It s been a few days since Stefano has been at the clinic. Getting Stefano to rest at the clinic was not easy. He can be so stubborn when it comes to his health. I am on my way to visit him and bring some documents his secretary dropped off for him to sign. I have been spending most of my days and nights taking care of him. Every day I bring him a fresh set of clothes and food that Maria prepares because he hates the clinic food. Sometimes I stay overnight in case he needs anything. Stefano was not very pleased with me taking care of him. In fact, the first day he was here, he asked me to leave, but I refused because I wanted to make sure he was okay. His mother also contributed to him allowing me to take care of him. She told him if he did not let me take care of him, she would fly over and come and do it herself. Stefano said he rather have me than his mother worrying about him every day.
The clinic he is staying at belongs to his family. They have to avoid going to hospitals where the police would get involved if someone walks in with a gunshot wound. They have a separate wing at the clinic where only specific staff can work to avoid complications. Basically, everyone working in that wing works for the Costanzo Mafia family. I arrive at the clinic and walk straight to Stefano s room. I knock on the door before stepping inside. I walk inside to find him using his laptop.
"I thought the doctor asked you not to work."
"Yes, he did, but it does not mean I must do as he says" He is using the laptop with one hand.
"It does because he is your doctor, and you need to rest your body if you want to get back to work soon."
"I am already staying in the clinic, don t push it."
"Stefano, I know how important your work is, but you also need to take care of your body."
"I need to work because I don t see anyone doing it for me."
"I could do it," I say, without thinking.
"Why would you think you can or even think I would want you to?"
"Because I know how to handle business, and you need someone to fill in for you while you get better."
"As much as you think your offer is good, I will pass."
"I don t think you should because you need my help. I can see you struggling with one hand. I don t mind helping."
"And why should I trust you enough to help me handle my business."
"Because………….. I don t know, I am a friend, and friends trust each other," I say, but I regret it the second it leaves my mouth. I can t believe I called him my friend. We are far from friends. I didn t know what other reason to say for him to trust me.
"Your friend………….. Hmmm, I didn t know I was your friend," Stefano says, surprised. I wish the ground will swallow me right now. I am so embarrassed. Of course, we are not friends, we barely speak to each other with respect, and I am calling him my friend.
"Aurora is my friend, so that also makes you mine," I say, trying to cover up my embarrassing comment.
"No, it does not"
"Alright, maybe it does not, but I promise I only want to help, and we would do it together. I will work right in front of you to ease your mind," I say, expecting him to still refuse even though I wish he won t. He looks like he is considering it. He is about to speak when someone beats him to it.
"Just let her help you, son," A voice says from outside the door. The door opens, and the person that walks in is someone that I don t need to be told to know who he is. Stefano is the spitting image of him. The same green eyes with raven black hair, a handsome face that would make any woman fall in love, and the body of a gladiator.
"Hi, Mr. Costanzo"
"Call me Lorenzo dear; how are you?" He says, smiling at me
"I am good sir and you," I say, smiling back
"I am also doing fine."
"Hello, father"
"How are you doing, son."
"As I told you and mom on the phone, I am doing fine."
"I told her there was nothing to worry about, but you know your mother. She made me stop by on my way home from Canada to check up on you."
"I know how she can be, but you can see I am doing fine."
"Yes, I can, and you seem to be in the best hands," Mr. Costanzo says, referring to me.
"Courtesy of mother," Stefano says, sounding not very pleased with me taking care of him. I don t know why he does not want me to take care of him. It s not like I am asking for anything in return. I just want to make sure he is okay.
"Anyways, I overheard your conversation outside, and the lady is right; you should lay some days off work and let her help you."
"You really think I should trust her dad."
"Yes, I do; I have known her father since the day I could walk."
"Alright, if you say so."
"That s good, and I will see you tomorrow before I fly back to Sicily. Bye son"
"Goodbye, father"
I am so happy the lord sent Mr. Costanzo because I didn t see Stefano allowing me to help him. Once he leaves, Stefano lets me help him with his work. I also give him the documents I brought for him to sign before heading back to his office to finish up the work he left behind.
Stefano is getting discharged from the clinic today, and I am on my way to pick him up from the office. I am so happy he is getting released today. Ever since I started helping Stefano at the office, it has not been easy for me. Every day after I finish from the office, I go back to the clinic to report to Stefano. I have been feeling a little tired with the workload these past few days. I am so happy he will be going back to work soon, and he is also doing well. I arrive inside and walk to his room. I knock before entering and find him waiting for me by the bed.
"I m sorry I am a little late; it was hard finding a taxi."
"You know how important this meeting is to me, and you still decided to pick me up late."
Stefano has a meeting with one of his business partners at a ranch this afternoon. The first thing he wants to do the day he leaves the clinic is to go for a business meeting. I am not surprised at all.
"I know, and I am sorry,"
"You better hope they don t back down on the deal because you made us late."
"Hopefully, they won t; let s go," I say and walk outside with Stefano to meet Samuel with the car.
I stop in my tracks once I see the car Samuel is standing beside.
"OH MY GOD, I can t believe you have a Pagani Huayra and a Hermes edition; only a few of this car was made. I love this car."
"As much as I like you admiring my car, we are late, and we need to go."
"I know we are late, but can I Drive?"
"Of course not."
"Please, I beg you," I say, pleading desperately
"Are you being serious right now"
"Yes, I am"
"You are not driving my car; get in," He says in a harsh tone, sounding annoyed with me, so I quickly get into the car to avoid him getting angry. I know we are late for our meeting, but allowing me to drive would not make us late. I just really love the car, and it would be a dream come true for me to drive it.
We arrive at Mr. Carter s ranch after minutes of driving. We walk over to the stables to meet him. He is standing beside a beautiful black horse.
"Good day Mr. Carter," Stefano says
"How are you doing, Stefano? I am happy to see you outside of the clinic."
"I am doing fine, sir, and you?"
"Never been better, and I see you brought the beautiful lady from last time. How are you doing, Andrea?"
"I am doing great, Mr. Carter," I say, but I am far from doing fine. I am exhausted, and I want to sleep.
"Why don t we go into the house and discuss business," Mr. Carter says and starts walking towards the main house.
"Lead the way."
"Would Miss Andrea be joining us?" Mr. Carter asks on the way into the house
"Yes, she would; I hope you don t mind."
"Of course not. I did not know she was working for you."
"No, she does not. She only helped me handled my business while I recovered, which also explains why she is here. She is the one who drafted the proposal."
"Oh, that s nice, and shall we begin," Mr. Carter says, taking his seat in his office.
"Yes, we shall," Stefano says, taking a seat opposite Mr. Carter while I sit beside him.
An hour later, we leave Mr. Carter's ranch and head back. On the way back, I can t help myself and fall asleep. I am super exhausted from the stressful week I had. I took care of Stefano and assisted him at the office. Sometimes I ask myself why I am helping him so much when he has never appreciated me once for being nice to him.
I flutter my eyes open to check if we have arrived home but realize something else. I am moving but not with my legs. I am in someone s arms, and I wonder who s. My head is close to the person s heart, and the rhythm of his heart calms me down in a weird way. Being this close to the person makes me take in his cologne, and it s the most amazing manly cologne ever. I know who it is because of the cologne, but I can t bring myself to look up at him. I am even surprised he carried me. Stefano makes me lose my senses sometimes when he makes my heart flutter this way. Stefano does not know I am awake, so I close my eyes and go back to sleep because I am too tired to walk on my own right now. I am not fully asleep, so I hear his conversation with Samuel on the way up to the penthouse.
"Miss Andrea is sleeping peacefully," Samuel says
"She looked exhausted today; why," Stefano asks
"Sir, Miss Andrea has been working very hard to take care of you and the company. It has not been easy for her."
"I wonder why she would bother herself with things that concern me."
"Because Miss Andrea cares about you a lot, and you should thank her for it."
"She shouldn t care about me."
"I think it s already too late for that."
Why does Stefano not want me to care about him? Does he hate me, or did I do something wrong to him? I wonder why he would say such a thing.