◆ Old Friends ◆

◇ KEL ◇

The sight of a bare-chested, damp and scowling Enzo surprised me when I got back into his hotel room to get my things. His bodyguard showing up in the hallway also reminded me to leave now.

Or else Miles might do something drastic about this whole issue. Wouldn't be the first time.

As I tried not to check out Enzo's exposed body, I grabbed my old tablet to put it in my satchel. Time to come up with my goodbye spiel. I wanted to chat with Enzo for a bit.

Say bye properly. Check how he actually felt right now after all that alcohol. I just couldn't stay any longer. Miles and Niccolo would find out if I stayed another hour in this hotel with Enzo.

Why's he ignoring me? Enzo hadn't paid me any mind since he stepped out of his shower. The relaxing scent of soap that reminded me of fresh linens occupied the hotel room.

Enzo kept his phone on his ear, talking in fluent Italian to someone. At times in English as well.

No clue who was on the phone with him. But I had a feeling it wasn't someone from his biotech company. Or Rafa, his best friend who was currently overseeing the management of their pharmacy chain business in Italy. Maybe it was one of his other business contacts?

Combing my slightly greasy hair with my fingers, I sat on the hotel bed, unsure.

Enzo paced near the closet. Still half-naked.

Out of boredom, I got up to neaten the creases on the covers, with his back still facing me.

Enzo stayed busy on the phone while he got dressed. He just peeled off the bath towel with one hand. As if he forgot he wasn't alone in the room.

I looked away. My breath caught. Was I invisible?

Did he actually forget I hadn't left yet?

Although I was already familiar with his athletic body just minutes after we first met back in Italy, my face still warmed up.

But not important. I had to leave, like, yesterday. I just had to say a proper goodbye, then off I go. For now, though, I'd wait for him to finish his phone call. I sat on the edge of the bed, pretending to be busy with my phone. Shoot. I hope I didn't blush a scarlet shade after everything I saw.

In his defense, he did sound genuinely preoccupied. From what I could make out, he was having a serious discussion with whoever it was on the phone. Maybe it was his brother? At times, Enzo also talked to his brother in straight English.

I crossed my arms. The unwashed plates remained on the dresser. When I woke up an hour earlier than Enzo, I had ordered room service to get him breakfast in case he had to leave New York now.

We ate everything in bed afterwards. His hangover didn't leave him crawling out the covers, so I tried to force him to eat a solid meal and rehydrate. That liquor binge last night was intense.

Right now, though, he looked thoroughly freshened up. No longer slouching in pain due to hangover headache. "No. Non gli piace ballare," he mumbled with his shoulder pressing his phone onto his left ear.

[No. He doesn't like dancing.]

I made a face and sat still. Who didn't like dancing?

Enzo zipped up his jeans and kept his back to me, now standing in front of the white closet. His damp and wavy jaw-length hair looked a few shades darker than his brown sweater.

My legs tensed up when he walked straight towards the balcony without even paying me a glance.

He even shut the glass door behind him.

Okay. Some privacy was necessary. But who was on the phone with him?

The constant fidgeting and his generally uneasy body language also said enough about his current mood.

Enzo even sighed a few times as he got dressed.

Crap. "Please not Miles. Please not Miles," I murmured to myself. Hopefully Miles didn't call him just to warn him to stay away.

Or was it someone else? Someone I'd never met? Or someone also familiar? Hmm.

Did his ex-fiancée even apologize for what she did? For cheating on him and humiliating him like that?

Oh shoot! Was he talking to her right now?

If so, I definitely shouldn't stay another minute in his hotel room. Another person might get the wrong idea—I seriously didn't need that brand of drama in my life right now. "Ugh. Just say bye, you wuss," I mumbled under my breath. I hauled myself off the hotel bed.

For a moment, I just stood by the balcony doors, trying my best to eavesdrop. Totally rude, but, I had to be sure he wasn't on the phone with his ex, and talking about me being here with him in his hotel room.

Yikes. No thanks. I had enough anxieties and unwanted drama to deal with on a daily basis. Slowly, I slid the glass door open till I could fit my shoe through the small gap.

"No. Non posso farlo."

[No. I can't make it.]

I stood and listened in. Make it to what? To where? Was he talking to Libby? Probably not. I could tell he was talking to a guy.

"Lui sarà là. Però cerca di stabilire dei confini molto chiari." Enzo briefly scratched the back of his head. Barefoot, he stood next to the concrete balustrade and sounded a tad annoyed now.

[He will be there. Just make sure you establish boundaries.]

Boundaries. Was he cutting another deal with a new investor?

"Non vuole essere toccato dagli estranei."

[He doesn't like strangers touching him.]

Strangers touching who? My palm covered a scowl as I tried to imagine who and what the heck he was talking about.

"Okay. Okay. Lo so." Enzo sighed. "Non sono sordo, Maxim."

[Okay. Okay. I know.] [I'm not deaf, Maxim.]

Shit. He's talking to Miles.

Enzo heaved another sigh. "A dopo."

[See you then.]

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