It was Sunday today, and I allowed myself to relax. Why not take a walk around Milan? Ella was busy with some errands, so I would be like a lonely bird today. I dressed quite simply: blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and a sweater over it, white sneakers. I didn’t want to bother with my hair, so I just made a braid. The weather outside was wonderful, sunny, and there was almost no wind. One of my favorite songs, Sweater Weather by The Neighbourhood, was playing in my headphones, which immediately lifted my spirits. The sun shone on my face, so I had to put on my large sunglasses. Around me, people were in no hurry. In such moments, I enjoy life. Milan is a beautiful city, its architecture, art, and fashion. It is famous for luxurious restaurants and boutiques, as well as the gothic Duomo Cathedral and the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where you can see Leonardo da Vinci’s famous fresco “The Last Supper.” I live near a lovely little church. Sometimes I just love going there and admiring this beautiful architectural structure for hours; sometimes I attend Sunday service and listen to the sermons, even without understanding anything, I always remain amazed by the grandeur of this place. This time I decided to pop in there again; it was packed with people, and I stood by the entrance to avoid getting lost in the crowd.
The priest was reading a prayer, but I was reciting my own; however, at the end, along with everyone else, I said “Amen.”
The day passed very quickly. In the evening, I threw on a long dark brown (chocolate) skirt and a black long-sleeved blouse, put on pointy boots, threw on a long coat, and, after closing the door, hurried down the stairs to the street. Leo was talking to someone on the phone; he was looking the other way, so he didn’t see that I was already waiting. Meanwhile, I managed to take a good look at him. He was wearing a white sweater and classic black trousers. Surprisingly, he was even in white sneakers; it was the first time I had seen him so casual. He was gesturing with his hands and almost shouting at the person on the other end. I hadn’t seen this side of him yet. Leo turned around and noticed me, his eyes instantly softened, a smile appeared on his face with my favorite dimples, and his hands shoved the phone in his pocket.
— Hi, you look wonderful, — De Vile started.
— Thanks, you look fine too, — I replied.
— How are you feeling?
— Any problems? — I ignored his question and shifted my gaze to the phone in his pocket; he immediately understood what I was on about.
— It’s not my fault that sometimes people misunderstand me, and when they ask me a few times, it can be a bit irritating.
— Oh, that was a bit; then I’m afraid to imagine what could happen when it’s more than a bit.
— Once I even broke a table, however, it’s not a frequent occurrence, — why is he justifying himself?
— You don’t know me well; in that state, I could break or smash everything in sight.
— I’d love to see that. So how are you feeling?
— Do you think I’d come if I had a fever over thirty-eight?
— I believe you’ve done that plenty of times, — it irritates me when he’s right. — But I don’t know whether this would apply to you, — he only wanted to get a word in when I abruptly continued. — So, where are we heading?
— To my place, — wait, what?
— To yours? Why can’t we have dinner somewhere in the city?
— Because no one cooks as deliciously as I do, if you don’t take Nick into account.
He can cook. But it’s not guaranteed that it’s as delicious. Many men can cook, but not all can do it well; is he trying to charm me?
— Understood, — I finally shot back, trying not to give myself away. This genuinely captivated me. Leo complemented this impression by opening the door of his black Porsche for me. I adored cars, especially beautiful ones. Should I mention that my dad was thrilled that his daughter watched races with him? He and my mom even joked that they had a second son after all.
We arrived at the most prestigious area of Milan. Most of it was shops, original boutiques of famous brands, and elite buildings. As soon as we entered the lobby of the building, I was blinded by the cleanliness and light. The vestibule was so wonderful and big, like a hall in a museum. Leo lived on the sixth — top floor, so from here there was a view of the nearby shops and even the top part of the Milan Cathedral.
— I thought you lived in that mansion where the game was held, — I detached myself from the window and looked at him.
— I rented it then; I don’t like living alone in big, luxurious houses.
— Really? — I asked sarcastically and with feigned concern. — You wouldn’t say so.
— I’m not who I seem to be at first glance, — it sounded a bit harsh. But that intrigued me very much. We would return to this.
His apartment was every dreamer's dream. A large kitchen, a bright living room with white furniture. I wanted to see his bedroom, but I decided I had no right, as it was his personal space.
— You have wonderful apartments.
— I’m glad you like it; I planned it myself.
I nodded seriously, as if I had been planning apartments every single minute of my free time. He invited me to the balcony. Somehow I wasn’t ready for dinner in the fresh air, but on the chair, there was a large blanket waiting for me. He had prepared; I wouldn’t say... My gaze shifted to a small table. Two wine glasses, fruits, and seafood risotto.
— And you cooked all this by yourself? — I analyzed him with a suspicious look.
— Uh-huh, — Leo nodded slowly, proudly, and I decided not to indulge his vanity any further.
— Do you like it?
I hadn’t tasted it yet, so I couldn’t say anything — he laughed in response.
The guy helped me sit by pulling out the chair and sat across from me.
— Surprisingly, it’s clean here, — I took the golden cutlery and started eating — usually, in bachelorette pads, there’s complete chaos.
— I hire a cleaner when the mess gets too annoying, — he acted even more calmly than usual at those moments when he talked about some “clean rich stuff,” as Ella calls it. — But if you want, I’d gladly invite you to help me.
— Thanks, but I’ll pass on your generous offer, — the guy barely twitched the corners of his lips. — By the way, are you going to the event at “Louis Vuitton”? — I changed the subject. — I have two invitations from Sara, but Ella doesn’t want to go.
— No, I declined; I have a lot of work lately.
— M-m-m, — I mumbled with a mouth full of food, as I was stuffing another spoonful in.
— You shouldn’t go either, — the blonde suddenly added; I stared at him wide-eyed. — You’re not in the right condition; it’s not worth the risk, — Leo explained, but I still grimaced skeptically.