Chapter Six

"What?"

He took two steps back, from me and then turned toward the door that just opened, breaking our little intense moment. Karen walked in with an uncomfortable stare on her face. Surely, she's seen the eye Lock I and her boss were having just now.

"I got you coffee" Karen said, handing me the cup. I took it gracefully, sending a thank you, her way.

"Is there anything scheduled today again?" Fabrico asked his PA.

"Tons. You have that meeting with the real estate management from Singapore. Also, You have a meeting with those ball hosters..." As she spoke,  I concentrated on finishing the coffee in my hand.

"Also, you have a press announcement to make by this afternoon..."

"Cancel them all" Fabrico said and I nearly chocked on my coffee. Karen shook her head in disagreement.

"I can't. You have to be seen in those meetings and the press...The press..."

"Did you not hear anything I said?" Fabrico asked her. There was silence.

Crickets.

A pin could be heard in the room.

"Sure. I'll do it" She said finally and walked out of the room with an attitude to her step. Good riddance.

Fabrico turned to me. "How about we have dinner"

...

The waiter placed a plate of Thyme and pepper crusted beef with horse radish crème in front of Fabrico and a plate of Roasted pork with apricot and grape stuffing in front of me.

Here I am seating in an expensive restaurant with Fabrico Zunino in front of me. All around us, people dressed glamorously while I was dressed in red suit and pant but I wasn't intimidated.  It's my style of clothing.

"You know much about me but I don't know anything about you" He said, dipping his fork into the beef.

"All I know is what others know" I said with a smile. Fabrico stared at me for some time before looking down at his plate.

"And what do others know about you?" He asked.

"Nothing"

He dropped his fork after taking a bite of his beef and dabbed his mouth with the table napkin.

"So you not only hide your appearance but your emotions and lifestyle?"

I do not want to be having this kind of heart to heart talk with him. It's too toxic. His are were burning my soul and I was sweating like a sinner in church.

"This is good pork" I complimented the food. He chuckled, staring at me.

"Don't try to change the subject" He filled his glass with champaign before filling mine.

"I don't even know why we're here...together" I said looking down. "You're a billoniare and I'm just a worker at PHT.  What could you possibly want from me? Is this even good for your image?"

"I can be with whoever I want to be, Selene" He said.

He doesn't get it does he?...

"Tell me. Why do you dress like that?" He asked, trying for it not to sound accusing.

"It's my style of clothe"

"I feel like you're trying to hide something" He accused and I dropped my fork down, loosing my appetite. Ok...now he's just playing dirty.

"I'm sorry, I don't dress like the kind of models and actresses you date, but this is who I am" I pin-pointed.  His expression remained the same. fuck! Does this guy have a word-proof ear?

"I'm not trying to insult the way your dress" He tried justifying himself and I chuckled humourlessly.

"You're the one who said you didn't order for a clown" I stated , referring to his early statement when he saw me, at his office.

"I didn't mean to insult you Selene" His eyes wondered to my clothe. "You have a good body." He said.

I crossed my legs feeling uncomfortable and he's not helping by saying things like "I find you attractive" and "you have a good body".

"You don't know that"

"I know a pretty woman when I see one" He said. His eyes were not leaving mine.

"Stop. Please, you're making me uncomfortable" I blurted. He smiled without wavering his stare.

"I speak only the truth" He said.

I stared round the restaurant with a sarcastic smile on my face. "Are you trying to come unto me?" I asked.

Fabrico placed his hands on the table, still not breaking his stare. "Would that be bad?"

I felt my cheeks heat up as I looked away. This cannot be happening. Fabrico cannot be hitting on me. This would fulfil all of Kay's dreams and this could ruin my soul.

"Yes. It would be"

"Why?"

"Look at you and look at me" I sighed in exasperation. He did look at the both of us, quizzically.

"I don't see anything wrong"

"I don't date" I said and he smiled slyly.

"Neither do I."

I stared down at my plate at the pork I'd once admired and grimaced at how cold it must be now. Why Is he doing this? Is he trying to make me loose my job? I stared at his face again and was captivated at how his golden orbs gleamed anytime he smiled at me.

"What do you want, Fabrico?" I said calling him by his name for the first time since we met. He smiled with satisfaction.

"I want you"

I looked at him, stunned to silence as he stared at me,  not backing down on what he just said. He means it then. But why?...

"I don't want love Fabrico." His name was beginning to sound sweet in my mouth. "I don't want a man to come home to. I'm happy with my independent life and most especially, I want and love my job" I said ". It's the only thing I have to hang unto. The only thing I live for. My job. Love and family has done me no good since the beginning of my life and I'm not ready to fall into any thing right now"

He was quiet at my confession.

I just poured my heart and life out to a complete stranger and one I'm not sure I can rely on. Maybe I should go now. First, I embarrass myself in front of Emiliano and now, I pour my disgusting life to Fabrico. Two brothers.  How awesome.

"I knew you were hiding something, Selene" He said calmly, studying me.

"I have nothing to hide"

"You were hurt in the past" He said again as if challenging me to lie against what he just said. "I understand" Fabrico said and I stared at him remembering how his fiance cheated on him with his friend.

"I'm sorry about your Fiance" I said.

He looked at me with a small smile on his face. "I see you checked that up" he said and my face heated up, embarrassed about being caught.

"It's...its public news" I lied.

He raised his hands in defence. "I'm not holding it against you Selene. The media knows too much about me anyway. Too much than I want them to know" He said.

"And you're a twin" I commented. His eyes wavered a bit.

"I don't want to talk about that" So he has a thing he doesn't like to talk about to. I respect that. He looked at me again with unwavering eyes.

"I don't want love too"

I chuckled. "What?"

"We don't have to love each other but still find a way to quench our craving" He said and my eyes widened.

"I never said I craved you"

"It's all over your face, Selene.  I don't know if you've noticed but I have a specialty at reading people" He said. No wonder he could see through my facade. My wig, my rimmed eyeglass, my suit and still call me a pretty woman.

"Whatever. " I pushed my plate aside. The pork is probably stale now. The waiter came back and took our plates but our drinks remained. "I'm here on business. I don't want to loose my job"

"You won't loose your job."

"You're supposed to be my company's investor. It's quite inappropriate if I have an affair with you" I pointed out.

"Nobody needs to know. We can see each other anytime you come and anytime I come over to Seattle for business, we can still see then" He drank the final liquid in his glass and set it down.

"This is crazy" I mumbled. "Why would you even want me? You can have whatever model you want in Miami. Why me?"

"I don't want just any model. I want you. I told you already, I feel an attraction to you"

"And I told you, I don't want love"

"It's just sex, Selene" he said and I gasped at him. He can't just say things like this in a public place, randomly.

Fuck! I can't believe I'm even considering this!...my job! Corby he trusted me. Sent me on this assignment and now I'm going to betray him?...Kay...of course she'll want me to do this but....

Staring at this handsome man in front of me, promising me only pleasure and not love, calling me a pretty woman and saying nobody has to know, it's exciting and daring. I stared at Fabrico.

"I don't want my life on the media"

"I know. It won't be" Fabrico said.