10. Nico

Chapter 10

Nico

Each choice we make has consequences and all I’m trying to do is make the right choice for the best outcome for Bella. To keep her safe.

At least that’s what I’m telling myself. I have to believe it though.

But I seem to make a choice and act differently.

I consciously choose to push her away in order to keep her safe - but every time I’m around her I can’t physically stay away from her.

I contradict myself and it’s causing a lot of problems between us.

And now - after last night - she thinks I am messing around with other women. I hate the fact that she assumes I am a womanizer or that I am playing around and mistreating her.

It’s how the media has always liked to portray me in the past - but it’s not who I am.

If I leave her to believe that - she would stay away from me and it would be better for her. But I can’t stand the idea of her thinking of me that way. I want to show her I’m not that person.

Leaning back in my office chair I drop the silver foundation pen on a pile of papers I am signing.

My head is aching. A stress headache that’s been threatening to get worse ever since last night when Bella stormed out of the gallery.

I am torn between wanting to talk to her to resolve the misunderstanding and the argument we had - and leaving her alone for good, ignoring the fact that we have such an incredible connection and treating her like any other employee.

I can’t do it. I know myself, because I don’t feel this way about any other person on the planet.

I have very few people in my life who I let close to me, in any way whatsoever.

My sister is one of them. She is family. She is the only family I’ve got left.

My parents were close to me before they died. They were loving and caring and thoughtful and everything you’d want a parent to be.

I was so young I didn’t how to deal with the loss of the people who were supposed to take care of me - so I did the best I could and the best I could meant learning how not to let people get close enough that I developed any kind of attachment to them.

In my world - if you have someone to lose it makes you weak. This world is not kind to those who love.

The pen is catching light, it’s silver body lying there like an accusation - I need to work. I can’t be distracted by Bella all morning.

The buyer for last night’s delivery is coming around today to collect his order. How am I going to stop Bella from getting involved in that - or asking too many questions? This is bad. I need her to be out of the office for about an hour. It won’t take that long, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. It’s not a long-term solution though. I can’t send Bella away from the gallery every time I receive an off-the-books delivery.

She wants to know everything. She can’t leave it be and it’s going to get her into trouble.

And there is no way I can fake these deliveries and collections to slip past her. I don’t want any record of them at all. That’s the whole point of the cover. The gallery hides what is really going on.

Bella sees everything.

The guy is coming through at eleven this morning. I wonder if I can send Bella out to get some coffee - it’s usually Killian who does that - but maybe I can ask her directly. It’s an easy enough request that doesn’t trigger too much suspicion.

But where is Bella this morning?

I pull my sleeve up and glance at my wrist. My watch tells me it’s already almost ten o’clock and Bella hasn’t arrived at work yet. That’s not like her at all. She’s often the first one here, unless she has some trouble with her baby.

I push away from my desk and walk through to the main gallery area.

“Killian, where is Bella?”

“I put a memo on your desk this morning, sir. She called in sick - early.”

“I didn’t see it.” I mumble to myself. “Sick?”

“Sir, she said she wasn’t well and needed the day off.”

I clench my jaw, rubbing my hand across the dark stubble on my chin. I didn’t shave this morning. Distracted from my usual routine.

Bella isn’t sick. Something else is going on with her - maybe she wanted to avoid me. Did I upset her that much - to where she won’t even come in to work?

Why else would she lie about being sick? Unless she is sick? I feel bad for her if she is, and I want to take care of her.

I let out a heavy sigh and glance down at my watch again. I need to deal with this collection - I can figure out what to do about Bella.

“Killian, please handle the front of the gallery - I have some things to sort out in the back.”

“Yes, sir. I’ve got it covered. Don’t worry - Bella trained me well.” He laughs. “I won’t scare any of our customers away.”

I smile and walk away. Killian is quiet the character.

My client arrives at eleven o’clock which I admire in a person. Being on time is a curtesy that few people understand.

It shows resect for his own time as much as for mine.

“Mr. Vitale, so good to see you.” His rough voice sounds aged by years of smoking. While his suit is pristine, and his shoes are polished to perfection - I still can’t not notice the yellow nicotine stains on his fingers.

He is clearly a heavy smoker and the thick, smoggy scent of stale cigarettes is hanging around him like a coat.

“Mr. Benson, thank you for coming. Your order is right over here and ready to go. If you would like to double check it, before I seal the packaging?” I gesture towards the canvas. The back of it is packed tightly with carefully weighed out bags of product. Stacked neatly into rows.

He walks over to the artwork, reached out and picks up one of those bags. He nods to the man next to him, who steps forward to stab a small pocket knife into the package.

Benson’s eyes are on me while his guy samples the product.

“It’s good, sir.” He confirms after a moment.

Benson addresses me. “And every package is the same?”

“Identical.” I confirm.

“Thank you, Mr. Vitale. I am sure we will be talking again soon for the next order.”

My men move to seal the rest of the canvas with bubble wrap and tape, making it exactly like every other delivery that leaves this gallery.

Benson’s men load it into his SUV and with one curt nod Benson says goodbye. That was a very efficient and easy collection. I hope that all of them int he future go the same way.

I wait and watch until Benson’s car is far down the road, almost out of sight. That’s finished. And I didn’t need to worry about Bella seeing anything. I don’t know how next time will go with her around - but I’ll deal with that when the time comes.

Right now - I want to know why she’s lied about being sick.

I march back into the gallery.

“Killian, what is Bella’s address? I want to deliver a get-well package.”

“That’s a delightful idea. I’ll write it down for you.”

Killian leans over the desk, scribbling something on a piece of paper.

He hands it to me. “There is a great online place that does deliveries within the hour. I wrote down the name of the site for you.”

“Thanks. I’m heading out for lunch as well. Are you ok here by yourself?”

He laughs. “Of course I am, enjoy your lunch.”

I didn’t tell Killian, but I intend to deliver the get-well package myself. I needed an excuse to get her address and knock on her door.

I head straight over to a flower shop and purchase a massive blue and purple bouquet. Along with it I ask the sales lady pack a box filled with chocolates, nuts, sweets, biscuits, and nougat. It’s the perfect excuse to see her.

I shouldn’t .

The best thing I could do for both of us is to stay far away from her - but it’s impossible. I’m a wreck trying to figure this out, but the bottom line is that I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I’ve never been so drawn to someone or unable to stay away from them.

She is so unique, so different - and so perfect.

The woman at the flower shop takes her time wrapping the box with cellophane and tissue paper. I bite my tongue with impatience. I want to tell her to hurry the hell up, I’ve got things to do. But presentation is important.

I wish Bella could see that the real reason I’m pulling away from her - or pushing her from me - is to protect her. It’s got nothing to do with other women. It’s all for her. All I think about is her - all I want is her.

“Here you go, sir, I’m done.” The woman behind the counter smiles and speaks in a sing song voice as she pushes the box towards me. I want to mutter something like ‘finally.’ But I say “Brilliant. It looks great.”

After paying for the package, which looks pretty damn good, I punch Bella’s address into my map system and drive towards her apartment with a nervous knot in my stomach.

I expect her to be quite hostile towards me after what happened last night. But hopefully the flowers will soften the surprise of my visit.

I hope I don’t walk in there and find another man with her - or something to that effect. I sigh, clenching my jaw and flexing my fists around the steering wheel.

I can’t be this uptight when I arrive at her place.

Rolling my shoulders back and my neck on a half-circle I do my best to force myself to calm down. I’m here to see Bella - and work things out if I can.

That’s all.

There is no reason to be so tense.