Page 90 of Bastian

As I stand on the edge of a marble, white wall, which has the perfect view of the crystal blue sea, a thought crosses my mind.

Because he sets your heart on fire when it only has ever known the cold…

* * *

Whoever said taking naps is good for the soul was absolutely right. I was never one to take naps since, at first, I was scared of what might happen to my sisters if I closed my eyes, and then the past couple of years, I’ve been so busy and motivated to build an empire of my own that I never found the time.

I found the time today.

Now, I have the energy that is required to deal with Wizz this evening.

On the note he left for me this morning, he specified to meet him down at the hotel’s restaurant, Myko’s, again. And here I am, exiting the hotel’s lobby and walking towards the backside where the restaurant is. I dressed comfortably yet chic tonight. Not for him. I could care less about what he or others think of me.

I always dress for myself.

Because looking good makes me feel confident.

Makes me feel like, somehow, I am in control.

I get to choose how to present myself to the world and that is something I did not get to do when growing up. That’s mainly why I chose to leave my hair curly these past two days.

My mother hated my curly hair. To this day, I don’t know why but she did, so she used to force me to wear it straight or slightly curled at the ends.

Today, I chose not to straighten my curls and let them fall loose around my back.

I also opted to wear a one-shoulder knot, nude cream-colored dress and paired it with diamond studs on my ears and some minimalist thong sandals to match the dress.

I also added a bit of blush, mascara, and nothing else since my skin is sensitive today after being in the sun all day.

“Good evening.” A warm and welcoming voice belonging to an older-looking lady greets me.

Nodding to the smiling hostess, I say, “Good evening. I am meeting someone.”

She nods and looks down at the black book in front of her. “Name, please?”

“Arianna. Arianna Parisi.” I answer.

“Oh, yes!” The lady exclaims at the same time as her eyes grow suspiciously big. Huh. “Right this way. The boss is waiting for you.” The boss? Wizz? Confused, I follow her as she guides me away from the dining area. What is going on? She stops next to a tall man dressed in all black, and I just know. God, I just know this has nothing to do with Wizz. Nothing at all. “You are one lucky woman.” She swoons, I kid you not, and smiles one last time, leaving me alone, standing next to a giant, strange man.

“Miss.” The stranger hands me a rose, a gold-plated rose, and nods as a soldier would to his sergeant or superior. Secret service, I have no doubt. If the rose wasn’t obvious enough, then the men are. “Your smile makes my day ten times better.” Taking the rose, I look at the man as if he has lost his mind, and he looks at me as if he doesn’t get paid enough for this shit. Moving forward, another man dressed the same way hands me another rose. “I love how you love my daughter.” That one gets me. Taking the rose from him, I nod in thanks and continue down the lighted-up path that leads me to the beach as seven more men hand me more gold-plated roses, and each tells me something they love about me.

But when I reach the last man, I stop. “Hey, my girl.” His smile takes over his face, but there’s a nervousness to it as well.

“Benjamin. You goddamn traitor.” I try to muster an angry tone, but I can’t. It’s almost impossible with this man.

“I am sorry that I didn’t warn you.” He hands me the rose. “But I did not want to get in the way of you finding laughter again.” Taking a step back as if he hit me, I look up at him, trying to understand when exactly I lowered all my goddamn walls to the point so many people slipped through and made it to my heart. It happened, and here stands one of them. “He instructed us to share with you one thing he loves about you, but fuck, let me tell you one of my own. I love your laugh, kid. Your fucking laugh is like a song to our hearts. My heart has been empty for so long that I used to wonder if it only worked to pump blood. If it only did its duty and nothing more, but then you came along and made me feel again. I’ve lost so much throughout my life, but that asshole waiting down the beach did two things. He not only gave me my little lady, but he also gave me you.”

“God, I can’t stand emotions. You’ve all made me so damn weak.”

“Perhaps, we made you human?”

“Same thing to me.”

Laughing, he steps aside. “I know trusting again is scary, my girl, but you’ve always been a fighter. Don’t stop fighting now.” Benjamin leans down and kisses me on the forehead.

Choked up with emotions, I nod and sidestep him but after taking a few steps forward, I stop.

All these strange men recited ten things.

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