Hey Rom-Cubs,

It's certainly a long chap but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

Here's the seventh installation.

ENJOY XD

Please

Stay sweet! Mwahhhhhhhhhhh. *blows air-kiss* Thanks for all your support. XD

- Ang

-------

Niccolo's Chocolate House

Chapter 7

*Dari*

PART ONE ...

Oh heavens! Why couldn't I stop thinking about my clandestine encounter with my inapproachable boss?

He had always been so calloused towards me. I could never figure out why because, in my humble opinion, I'd done nothing wrong. Or at least, I thought I hadn't.

Well, there was the small matter of my being a klutz, but to me, that was a lost cause because I don't think it was a curable disease, or that they gave out vaccines for klutz-maniacs.

Besides, it was as if nature was taking matters into its own hands, balancing out the odds, causing collision after collision, to return the favour for multiple times the boss had yelled at me.

Could I have wanted something to happen?

No, that was outrageous!

The man had verbally abused me on more than one occasion, and I wanted something to happen ... between us?

Maybe I was just too tired of being curious about love because I actually wanted to feel something real for once. Not that I was saying the boss felt anything towards me. After all, he was my superior and the man who obviously wanted nothing to do with me.

However, Krysta, his younger sister seemed to think otherwise, marketing my landline for his cellular, in a deliberate attempt to play matchmaker and whatnot for her older more aggressive brother, who wouldn't dare consider having me had she not intervened.

Not that I wanted him to consider me. I was in love with Stephan for Pete's sake.

Either way, I found myself stepping into the beautiful dress that my father had bought my mother before she'd left. It was the only thing I could find on such short notice and it was never worn.

The dress was of superior quality, sitting well in all the right places, leading me to wonder if the dress that been for my mother at all. It was a semi-formal sleeveless knee-length floral printed green and white dress.

As I tugged against the zipper, I couldn't help but wonder what I was getting myself into. I found my simple chain-set which had never really worn, sitting by the vanity mirror before I put them on.

Oh God, what was I doing?

However, I had no such luck with my beige flat sandals. It was as though reinforcing the notion that I shouldn't be doing this, to begin with. On the contrary, scenarios of all kinds plagued my mind while I lie awake the night, thinking of what today would bring. I knew one thing for certain. I had no intentions of messing things up for my papa and me so I couldn't really say no. Not while my papa was in his current state.

Since I wasn't having much luck finding my flats, I got the portable landline, entering the digits to the number Krysta had given me. I heard the dial tone just as there was a knock at the door, startling me.

I went with the phone to see who stood behind it. Thankfully, it was just Tionnè. I opened the door for her to come in, noting as she gave me a good once over, topped with a questioning look. Gosh, I knew if I told her she would definitely flip out about it.

I returned to my room with her on my heel just as the owner answered the phone.

"Hello," The thick Italian accent vibrated through the receiver, causing me to draw sudden breath. It was so slick that I almost didn't recognize it.

"H-hello," Tionnè levelled a curious gaze at me while I waited for the person on the other end. There was no way to avoid it now. "Um ... I-Is this Mr. Casimiro?"

Her eyes opened wide as she sat on my bed, waiting for me to come off the phone.

"Yes, this is he! And who are you?" His voice held an edginess that I didn't dare test.

"Adaramola." Suddenly, I heard a loud distortion before the ridiculously loud hum of a motor. What was I doing? I shouldn't be doing this! It wasn't right.

"Hello," My boss answered, suddenly catching me off guard.

"Yes, I-I was wondering where you wanted to pick me up." Tionnè mouthed some profanities along the lines of oh my god, while I cleared my throat a little.

"Text me your address and I will come to pick you up." He said quite calmly while I, on the other hand, was freaking out.

"Oh, no no no no. It's fine I can me-"

"-It wasn't a question." He said, his words dripping with authority.

"Ok, bye!" I hung up.

"Can I borrow your phone to text him my address?" I asked.

"Who was that?" Tionnè asked giving me an incredulous look coming to stand beside me.

"Tey, please ... I'll explain everything to you when I get back. I can't be late." I pleaded, hoping that she does not get all smart mouth with me right now.

She gave me her signature look which meant that we were going to talk about this when I got back. It was our day off.

Usually, she would come over and help out with my papa and once he was comfortable enough, we would stay in and watch a few movies. Whenever we got bored, we'd just sit across from each other painting each other's toenails while talking about things that happened in our lives.

So she had absolutely nothing to do, that's why she was over at my apartment, to begin with. But now that I was on my way out, I could breathe a sigh of relief knowing that that talk wouldn't be for a few more hours.

She found my beige flat sandals easily before coming over to give them to me. Tionnè knew me so well, too well. I put them in just as there was a knock on the door. I left her in my room to answer it, breathing a sigh of relief to find Josie on the other side.

"Wow, you look gorgeous!" Josie winked, causing me to blush in embarrassment. "You'll knock his socks off. You can be certain of this."

"What makes you think that I'm meeting someone?" I rebutted defensively while her smirk turned into a giggle.

"You've got this glow ... more than usual. Don't think for a minute that you don't deserve this Dari because you do. Have a wonderful time!" Josie stepped forward, pulling me into a hug.

"Thank you," Josie had been more than kind to me and I was more than thankful for that. "You are the sweetest thing, aren't you?"

"Comes with the package!" We both laughed at that.

"Dee, who's at the d-" Tionnè came out into the living room. "-Hey Josie."

"Tionnè, hi," Josie enveloped Tey in a hug.

"If anything goes awry I'll handle it. You just go have fun." Tionnè stated, settling my nerves a bit.

"Thank you," I hugged her.

"You know I've got you." Tey chuckled.

I gave Josie a hug. They reacquainted themselves as I left for my papa's room. I opened the door to see him sound asleep in his bed. At first, I panicked but then I saw the rise and fall of his chest, distorting my belief that something worse was underway.

I went around to the head of the bed on the side which he was located, kneeling beside his bed near where my papa rest his head. Moving slowly I placed a soft kiss at his temple. When I was sure he wouldn't stir, I returned to my room gathering the rest of my belongings before joining Josie and Tionnè in the living room.

Just in time, there was another knock at the door. I held my breath uncertain of what I might find behind it. I opened the door to the sight of my breathtaking boss. I wasn't sure if I should curtsy or act normal. He might actually look nice if he wasn't yelling at me. Mr. Casimiro drank up my appearance and I returned the favour.

I heard him faintly clear his throat. "Hi,"

"Mr. Casimiro," I held his gaze just until I became overwhelmed. I stepped out the door, yelling bye over my shoulder as he stepped back.

"Please ... call me Niccolo." He said ahead of me, descending the stairs from the hallway on my apartment level. It gave me ample time to soak in his form. I couldn't help it. He was severely attractive. "I can feel you looking at me."

At his words, I paused mid-step, unsure how to react. More importantly, uncertain how would he. However, I could tell from the confidence emitting his form. He turned to me, ascending a few steps before taking my hand and leading me down the flight to his car, opening the door for me. I was astounded by his chivalry. I didn't know him to be so gentle.

He came around to sit beside me in the driver's seat before looking over at me. I think he saw me ... really saw me for the first time. "Where to?"

"Um, there are a few places I would like us to go if it's alright with you of course." Imposing wasn't the best way to break the proverbial ice.

"You lead," Niccolo said before I noticed something flash across his eyes.

We made it to the market. Niccolo parked the car in the distinguished parking area before coming around to get the door for me.

All I could do was asking myself why he was being so nice? I thought he was this brute everywhere. I stepped out of his beautiful car just as he leaned in to close the door for me.

"Why are you being nice to me?" I asked a bit befuddled.

"It's long overdue, don't you think?" He answered my question with a question, putting his hand at the small of my back.

"Is it ok if I-" He cleared his throat while staring down at me though I tried my best to avoid his searching gaze. "-If I hold you like this?"

I nodded as words seemed to fail me.

While he scanned our surroundings, I was given a window to really take him in. His thick dark hair was a sleek black and no longer than three inches off his head but curly. I hadn't noticed it before. His eyes were surprisingly nice to look at and I couldn't help but wonder if it all had something to do with the change in my outward appearance. I stepped forward, catching him off guard.

"Ms. John," He followed closely behind.

"If I am to call you Niccolo ... please call me-"

"-Adaramola." The way he pronounced my name seemed to do something to my insides.

"Y-Yes," I stuttered, bringing a sensual smile to his sickening gorgeous face. It was the first time I really ever saw him smile.

Just then his phone rang, soiling the moment. He held my gaze and he flipped open his phone, I couldn't help but remember the incident outside of his restaurant, where one of our many collisions had occurred. His phone had been severely damaged because of my clumsiness.

However, it didn't seem to matter all that much to him as I ate myself up about it, yet here Niccolo was with a new phone. Just like that. I dodged through other market-goers, hearing as he followed closely behind, speaking to the person on the other end in Italian.

I felt a hand reach for mine and was ready to pull away but instead, I turned around to note the seemingly dark look in his eyes.

"Buona sera, conosci le direzioni. Il mio Manager dovrebbe rimanere li per qualche ora. Grazie,devo andare ora. Ciao!" I watched as he put the phone away, stepping closer to me. "Sorry about that, goods for the restaurant."

I didn't understand why he felt the need to explain to me. He didn't have to justify anything to me and it was his right. "You don't need to apologize or justify your runnings to me."

"I know," He stared deep into my eyes until I could hold its weight no longer and looked away. Niccolo brought my face to stare at him with the hook of his finger so that I didn't have the chance to avoid his gaze again. "... but I want to."

I allowed my eyes to stray before it settled on a bunch of apples. Goodie, anything to change the topic. "So how do I say apple?"

"What?" He asked perplexed as I stepped away. What did he expect we were in public after all.

"In Italian, how would I say apple?" I clarified.

"Mela," Niccolo replied as I moved over to one of the stalls selling them picking out a few for the vendor to bag them. "Mela."

"What about an orange?" I was about to pay the cost when he beat me to it. He stood right beside me eyeing me curiously.

"Arancia," He chuckled. The first one of its kind which I was able to witness.

Suddenly, he took me by the arm, pulling me against him before moving his lips over mine. I stood there, frozen in his arms while I felt my heart sped up a few beats and my body warmed considerably.

He was stealing my first kiss but his lips were oh so tempting. Before I knew what was happening, I began to respond to his passionate kiss and I almost didn't hear the female vendor mutter something begrudgingly.

"Buona sera, conosci le direzioni. Il mio Manager dovrebbe rimanere li per qualche ora. Grazie,devo andare ora. Ciao!" - "Good evening, you know the directions. My manager should be there for few hours. Thanks I have to go now. Bye."

"Mela," - "Apple,"

"Arancia," - "Orange,"