a's

to prepare f

y hands on my green knee-length gown. I was grateful because I could finally escap

as to formally resume so every percent o

lo surfaced. Snickering, I did a victory dance in my head. Gonzalo's facial expression had been p

to calm down as the image of those blue eyes that had scanned everything in my body flashed b

laring while he'd asked me to prepare his bath.

release a yelp. A frown pulled onto my face as I fished for the phone

ailed off and bi

him was at school when I had represented my department in a de

ad met in the hall on the day of the competition, both going at it with stub

inly didn't know was that I had developed a slight crush on him. The guy was good-looking and had sleek black hair and deep cho

he device and I slowly swiped my thumb over it. Speaking

llo

sounded like a lullaby in my ears. The endea

h he was the school's sweetheart, he had assured me that he would sti

him, but he wanted me alone. This made m

ht hand came up and locked in a strand of my hai

. Why would he want to know where

y mama's place." M

nd and oh, what I would have

u still call your mom '

is declaration, it was defense. H

owly bit my lower lip but my smile had slowly faltered. I didn't see anything wro

f you'd like to ge

here's

bea

my best friend, Adrian, had been there with Lucas, her boyfriend,d, so many times. My hand left my hair

ou the

bit mocking, and I hated it because it made me feel self-conscious

you've never be

e been to a pool

each? Wow, you're hot and all... I thought you wer

me. Turning around, I almost screamed when I came face to face with a flat chest. Toned, chiseled, and str

it

e to jolly in the nice view because I trailed those eyes upward and stiffened when I came

ver seemed to be on my side when it came to this man. Heck

r word out as I kept stuttering, avoi

." He spoke calmly again

ople still had that Italian accent heavy in their tongues after the modernization and others didn't even understand

and it didn't ease my flustered self. The young master was talki

taunted on the line. Shut up...I was temp

was the most normal thing on earth. I felt my heart flu

red. "Wh

hoped I would faint anytime soon. A smile almost tugged at my lips because I

ll these while?" Marcus spoke in utter disbelief. I blinked; I'd almost forgotte

I don'

ime you call this line again, you'll be in trouble." He grab

I slowly licked my lips, waiting for him to speak, but he didn't. H

phone back into my now cold hands, his touch warm as w

ank yo

hed for the umpteenth time and berated myself for it. I should learn to act more formally and confidentl

t we

ve any contact with tha

he wasn't around me, I would have big plans of countering his orders in defian

s his

n," I spoke wit

ork harder than I was doing so I would take my madre with me, and we would be fine on our own without feeling h

ave

ell me twice. I was