Emily was taken aback; she was not expecting to meet with him again. "H-hello, nice to see you again." Was all she could utter.
"Are you staying anywhere near?" He politely enquires to make Emily feel at ease.
Hearing his polite inquiry, Emily felt good and began conversing with Antonio.
Together, they strolled through Florence's narrow alleyways and exchanged life tales.
Antonio has a moving and refreshing way of looking at the world.
Though he didn't take life too seriously, he was enthusiastic about the most important things, such as art, relationships, and the delight of experiencing life to the fullest.
As their time together grew, Emily discovered she was drawn to Antonio in unexpected ways.
His presence provided a much-needed diversion from her complicated life in Las Vegas.
With him, she could laugh, explore, and just be herself, free from the burden of expectations and the ghosts of her past.
She forgot about everything because of the effortless connection and comfort between them.
Antonio didn't probe too far or ask too many questions about her convoluted existence.
It was enough that he embraced her for who she was right then and there. Emily felt like she could breathe for the first time in a very long time.
One evening, as they stood on a terrace overlooking the city, the golden glow of the setting sun casting a warm light over the skyline, Antonio turned to her.
He remarked softly, "You seem like someone who carries a lot on her shoulders." But you don't have to in this place. You are free to be."
Emily turned to face him with a heart full of feelings she hadn't let herself experience in years. "You make it seem so easy," she softly retorted.
With a smile, Antonio answered, "Maybe it is. Maybe life is meant to be simple, and we're the ones who make it complicated."
With Antonio by her side and the splendor of Florence all around her, Emily experienced a change in herself at that very instant.
She wasn't sure if she and Antonio would be together for a long time or if this was the beginning of anything more significant, but she was happy with her trip's unexpected turn.
For the first time in a long time, Emily was happy to live in the present, let go of the past, and embrace whatever lay ahead as the stars started to glimmer overhead.
And that sufficed for the moment.
***
When Emily returned to their hotel room, Aiden was speaking to Jake on Facetime and happily greeted her while pointing the camera towards her.
"Mommy's back, Uncle Jake; look how pretty she is."
They still hadn't informed Aiden of his parentage. Emily was afraid that he would want Jake to come along during their tour, and she didn't know how to decline and explain why he could not join them.
Although Jake initially opposed it, he eventually reached Emily's resolution. The rest of the family was unaware that Jake was Aiden's father.
They had not yet talked about it, and Emily didn't want it to be the cause of their split.
They agreed to hold off on talking about anything until Emily returned from her tour.
The secret and all the falsehoods kept them apart and prevented them from enjoying a happy life until the day...when she left the world of living.
Emily put her purse on the side table before crouching beside Aiden on the carpet. With a beautiful, refreshing smile, she enthusiastically greeted Jake.
"Well, hello, handsome man. How was your day today?"
"Hmmm." was all he said as he took in Emily's rosy cheeks and eyes, shining brightly and full of life.
Emily began recounting her event without mentioning Antonio. Knowing how Jake would react if he found out she had met another man.
Jake just sat in his lonely study room, staring at the phone screen, wishing he was there with them. But he made a promise and will do his best to keep it, to make Emily happy.
They chatted for a while before Aiden started to get hungry. "Uncle Jake, I'm sorry, but I will eat first. You and Mommy can talk first. Okay!" He then got up and went to the kitchen to see what Aunty Ofelia had prepared for dinner.
Emily, tired from walking all day, sadly bid Jake goodbye. "I'm going to freshen up first before we have our dinner. I will catch up with you later." She didn't even wait for Jake to answer; she just slid her finger on the phone screen to end the Facetime.
Jake's face darkened. Two lines appeared between his brows as he stared at Emily and Aiden's picture as his screen saver.
"Just like that! She hangs up without even waiting for me to say goodbye. What was that about?" He murmured, still staring at his wife's and son's pictures.
***
The next day, Emily gets a text message from Antonio asking her to have dinner with him. She agreed without hesitation.
Emily spent the entire day sightseeing with Aiden, Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez. They sampled a range of local delicacies and even purchased some for everyone in Lewis' home to transport to Las Vegas.
When evening arrived, Emily contacted Antonio, asking what she should wear to supper. She wanted to know if she was underdressed or overdressed because Antonio hadn't told her where they would be dining.
Emily: [What should I wear to our dinner? [Any preference?]
Antonio: [You look stunning in everything you wear, but a cocktail dress would be ideal for tonight if you can.]
Emily: [Okay, I know what to wear.👌]
Antonio: [ Thank you!]
At exactly 6:00 p.m., Antonio arrived at the hotel lobby and looked like a model from GQ magazine.
He was getting much attention as he waited for Emily to arrive, which didn't bother him.
Antonio is one of the wealthiest man in Europe, he's used to getting all kind of attention wherever he went. His accidental meeting with Emily was not entirely true...He came to Italy with a purpose...~~~