Elena's POV:
Morning creeps in softly, and light filters into the room through the curtains. The first person that comes to my mind is Adrian.
It's been a whole day since the dinner, but somehow, I always find myself drifting back to that night. I keep replaying the night in my head, more times than I'd like to admit. The way his jaw clenched, the way his eyes darkened when Matteo made that comment.
He had lost control. Something that had never happened before. He's always composed, calculated. But he lost his composure because of me.
At first, I was startled by his sudden reaction, and the way anger had overcome him, but then heat shot through my chest as he defended me.
I remember his exact words, "I won't sit down and watch my wife be disrespected by another man."
I couldn't help but wonder what exactly he meant by those words. Did he actually care that I was being sexualized? Or was his ego hurt because his fellow man spoke about his wife like that in his presence and he felt disrespected?
That night, everything I did was intentional. Matteo is the least funniest person I had ever met. I just pretended to laugh at whatever he said because I wanted to annoy Adrian.
I felt hurt the other night when he said those things. I felt like a fool. I had thought that if we were at least cordial, then this whole marriage thing between us wouldn't be so complicated.
But he had made it very clear to me that I was never in the books for him, and he doesn't want to have anything to do with me.
I just wanted to get a reaction out of him by speaking and laughing with other men, but it backfired real quick.
I felt disgusted by what Matteo said. But when Adrian threatened him, I knew that he wasn't bluffing. He would really do what he said, but I don't know what stopped him.
That aside, I haven't spoken to Adrian since that day. I feel like he's been avoiding me. I've barely even seen him. He's always out before I wake, and back after I've slept.
I sigh and push myself out of bed. It's Saturday. It's been a really crazy long week and I just can't wait for it to end. Not that anything will change.
I make my way downstairs. "Good morning, Lucia," I greet as I enter the kitchen.
"Morning, Mrs. Moretti," She beams at me. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, thank you," I force a smile.
"That's good, dear. Give me two minutes. Your breakfast will be ready," she says, and smiles before going back to her work.
My gaze shifts to my phone on the counter. I thought it was something that I'd need, or that it would at least elevate some of my loneliness, but when I got it, I didn't find anything about it interesting. I left it on the counter yesterday. In fact, I had even forgotten I even had one.
I pick it up and unlock it. Scrolling through the phone, I come across something that makes me pause. Adrian's name is saved on my contact list. In fact, it's the only number.
He probably put it there so he can keep an eye on me.
A sudden thought comes to mind. I dial a number on the phone and press call.
The phone rings. Once, twice, thrice...
"Babushka?"
"Elena?" A soft voice comes from the other line.
"Elena, moya lyubov…" her accent is still as thick as I last remember. "You didn't tell me you changed your number again. How are you doing, sweetheart?"
I laugh softly. "I'm fine, babushka. And you? Have you been taking care of yourself? Eating well?"
"Of course, dear, I wouldn't want you to worry. It's good that you called me. I was beginning to think you had forgotten your old grandmother," she shrieks.
"I could never forget you," I say, laughing softly. "I've just been a bit busy these past few days. Adjusting to a few things."
"Hmmm…that's fine. But make sure you don't overwork yourself. And get enough sleep."
"I will."
There's a short pause. None of us say a thing.
"I hope your father doesn't hurt you anymore," her voice finally comes through.
"No, babush," I shake my head even though she can't see me. "He stopped. I promise you I'm fine, don't worry about things like that."
She lets out a deep sigh. "Hmm. As long as you are safe, my darling. I just want you to be safe and that's all. If you can't stay there anymore, you know you can always come to me. And you can bring Anya too. I have missed the little girl."
My heart twists instantly. Anya... The mention of my sister's name strikes a chord in my chest.
She doesn't know anything about Anya or the marriage, and I'm not going to tell her. I don't want her to worry.
"You know I can't do that, babush. But I promise you we're all fine. You don't need to worry. If I ever need you, I'll just call, so you don't have to worry. Just take care of yourself. I can handle myself and Anya."
"Okay then. Just be safe, okay?"
"Yes, babush," I answer with a faint smile.
"All right then. It's time for my injections so I'll just leave you to go back to what you were doing, okay? I love you, my darling."
"I love you too, babush."
The call ends, leaving a quiet hum in my ears, and a faint ache in my chest.
I sit there for a long moment, pondering on things I shouldn't, but I can't help it.
"Lucia," I say finally, glancing up. "Is Adrian home?"
"Oh yes, I'm sure he's working out in the gym. He works out there every Saturday."
My heart skips a beat. I don't know if it's from the fact that he's home, or that he's probably in the gym, shirtless, and sweaty. Warmth spreads throughout my body, and I swallow to calm myself down.
"Will you join him?" Lucia asks with a smile.
I snicker. "I'm not sure about that. I just wanted to know if he's home."
"If you say so," she shrugs and goes back to work.
After breakfast, I find myself wandering toward the lower floor. There's a swimming pool on the top floor, and outside too, but for some reason, I want to use the one in the gym.
I had put on a black bikini that had been sitting in my wardrobe for months. One I've always thought was too revealing for me. But somehow, today seems like the perfect day for it.
The fabric is smooth, and unexpectedly comfortable given how little it is.
It barely covers me. The top is cut low across my chest, supported by thin straps that frame my shoulders before crossing at my back.
The bottom rises high on my hips, dipping low at the front. I'm a bit scared that if I move too much in it, I might just end up flashing someone.
I covered up with a robe before I left my room though. I'm not all that bold.
As I get closer to the gym, I can hear the rhythmic clank of weights. I peek through the half-open door, and my breath catches.
I have never seen a man with a broader back in my life. He's shirtless, just as I imagined, with his back turned to me, and sweat glistening down his shoulders and back.
My eyes dart down. His grey sweats sit dangerously low on his waist. I want to look away, I promise I do, but I can't.
The way his muscles flex as he lifts his weight, almost effortlessly. The way his back strains, and his biceps pop. The sight of it just seems so… unholy.
And did I mention the tattoo that runs all the way from the back of his neck, down, and gets lost under his sweats?
Sudden warmth spreads through my body and settles low in my stomach.
"Are you just going to stand there?" A deep voice startles me, and I jump back, almost losing my balance.
He drops his weight and turns to face me, and I swallow at the sight. Sweat clings to his skin, and normally, I would be irritated by so much sweat, but in his case, it only makes him ten times more attractive.
His hair is damp, and a few strands stick to his temples. My eyes dance over his sleeve tattoo. I don't know what's drawn on it, but I know it must be meaningful.
There's another tattoo on the left side of his chest. From over here, it looks more like a dragon, but I'm not quite sure.
His abs tighten as he breathes and I can't help but count them. Eight packs. He has eight packs!!! I thought I only heard that in fictional movies.
My eyes droop lower before I can stop myself, to his evident V-line and I wonder what is underneath that...
"Are you done, Elena?" His voice comes through again.
"What? No! I mean, yes! I uhh…I just, Lucia told me you'd be in here, I didn't mean to interrupt!" I rush out, trying to calm myself.
His gaze narrows, and he just stares at me but doesn't say anything.
"Uhm…do you mind if I swim here? The pool here is wider than the one upstairs." I wait for his answer, somehow expecting him to reject it.
"Do what you want. It's your house as well."
Ohh.
"Okay."
I don't know what I'm doing, and my mind is hazy. But it's too late for me to back down now. With our gazes fixed on each other, I untie my robe and let it fall to the floor.
Adrian intakes a sharp breath as soon as the material hits the floor. His eyes darken immediately and something shifts in them, but it's gone the next second.
His eyes scan me, from head to toe, slowly, deliberately, with a hint of darkness. His pupils dilate.
I take a few deep breaths and start to walk towards him, but then I move past him, to the pool, our arms almost brushing.
The air carries his smell to my nose. Woody scent and sweat. And even though I hate to admit it, I think I'm obsessed with his smell.
He moves to sit on the bench that faces directly at me.
As I slip into the water, the cold bites at my skin. I start swimming, stroking slowly and steady, trying to focus on the rhythm and not the awareness prickling down my spine.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand.
No matter how hard I try to ignore it, I can still feel his gaze on me, and for some reason, it makes me hot all over.
I didn't think that I would be able to pull it off. That I'd get him to watch me. But maybe I didn't even need to try too much.
After a few laps, I pull myself out of the water. It streams down my skin in thin rivulets, and my hair is dripping.
I reach for a towel, acutely aware of his presence. I should go. I've played enough tricks for today. But my mouth opens of its own accord.
"You seem to work out a lot. You're quite…toned. Don't you think it's intimidating to others? Do you like intimidating people?" I blurt out.
"I like being in control," he says, standing up, as his gaze sweeps over me. "You understand that, don't you?"
I open my mouth and close it again. What am I supposed to say to that?
He walks towards me, and as I watch him, my heart starts beating fast. It's like anytime we're in close proximity, my body starts acting abnormally. Like it has a mind of its own.
His eyes watch me as he reaches me, towering over me. His hand comes up, and he grabs my strap between his fingers, then lets it bounce back on my skin.
The action stings, earning a slight gasp from my lips. His jaw clenches, and I see it again. The flick in his eyes.
"You really don't know what you're playing at, do you?"
"What do you mean?" My eyes don't leave his.
He doesn't answer. Instead, he does what I would least expect.
He turns and walks off.
When he disappears, I sink back on the pool rail, my pulse still uneven.
I had a plan to seduce him, or I think I did. I just wanted to gain his attention, but everything I do always seems to backfire. Because now I've come to a dreadful realization.
I might be attracted to Adrian.