Chapter 24 Why are you like this?

Authors pov

Florina took a shower after Vincenzo left her apartment. His words were still playing in her mind and it was making her more anxious with time.

Wearing some comfortable clothes she came out of the bathroom. It was already evening and now she was feeling much better.

"How are you feeling now?..."

She flinched at the masculine voice. Her heart almost skipped a beat looking at Sebastian who was sitting on her bed lazily. His coat was lying beside him, he was looking relaxed with his messy hair and folded sleeves.

"B_Better..."

She answered nervously. She could still remember how he tried to burn her with the cigarette.

"Hmm... Good... Come here..."

He ordered and she hesitatingly walked towards him.

Sebastian checked her fever and nodded in approval.

"Are you hungry?..."

She shook her head No. Yes, she was hungry but she didn't wanted to eat with him.

"But I am... Come eat with me..."

He grabbed her hand.

"I don't want to..."

She mumbled.

Sebastian chuckled and cupped her cheeks, caressing it with his rough thumb.

"It's so cute to see that you think you have choice... You are so interesting, butterfly..."

Florina refused to move when he tried to lead her towards the living room. Sebastian turned around and gave her a warning glare which was enough to make her obey. Florina hated it. Hated the fact that they were scaring the shit out of her.

Florina was sitting on the chair looking at Sebastian who was arranging the table for them and was impressed by the choice of food. For a second his gestures fluttered her heart, she would have been so happy if he was doing this for her in another situation and not by threatening her. Vincenzo did the same for her and now Sebastian. Even if they were threatening her, she couldn't deny the fact that they were trying to take care of her too.

Sebastian was done arranging the table and went to throw the boxes in the dustbin where he saw the food he send for Florina in the morning and he was well aware who did that. Florina saw the change of expression and prayed that he won't take it on her.

"I didn't d___"

"Do you want to drink something?..."

He totally ignored her horrified expressions.

"Hmm?..."

She couldn't believe that he was letting it go. He looked quite mad but wasn't showing it. What was stopping him, all the questions were now bothering her.

"Umm... No, water is enough..."

They started eating and all the time she found Sebastian looking at her intently, it was creeping her out. No matter how handsome he was, his stares weren't appealing.

Florina placed her spoon on the empty plate and decided to try and make him understand as she failed to do with Vincenzo.

"Sebastian... I want to talk to you."

"I am listening..."

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his hand over his chest and showcasing his flexed muscles.

"I tried to talk with v_vincenzo but he is not ready to listen anything..."

He kept his face calm and gestured her to continue.

"Whatever you two are doing... I don't think it's necessary. I mean... I mean, we___"

"We what butterfly?..."

He asked raising his eyebrow but florina missed the warning in his tone.

"We can't be together... Not only with you but with Vincenzo too. I don't want to be with any of you. Please, try to understand. I can't take this. You scare me..."

Her throat tightened but she refused to cry.

"And?..."

He smirked watching how much scared she is. His eyes adored her state, swollen eyes, red nose, trembling lips. She was looking like a cute scared color.

"And Vincenzo said that I have to choose__"

"Did he..."

He said amused.

"I didn't understand what he meant... I couldn't ask..."

She said further.

"You have to choose between us... Me or him... Simple as that..."

Florina frowned at his tone. He was saying it like it's too easy but it wasn't, anything but that. She knew that they had more in mind, something wicked about which she had no idea.

She gulped and asked him the same question which she asked vincenzo.

"What if I choose Vincenzo over you..."

Sebastian grabbed the back of her neck and brought her face closer to his and Florina hissed at the tight grip.

"Then I will kill you..."

He gave her the same answer like Vincenzo.

Why kill her, can't they fucking kill each other. Why can't they do that. Florina wanted to shout at his face but found no courage.

They were giving her the choice but she didn't wanted that. She was not in love, it was just physical attraction and nothing else. At least for her it was like that. No way in hell will she want to be with a mafia who will dominate every part of her life.

Suddenly the doorbell rang and Sebastian let go of her neck and she rubbed the place to soothe the pain.

"Sit down..."

Sebastian ordered when she was about to stand up to open the door.

Florina sat down and watched him as he opened the door, he took a minute to deal with whoever it was and came with a parcel in his hands and florina quickly understood what it is.

'My laptop... Jenny finally found it...'

She quickly stood up and snatched it from his hands.

"It must be my laptop... My friend has send it..."

She quickly said. Sebastian nodded and watched her behavior like a hawk. She was clutching the laptop like her life is depended on it.

She was about to open it but he stopped her.

"Do it in the morning... Take your medicines and sleep, you still have a mild fever."

"I am perfectly fine..."

She said but nodded in agreement when she saw his warning glare.

She placed the laptop on her nightstand and ate the medicines he gave her. Her heart again picked up its speed when she thought about him sharing her bed. He did it last night and she was sure that he will do it today too.

She looked at Sebastian when his phone rang. He received it and his expressions turned angry.

"I am coming..."

He disconnected the call and looked at her.

"Take rest."

He kissed her forehead and left making her sigh in relief.

Florina unpacked the parcel and opened her laptop.

'Just want to get the evidence and I'll be free... I will go away far from everything...'

She started it but it had no battery.

She put it on the charging and waited for it to start but soon fell asleep due to the effect of the medicines.

Florina was waiting for the data to back up. She started it in the afternoon as she woke up late but due to internet issue it was slow so she had set the laptop on the bed and prepared herself a coffee.

Placing the cup on the night stand she went to open the door as she heard the doorbell ringing. Her stomach churned at the thought that it's Sebastian or Vincenzo but she was sure that they won't ring the bell. They came into her apartment without permission. She opened the door and the man handed her a black box which had red ribbon on it. She recognized him, he was Vincenzo's man.

'It must be the dress Vincenzo told me about... Oh my god. What do I do, I don't want to go with him...'

She thanked him but frowned when she found a few men guarding the corridor. It's been two days since she has peaked outside.

'Don't fucking tell me that they have hired these hulks to keep an eye on me...'

She slammed the door shut frustratingly.

Florina opened the box and her eyes sparkled at the beautiful dress with matching heels to it. She could only imagine how much expressive it is as she has only seen these kind of dresses on the red carpet. She was impressed by his choice.

'Get a grip florina... Don't let your heart flutter at this.'

She closed the box and sat on the bed sipping on her coffee. It was 5 in the evening and she was tensed thinking how to deal with Vincenzo.

"Why aren't you getting ready..."

She heard Vincenzo and almost spilled the hot coffee on herself. She quickly placed the cup aside and looked at him. He was leaning against the door frame, his coat was dangling over his arm and she literally shivered at his cold look.

"Umm... Thank you so much for the lovely gift but I can't come with you... I am still not feeling well..."

She tried to sound tired.

"Hmm... Let me check your fever..."

He placed his coat on the bed and brought the thermometer from the drawer.

'Shit... What do I do now. I don't have a fever anymore...'

"Open..."

He ordered and placed it in her mouth.

Vincenzo stood there but his phone rang and he walked towards the window to receive the call.

Florina was in panic. Her eyes darted towards the hot coffee mug and then to Vincenzo whose back was facing him.

She quickly placed the thermometer in the hot coffee and after few seconds when it showed high temperature she again placed it in her mouth.

Vincenzo placed the phone in his pocket and checked the thermometer.

"See... I told you. I am not feeling well, can I rest..."

She said innocently.

"You think I am a fool, piccolo fiore... If you want to pull a stunt like this at least make sure you are good at it..."

He smirked at her.

"What I wa___"

He grabbed the back of her neck.

"You have two hours, get ready... If not then I'll drag you out just the way you are... Understand?..."

She nodded and he let her neck go. Florina rubbed her neck and looked at herself. She was wearing pajama's which had Pikachu on it.

'If you have to go either way then at least go like a classy lady not like beggar...'

She gave Vincenzo a poker face and got up from the bed with the box.

When she stood up she looked at the window and gasped seeing that one can clearly see everything in the window glass. She could see Vincenzo who was sitting on the bed scrolling through his phone.

'Ohh that's how he knew... Stupid florina...'

Sighing she started getting ready. After taking shower she wore the dress and was quite surprised that he had her exact measurements. She tied her hair in a low bun which beautifully went with the gown and applied nude makeup. Finally wearing the sparkling heels she was ready.

Glancing at the clock she gasped, it was 7 pm . Her two hours was over, she grabbed her clutch and head out in the living room where Vincenzo was sitting on the couch patiently waiting for her. Florina slightly smiled looking at him, he was wearing his black suit with red tie and was focused on his mobile. She couldn't believe that a beautiful man like him wants her.

She finally got out of her la la land and cleared her throat making him look at her. His eyes got stuck on her, her curves were looking perfect and no doubt she was glowing in the gown he chose for her.

Vincenzo walked towards her, snaking his hands around her waist he pulled her closer.

"You look ravishing piccolo... Should I cancel the plan and eat you instead while you squirm under me the whole night..."

He nibbled on her earlobe making her shiver.

Florina wiggled in his hold but he held her tightly. He chuckled hearing her erotic breathing.

"Next time... I guess..."

He held her hand and lead her outside. He opened the car door for her and she got in.

It was her first time sitting in a expensive car like this, but instead of being excited she was feeling suffocated.

Vincenzo didn't bother to initiate conversation with her the whole ride, he was busy in his mobile while she was just sitting there quietly.

His driver pulled in front of a five star hotel and they stepped out. Florina wasn't used to this, the classiness, fake formalities and the show off was making her annoyed. She was a news reporter and she could tell when someone is lying or faking it, it was her work to know that after all. She was in love with her messy life, coffee and snacks with Jenny in her favorite diner. Her clumsiness was her identity, she could still remember how Jenny and Jimmy used to scold her for that. Wearing stupid clothes and enjoying girls night was all what she wanted, not this high class fake life. She was happy like that and was terribly missing it.

After dealing with the manager and the people who greeted Vincenzo, he lead her towards their table and she finally breathed in relief.

"Aren't you tired of dealing with this fake people... They don't respect you, they are just scared..."

She blurted out and Vincenzo's eyes snapped towards her.

"You are good at reading people, aren't you?..."

Vincenzo smirked. He still remember how she read him like an open book like no one ever did.

"It's my job... I am not that stupid as you think that I am..."

She mumbled.

"I don't care if they respect me or not... Fear is all that matters..."

He whispered darkly and she couldn't help but gulp at his evil expression.

"Why... Why are you like this?."

"Why don't you try find out then..."

He traced her lips with his thumb.