Gianni slept peaceful after the wonderful day he had with Julie. When he came back to his hotel room Matteo wasn't there. He was out in clubs again as expected. Finally, Gianni could get a peaceful sleep.
When he woke up, Matteo still wasn't there. He was probably up the whole night again.
Gianni hoped that he didn't exaggerate with the alcohol. To make sure that he didn't end up in a pit, Gianni gave Matteo a quick call. Turned out he ended up going home with a woman. Not surprising at all.
Gianni got ready for the day and left the hotel early. There was something he wanted to do before he goes to the café to meet Julie.
He went to a flower shop. He felt that Julie might like a romantic gesture.
Gianni was looking carefully at the different flowers. He wanted to give her something special. Roses were too ordinary. He wanted something that matches Julie's spirit.
After some time, his eyes fell on some beautiful white flowers. They kind of reminded him of lilies but with rounder petals and a sturdier stem. They looked elegant and charming just like Julie and the white color fits her pure character.
"Puis-je vous aider?" A middle-aged lady who worked in the shop pulled him out of his thoughts.
"I'm sorry, I don't speak French," he told her apologetically.
"Can I help you?" She translated when she realized that he was a tourist. "Are you looking for a gift for your girlfriend?"
"Kind of," Gianni smiled at her sheepishly while rubbing his neck. He didn't want to correct her.
"Ah, that means you are still pursuing her." She smiled at him widely. "Have you found something that she might like?"
"Yes, could you make me a small bouquet of these?" He pointed at the white flowers he just admired.
"Of course. The flowers are called amaryllises. You made a good choice," the florist stated.
Gianni was walking through the street in the direction of Julie's apartment. He wanted to surprise her and give her a chance to put the flowers into a vase.
The florist arranged the flowers beautifully and even tied them together with a white ribbon.
He hoped Julie likes them. He smiled to himself happy that he will see her again.
...
Pierre thought the whole night about how he can separate Julie from the man he saw her with.
Trying to convince Julie that dating this guy wasn't a good idea won't work. If she feels her privacy being invaded, she might push him away and Pierre couldn't risk that.
The best thing to do would be talking to this guy directly and get him to leave Julie alone. But how can he achieve that?
He knew that they would meet again today because he overheard her mentioning it yesterday.
Even though he didn't know when they will meet, he was aware of her schedule. It was Thursday, and on this day, she works until 3 and then goes to French classes.
That means they could see each other in the evening but there was also the possibility of meeting for breakfast. He needed to know for sure to make his next move.
It was 7:30 when Pierre knocked on Julie's door while putting on his best smile.
"Good morning," he said sweetly.
"Morning," she greeted him back. She looked ready for the day and had her bag in her hand.
"Are you about to leave. It's pretty early for work."
"I just need to get something at the store down the street. Do you need something."
"No thank you, I just wanted to know how your date was?"
Julie started to laugh. "You came extra before work to ask me how my date was. Aren't you a little bit too nosy."
"Well, you know I'm a curious guy and I might not see you later," he answered embarrassed.
"It was good," Julie said smiling shyly and turning a bit red. That wasn't a good sign for him. "Actually, I see him again for breakfast in a few minutes at the café around the corner and I should better hurry up or I will be late. See you." Julie rushed past him down the hallway.
'Crap,' he thought. 'That means I have to be fast. But how can I speak to this guy?'
Pierre was left standing at her door frustrated. What should he do now? 'Even if I look for him at the café and he is early, I might not have enough time to convince him of leaving Julie alone.'
Pierre was willing to do everything to get him out of her life. Even offer him money. 'He doesn't know her for that long so why wouldn't he take it? But if she sees me with him at the café, I won't know how to explain it to her.' He was rubbing his forehead irritated.
Pierre thought about looking for Gianni on the streets. If he finds him still far enough from the café Julie will not see them talking to each other.
Pierre just wanted to leave when suddenly he heard a ring in Julie's apartment. Someone rang the door bell downstairs 'It must be this guy,' he thought dejected.
But then he came to the realization that this was perfect and all of a sudden, he knew what he had to do.
Two weeks ago, he went on a business trip to Lyon. He works as an event manager and had to organize the 20's birthday of some rich company heiress. He gave Julie his spare key and asked her if she can water his plants while he wasn't there over the week-end.
When she wanted to return it, he told her to keep the key for emergencies. He is often out of town and like that he doesn't have to ask her every time.
To his surprise, Julie then gave him a spare key to her apartment. She told him that she is happy to have someone she can count on. She lives alone after all and has no one in case something happens to her.
She trusted him. That meant a lot to Pierre.
But now he had to use her trust to do something immoral. 'It was the best for her,' he convinced himself. 'I am the right man for Julie.'
He ran over to his place and took the emergency key that Julie gave him.
He unlocked her apartment and pushed the button that opened the door downstairs.
'Now I just have to be convincing,' he thought.
Gianni rang Julie's doorbell but was dumbfounded when instead of her a guy with short blond hair opened the door.
'Am I at the wrong apartment,' he thought. He could have sworn that it was where he left Julie yesterday.
"Can I help you?" Pierre asked trying to sound genuine.
He scrutinized Gianni. Even Pierre had to admit that he was a good-looking man and he was thoughtful enough to buy her flowers.
Pierre felt the jealousy rise in the pit of his stomach.
"I'm sorry, I think I'm on the wrong floor. I wanted to visit a girl who lives here."
In that moment Pierre witnessed his chance. "You don't mean Julie perhaps?"
"Yes, do you know her."
"Of course, I know her, she is my girlfriend and you are at the right address by the way. She's just not here at the moment," Pierre said trying to fight back his wicked smile.
Gianni felt like he got struck by lightning. 'She has a boyfriend. Why would she go out with me then? This has to be a joke.'
Gianni was standing like frozen in front of the man whose words felt like a punch to the stomach. His mind refused to process what he just heard.
Pierre widened his eyes and acted like he would realize something. "Judging by the look on your face she hasn't told you that she is in an open relationship."
"What?", was all Gianni could squeeze out of his lungs. He was too shocked to speak.
"Man, I'm sorry if you got your hopes up. You are not the first one this is happening to. In the beginning she is often not honest about not wanting a serious relationship. But if you are looking for a casual fling, I wouldn't have a problem at all." Pierre gave him a bright smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Then he got a bit closer to Gianni and leaned forward. "If you want you can even join us someday. We are open for everything," he whispered wiggling his eyebrows.
Gianni took a step back uncomfortable by this guy's attempt to hit on him.
His head was spinning. He barely could take in what he found out just now. 'Julie didn't seem like a girl who was into open relationships. She looked innocent and sometimes even shy around me but what do I even know about her. Maybe she puts on this persona to trick the men she dates. Maybe it was all just a game for her.'
"No thanks, I'm not into that kind of stuff. Where is Julie? We agreed on meeting now," Gianni managed to say after sometime.
"She went to work earlier today. There was something she had to take care of. If you want, I can leave her a message from you."
Pierre wanted to get rid of him as fast as possible. If Julie comes back now it is over for him.
Gianni thought about it for a moment. 'What was there even left to say.' He got fooled by her. He felt so stupid. "Just tell her I was here." With that Gianni walked away looking quite defeated.
Pierre was relieved seeing him leave. He complimented himself for changing his strategy last second. 'Judging by the enamored look on his face he probably wouldn't have accepted the money.'
'Poor guy,' Pierre thought. He almost felt sorry for him.
'But he will get over it. Julie is mine and only I can make her happy.'
Pierre went back to his apartment and got ready for work. Now he just can hope that he was convincing enough. 'This guy totally looked like he believed everything I said.'
He preyed that Gianni was done with Julie and doesn't confront her. If this happens, he will lose her forever.
Gianni found himself out on the streets. His mind was still spinning. He was angry at himself. How could he be so dumb and think that he would randomly meet a girl that perfect. She had to be fake.
He just got his hopes up after a failed relationship and was vulnerable because of that.
He wanted to believe that Julie could help him out of his misery. But apparently it was wrong to think that. A woman won't be the answer to his heartbreak. It will only cause more suffering.
He needed to focus on himself for a change. Staying single was the best he could do now.
Gianni looked at the flowers in his hand. He didn't know what to do with them. He was angry for getting tricked like that, so he tossed the flowers into the nearby trash can and left with despair in his heart.