This morning when I arrived at the Academy, There was a blanket text sent out from Sanz.
Sanz: Good news for our female staff. Today you have been invited to Auckland Hospital for a free cervical smear test and breast examination. If any of you are interested, I'll meet you out front during lunch break to drive you. Have a blessed day.
I thought the offer was too good to pass up. I don't recall any of my family members dying from cervical or breast cancer. But you can never be too cautious when the Big C is still thriving in the death toll charts. I guess that's why all of us female teachers took advantage of the offer, and find ourselves seated in the waiting room. I decide to go down to the cafeteria and grab a quick bite. I don't see the point in all of us waiting here. It is not like we're all gonna get seen at once. I take the elevator down.
After stopping through five levels, the elevator car is getting ridiculously packed and the air supply is on low. I finally get off at my level and silently kiss the ground in my head. I step into the Cafeteria being thankful the lunch rush hasn’t begun just yet, but there is a bit of a line forming. I get in line and start looking around the room.
There are a bunch of men sitting at one of the tables next to the cashier counter that snags my attention. They seem to be in a meeting, deep in conversation. There are six of them, all dressed in suits, four men are sitting down and two are standing. All their attention seems to be on a folder that is gradually getting passed around. I move forward as the line slowly starts to get shorter bringing me a lot closer to the table full of men.
“Si, we leave for Milano in twelve hours for change over.”
I freeze, my eyes trained on the back of his head. Why the hell is Luca here? I quickly snap out of my statues like posture and power walk out of the Cafeteria before he notices that I'm there. In a frenzied rush, I go towards the closest elevator frantically pushing the button.
Come on you bitch……..
"Hey, Nessa. Keep pushing the button like that and you'll end up breaking the damn thing.” Sanz stands next to me with a cup of coffee in his hand laughing.
“The thing’s just too damn slow,” I said gritting my teeth still pushing the button continuously. “Shit...”
“Hey, you okay, Have you been examined already,” He asks, putting a hand on my shoulder.
“No, not yet,” I say quickly.
“ Do you have the special access key card, can I borrow real quick please?.” He unclips the card from his slacks and holds it up dangling it infront of me.
“Dinner this week and you can use it. I’m still sore you ditched me a few weeks ago when we had plans for lunch?” He says negotiating with me.
“Yeah sure, anywhere you wanna go.” I grab the key card from him and continue to push the button.
“Sweet, how does tomorrow night sound?”
“Ummm, Yeah sure I..”
“No. Tomorrow night won't work.” Lucas deep voice snaps as he cuts me off.
Fuck!
“I’m sorry, but I was talking to the lady. Not you Luca.” Sanz stares daggers at him dropping his hand.
Does he know Luca?
The elevator finally opens and Luca grabs a hold of my arm pushing me inside the empty car.
“Si, I know. Keep your dirty hands off this one. She is mine you got it?” Luca says ferociously as the door slides shut.
He takes the key card from my hand and swipes it pushing the ground level button before he tucks it snuggly into his suit jacket.
“I was heading up..” I look straight ahead avoiding any eye contact with him.
“No. You are leaving with me.” He states clearly.
“Like hell I am.” I turn to look at him.
“Si. We have far too much we need to discuss.” He smirks at me.
The car comes to a stop and the elevator doors open. Luca pulls me by the arm ushering me through the underground carpark. I plant my feet into the ground using all my strength trying to stop him.
“Luca stop!” I yell at him.
He stops and looks back at me. I pull my arm free from his hold and slowly start to retreat, rubbing where his hands had been.
“I’m not leaving with you.” I turn around and make a start for the elevator. Luca steps in front of me. Blocking me.
“Vanessa, please.” He begs.
“What are you doing here and how does Sanz know you?” I ask him.
“I came here to see you and he knows me because I paid him a visit after our fight that night.”
Wish I could honestly say I'm surprised. But.. I'm not.
“You came here for me?” I mummer.
“Si. I will always come for you. And I wanted to see you.” He takes a hold of my hand, and runs his thumb over my knuckles, sending my hormones into a pulsing mess.
“No! You can’t just show up and expect me to leave with you when you snap your bloody fingers.” I pull my hand out from his and walk around him.
“ I've had a team of men watching you!” He grounds out.
I abruptly stop and turn around marching straight back to him pointing my finger in his face.
“Keep them away from me... You stay the fuck away from me too.” I glare at him.
“I can’t do that. You’re not safe.”
“Why wouldn’t I be safe? We have no real connection. Your father was my family doctor and that was it.” I continue to stare at him, folding my arms in annoyance.
“You are linked to our family more than you would have ever known Vanessa.” He tells me with his brows furrowing.
“We just met weeks ago. How can we be connected?” I ask him confused.
“I will tell you everything. I swear. But for me to do that we need to get back to my penthouse so we can talk in private.”
“I can’t trust you, you have lied to me from day one. It was you that said there should be no secrets between us. 'Always the truth' You said.” My throat starts to close up.
“You are right. But it is time for you to know the whole truth, not just part of it.” He takes me by the hand and I let him take me away.