Page 8 of The Sicilian's Obsession
Katima: Let's grab plates and eat in front of the TV. I feel like vegging out.
I still was nervous. Even though I had spoken without a stutter, I was sure it would come back once the trauma wore off. Better to be safe than sorry. No one wanted to be embarrassed in front of the hot guy they were around.
Arturo looked down at his phone and showed me his first genuine grin. "Only if we watch something funny. I absolutely hate tragedies."
I nodded my head yes in agreement. The world already held so much sorrow, it was better to laugh than to watch horrible things happen to people on the screen. I wanted to escape, not be traumatized forever. I'm sure Arturo was the same. Who knew what he'd seen in the war?
Katima: Have you ever watched a Monty Python movie?
Arturo looked down at his phone, confused, and shook his head no. I was shocked. I grabbed the plates and took slices out. Then I filled my water and motioned for Arturo to make himself at home or at least I hoped that's the way he took my hand signal. I loaded one of my all-time favorite DVDs for our viewing pleasure. Then we were off, escaping into the land of false realities and comedy.
The credits rolled around, and my stomach hurt from laughing so much. Even Arturo had a smile on his face from the movie.
He said, "I decided to monitor your emails. Nothing came back from tracking, but my company is still investigating, so I don't want you to worry about anything right now."
Katima: I'm going to head to bed. I'll shoot you our itinerary, but there really isn't much on the agenda. I do need to be up earlier since I left the lab so early. Please bring a spare pair of shoes to wear in the lab. I'll make sure to get you some booties to go on your feet as well.
Arturo looked at his phone and then shot me a thumbs up. I went upstairs and did my night routine. I had to search my room top to bottom until I found my bonnet. It should have been on my dresser, but for some reason, it was pushed slightly under the bed. After having such a strenuous day, I couldn't find it within myself to get upset over it. Normally, I would have panicked and tried to figure out if someone had been in my room, but I pushed off that paranoia. No one has been in the house. I know this. I accept this. With that, I laid my head down and prayed the nightmares would stay away.
* * *
Arturo
The next morning, I put on coffee for Katima and myself. I spent part of the night walking the property, which was vast. I had her father send me the schematics of the property, and I figured out the layout I wanted for the security cameras. I was going to have to give access to a few of my tech guys so they could set up everything and I could hook it all up in the bedroom I was using. After this contract was completed, I would make sure both Katima and her father had access. It would be smart if they set that room up to be a security monitoring room anyway. I felt a slight pang in my chest thinking about the contract ending. I had my morning run and shower before Katima even stirred. She was quite noisy at night, not snoring but whimpering loudly, and I could hear her tossing and turning. I wondered what could be keeping her up. Another conversation I had to have with her father. My phone pinged and I smiled before turning around. I had already heard her on the stairs.
Katima: Good morning!
How could such a small woman look so delectable this early? It was 0430 and I was staring at her like a thirsty man looking at a tall drink of water.
I cleared my throat. "Good morning, Katima. I went over the itinerary and it seems we'll be spending most of the day at the lab. I'm going to have a few people in and out of the house, so I don't want you to be alarmed. They'll be gone before we arrive back here." Her face was already growing distressed. Another pang in my chest. I didn't like being the cause of her stress. I just wanted to make her comfortable and safe.
Katima: What for?
Of course, she wanted to know. I sighed, "We are setting up security systems on the property. I'll give you a crash course on how to use it when we get back this afternoon. I'll also need access to your car and cell phone when we get back." I was going to track her ass, just in case. I knew that she was a homebody, but those messages she received weren't something that just popped up. I had a suspicion that her father was monitoring her emails and deleting anything that was threat worthy before she read them. If so, I was going to need those as well. All in all, I had a ton of work on my plate.
Katima: Since my office is connected to the lab, would you like to work from there? Rather than being in the lab directly? If you keep the door open, you'll have a clear view of me and the door entering the laboratory.
I was shocked that she was taking the initiative. I nodded while contemplating her. She seemed to have warmed up to me since last night. Our beginning was rocky, but I think she trusted me. At least I would hope so. I read her file and it did state she was a genius, so it shouldn't be surprising that she had figured out a way to make my job easier. We sipped our coffee silently. Katima was wearing a band tee I have never heard of, her signature dark jeans and her pair of Chucks. Her hair was in a bun again and she slipped on her big glasses. She looked like a librarian on a day off. When she bent over to put her cup in the dishwasher, I almost groaned at the sight. Her bubble butt was stretching her jeans, filling them. I just wanted to reel my hand back and smack it. I have always been an ass man and Katima had the finest ass. I fought to control my inner beast. Katima was a client. She was not up for hanky-panky with me. Not only would that violate the contract, but her father would probably sue me and try to kick my ass simultaneously.
Clearing my throat for the second time this morning, I asked, "Are you ready to head out?" Katima nodded, and we rushed out in a whirl of grabbing the things we needed for the day. She had filled two thermoses with coffee, leaving mine black. I hadn't realized she was even paying attention to the way I was drinking mine.
At the lab, Rebecca glowered at Katima. I guess she hadn't gotten over Mr. Sweets ripping her a new one for just letting me into the building. I waved to Rebecca on our way past her desk and she flagged me down.
She purred, "Arturo, do you have any plans this weekend?" I knew what was happening, and normally, Rebecca would be my type of woman—a bombshell blonde who knew what she wanted and went out and got it, someone who wouldn't want any strings, someone who would be down to fuck and wanted to be treated like a dirty whore. Yet the longer I perused her, the more I wished she were gentler. There was nothing wrong with her body or anything like that. No, she was beautiful. I just wished she portrayed a more innocent expression. Her blouse was low cut, with an additional button opened so I could see her bra. I was visibly turned off and that had never happened to me.
"Yes, actually, I do."
Rebecca looked thrown off. She sputtered, "With who? I mean, what do you have planned?" She let out a high-pitched fake giggle.
I smugly boasted, "Katima and I have plans all weekend."
Her face reddened. "Katima? Katima Sweets?" She was saying her boss' name with an edge of disbelief.
I said, "Yeah, she's going to show me around the town."
She perked right up, thrusting her tits in my view. "Then we can meet up after that."
I laughed, hard. She was trying a little too hard, and I was going to have to rebuff her a tad bit harsher. "No can do. Katima and I have planned the whole day, every day, for the duration of my stay in townwithher."
