Chapter 28 The Past for the Two of Us
 
 
 
 
 
 
“Fine, I won’t do it anymore…” Rose muttered, her tone laced with disappointment.
“If you don’t want to eat what I cook, I’ll never do it again,” she added before spinning on her heel, ready to leave.
Antonio froze for a moment, her words catching him off guard. He couldn’t let her walk away, full of hurt and frustration. Stepping forward, he caught her wrist and pulled her into a warm embrace from behind. A faint smile played on his lips as he lowered his head to nestle against her neck.
“You!” Rose gasped.
“I’m sorry,” Antonio murmured, his voice soft and contrite. “Are you mad at me?”
His lips brushed gently along her ear and the curve of her neck, his touch sending a wave of warmth through her. Though startled, Rose didn’t pull away. Instead, she allowed herself to relax in his arms, choosing to remain silent.
Antonio loosened his embrace and turned her to face him. “I truly am sorry,” he said, brushing his fingers lightly against her cheek.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” she replied, though her tone betrayed a hint of lingering annoyance. Antonio could sense her genuine feelings beneath her words.
“Alright, I surrender,” he said with a playful smile, raising both hands in mock defeat. His teasing elicited a small smile from Rose, which brought an even broader grin to his face.
“How’s your hand?” he asked, concern replacing his earlier playfulness. “I’m sorry for startling you.”
“It stings a little,” Rose admitted, glancing at her hand, “but it’s nothing serious.”
Antonio nodded, his expression softening. Just as he opened his mouth to say more, Rossi entered the room.
“Sir, the car is ready,” Rossi announced, his tone brisk and professional. Antonio’s expression tightened slightly, annoyed by the interruption.
“Just a moment,” Antonio said, turning back to Rose. He held her gaze, his eyes sincere. “I have work to do tonight, so I might be back late.”
“Aren’t you going to eat dinner first?” Rose asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Antonio hesitated. Every part of him wanted to stay and share the evening with her. Her simple invitation felt like a rare treasure, one he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
“Yes, I’ll stay for dinner,” he said with a smile, then turned to Rossi. “I’ll leave after dinner.”
Rossi raised an eyebrow, surprised by the unexpected change in his boss’s priorities. Antonio had always put work above everything else, even canceling plans with Vega in the past four urgent matters. Yet here he was, readily agreeing to delay his departure. Rossi stifled a chuckle, amused by the apparent shift in his boss’s behavior.
“Understood,” Rossi replied, excusing himself with a slight bow.
As dinner approached, the staff began preparing the dining table. Antonio remained unhurried, savoring the rare opportunity to relax. The meal passed pleasantly, with Antonio dedicating himself entirely to Rose’s company.
Once dinner concluded, he rose from the table, regret obvious in his expression. “I have urgent matters to attend to,” he explained to Rose. She nodded, respecting the boundaries of his work without prying.
As the black limousine disappeared down the driveway, Rose lingered, watching its taillights fade into the night. Her feelings were a storm of confusion and longing, a familiar mix she had yet to fully untangle.
 
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains of Rose’s room. The sound of her alarm clock roused her from sleep, but she burrowed deeper into the covers, trying to escape the invading light. A strange sensation of being watched made her slowly open her eyes. To her surprise, Antonio’s familiar face greeted her, a playful smile dancing to his lips.
Startled, Rose scrambled backward, but Antonio’s quick reflexes caught her arm. In one smooth motion, he pulled her close, her body resting against his chest.
“Good morning,” Antonio said warmly, his voice carrying a soft intimacy.
Rose’s cheeks flushed a deep red. “Let me go,” she stammered, wriggling in his hold. But Antonio only tightened his embrace, lifting her effortlessly to sit on his lap.
“You!” she exclaimed, trying to push away.
“I saw you weren’t awoke yet, so I came to wake you,” he teased, though the truth was he hadn’t been able to sleep after returning late from the casino. The thought of being near her had kept him restless all night.
“I usually wake up around this time,” Rose countered, her face still flushed. “You’re the one who woke up too early.”
Antonio chuckled, amused by her endearing defensiveness. “You’re right. I couldn’t sleep, so I debated whether to sneak into your room or not.”
“You—!” Rose’s voice faltered as she glared at him, her face a brilliant shade of pink.
She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. “You’re going to be late for work if you don’t start getting ready.”
“I’m not going alone today,” Antonio replied, his tone suddenly serious. “You’re coming with me. We’re going to finalize the details for the auction and have your outfit fitted.”
He finally released her from his arms, watching as she quickly stood and created some distance between them.
“I’ll be waiting downstairs,” he said, his voice calm and even. “We’ll have breakfast together before we leave.”
With that, he exited the room, leaving Rose standing in a daze. Once she regained her composure, she moved to prepare herself for the day ahead.
Within twenty minutes, Rose emerged from her room, her appearance polished and ready. She found Antonio waiting in the sitting room, and together, they made their way to the dining area to share a quiet breakfast.