LINA
Bruno converses with the pilot and Co pilot for about a minute before taking us to the cabin.
I have never been in a jet before so I can't help but pause behind Bruno to survey it.
It was grand and impressive.When we walked into the living room,I looked to see that it had two couches,two leather seats and a fireplace that was currently turned on.
"What's wrong?Why did you stop?"Bruno quizzes from infront of me.
"This place is...isn't bad,"I say,trying to tone down how much in awe I really was.
He turns to me and smiles,"Was that a compliment?"he asks me.
"Yes but not to you."
"But I'm the owner,"he tells me.
"So? doesn't mean you built and furnished the place, "I say maliciously,taking a seat in one the leather seats,uninvited.
Bruno takes the one adjacent to me,l hence making a table the only barrier between us.
"Ouch,"he says in mock hurt."Don't I get credit for buying this machine and hiring a competent team to furnish and decorate it?"he asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Not even a little bit,"I tell him,looking at him in the eye.
He smiles,making me want to slap it off.How dare he smile after making me so miserable?
I clench my jaw in anger and jam my head into my seat.
I already know that it is a long flight from New York to Mylari but I have a feeling that it will be longer if I'm sitting next to Bruno.
"Is there somewhere else I can sit?I don't think I can be near you for over eight hours,"I tell him.
Instead of frowning like I thought he would,his smile turns to a full on grin.Come on.It's either I suck at this whole insults thing or he like everything that comes out of my mouth.
Is there anything that I can say that to offend him?What would upset him?I ask myself.
I think about his reaction to other men getting near me.But then I tell myself to stop it.I can't risk doing that right now.
"You can stay in the bedroom if you like,precious"he suggests in a pleasant enough tone.Somehow,it's more infuriating than his toneless voice,right now.
We are not some happy couple.
"You agreed that you wouldn't call me that anymore,"I tell him coldly.
"Sorry,Lina.Slip of the tongue,"he says with a smile but I know that it wasn't. He knows exactly what he is doing.
"Whatever.Just show me where this bedroom is?"I command him.
"Okaay,boss,"he says to me and smiling to me a little before getting up."Follow me,"he tells me.
As I get on my feet,I start wishing he would always smile like that.Look happy like this.
It would be so wonderful.
'Shit,Lina,'my brain says. 'What the hell are you thinking?
'You know what,don't answer that,'it says.'It's better that way.'
I don't think twice about it this time and listen to my brain.
The less I think about Bruno as a person,the better.If not,I will weaken which will allow him to trap me with him for the rest of my life.
No,I refuse to be with this crazy asshole,I think fiercely as we move through the cabin and into another suite.
Used to a more simple life,I'm a little overwhelmed by the luxury.
So this is what people mean by stupid rich,I think as we enter the sleeping area.It had a large sized oak bed,a mirror ,a dresser amd even a flat screen TV.
"Here we are.All the comforts of home, "Bruno says,standing beside me.
"It's a little too much,"I say,not being able to stop myself.
"Well,you'll have to get used to it seeing as you will be living with me now."
I can't help but groan inside.
"I can't believe that I seriously have to put up with this,"I say softly.
Bruno sighs loudly and turns to me,"It's just a bit of money,Lina."
"A bit?Are you kidding me?People are going to end up thinking that I'm a gold digger"I say fiercely.
"You shouldn't care what other people of you,Lina.It's stupid,"he tells me blandly."And thanks to your fierce efforts to run away form me,I already know that you aren't interested in my money.Isn't that what really matters?" He asks.
I don't say anything, for the first time thinking that he made a good point.
Taking my silence for an answer,Bruno says,"See,You shouldn't make such a big deal of this,"he states.
Then he looks around the room and says,"Alright,Lina.I have some work to do.Do you need anything?"
I shake my head in answer and he nods.
I have to admit,Bruno is taking surprising care of me.I didn't expect that and I'm not sure how to feel about it.
"Are you sure?"he asks again.
"Yes,I'm sure.You can go,"I tell him in exasperation.
Giving me another one of his expressionless looks,Bruno turns and leaves.
I'm not sure what the hell that was about but I don't give it another thought.He was gone,that was all that mattered.
After giving the room another glance of admiration,I quickly stride towards the bed and turn on the phone in my hand.
I wanted to know what the hell was happening back in Mylari.Had anyone figured out that I was sort of kidnapped?
Wait a sec,what the hell do I mean"sort of kidnapped".I am kidnapped! I'm being forced to be with this man,I think pissed at myself for that little confusion.
I tell myself to shake it off before proceeding to check my phone.
There were actually a couple of call and messages sent to me between yesterday and this morning.Even on my socials too.However the messages were not the kind I was looking for.
I groan internally when I see that besides Sophie,Miles had been trying desperately to get ahold of me.
Please don't do this,Lina.
He doesn't deserve you.
Answer the damned phone.
I'm the only one who can keep you happy.
We can't be over.
Please call me.
I run a hand through my hair,suddenly stressed.
Oh goodness.
I don't know what to do about Miles.I wish he would just forget me.
But should I just ignore him?
No.I can't do that to him.
Miles doesn't deserve that.He is a good guy. I shouldn't just break his heart and then ignore him,like nothing had ever been happened between us.Like I had not gotten myself engaged to him for all the wrong reasons.
But then again,I can't have anything to do with him much less give him closure.I have a feeling that a certain possessive someone will not stand for it.
He will do something drastic for sure.
Swallowing audibly,my hands fly over the phone screen,typing furiously. I hit send when I'm done.
I've made up my mind. You and I are done.
After I make sure that the message has gone through,I throw my phone on the bed only to pick it up again when the phone pings with a text.From Miles.
But I love you.
My response is almost immediate.
I am with somebody else now.Stop calling and texting me.
And then I block him for good measure.
This will hurt him but right now I am more worried about his physical well being.
I have a missed call from my mother which I ignore.After all,I'll see her and dad soon enough.
God,I miss them so much.But I'm not looking foward to seeing them,I think,falling back on the bed.
****
BRUNO
My phone dings with succesive notifications.I tensely look from my the emails in my Mac and pick it up.
I take a breath,telling myself to cool down.It may not be what I think it is.
I turn the phone on and end up frowning deeply at what I see.
Just as I had suspected.
She was texting with him.With that,bastard Moretti,whom she was well aware I couldn't tolerate having anything to do with her.
It takes everything within me not to fling my phone across the room.
It seems I made the right decision,installing the app that forwarded Lina's messages to my phone.She clearly couldn't be trusted to not go running unto Moretti's arms.
I think I'll have to show her exactly what happens to the people who try to take what rightfully belongs to me.
Moretti is dead.
That's what I think before I actually take a good look at the texts.
She wasn't asking for his help or anything but was actually telling him to back off.
I read the texts again and again.
Lina really wasn't going back on her word but was instead, doing exactly as we discussed.
The red mist in my eyes clears almost immediately.
It looks like I jumped to the wrong conclusions. Turns out that Lina isn't stupid enough to defy me.
But I still feel like I need to teach the Moretti bastard a lesson.
For the past few days,I had actually been considering leaving the broken hearted man alone but he has convinced me with this little conversation.
I'm so paying him a visit.One that is long overdue.
Make sure he understands exactly who Lina's new man is.