Page 12 of Claimed By My Stalker

I walk to the large kitchen. It took me wandering into a tussle with Bruno to get the directions right. It’s a big house, and most of the hallways and turns look the same to me. Of course, I'm bound to get lost sometimes. I find Rosa and another maid using the pasta machine, the maid rolls the dough vigorously as she has somewhere else to be, Rosa, in turn, sends the flattened dough into the machine. I look around the kitchen which is devoid of servants and kitchen staff like I expected.

“Is it just you two?”

Rosa jumps at the sound of my voice, with fatigue, and exasperation on her expression. "We make do with the little staff we have. You're not supposed to be…"

“…Here, I know.”

“If you’re hungry…”

“I’m not, I was just looking around.” Thanks to me, Rosa has gotten into more trouble than she has in her entire career working as a maid with the Conte family.

I find their silence uncomfortable, the air is tense, and nobody will fill me in on anything that happens anymore, not even Rosa. She has become more distant and formal with me since the day I wandered away from the main house. That one act put her in a bit of trouble with Carlo. She constantly avoided my eyes and changes the subject whenever I asked a question about Carlo, his business or men. The few questions she answers are short and lacking in detail.

Enzo findsme wandering the premises. “Where are you going?” he asks cooly. “I had to find you with the surveillance.”

I don’t like the way Enzo looks at me. His gaze always makes me feel like I’m doing something wrong, it’s a judgy suspicious look. Beneath his square-shaped sunglasses, I just know that look is there.

“Nowhere in particular, but now that I think about it, I’d like to see Carlo.”

“He’s not in,” he replies dismissively.

“Alright then, I’ll wait for him in his room or whatever.”

Enzo stops me with a hand, he withdraws his hand quickly like he just touched something hot. “His chambers are out of bounds…”

“What?”

“Even to you….” he adds.

“I’m sure Carlo would make an exception for me.” I flutter my eyes and twirl my hair with my fingers.

Enzo will not budge. “You’re not to go into his room or roam that part of the house. I’ll tell you where to find him, come with me.” He starts walking ahead, stops, and turns around when he realizes I'm not following him.

Reluctant, I take slow calculated steps after him, I’m not prepared to run after him trying to match his hurried way of walking, instead, he’ll have to be the one compromising.

_ _ _

Enzo pulls up by a pond with shrubs growing around it.

“Why am I here?” I ask confused.

“Carlo's orders,” he replies.

I can tell already that it’s useless to get an explanation out of Enzo, all he does is give short unsatisfactory replies and stare at me behind his sunglasses. He is exactly what I imagine a mindless robot to be. I step out of the car and watch him drive away.

“Should I be worried?” I mutter to myself. I’m not carrying any money, I didn’t even have my phone on me when he dragged me all the way here. I walk towards the pond looking around for any sign of Carlo, as I get closer, I find him standing by a rowboat wearing a hat, and shorts that reveal his hairy legs.

“What took you so long? I’ve been waiting.” He gestures to me. “Come on.”

Without a word, I take his waiting hand. He leads me into a rowboat by the marshy shore. The boat wobbles a bit and I fight the urge not to scream. When Carlo gets in with me, my fears ease away.

Whatever happens, I know he’ll save me.

I stare at him intensely. “I wonder what else you have hidden under your sleeve.”

Carlo grins at me without a word.

“Aren’t you going to tell me where we’re going?”

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