Chapter 97
“You can start by giving me your number.” The man asked full of confidence. How was I going to break the bad news?
“H-huh?” I gulped with a nervous look on my face before I burst out laughing. “God, no-I think this is all a misunderstanding!”
“Yes, you are a very attractive man and I was obviously staring-but I have a ring on my finger, I have a fiancé and I obviously have a baby.” I laughed and held the baby powder in the air.
“Well, I happen to make a great step daddy and I don’t see a fiancé around here…so..” He spoke and teasingly looked behind me.
“W-what?” I stammered surprised by his reaction. I thought he was going to end it here, but this man just didn’t know how to give up.
“Hey, I’m joking.” He chuckled and nudged my shoulder. “Oh wow, yes of course.” I took a deep breath
and smiled.
“You are obviously a pretty young lady, but if you’re taken, you’re taken.” He shrugged his shoulders. “If I had just came to town a bit earlier.”
“Are you new here?” I asked him out of instinct. It was always a mystery to me why I kept conversations. going while I wasn’t very good at it, but for some reason talking to this stranger came naturally.
“Yes, are you going to give me a city tour?” He asked. “Hah, city tour?” I scoffed. “If the perfect idea of your city tour includes poopy diapers and a screaming toothless baby.”
The man scrunched his nose and shook his head. “Yeah, no. I’ll have to decline.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” I laughed along. “So beautiful stranger, can I at least get your name?” He asked me. I paused for a second and was debating whether to give him my name or not. After everything I had been through I was still a bit cautious of strangers.
“Come on, I mean no harm-seriously.” He laughed and stuck out his hand. “I’ll start, my name is Dario.”
“I’m Serena.” I somehow ended up introducing myself. Dario was a kind and charming person who obviously knew how to keep a conversation going. “What’s that smile on your face?” Dario asked.
I hadn’t even noticed the smile on my face until he pointed it out. “It’s just, you really remind me of someone dear to me.” I sighed and thought about Vince. We had also officially met at a grocery store and just like Dario he was also kind and charming.
“Is it your fiance? Dario asked with a hopeful look on his face. “No, not my fiancé-just a close friend.” I laughed, but once my mind went to Christian that laugh had vanished.
I had a baby and a fiancé, a fiancé who was waiting for me and our baby, I couldn’t talk to random guys. anymore. How would I have felt if Christian had done this to me? That’s right, I would’ve been pissed if he spoke to any girl he had no business talking to.
“It was really nice meeting you, but I really have to go now.” I excused myself and turned around, but got stopped in the process when his hand wrapped around my wrist. “Do you come here often?” Dario turned me around again.
Normally I would’ve yelled at anyone who touched me, but for some reason, I didn’t. His touch felt
soothing and innocent as if I had nothing to be afraid of. “Look I really have to go now, but my name is Serena Alfonzo-now you know how to find me if you change your mind about that poopy diaper tour,” I told him.
A friend was a friend, so a male friend wouldn’t matter, right?
“Serena Alfonzo?” Dario spoke with a surprised look on his face. “You know what they say, if it’s meant to be it will be.” Dario chuckled.
“Suddenly?” I asked surprised. Dario let go of my wrist and gave me a polite nod. “You’re in a hurry so I’ll let you go, but I’ll tell you what.” He spoke and leaned in closer.
“If we ever cross paths again. You’ll have to take me on that poopy diaper tour, promise?” He asked me. His face was only a few inches away from mine, so I pulled away and tried to catch my breath as I looked into his eyes. “Promise,” I whispered, knowing I would most likely never see him again.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me,” I muttered and turned away to make my way to the register. What was I even thinking? If people would’ve seen me, people like Daniela in particular, they definitely would’ve start talking.
After I paid for the baby powder I ran back to the car. “Is she still asleep?” I asked as I opened the door and looked at Siena.
“She’s knocked out.” Vernon chuckled. “But what the hell were you doing? I thought it was going to be quick.” He scolded me.
I pulled out my phone and looked at the time. “It were only ten minutes, now start moving-we have to go!”
The drive to the hotel was short, but when we arrived Christian was already waiting at the front with a big smile on his face. “Bring my baby over here!” He shouted while I took Siena out of her car seat.
“I’ll help you with your bags.” Gina immediately walked over to help me. Christian still kept the poor girl at a distance. “Thanks.” I smiled at her before I made my way over to Christian.
“Siena, daddy’s been waiting for you!” He loudly spoke while I shushed him. “She’s asleep!”
“What do you mean my baby is asleep?” He asked and took her from my hands. “She needs to wake up, it’s time for her to cat.” He told me as he gave her kisses all over her face. Siena slowly began to wake up and giggled after seeing his face. “Mommy was going to starve you, wasn’t she?” He teased me and gave me at look.
“This is why you have to stay with daddy.” He told her as she reached out her hand to grab his check. “I’ll go
make her bottle.” Gina excused herself and walked in, while Christian didn’t even give her as much as a glance.
“Come on, it’s been four months.” I sighed the moment she was out of his sight, but all Christian ignored me and led me inside.
“Do you see that my Sience? This is all yours.” Christian kissed Siena on her cheeks before he spun her around. “Look, I even put up a butterfly symbol for that little Alfonzo thing you guys got going on.” Christian provoked me.
“Wow, so you do remember she’s also mine, thanks.” I chuckled in disbelief.
“But naming a hotel after her? Don’t you think it’s a little…?” I laughed and grabbed her from his hands. Christian’s way of throwing her around was definitely a bit worrisome at times.
“Nothing is too much for my princess, isn’t that right?” He took her from my grip and turned around so I couldn’t get to her. “Mommy is just jealous because the name of the hotel is Siena and not Serena, right princess?” Christian teased and walked away while Siena was babbled back.
“You have your hands full, with both of them. Gina smiled and handed me the bottle. It was obvious she was just trying to do her job and avoid Christian the same way he avoided her, but unfortunately for the both of them they had to work together. Somehow she managed to not get fired yet and it was mainly due to her impressive work. Lucio was right, Gina was an intelligent person and a powerful woman who was good at her job.
She was a hard worker and no one could deny that, not even Christian. “I do, it’s like I’m raising two kids.” I agreed. I smiled at the image of Christian throwing Siena around while she giggled and played along. Even though she was only four months old, she loved the games he played-and sometimes even initiated
“I know Christian is still giving you a hard time, but he’ll eventually warm up to you-I’ve definitely been there.” I tried my hardest to reassure Gina. If anyone would’ve told me that I would be as lucky to see him smile every single day, I would’ve told them they were crazy-but here we were.
Gina sighed and shrugged her shoulders as also she looked at the two. “Trust me, It’s not that easy.”
“Don’t you and your husband want any children?” I wondered. I knew she had been married to her high- school sweetheart for three years and often noticed the way she looked at Siena. “We do, in the future.” She smiled.
“Hey, careful with that lamp!” Gina yelled at the poor guy who tried his hardest to hang the diamond chandelier. “Excuse me while I take care of this before Christian blames me for this mess.” Gina patted me on the shoulder. “And don’t forget your date with Christian, tonight at seven-I’ve picked out your outfit, it’s in your closet!”
Right, my date with Christian. It would be the first time since Siena was born that we would spend some alone time and our first time away from her.
“Christian stop!” I yelled out when he threw her high into the air while all I got in return was a teasing look. “She likes it!” He yelled back and pointed at her toothless smile.
Seeing Christian being the happiest version of himself was all I ever wanted. I don’t even think I’d seen him angry since Siena came into our life. He had changed into a warm and loving father-and had often cut his days short so he could spend time with me and Siena.
On the days he couldn’t-he would take us with him just so he could be with her, and I even felt a bit embarrassed to admit it, but Siena was definitely a daddy girl and adored him a tiny bit more.
After Christian gave Siena her bottle he showed us the rest of the hotel and literally stopped by every single person to brag about his daughter. This is your future boss.” He reminded them all every single.
second.
Hours later we made our way back home where Emmanuella was already waiting for us. Even though she did not work for Christian anymore, she often stopped by to visit Siena.
“We can also cancel and watch a movie like back in the day,” I told Christian. I trusted Emmanuella, but leaving Siena was not something I was ready for. She became a part of my daily life.
“Serena.” Christian chuckled and grabbed my hands. “I would love to watch Peppa Pig with you and Siena, but tonight is necessary.”
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