Chapter 97

Stella

The boxes in my apartment tower over everything that I own. The cardboard boxes fill my vision no matter where I turn to look, turning my once cutely decorated apartment into a cat’s dream with the amount of boxes that sit across it.

I moved back in just a week ago and my parents thought that sending me with new clothes, dishes, decorations, and even mugs would have been a good idea for me to take. I am grateful, though, for their support. After awhile, I finally felt like it was safe for me to come back to my own place.

After spending all of that time in their home, I began to miss having some time for myself and the privacy that I wanted so desperately to have. Now I do and I have never been happier!

Well, as happy as I can be, at least.

I poke my head into the boxes, looking at the black dress bags that sit inside. My lips push to one side of my face as it scrunches up. I have to tear my gaze away from them so I do not upset myself further.

My father has been so pushy after my date with Dante. He is disappointed in the fact that Dante and I did not work out with each other, but after I told him how he treated me and what he has done, my father apologized and let me have the rest of the week off from talking about dates. But now that the week is up and has come and gone, he thought sending dresses would encourage me to be more excited about the date I have tonight with a man named Benji.

Benji, according to my father, is one of the sons of a lower mafia family. They are in charge of importing and exporting goods such as olive oil and fruits. They also smuggle in goods such as weapons and drugs, which is something I do not wish to know more about, and how that the topic doesn’t come into the conversation.

I sigh and turn away, walking deeper into my apartment and into my bedroom. The room itself is messy with clothes scattered about but I could care less about what it looks like. It will be clean sooner or later, it doesn’t have to be right now.

I grab a black dress that hangs from my door and slip it over my body. The zipper gets stuck halfway through but I push it through, feeling it hug my body. I turn towards the mirror and look at myself.

It is a cute outfit and my makeup looks good with it. It is just a shame that it will be wasted on Benji, who I already know that I am going to hate or greatly dislike, when it could have been used at a shareholder gala with Adrian or another public mafia event with my family.

Nearby sit my high heels. I hesitate to reach out for them, not wanting to leave my apartment, a wave of introversion hitting me.

Should I call and tell him that I have the flu? Will he believe that? Or will he think that I am running out on him from this date and see it as an insult?

Ugh, my head hurts from all of this thinking. Who am I kidding? He is probably just as nervous as I am for the date. Maybe he too does not want to marry for convenience or an alliance within the mafia underworld.

I slip my high heels onto my feet and take one last look at myself in the mirror. A frown spreads across my face and I try my best to replace it with a bright smile but…but I am just so tired tonight. I do not think I have it in me to continue to be fake tonight and pretend that everything is okay.

The journey from my apartment to the bottom floor feels like it was an eternity. My heart pounds in my chest and my hands grow clammy. I feel like a cow that its owner is ready to sell off or trade for goods.

I exit the elevator and glance at my phone, seeing that I am right on time for Benji to come pick me up. Pushing through the lobby doors, the night breeze is a bit chilly tonight. There is a commotion outside and I immediately freeze, remember what happened to me last week.

I look up and see Sebastian yelling at a man who stands beside his car. I raise my eyebrow and move towards the encounter, listening as Sebastian tells Benji to fuck off into the sunset.

“Sebastian?!” I raise my voice. He immediately turns around and looks at me as Benji gets back into his car and drives away. “What are you doing here?”

“You can’t keep dating these men,” Sebastian is out of breath. He approaches me and takes my hand, turning me back around and leads me inside the apartment building once again. “I can’t let you do this!”

“What are you talking about, Seb? What’s going on?” I step into the elevator with him.

He presses the button to my floor. I move away and press my back to one of the elevator walls, looking at him with a wild expression on my face. Sebastian stands on the opposite side of the elevator.

His eyes move up and down my body, gaze darkening. I swallow the lump in my throat and my breath hitches when he strides towards me. He looks down at me and places a hand against the elevator wall, trapping me in.

“Date me.”

“What?” I gasp.

“I have feelings for you, Stella, and seeing you give every other man attention but me is driving me fucking crazy,” Sebastian’s voice is desperate, pleading.

“You…you couldn’t possibly mean that, Sebastian,” I let out a quiet laugh, still in shock from what it is that I am hearing.

“I meant every word,” Sebastian continues. He reaches out and cups my face. “Please, Stella, give me one chance to show to you that I am the man who will make you happiest in your life.”

What is going on? What is happening?

I am unable to speak, to form a coherent sentence. Sebastian…likes me? He’s my brother, my adoptive brother…when did he start to have these feelings for me?

Maybe…maybe there is a chance between us. My father knows the kind of man that he is, someone kind and caring and who is very protective of me. We already know everything there is to know about each other and there wouldn’t be another awkward first date between us…

“Okay,” I breathe out with a slight nod. Sebastian’s face lights up.

“Yeah? You want to?” Sebastian asks. He leans in closer to me and I nod, a small blush overtaking my face from his sudden closeness.

Sebastian’s hands move to my waist and he pulls me against him, a victorious laugh leaving his mouth. I laugh with him and place my hands on his chest. Even I am surprised by my decision. I just hope that it is the right one.