know what caused me to land in such a situation.
"To begin with Ms. Martinez how were you able to get a drink when you are just 20 and the legal age is 21 to get a drink?"
"oh that..umm..my friends are actually 21 so we didn't have any problem in getting drinks?" the nervousness in my voice was on another level. I sense that if I say anything that he doesn't want to hear he will be furious.
But the look on his face says he already is!
"Ms. Martinez, what is the last thing you remember?"
"Da-dancing with someone..." it sounded more of a question than an answer.
Sighing, he ran his hands through his dark silky hairs. "To be honest Miss Martinez, this type of behavior and carelessness wasn't expected from such a brilliant student. What you do in your personal life is none of my concern but what happened yesterday or what could have happened was something that could have destroyed your life if I wasn't present there at the right time." Dread filled my stomach on realizing where this was leading. I wanted to tell him to stop but my voice was already clogged. The demons from the past were on the verge of being free. I cannot let myself go weak in front of someone else. No, I cannot be weak. I am not weak.
"wh-what happened..."I have to know to what extent things have happened, if anyone else came to know about it, even Keith or in the worst-case scenario, my dad, then that person will surely be dead.
"Well, you were drugged. I'll be blunt and say that the boy you were dancing with drugged you and was about to rape you. Luckily, I saw you when he was taking you away, so in short, I was there at the time, or else you know. You were unconscious because of the drug so I brought you here to my house as I wasn't able to find any of your friends nor your phone."
There was a brief moment of pause as I was digesting every single word he said. Tears were started to build up at the corner of my eyes. Fear of what could have happened if Mr. Rossi was not present made bile rise my throat.
"I-I don't know what to say...th-thank you for saving my life Mr. Rossi. I don't know how I can ever repay you for what you have done". At last, the tears finally gushed out leaving me all embarrassed for the hundredth time today.
Immediately coming to my side, he turned around my chair to face him and stood in-between my legs, his hands gently caressing my face and wiping my tears with his thumbs.
"shhh..you don't need to cry. You are safe here with me. E per quanto riguarda il rimborso, non devi preoccupartene. Prendo ciò che è mio. Il tuo corpo, la tua anima, tutto il tuo bambino. (And as for the repayment, you don't have to worry about it. I'll take what's mine. Your body, your soul, your everything baby girl.)"
Whatever he said in the last part made my heart flutter in anticipation. He can be hot and cold at the very same moment making each and every nerve of my body explode with both excitement and affright.
"I didn't u-understand what you said" I whispered looking up at his face noticing how close we were.
"Nothing, I was just glad that you are safe now with me."
I don't know why but what he said gives shudders to me. He won't harm me, like how can he harm me when he was the one who saved my life. He is my savior. I shouldn't doubt him due to some random negative thought. I'll be safe with me. Right?
Suddenly I was very much aware of how much naked I am but I don't think that he noticed. I awkwardly shifted back to create some more space between us, ready to ask one more question which was eating me from inside.
"Umm Mr. Rossi there is something I would like to ask" my eyes were on his chest as I don't think I will be able to look into his eyes anymore.
"hmm.." he responded; his hands were now playing with the strands of my hair giving me goosebumps all over my body.
"wh-who changed my clothes?" His hands suddenly came to stop but just seconds later he resumed playing with my hairs. This little act of his playing with my hairs was making me relax from all the distressing previous conversation we had.
"I asked my maid to change you into something comfortable. Since I don't have any female clothes here, she changed you into one of my shirts."
Upon hearing this, I released my breath which I didn't know I was holding. But now how I was going to get home in this shirt. As if reading my mind, he told me that he already asked his secretary to drop some fresh clothes here for me.
Little by little everything about this man was making me trust him even more. He sure may be cold most of the time but there must be a soft side of him. Just maybe like other girls around him, I have started to like him or perhaps have a crush on him.
Oh good lord! You sound like a teenager.
Everyone has secrets, past, or their own personal demons but that doesn't make them a bad person. Mr. Rossi may have any of these or all of these but he was my savior, my salvation and maybe he can be the cure to my demons.
******
But little did she know, his own demons were watching fervently as she falls into his trap.