Hey Rom-Cubs,

A thorn by any other name would be the indignant Niccolo Casimiro and Dari will soon learn that. A rose by any other name will be the sweet Adaramola John.

Here's the eighth installation.

ENJOY!!! XD

Please

Stay AWESOMMEEEE guys!!!!

Thanks for all your support. XD

xoxoxoxoxo.

- Ang

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Niccolo's Chocolate House

Chapter

*Nick*

God, why did I find her so attractive? 

Why did I fall victim to her beauty and innocence? 

This was her fault. It was clear that I was under her spell. 

I could never speak of such an occurrence in all my years. I shouldn't be kissing her--holding her like this--and yet the more I tried to pull away, the more I was sucked in. Besides her radiance, she tasted better than the finest Chocolates I'd ever known, and it drew me in, more than I cared to admit. It wasn't surprising that I wanted to go beyond the professional strata with her ... the line we shouldn't cross. 

Then again, what man wouldn't? She was a goddess.

Suddenly, Adaramola pulled away, much to my disappointment, bringing our heated moment to an abrupt end. As she reclaimed her stolen breath, a look formed in her eyes. One I couldn't quite fix. 

Tears formed in her eyes and one escaped, catching me off guard. Instinctively, I reached out wiping it away. It was evident that my wits had evaded me. For one, I had all but forgotten where we were in the tremendous heat of the moment. She stepped away, almost as though my touch had scolded her. I was confused.

"Scusami," Gosh, I couldn't believe that I'd done that and I didn't have the decency to do it in private. Even so, why should I assume that Adaramola would be fond of me after I'd mistreated her many times in the past? "I don't know what came over me. I don't usually act this way."

"Niccolo," The way she said my name made my heart palpitate in my chest. I held her gaze and by then, I could tell something was wrong. "I only came on this date as a favour to your sister. There can be nothing between us. You are my superior ... my boss. That and I'm in love with another man."

She spoke so faintly that I almost wasn't able to detect what she'd said. However, her last words I'd hear as clear as day my blood boiling because of it. In love ... with another MAN? I didn't take too kindly to others taking me for a fool, and she was no exception. Even as tears streamed down her face and I felt the urge to wipe them away, I resisted. The woman had damn near rejected me. In fact, that was exactly what she'd done and in public. That was the worst bruise of all for my ego.

I gently took hold of her arm, despite the surge of anger, and though it caused a tingling sensation to form within my chest, I ignored it. Backtracking to my car, I guided her in tow before opening the door for her and closing it once she was seated. I came around to my side, taking the seat beside her. Gripping the steering wheel, my hands turned pale as I stared straight ahead. I heard her sob beside me and though my heart cringed at the sound, I paid it no mind.

"Chi é quello?" I asked, immediately unaware that I had spoken in my native tongue until she didn't answer. "Who is he?"

"Please, Niccolo," She pleaded.

"Who is HE?!!" I bit back, restraining myself from doing something stupid. When she didn't answer my question, I put the car in drive before pulling away from the pavement.

I was beyond furious that she considered another man though I had no right to be. It was irrational and unlike me. This woman would mean my destruction. One kiss and she had me in the palm of her hands. Hell, it was my first. 

I manoeuvred the Bentley across town until I came across my destination. I put the car in park, retrieving the keys before coming around to open the door for her. I locked the car, holding her by the elbow so that she wouldn't leave my side.

As we entered the store, I heard the familiar jingle of the overhead wind-chime. The attending clerk perked up recognizing me. He stepped forward to the showcase as we approached. I looked over the assortment of devices on display. 

There was a unit for every kind of person fathomable, but I picked the one that would be user friendly and more suited to the task. The clerk bagged the item, ringing up its cost.

"That would be five hundred and fifty." He said like he was bored out of his mind. However, occasionally I caught him ogling Ms. John, the dreary expression on his face turning to one of great enthusiasm whenever he did.

I fetched six hundred dollars from my wallet, handing it to him. The sooner I got out of here, the less chance I would resort to socking him in the nose for staring her like that.

I took the bag, guiding Ms. John back the way we came. The Clerk called out, stopping me in my tracks, "Sir, you forgot your change!"

"Keep it," I said, continuing out onto the sidewalk.

Once Ms. John was inside, I made my way around the front of the car, getting in before closing the door beside me, taking out the item and placing it in her lap. She flinched and I sympathized for about thirty seconds before starting the car again. 

Silence hung between us as I drove into her part of town. She seemed quite content to stare out of the window all the while I sneaked glances at her and every time I did, my anger was renewed as I was reminded that she wasn't mine. Finally, I pulled up in front of her apartment complex. She sat beside me never once uttering a word as I put the gear into park.

"Open the package," I said, eyeing her intently, noting as she did so a moment later with dread.

"A cell phone?" She said as if to ask, "What am I to do with this?"

"Yes, a cell phone. Keep it on you at all times," I said smugly, opening the package, trading contact info to both before devices before calling her cell phone to ensure my information was there. As I did so, I felt her gaze as it lingered on me in vigilance.

"Are you serious?" Adaramola said, her voice shaky with fear.

"Have you ever heard me make a joke?" I glanced at her.

I heard her mumble something beside me. One look from me and she sobered up. Despite everything, I was tempted to kiss her again then and there, but that would only serve to complicate things further. I had no choice but to fight tooth and nail against my not-so-subtle urges and let her go, even if only for a few hours. She gave me a long sympathetic stare before turning to get out of the car. 

I sat there a while, making sure that she got inside safely before pulling away from the pavement and onto the road making a u-turn, heading in the direction of my home. However little time I spent with her, I was amazed to find that I had enjoyed myself and more than that ... I enjoyed her company.

"What happened, Nikki?" Krysta was shocked to see that I had returned home.

"She has a boyfriend Krysta. She's in love with another man." The words set fire to every unit of microscopic nerves in my body.

I removed my tailored jacket, tossing it over the back of the sofa before proceeding to unbutton the first few buttons of my shirt. I was beyond mad in this instant. Krysta came to sit beside me, offering a comforting hand which I didn't accept. No, a comforting hand wouldn't settle this one. My gosh, when I got in the car in the first place, I wasn't expecting to be home by seven-fifteen, just about forty-five minutes later. No, that just wouldn't do. I fetch my cellular device from the pocket of my slacks, calling the most recent number that appeared on the display.

"H-hello?" The sound of her voice caused me to inhale sharply. This woman.

"I assume you know who's calling since I'm the only one allowed to call you on this device," I said sternly.

"Niccolo?" She answered more like a statement than a question, though I was a bit confused as to why she was whispering.

"Bravo. Why are you whispering?" The anger that had suppressed earlier returned with a vengeance. "Are you with him right now?"

"What?" She asked, seemingly perplexed even through the line. 

Silence hung between us yet again as had been throughout our near hour of time together.

"Are yo-," I groaned in annoyance. "You have one week to accept my hand in marriage or I will blacklist you from every business in the state." I hung up immediately nearly skying the device across the room.

*END of Chapter Eight*

TRANSLATIONS

Italian - English

"Scusami" - "I'm sorry."

"Chi é quello?" - "Who is he?"