Chapter 4 04

04

With a subtle shake of her head, she tried to clear her clouded mind which seemed fixated to revert back to that damned man. Surely, she couldn't be drunk after half a glass of Mojito? Even if she was not a heavy drinker, there was not enough alcohol in her system to clog her mind. Maybe, the weight of a lifetime of solitude was becoming too heavy to bear, but she inherently knew it was a mere excuse.

Had loneliness truly been the issue, she would have welcomed one of the flirtatious advances she'd been getting that night. Would have smiled, flirted back, maybe even accepted a drink. But no – it wasn't loneliness that twisted her insides into knots.

It was him.

She accepted it – finally – and immediately felt better.

There was no point in duping herself; such deception would only wreak further confusion inside her already unsettled mind. Once she'd acknowledged the fact that he was inevitable, an inescapable presence, she inexorably felt better, the uneasiness disappearing to be replaced by unbridled energy that vibrated through her veins.

She should perhaps use the incentive of her holiday as an excuse for personal development? A perfect opportunity for self-discovery. Besides, it might even prove to induce some fun into her pathetic life, a sense of adventure which had been clearly lacking from the very beginning. Wasn't that the goal after all? To experience something new. To step out of her comfort zone.

What harm could a few drinks in his company cause apart from helping to quench her gnawing loneliness?

Some salacious flirtations maybe.

Without the need to get deeply involved.

Without the need to let it mean something more.

She could do this – she could do casual even in her sleep!

Invigorated by the new idea, which thrilled her more than it should have, she tried a casual glance towards the place where the stranger had been sitting, her pulse fluttering with anticipation.

Only to find the space vacant.

The dismay which filled her made a mockery of her feigned insouciance.

What was wrong with her?

She'd just turned twenty with no prospect of anything remotely romantic in her life. Then why was the prospect of not speaking to a stranger again tearing her apart, like she was on the verge of a serious heart attack?

It was an atypical behavior for her; guys had never been her topmost priority, and she'd never been in any serious relationship. It had simply never interested her – the games, the expectations, the heartbreaks.

It seemed that her lack of appeal to the opposite sex had caught up with a vengeance tonight.

That kind of fatal attraction she felt for a complete stranger was unhealthy, albeit the fact that the man was so sexy that any woman would swoon over him without shame.

It was just a crush, she told herself firmly, there was no need to make a big deal out of it.

It meant nothing.

It had to mean nothing.

She would work it out of her system. Like a bad fever.

Maybe a cold shower would do the trick. Maybe immersing herself in the exploration of Milan would divert her thoughts. Maybe a dozen maybes, none of which sounded remotely convincing even to herself.

Ana pushed herself away from the bar, gathering her purse and her dignity with a deep breath, and made her way to the elevators.

Tomorrow, she promised herself, would be different.

She would lose herself in museums, in art galleries, in the cobbled streets of the old city.

Anything to forget a pair of green eyes that had seared themselves into her very soul.

Hours later, the day did bring a certain respite.

The city had unfolded itself like a living canvas before her.

Milan – with its magnificent cathedrals, vibrant piazzas, intricate architecture, and timeless charm – had captured her attention and wrapped her in a cocoon of wonder. The monumental buildings stood pristine and proud, a testament to centuries of history and culture.

Ana found herself mesmerized, trailing her fingers along ancient stone walls, getting lost in narrow alleys, tasting gelato under the golden afternoon sun.

For a time, the stranger's haunting image had faded into the background, buried under awe and discovery.

But as dusk approached and she returned to her hotel, the illusion of forgetfulness shattered like fragile glass.

As if on cue, her eyes landed on him the moment she stepped into the lobby.

He was there.

Standing near the bar counter, tall and unmistakable.

And she felt the full impact of his green gaze hitting her like a physical blow, staggering her under the sheer intensity of it.

All her good resolutions evaporated in a jiffy, as if they had never existed at all.

An amalgam of emotions came back with a vengeance – longing, excitement, trepidation, raw anticipation – crashing into her like a tidal wave.

Almost blindly, she stumbled towards the bar counter, her heart hammering against her ribs in an uneven tempo.

The bartender, sensing her distress perhaps, poured her something strong without question.

Ana didn't even bother to ask what it was.

She gulped it down in one mouthful, gagging slightly at the acrid taste that burned her throat and made her eyes water.

In that moment of insanity, she needed all the courage she could gather.

All the morale boost to decide whether she should act on the folly building inside her or continue to ignore it like a coward.

Her hands trembled slightly as she set the glass down. She could feel his gaze still on her, unwavering, as if he was silently urging her to make a decision.

The room around her seemed to fade into insignificance, the hum of conversation, the clink of glassware, the low music playing overhead – all of it became a distant murmur against the roaring in her ears.

It was a simple choice.

Walk away and never know what could have been.

Or take a risk and maybe, just maybe, find something worth remembering for the rest of her life.

Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, nails digging into her palms.

She had always been cautious. Careful. Measured.

Maybe it was time to be something else for once.

Maybe it was time to be reckless.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, Anastasia Hazel Forrester slowly turned toward the green-eyed stranger, her heart pounding with a mix of terror and exhilaration.

And for the first time in her life, she smiled first.