Chapter 2 He smiles and nods awkwardly

Bianca

Sleep was something that never came naturally unless I was accompanied by mamá.

Knowing that she was going to lie next to me and watch over me until I fell asleep was always what lulled me into a state of bliss.

And so it only made sense that I couldn't fall asleep in this new, beautiful room. The anxiety of being in a new place was driving me insane, and so when I realized sleep wasn't going to come, I sat up in my bed.

I'd spent my day meeting some of the men and getting to know the staff. I'd lived a comfortable life with mamá, but we weren't wealthy enough to have maids, groundkeepers, and others working on call.

This was a different type of wealth.

The rest of my night had been spent in my new room, where I'd gotten ready for bed.

Knowing I was in the comfort of my room, I slipped on my favorite two-piece sleepwear set. It was a white two-piece number, a mixture of lace and silk, which made me feel cute yet sexy at the same time.

It clung to my hourglass frame, the shirt cropping just below my breasts due to their size, of them, and the shorts a little on the smaller size, but I was comfortable in them nonetheless.

I wasn't wearing a bra, nor did I ever when wearing sleepwear, because it was uncomfortable. Even though my breasts were on the larger side, I needed to let them breathe.

Slipping on my pink fuzzy slippers, I walk out into the empty hallway. The cool air hits the bare skin of my arms, stomach, and legs, making me shiver and wish I wore my robe. But I just needed to quickly grab a glass of water from the kitchen.

The silence in the hallway is eerily unsettling. I glance down the hall towards the black double doors and briefly wonder when I'll meet Alessio.

What would he be like?

I had yet to find out if the man was truly as great as mamá claimed him to be. Liam had informed me that Alessio was a very busy man. Always working and on the go, so I highly doubted I would be seeing any of him anytime soon.

My slippers slap against the marble floors as I move down the hall, but I stop short as my head snaps towards the stairs where the sound of footfall echoes through the dimly lit hallway.

No one was to be up here, but a single glance at the stranger before me makes me shut my mouth. There was no way I was going to be the one to tell him off.

The man was tall and broad, his dark hair on display as he looked down, pulling at his black tie, his other hand undoing the button of his perfectly tailored blazer. His large calloused hands then moved to loosen the top buttons of the white dress shirt underneath, exposing the firm-looking tan skin of his chest, where a gold chain poked out.

It was only when he got to the top of the stairs and looked up that my eyes widened.

Wow.

Never had I seen a man so devilishly handsome.

He was strong, I could tell that much, and not just in the physical sense. Sure, his broad frame and muscular physique were eye-catching, but his presence was utterly dominating and intimidating.

It was enough to have me sucking in a lungful of air in fear that his presence would swallow it all up.

He had beautiful tan skin and high-def cheekbones that complemented his strong jaw, where hints of a five o'clock shadow peeked out. His features were so rugged yet angelic.

His striking dark brown eyes were cold and calculating, those of a powerful man who knew what he wanted and knew how to get it. And right now they were glaring at me.

Trapped by his gaze, I could do nothing but watch as he took long strides towards me, and all I could think of was how alluring the way in which he walked was. He walked with pure dominance, like he knew the power he had, yet never gave too much away.

There was no way this was a regular man.

I'm snapped from my thoughts at the sound of his sharp voice, a voice that's filled with malice. "Who's letting puttane into my house, up on my floor?" He snaps, the pent-up rage and frustration clear in his voice. There's a slight hint of an Italian accent, making his booming voice all the more threatening. (Whores)

His tone sends alarm bells throughout my body, so much so that I find myself taking a threatened step back.

He didn't even have the decency to look at me; instead, he spat the words into the air as if someone would magically appear and give him the answer.

My eyes widen as I stare up at him in horror. I look closely at the dark bags beneath his eyes, frustration and fatigue written all across his perfectly structured face. But it's still no excuse for the way in which he's treating me.

This is why I didn't like men like him. They made me feel small and weak, and I couldn't even begin to explain the way fear would paralyze my body.

His large hand grips my forearm roughly, and before I know it, he's dragging me towards the stairs, my steps barely able to keep up with his long strides.

I open my mouth and push past the shock and fear at the sight of this stranger dragging me away. "Stop! Stop!" I breathe in complete horror.

I look up to find his jaw clenched and eyes glaring ahead. I try to yank my arm out of his grasp, and he only tightens it. "There's been a mistake. That's my bedroom! I'm staying here." I say frantically, biting down on my lower lip as tears gather in my eyes once the reality of who this man is settles in.

This vile man was nothing like mamá made him out to be. He was cruel, mean, abusive, and arguably worse than my papá.

The man stops, his broad shoulders tense before he lets go of my arm, immediately spinning around to blink down at me.

I stare up at him, my lower lip wobbling as I take a step back away from the man whose face is now scrunched up in slight confusion mixed with disbelief. "Bianca?" It's a deep, breathless whisper, like he knows the answer but doesn't want it to be true.

I nod, wiping at the tears before wrapping my arms around myself, in an attempt to cover my body from him.

"Cazzo," I hear him curse, pinching his eyes shut and digging the palms of his hands into his eyes, rubbing profusely. (Fuck)

His eyes open, and it's as if seeing me for the first time when he steps closer, his eyes immediately softening.

I take a step back.

"I'm so sorry, Principessa. Please forgive me, I... I only thought you would be younger. You look so... so different from when I last heard of you." He mumbles, his eyes snapping down my body in bewilderment before he instantly snaps them away as if it's a sin to glance at me.

"You mean when I was thirteen? Five years ago?" I spit in frustration, my face scrunching up into one of outrage as I sneer at the man.

The man before me's shoulders slump, proving just how in need of a nap he is, but I ignore my instincts telling me to help him.

He didn't deserve it.

"I don't know what I was thinking. Of course, you would grow into a beautiful young lady." He shakes his head, his brows furrowing as he looks me right in the eye. "I'm truly sorry if I terrified you and came off as harsh. I won't ever touch you like that again, I promise." The words roll off his tongue in a deep murmur, his voice soft and soothing, a complete contrast from before.

Deciding I wanted to just leave, I tightened my arms around myself and nodded hesitantly.

His eyes holding regret and uncertainty, scan my face before he goes to step closer, but then stops himself as if thinking better of it. "Please don't hesitate to let me know if there is anything I can do. I know my actions don't prove it, but I am here to help you." He says seriously.

I stare back at him, my tears drying on my face as I give him an unconvinced nod, knowing all I wanted was to stay away from him.

But before he can say anything else, I turn and scurry off into my bedroom, only allowing myself to breathe once I know I'm in the safety of my bed.

It didn't take a complete genius to realize that was Alessio Galanti - the man who was to be taking care of me.

Yet he seemed anything but caring.

. . .

Breakfast was served first thing in the morning, and it was like tradition for all the men to gather and eat together in the dining room.

I make my way down the stairs after getting ready for my day. Luckily, I didn't go back to school until tomorrow, so I had one less thing on my plate.

Greeting the house attendants and maids as I passed them, I made my way to the dining room.

It was a large room where an even larger wooden table sat in the middle, and the men gathered around it, eating their breakfast.

Making my way into the room, I make eye contact with the man sitting at the head of the table, listening to the man on his left say something in his ear, but I quickly snap my eyes away from Alessio.

Yet I can feel his eyes intently watching me as I hesitantly make my way to the chair on Liam's left, which also happens to be adjacent to him. I divert my gaze, immediately growing uncomfortable once I remember the encounter last night, as I lean over and greet Liam with a morning peck on his cheek.

Liam turns, smiling at me, "How did you sleep, Tweety?" A few of the other men turn to listen in as their conversations die down, and all attention turns to me.

"Fine." I smile politely as they all take the cue to resume with what they were doing. I had gathered it was a sign of respect or courtesy for a new guest, but it was weird.

I look down and begin picking at the breakfast laid before me, all the while feeling the gaze of the man to my left.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Did you meet Alessio?" Liam asks from next to me, "He's been the one making all your arrangements so that your transition here is smooth." Liam continues as I lift my head, looking towards Alessio, who sends me a soft, forced, polite smile.

Although I didn't know the man, the action felt foreign, and the soft tinge of guilt spreading across his face looked to be an even more infrequent thing.

I send him a tight-lipped smile back for the sake of everyone else before ignoring him and going back to my food.

Liam nudges my side. "Bianca. Where are your manners?" He hisses at me, and I want to roll my eyes. He could be such a kiss ass.

"It's fine, Liam. We already met briefly yesterday. She's a lovely girl. Just as sweet as everyone says she is." Alessio chimes in, his deep voice so commanding and loud that it naturally causes all other conversations to dim as the attention drifts to him.

I glance at Liam from the corner of my eye to see him still glaring at me expectantly. I know what he's trying to tell me, and so I slowly turn my head towards Alessio. "Thank you." I force out.

He smiles and nods awkwardly, yet his demeanour is still void of any hostility, unlike last night.