Kara felt cold. There is no way Nico Bernardi would lie. Something clicked in her head. Kara could not help but connect the events that happened to her after she met Don Marco Bonacci. Was it possible that he had a hand in her misfortune? Could it be that she was targeting the wrong man? Feeling light-headed as questions swirled in her head, her body swayed. Nico Bernardi held out his hands to support her. “Are you alright?” His concerned voice penetrated her foggy brain. Kara shook her head. “I am fine. Can we leave now?” She choked on a sob. At about the same time, Nico’s silver Rolls-Royce pulled over. Nico Bernardi’s assistant, Bruno Bonetti, got out to assist them, but Nico waved him off. He assisted Kara and joined her after a while. They were silent on the way back. The car turned right and stopped at the parking lot of one of New York’s fine-dine restaurants. “Why are we here? I am tired. I wanted to rest.” Kara asked when Nico Bernardi turned the i
When Kara woke up the next day, Nico Bernardi was gone from the couch. She looked at the time on the bedside table and gasped. It was already nine. She bolted out of bed and hurriedly went to the bathroom to shower and change into something presentable. She then took her purse from last night and made sure the check Kate Ash gave her was there before leaving the room. At the stairs landing, she met Anna with her very familiar food cart. “Ms. Baxter! I was just about to deliver your food.” Anna took her appearance and asked, “Where are you going so early? The boss said you have to rest.” At the reminder of Nico Bernardi, Kara felt her expression softened. Who would have thought that despite the harsh exterior lies someone gentle and kind? “I have to go to the bank.” She told her. Anna nodded. She picked up a phone from her uniform’s pocket and dialed. Whe
Nico Bernardi’s intense look made her nervous. Kara wanted to look away but found that she could not.An invisible force compelled her to endure his stare until she started sweating under his heavy-lidded gaze.She saw desire in his eyes.She remembered that day vividly in her mind when he told her that he wanted her. It made her think that it was just a whim on his part. But now she was having doubts. Kara made a quick intake of breath and looked back at Nico’s face. The desire was gone.It made her think that she just imagined the whole thing. By now, Nico Bernardi had this calculating look, cold and dispassionate.He was inspecting her like a potential buyer and gauging whether the merchandise he wanted to purchase was worthy of his precious coins.“What do you think, Ms. Baxter? Should I sell you off? I think I could get triple, e
After he left Nico Bernardi’s office, Don Marco felt utterly disappointed.“How did it go?” Gordon Meyer, his assistant, asked.Marco’s lips thinned.“He refused my offer." He said, utterly disappointed“Why don’t you just take her by force? You know how important it is for you to have that girl.”He sighed.Don Marco was a man who usually got what he wanted.But now, he could not get it because a businessman by the name of Nic
Kara woke up early.Like in the past days, she went down for breakfast at seven a.m. sharp. “Ms. Baxter, Buongiorno.” Anna greeted in Italian when she entered the aquarium-like dining room. As usual, the dining room is lively until a few minutes later, when Nico Bernardi arrives with his triumvirate of assistants, Bruno, Frank, and Evan. Bruno, whom she had met a few times, and Evan used to follow her around while she saw Frank around the hotel. The ambiance in the dining hall became silent, and the atmosphere tensed as these four tall men sat at the dining table for breakfast. Kara joined them. She did not wait for an invitation because the last time she did that, Mr. Bernardi embarrassed her. Now, she learned her lesson. She did not wait for his invitation and sat in her usual place. “Buongiorno.” Nico Bernardi greeted them while he unfolded the table napkin in his place. The maids started serving. When they were done with the tasks, the maids left, and the five of the
“Why is Ms Baxter scurrying off like a frightened rabbit?” Bruno asked when he entered Nico’s office.He was surprised when he met Kara on the way. She was walking so fast as if the Devil was after her.Bruno could hazard a guess. “Did you make a pass at her?” Nico Bernardi snapped to attention. He looked at his right-hand man with a frown like he just noticed him.Bruno snickered, his eyes becoming sharp.“I had been talking to you, but your mind was elsewhere.”Nico looked taken aback. Then he shook his head. “It’s nothing, Sly. Don’t worry.” He assured his friend, calling him by his nickname.But Bruno’s eyes squinted. “Are you sure? I think you are becoming more distracted these days. Maybe you need a woman to warm your bed? I already fired the last
Kara suffered through his embrace. Though it was uncomfortable and hot, with the sheet wrapped around her body, she did not squeak a pip. She lay there, letting him hug her. Kara did not know what was wrong with her. Maybe, it was because she wanted to prolong their interaction. It had been days since she last saw him. Often, he would come in late and leave the house before seven. It was always her and Evan at the breakfast table. “Where were you these past days?” She asked. She heard him draw a deep breath. It was like he was trying to restrain himself. Then, Kara felt his lips twitch. “Why, Ms. Baxter, do you miss me?” He was teasing her, and to her shame, she felt a blush warming her cheeks. “If I had known that you were waiting for me every night, I would have come home early and made sure to leave after breakfast,” he added. But she could feel its effect when her heart started thudding fast in her ribcage. “Of course not! I was just curious. We have not worked o
Kara stared at him wide-eyed. Her body is a mass of nerves that pulses when she takes a breath and exhales. “Do you want us to continue, Ms. Baxter? If you do, you can start begging now.” Nico Bernardi said.His expression was one of a pirate rogue, and Kare felt the pull. For a moment, they looked at each other. At first, Kara failed to comprehend, but when she started to figure out what he meant. Her cheeks flushed - not with desire, but with embarrassment. Nico Bernardi’s question pulled her from the heights he had taken earlier with his earth-shattering, mind-boggling, and nerve-wracking kiss. In her state earlier, he does not need to get her approval. He could have taken her without her verbal consent. Kara was so turned on. Her body was too focused on the magic of his lips. But true to his promise, he gave her a choice. Kara’s common sense prevailed, stamping on her desire. When she realized the magnitude of his question, she repeatedly shook her head no. Her