When they parked at the entrance to the mansion, Matthew opened the car door for Emily and offered his hand. She accepted with a smile, adjusting her dress as she got out. The golden light of the evening illuminated the path to the main entrance, where Alberto, the butler, was already waiting for them with impeccable posture.
"Dinner is ready, sir and madam," Alberto announced with a slight bow.
"Perfect, Alberto. We had a full day," Matthew said, guiding Emily through the entrance.
"I hope you enjoyed Florence, madam. The staff prepared local dishes to complement the day's experience," Alberto continued, following them discreetly.
Emily smiled at this. "You really thought of everything, Matthew."
"Always, my love."
Dinner was served in the main dining room, decorated with a glittering chandelier and candles that gave a romantic touch to the ambiance. The table was set with fine china and flower arrangements. Alberto and his team served the antipasto, a selection of typical Italian cheeses, olives and cured meats.
"This looks beautiful," Emily said, taking in the impeccable presentation.
"Wait until you try the main courses," Matthew commented, as the waiter poured red wine into their glasses.
The first course was a perfectly gratinated lasagna alla Bolognese, followed by a melt-in-your-mouth ossobuco with saffron risotto. Emily was delighted with every taste, and Matthew couldn't help but smile as he watched her enjoy the meal.
"Alberto, you've exceeded all expectations," Matthew said, raising his glass in an informal toast.
"I'm glad you're satisfied, sir," Alberto replied, discreet as ever.
When dinner was over, Emily leaned back in her chair, satisfied. "I don't think I've ever eaten so well in my life."
"Then, mission accomplished," Matthew joked, leaning over to take her hand across the table.
"Are you ready for the next moment?" he asked enigmatically.
Emily arched an eyebrow. "Any more surprises?"
Matthew stood and held out his hand to her. Curious, Emily accepted, and he led her down the hallway to a door at the back of the mansion. When he opened it, he revealed a garden lit by small lights that looked like stars scattered among the trees and bushes. A small fountain in the center emitted the soothing sound of running water.
"This is... magical," Emily said, looking around in wonder.
"I thought it would be a good place to end the day," Matthew explained, guiding her to a marble bench near the fountain.
The two sat down, and for a moment, they were silent, just enjoying the view and each other's company.
"Thank you for today, Matthew. It was perfect," Emily said, leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Anything for you," he replied, gently kissing the top of her head.
The next day, Emily woke up slowly, yawning softly as her eyes adjusted to the soft light that filtered through the bedroom curtains. Turning to the side, her gaze fell on Matthew, who was still fast asleep. His peaceful face made her smile, and with a loving gesture, she leaned over to lightly kiss his cheek.
"Good morning, my love," she murmured softly, even though she knew he wouldn't hear her.
Careful not to wake him, Emily got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. There, she brushed her teeth as the quiet sound of morning filled the room. Once finished, she walked to the closet, choosing a comfortable, yet stylish, set of gym clothes.
Dressed and ready, Emily took one last look at Matthew, who was still deep in his sleep. A playful smile appeared on her lips, and she couldn't resist patting his cheek.
"Lazy," she whispered before running out of the room, stifling a laugh.
In the hallway, Emily passed a few maids who were doing their morning routine. They greeted her with smiles and a respectful "good morning," to which Emily responded warmly.
Upon arriving at the mansion's gym, Emily stood for a moment admiring the large, well-equipped space. It was hard not to be impressed by the luxury and functionality of the place. Walking to a nearby bench, she grabbed her headphones and selected an upbeat playlist of electronic music.
Emily adjusted her headphones, letting the lively beat of the electronic music invade her senses. The mansion's gym was an immaculate space, equipped with everything she could imagine: treadmills, exercise bikes, free weights, and even state-of-the-art machines.
She started with some stretches, enjoying the quiet of the morning and the distant sound of the maids moving around the house. Then she got on the treadmill, setting it to a light jog. The music kept her motivated, and the feeling of freedom as she ran was almost therapeutic.
After about fifteen minutes, she picked up the pace, feeling the adrenaline pumping as her steps quickened. Sweat began to trickle down her forehead, but she didn't care. This was her moment, some time to herself before the day officially began.
Finishing her run, Emily moved on to the weights, picking up light dumbbells to do arm exercises. Her focus was complete, but occasionally her mind would drift to Matthew, still asleep in bed. A smile escaped her as she thought of him, but she quickly refocused.
"Good morning, Mrs. Lancaster!" one of the maids said as she passed by the gym, carrying a tray of clean towels.
"Good morning," Emily replied, without stopping her movement.
After about an hour of training, Emily finished with a set of sit-ups and took a deep, satisfied breath. She grabbed a towel and dried her face, then walked to the hydration area to drink a glass of ice water.
As she put the weights away, her thoughts began to organize themselves about the day. She knew Matthew had commitments, but she wanted to enjoy a few more hours together before he immersed himself in meetings and business.
Decided, she left the gym and walked back to the bedroom, her steps light down the mansion's hallway. When she entered, she found Matthew still in bed, but already starting to move lazily, his hair messy and his eyes half open.
"Good morning, lazybones!" Emily said, approaching and sitting on the edge of the bed.
Matthew mumbled something inaudible before pulling her close, burying his face in her waist.
"Already awake and full of energy? How do you do it?" he asked, his voice husky with the morning.
Emily laughed, running her fingers through his hair. "Maybe it's the coffee I'll make for us in a bit."
Matthew opened one eye, looking at her with a crooked smile. "Breakfast in bed? You really know how to spoil a man."
"Only if you get up and help me in the kitchen," she replied, leaning down to kiss his forehead.
Matthew chuckled softly and finally sat up in bed, stretching as he watched Emily go to the bathroom to take a shower.
"Okay, but only because you asked. Let's conquer this kitchen together, Mrs. Lancaster."
A while later, the two left the room hand in hand, ready to start the day with a breakfast they had made themselves.
In the kitchen, the atmosphere was relaxed. Emily pulled out the utensil drawer while Matthew opened the cupboard for the coffee powder. Despite all the sophistication of the mansion and the staff available to take care of everything, the two enjoyed these simple moments together.
"You know I don't trust your coffee, right?" Emily teased, smiling as she picked up two mugs.
Matthew, feigning indignation, put his hand on his chest. "This is an affront! My coffee is legendary. You'll see."
She laughed, shaking her head as he began to prepare the drink in the coffee maker. Emily took the opportunity to grab some eggs and fresh vegetables from the fridge, determined to make an omelet.
"If you're so good at coffee, I'm the omelet master." Emily winked at him, turning on the stove.
"We're about to find out who the real chef is here," Matthew retorted, leaning against the counter to watch her.
As they worked together, the room filled with laughter and light teasing. Matthew, at an opportune moment, tried to "help" Emily flip the omelet, but ended up messing up the edges.
"Matthew!" she exclaimed, trying to stifle a laugh. "You're going to ruin my perfect dish!"
"It's just culinary creativity, honey," he replied, putting his hands up in surrender.
A few minutes later, they were sitting at the kitchen table with coffee served and the plates set.
"This is great," Matthew said, taking a bite of the omelet and looking at her with a satisfied smile.
"I know," Emily replied with a smug look, taking a sip of her coffee.
After breakfast, the two went upstairs to get ready for the rest of the day. Emily opted for a casual but elegant outfit, while Matthew chose something more formal, since he had some important business calls later.
Before they parted ways for their activities, Matthew pulled her by the waist and kissed her deeply, as if he wanted to prolong that moment for longer.
"No matter how busy the day gets, I will always make time for you," he said, looking into her eyes.
Emily smiled, touching his face gently. "I know. And I will always be here for you."
With one last kiss, they moved on to what the day had in store.
After Matthew and Emily said their temporary goodbyes, the mansion grew quieter. Matthew headed to his private office, where he had a series of calls and documents to review. Lancaster Corp. demanded her attention, especially with international expansion projects that were in a decisive phase.
Emily took advantage of the morning to review a script for the possible next film that Gabriela had sent the night before. Sitting in the reading room, with a cup of tea by her side, she read each scene carefully, making notes and observations in the points that she felt needed more emotion or adjustments.
About an hour later, Gabriela called.
"Emily! We need to talk about the script," Gabriela began.
"Of course, Gabi. I'm already reading it and I have some ideas for the more emotional scenes. What do you suggest?" Emily replied.
The two discussed it for about half an hour, fine-tuning details about the script and lining up ideas for the next meeting with the film's director. Emily was excited, especially because she felt that this role was one of the most challenging and rewarding of her career.
When the call ended, Emily decided to take a break. She went to the mansion's garden, where the sun shone softly on the well-tended plants. Walking among the flowers, she felt the light breeze touch her skin and let herself relax for a few minutes, enjoying the peace of that space.
On the other side of the mansion, Matthew was ending a video conference when Henry entered the room.
"Mr. Lancaster, I brought the reports you requested about the situation in Aurora. We also have new information about the contract with the Italian company that you wanted to review," Henry said, handing over a folder.
Matthew opened the folder, quickly leafing through the documents.
"Excellent. Any worrying news?" he asked, keeping his focus on the pages.
"Nothing urgent, but I believe the projection numbers can be improved if we adjust the local marketing strategies," Henry replied.
Matthew nodded, already thinking about how to discuss the matter with his team later.
After reviewing the papers, Matthew looked at his watch and realized that it was almost lunch time. Deciding to spend more time with Emily, he left the documents organized and headed towards the garden, where he knew she would probably be.
When he found her, Emily was sitting on one of the wooden benches, lost in thought as she watched the trees move. Matthew approached her silently and leaned down to kiss the top of her head.
"What are you thinking about, my star?" he asked, sitting down next to her.
Emily smiled when she saw him. "Nothing in particular, just enjoying this quiet moment. And you? Have you sorted out the world yet?"
Matthew laughed, leaning back on the bench. "A little. But now I want to sort out something more important: what are we going to have for lunch?"
Emily laughed and intertwined her fingers with his. "How about something light? Maybe a salad with some Italian dish? We are in Italy, after all."
Matthew agreed enthusiastically, and the two of them walked back to the mansion together, deciding to have lunch on the terrace overlooking the hills.
On the terrace, Alberto and the team had already prepared an elegant table, decorated with flowers and carefully prepared dishes. The fresh breeze mixed with the aroma of food, creating a perfect atmosphere for the couple.
While they ate lunch, Matthew and Emily talked about everything and nothing, laughing about the little stories of the day and exchanging knowing looks.
After lunch, Matthew suggested something unexpected.
"How about we take a drive around the back roads here? I want to show you a place I saw when I was in Florence last time."
"A surprise tour? I'm in!" Emily replied excitedly.
The couple climbed into one of the mansion's collection of cars, a classic Italian model that perfectly matched the Tuscan scenery. The engine purred softly as Matthew drove along the winding roads, Emily marveling at the scenery around her.
"I can't believe you know so many amazing places around here. It seems like I should let you plan our trips more," Emily commented, looking out the window at the vineyards.
"Maybe you should," Matthew replied with a mysterious smile. "But wait until you see what I have in mind."
After about twenty minutes, they arrived at a secluded lookout overlooking the hills. The sun was beginning to set on the horizon, tinting the sky with warm shades of orange and pink.
"This is... amazing," Emily said, dazzled by the view.
"I knew you'd like it," he replied, parking the car and getting out to stand next to her.
They spent the rest of the afternoon there, talking and admiring the sunset, enjoying every second together before heading back home.