Chapter 3 VANESSA

"If you have any kind of misunderstandings in your little mind, related to me or my dysfunctional father, I'm telling you right away to take them out of your mind," Leo said, snapping his finger right at my face.

"I get that your father is dysfunctional, so is mine. But, I didn't know that you and your brother are douchebags as well. Thanks for letting me know by the way," I said sarcastically, taking my hand bag in my hand, and moved beside him towards the direction of the door. I was halfway through, when he grasped my wrist, gripping both of my arms with his giant ones and pinned me to the side of the door.

"You're getting quite comfortable, isn't it? Now, let me tell you something. It might disappoint you that you're being left here like that but you're going to stay here, alone. I'm travelling to London and I'm not going to get back here soon enough," He said looking straight in my eyes, rage dripping down his flared expressions, as he added,

"Neither am I interested in you, nor in my father's business. You stay here or go back, your choice. But, I'm not going to ruin my life staying with you, a woman I don't even know," His grip on my shoulders tightened at his last words and then without any further word, he turned towards the door, flashed it open and walked outside.

I stood there looking at nothing in general as I tried to process what happened just now. What happened today. I didn't expect such an upturn in my life suddenly. Where did dad even throw me? How am I going to survive it here? After the lunch we had back there, I was told by dad that I was going to Rossi's at night and all of my clothes were already packed by Mia, my head assistant. Didn't he love me enough to at least let me stay for the night to sleep in peace and then ask me to move tomorrow?

I non-instinctively slid down the wall wrapping my arms around my knees. Not that I was expecting him to treat me any better, but, I didn't expect him to say such things either as if it was all my fault. I always promised myself that I was never going to live the life my mom lived, the life she didn't deserve at all but fate threw me here. In a house, where I was just the title-subject of a piece of paper. My dad's pawn. And a man, Adrian, who claimed that he knew me. God, I didn't even know what's the matter with him, not that it affected me. I'm fucked.

I put my hands over my head and closed my eyes for a minute. I was so tired, I just wanted to have a quick shower. I opened my eyes trying to carry the strength to walk outside and ask someone as to where I had to stay. But when I fluttered them open, I saw someone's shoes in front of me. Moving my gaze from the shoes, up the legs and then a giant abdomen, I was met with brown eyes. His eyes. Cold, hazelnut coloured. He looked down at me, his hands inside his pants pockets while his shirt was at the mercy of his broad shoulders.

I pushed myself on my feet and took my handbag. I was clearly not in the mood to argue with another Rossi at the moment. Both the brothers needed medical attention. I walked outside the room to ask some staff member for a spare room.

"Do you know where your room is?" I heard him say behind me.

"That's none of your business. Rossi's empire must have active staff, right? I can ask them," I snapped without looking back at him.

"If you think that dear father is going to let you stay in the guest room when you're taken in one of his son's names, then you're mistaken, Princess," I heard him huff a laugh and almost gagged at his interpretation of calling me princess.

"He's going to make you stay in this very room with Leo if you'd go ask someone to escort you to a guest room," He said, his words pouring to a downfall followed by silence. I wanted to say that it's none of his concern but I didn't want to stay in a single room with Leo either. So, I chose to stay quiet, letting him speak further.

"So, it's better if I help you. Isn't it?" He added with that deep voice of his.

As much as I despised his presence, the more I wanted to have a personal space for myself so I turned around and asked, "Where's the guest room?"

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"There are only three rooms on this floor, others are on the other side, but they're not in use at all. So, you'd have to settle here," He said pointing to the room towards the left side of Leo's which was on the other side of the mid-parting stairs. There was another room in front of the one he'd pointed to. I wonder who used that.

"This one's mine."

Aah, bet, this was left. Misery multiplied by 2.

"As if I care," I muttered while walking inside the room.

The room was quite big with vintage interior and in-wall designs cascading the full length walls. I placed my handbag over the bedside and looked up at him.

"Thank you," I said, waiting for him to leave the room now.

"Keep your gratitude for another time princess," He said turning around, his broad shoulders catching my eyes as he walked outside, clicking the door shut behind him.

What was that? What another time? Is his socket loose or something?

Whatever he did in the library at lunch was still roaming through my mind. The encounter vivid in my psyche. The way he stalked towards me, the way he looked deep inside my eyes with his honey one's. His intimidating stare had my knees wobbly to the core. I didn't understand why I felt my gut churn when he ran his fingers in my hair and when he placed one of his hands beside my head.

It was-It was frightening how my heart reacted to it. It was confusing how he said those words as If he had some beef with me.

Exhaling, I ushered those thoughts away from me and walked towards the bathroom for a quick shower to resign for the night.

☆☆☆

Ring, ring, ring.

I swear whoever the piece of shit is calling me. I rubbed my eyes trying to adjust my vision. Sharp sunlight found its way in my room from the curtains of the window at my left. I looked for my phone inside the rolled over comforter between my legs. Taking it in my hand, I looked at the call tag.

Rowan calling

"Hello? Make it quick Rowan, I want to sleep for a few more hours," I said almost frowning.

"Vanessa, you'd not sleep once I tell you what has happened!" He said, his tone cheerful and excited .

"What has happened? Is it bad news, or a good one? I'm not in the mood for any bad ones, please!" I said pleading, I was already so pissed off.

"No, it's not a bad one. It's your designs, V. They're finally accepted by AXR Interiors. I just got a call from their senior manager that they want to sign a contract with you," He announced excitedly.

"WHAT? Are you serious? This-O-Oh my God! Rowan, don't tell me that you're drunk and it's not some silly prank," I said jumping out of the bed, almost falling down from the comforter tangling in my leg and putting a hand over my mouth anxiously waiting for his response.

"C'mon V. Why would I be drunk at 8:30 in the morning? I'm so fucking serious, I've managed the meeting here and I want you to meet me at my office in one hour, fingers crossed," He said, his CEO aura coming back in his tone.

"I'd be there, I'd be right there. Shit!" I exclaimed, cutting off the phone call. I dropped it over the bed and walked towards the closet seeing every piece of my clothing already staked in it. Taking a formal dress in my hand, I walked towards my bathroom to get ready for the day.

I can't believe my architecture designs are finally accepted by one of the top ranked interior construction holdings of the league.

☆☆☆

I walked towards the main gate of the driveway and asked the driver to drop me at Rowan's office. Luckily, I didn't meet any of the Rossi's as I didn't want the day to get ruined this early in the morning.

After a while, I reached his office and walked inside. Adrenaline pumped in my veins, not that I was going to meet my friend, Rowan, but I was also going to meet AXR's senior manager.

I walked inside the conference room already seeing both of them sitting on their seats, I extended my greetings and gestured to start the meeting.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Blackford, I want to extend my gratitude to you by saying that we as in AXR would feel really gratified to have you as our senior designer. Our..." She stopped mid-sentence, being interrupted by the knock on the door.

"Oh, and here comes our CEO, Mr. Adrian Rossi," She announced getting up from her chair looking towards the door.