When dawn broke both of us got up and left. It was a silent morning, each of us doing our own thing not acknowledging what just occurred between us.
'My eyes are killing me. I totally forgot to remove my contacts. I guess today will be a glasses kind of day.' I normally wear contacts unless I am home because I am quite blind without them.
I also tend to lose or break things easily so contacts was better in the long run. The only thing was they hurt after a while especially when they start to dry out a bit.
As I collected my stuff and was waiting for my driver, through my bangs I glanced over at Dean.
His face was puffy from just waking up while his eyes were puffy from crying. His hair was a mess but despite that he still looked handsome. I did not want to think about how I looked right now.
He grabbed his things and sat for a minute slowly finishing a bottle of water. He was the first to break the silence.
"This is probably a given but nonetheless, what happened tonight will not leave these four walls. I want you to know I don't take our friendship lightly so your secrets are safe with me."
Though I knew he would not betray me and share what I chose to share with him, it was still comforting to hear.
"Thank you I am very appreciative of that." At that moment, my driver came to get me so I left first. Leaving Dean alone with his thoughts.
Before arriving home I made sure to tie loose ends. "I ask that none of what happened tonight that is not public knowledge gets back to my parents." My driver, John, nodded firmly.
The next couple of days passed by. I handled both my own work as well as my parents work as they were still in Milan. It was a repetitive timeline though manageable. Eventually my parents returned.
They stayed longer than anticipated. My grandfather in his attempt to be helpful ended up falling down the stairs when bringing up the luggages so they helped with his medical treatment.
I was made aware once he was already discharged from the hospital and at home resting. He thankfully only fractured his fingers when trying to break his fall.
My grandparents sent back many goods exclusive to Milan as well as clothes from the de' Medici family meant for me. It was soft and comfortable which is what I enjoy most in the fabric I wear.
Surprisingly it also fit. 'I had them fitted using your measurements from your stylist. She also approved of the designs.' My mom had commented when I was trying them on.
Soon enough life began to get busy again and July was ending. Now we were ending the previous fiscal quarter and about to enter the new one. My secretary and I spent a whole day compiling my schedule for the next couple of months. Usually she handled making it but if I had upcoming arrangements we adjusted it together.
"So I have the exhibition submission deadline in a few weeks, then we have the opening day for said event, the new collection launches, we then have Rachels bachelorette and wedding, then Ferragosto, the feast of Saint Ambrose, The Day of the Immaculate Conception and finally Christmas." Besides work there were a few holidays my family celebrated.
Ferragosto was just a holiday period in Italy where for a few weeks in August people got to rest after working hard throughout the year.
My father has made it custom to handle bonuses during this time and we as family took rest. It was a nice two week break for us to travel or visit my moms side of the family.
The feast of Saint Ambrose was an important holiday for those in Milan as it was our Patron Saint for the city. The Day of the Immaculate Conception was a national Italian holiday for the beginning of the Christmas season.
These dates we have celebrated every year so I always ensured that time was allocated so when I schedule other meetings and work tasks, I could have enough time to complete them and not forget.
My whole next quarter was fully filled with other meetings and events I needed to attend once the main time off I needed was added.
"Alright madam this should be all arranged. Is there anything else?" My secretary Zhavia asked.
"Hmmmmm." There was something. It was something I was told last minute and I was feeling anxious about it.
Last night Dante contacted me.
In all the hustle and bustle with getting everything settled between Dean and I, as well as my regular work stuff, I forgot about the blind date I arranged.
Mysterious man Dante also observed Ferragosto and was using the time off to come and visit me for the blind date. He actually called me so I heard his voice for the first time.
He had an accent but his english was still flawless. His voice was smooth and rich. The tone not too deep but very tingly to listen too. 'I heard from your nonna that you will be free during this time, if its alright with you it would be an honor to meet you.'
I ended up agreeing because I had no other reason to say no. But I was also curious about him, when my parents returned and gave me the clothes I was astounded given we knew very little abut one another but he still thought to send something to me. I felt nervous adding it. It made it seem more official.
"I already have the time off but the first friday of Ferragosto add in that my whole day is booked for a blind date." It was like ripping off a bandaid, there was no other way around it.
"Right away madam." Just as we were about to confirm the schedule I noticed my secretary fidgeting about something.
"Whats wrong?" She pulled up her email inbox and showed me a meeting request she had. It was from a publishing company who was requesting for an interview with me.
"Charter Magazine is doing a special release interviewing top female business CEOS. They want to ask about what it is like running a business in a male dominated industry and some advice you would share with other women who want to come into these roles."
"Oh that sounds pretty cool, why the hesitation?" Though I was rarely invited for interviews as my father still ran the empire his family built, this interview was one I felt comfortable doing.
Zhavias face was twisted in a awkward way as she seemed uncomfortable even looking at the email.
"The one who will interview you is Sol Banks."