I walk out of the bedroom and come down the stairs on a wednesday morning, as carefully and as quietly as i can.

"Goodmorning Miss Wright"

I am startled by the sound of a male voice, not expecting anyone to be down here, having left Angelo in bed upstairs.

I turn around quickly, expecting to see Mario, but i find Sam Lamari instead.

He is punctual.

"Goodmorning" i breathe out, with my hand over my heart.

"Am sorry, i didn't mean to startle you"

"No, it's alright, i just wasn't expecting anyone to be down here this early." i say, my eyes briefly glacing at the top of the stairscase.

He nods.

"Whenever you are ready" he says.

"Sure, i guess we can go now." i utter.

He nods again and leads the way to the door.

I look up the stairs again one last time, half hoping to see Angelo, but he is not there, and i am torn between dissapointment and relief.

Then i imagine him still sleeping peacefully and a smile spreads over my face, my heart filling up with the warmth only he can make me feel.

I turn around and see Sam watching me and quickly walk towards him, slightly feeling embarrassed at the thought of being caught watching for Angelo and then i remember the picnic and then wonder if he saw anything i should be embarrassed about.

*

I look at the time, then at the empty bed space next to me.

I am not much of a heavy sleeper, so i am surprised i completely missed Marianne preparing for work this morning. She must have been really sneaky about it, or i was just really worn out to not hear her moving around.

I suspect both. We had a long day yesterday, and an even longer night.

I am glad we took the time off for each other. Going out and doing normal couple things made it feel like we were just that, a normal couple.

I love getting to know more about her and the more i know, the deeper i fall for her. Since she came into my life, i have changed and i like the man i am when i am with her.

I can't imagine my future with anyone else. I want to face each day knowing that she is in my corner, just like i am in hers. We are a team now.

She is my end game.

I don't remember feeling this happy and content before. It's like i found something i never knew i needed, and now that i have, i can never let it go.

I turn my head to the bedside table and grab my phone, switching it on and waiting for it to blow up with notifications.

We both switched them off yesterday, so we could completely focus on each other without the obvious interruption that could have occured otherwise.

I watch it light up with pop up messages and missed calls. I start to lose count, when it sudennly rings in my hand.

"Yeah" i answer after the first ring.

"Where have you been, i have been trying to call you since yesterday" Ben's voice comes through impatiently.

"What's up?"

"We have a problem" he groans.

*

Sam opens the door to the apartment, the elevator, building entrance and leads me to the indoor car park until we stop infront of a car.

I don't know the exact make, but it's a black shiny SUV with tinted windows. Everything about it is grand and lavish.

The inside is even fancier than the outside, with a cream white interior. This is nice and a little more extravagant than i expected, but instead of overthinking it, i decide to just enjoy everything Angelo is offering me.

That's until we arrive at work. First it was Angelo's Ashton Martin droping me off, now this one, coming from a girl who travelled by taxi on the daily or got a lift from coworkers, this will definitely draw attention, again.

"You can just drop me off here Sam, thank you" i indicate to the entrance of the school.

I lean forward out of my seat a little bit in preparation of the car stopping so i can get out.

"Am sorry, Miss Wright, but its better to leave you inside" he responds, already driving into the school yard, right to the front, just like his boss did last time.

I frown and reach for the door handle when the car comes to a stop, but it's locked.

He comes out of the car and walks to my side and opens the door for me. He is dressed very professionally, in a black suit and dark shades, his mannerisms that of a chauffeur, but i know better, he is supposed to be my security, even if Angelo didn't declare that fact.

I exit the car, clutching my bag and some books to my chest, too afraid to look around at who's seeing me right now.

"Marianne?"

I turn around and see Shane Collins, Eric's father. He was just about to enter his car, but closes the door instead and approaches me, his car keys dangling on his finger.

I wonder what he is doing here so early, and if it has some something to do with me. Or if maybe he found out about the issue with Eric.

I make a mental note to really probe Angelo about how he 'dealt' with that situation

"Hi" he smiles widely, looking at the car behind me, then me, then back at the car before he holds my gaze.

"Mr Collins" i murmur softly.

"Oh, c'mon, it's Shane, i told you that already"

He extends his hand and i give him mine but immediately regret it as he holds on to it, not letting go.

".... It's been a while since we've seen each other, you look gorgeous as usual." he says, looking me up and down slowly.

I am wearing the button up skirt i wore to Angelo's apartment that night he invited me for dinner, and a black Polo neck sweater, tacked into the skirt, with a black jacket over it, my hair is parted in the middle and held back in a tight low ponytail, i know i look nice, but i don't know about 'gorgeous'.

He seems friendly, so i assume, all is well and it's not about Eric.

"Thank you, How is Theresa?" I bring up his wife, hoping to curb him from flirting any further.

Shane, much like his son, came on to me when we first met after one of the PTA meetings he usually attends as vice chairman of the school board.

I only realised afterwards, but i think this attraction is probably the reason he agreed to have me tutor his son, he thought the close proximity would allow for us to have an affair, but after several attempts of flirting and subtle ways of asking me out proved futile, he gave up, and unfortunately, his son picked up where he left off.

"Good, good... I ahh......" he tries to say something but looks behind me and stops.

I turn too and see Sam now standing close by, probably watching this awkwardness.

"I will be ready by 3:30" I say to him.

He nods and enters the car, driving off.

"I see alot has changed, we should get together, and catch up some time...... You know Mary, i wanted to give you a good life, treat you special, but i see someone has beat me to it, but i can do better" he says shamelessly.

"I have to get to work, excuse me" i say a bit rudely, surpressing an eye roll.

A man with no respect for his wife does not deserve mine or my time either.

"You will say yes to me one of these days Mary, mark my words" he says behind me but i don't turn back and pretend not to have heard him.

I approach Rachel who is standing at the entrance of the school hall.

"What was that?" she asks, her hand on her hip.

"What?"

"I thought it was your mysterious boyfriend dropping you off, then i saw Collins flirt with you infront of him."

"Was he that obvious?" i scowl.

"That man has it bad for you, and he makes no effort to hide it, not even when his wife is around, the poor thing......So, what did he want this time?...and who was the other man with the Range Rover Sentinel? you know you are really starting to scare me, did you join some kind of gang overflowing with money or something? Because if you did, i want in...." she hooks her arm in mine as we walk to the staff room while she continues interrogating me.

*

As the morning passes, i fight off the urge to call or text Angelo before lunchtime in order to give him sometime to concetrate on work which i am sure built up because of his absence yesterday.

During my science class, i take the kids outside for demonstrations and practicals of our current lesson. Then Emma, the principal's secretary comes looking for me.

"Hey....Mary, i have been looking for you, i found your class empty. Principal Wallace wants to see you ASAP" she says, out of breathe.

"Why?" i furrow my eyebrows.

"Dunno" she shrugs.

I look at the time and it's close to lunch. I leave one of the students in charge and follow her.

It's probably about my days off. I deliberately avoided seeing him this morning, even although i did call him personally to let him know i would not be coming in for work.

Emma is not on her work station when i arrive at his office, and so i knock twice on the door before he invites me in.

He is not alone and is laughing loudly when i enter.

"Mary!" He says looking up at me.

His visitor has his back to me on the chair facing the desk but stands up when Principal Wallace calls my name, although Wallace himself stays sitted.

Angelo!!

He turns, buttoning up his black jacket before placing his hands in his pockets.

My heart dances at the sight of him.

"Well, come in and sit down" Wallace motions to me and i walk to the unoccupied chair next to Angelo's and sit down.

He unbuttons his jacket again and sits down, one leg bending at the knee to rest over the other.

I turn to look at him briefly and i see him typing away on his phone.

"Well, Mary, i was just having a little discussion with Angelo here, who was was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule to drop off the doctors note you left at home" He looks at Angelo briefly for confirmation who nods back at him in response.

I want to laugh.

What is he up to now?

"I didn't know your situation was that serious, you should have reported to me straight away this morning, instead of going to teach your class in your condition" he continues.

"Condition?" i utter, surprised.

Say what now? What condition?

I see Angelo's lips twitch a little as he suppresses a smile. He sits up straight, placing his phone on the table infront of him.

I clear my throat.

"My condition....well, i uhmm..." i start to say, looking for a way to find out more without giving my ignorance away.

A knock on the door stops me from speaking further as Emma enters, asking for him to go with her to attend to something urgently.

He excuses himself with an apology.

"Condition? There is a condition?" I ask, turning to face Angelo.

He stands up and leans against the desk, facing me.

"What happened to you this morning?" He asks instead.

"What do you mean?" i ask innocently.

"You snuck out, like i was some kind of a one night stand" he grumbles.

I close my eyes briefly and open them to find him looking at me with a pointed gaze, waiting for an answer.

Seriously? This is why he is here, faking doctor's notes, because i didn't get one yesterday. I thought he had better things to do with his time.

"You know what, whatever you are playing at here, i am not going to be part of it" i murmur, unable to ignore just how good he looks and how nice he smells.

He is dressed in an all black outfit, and even though it's a suit, the few buttons he left open at the top of his button up shirt, is giving him a casual and relaxed appearance.

His hair has grown abit longer since we have met and is slightly falling over his forehead.

I love it.

"You haven't answered my question" he raises an eye brow.

I turn and look behind me at the door to make sure no one is coming.

"What do you want from me?" i ask faintly.

"You can start by greeting me properly" he drawls, his hands still firmly tacked in his pockets, his feet crossed at the ankles as he continues to lean against the edge of the desk as if this was his office.

I stand up and plant a quick kiss on his lips and try to sit down again, but he quickly holds my waist, keeping me up against him.

"A proper kiss" he demands.

The crazy, psychotic, bipolar side of him is back, and it wants to get me fired.

My heart is literally beating out of my chest.

Wallace could be back any minute, and if he finds us like this........

"You are over thinking it, and wasting time " Angelo says casually, like we have all the time in the world.

"Why do you do this to me?" i pout.

He smiles. A full blown smile.

"You need to relax more baby, you think too much, you will hurt yourself." he chuckles.

"Why are you really here?" i ask again.

"You forgot your doctor's note at home remember, i am just a dutiful boyfriend dropping it off" he murmurs and i laugh.

"Do you want me to drop dead with high blood pressure or stress one day?" i complain.

He laughs, his deep voice echoing in the room.

"A proper kiss....please" he repeats.

I can't refuse him anything, especially when he says please.

Resisting the urge to look back at the door again, i lean forward with my arms folded at my midriff, as he bends down a little to receive my kiss.

His hards grip my waist firmly and turns me around so that i am the one with my back against the desk. Then he holds my shoulders and neck with both hands as he kisses me deeper.

I moan, pulling back.

I swear the adrenaline in my veins right now is giving me hot flushes.

"We have abit more time, relax" He whispers hoarsly, trying to kiss me again.

"How do you know that?" I ask softly again his cheek.

"I just do, you know i wouldn't do anything to get you in trouble right?" he pulls back to look at me.

I nod.

"Good" He says, kissing me again. I try to relax into it, my hands on his chest this time.

"Ok, enough" i gasp, stepping away from him.

He sits down.

"You are wasting precious time princess" he says casually, rubbing his lower lip between his thumb and index finger, and looking at me with hooded eyes.

I look back at him, i don't know how he does it, but i can't live on that kind of a high.

Closing his eyes, he throws his head back against the back of the chair and sighs audibly.

"Four minutes, babe, you just wasted four precious minutes" he says after a a few minutes, turning to look at me accusingly.

Before i can respond, Wallace walks back in, making a ton of appologies for taking too long.

"So, where were we, oh yes....your sick leave. Well, i don't see any problem, seeing that it's per doctors recommendation. Plus, you do kind of look flushed now that i think of it" he mutturs innocently, studying me abit.

Yes, i am flushed but it has nothing to do with my supposed 'condition'.

"Just fill that out, then you will be good to go, i will reassign someone to take over your classes till you return." he mumbles handing me a leave form.

Wait, Leave?

I look at Angelo briefly, who gives me a pointed look before i look at the form and doctor's note attached to it, that Wallace just handed over to me. The note indicates that i require seven days bed rest in order to fully recover from a medical condition.

I don't know what he is up to or doing, but i wish he would stop making decisions about me without discussing with me first.

I internally sigh with annoyance. Does he have to drive me from one extreme emotion to another?

"Marianne?"Angelo utters, motioning to the paper in my hands with his head, when i hesitate.

He even has the audacity to rush me!

But i guess this is not the time no place to argue, so i fill out the form and hand it back to Wallace.

"I will just finish out the rest of the day since i am already here" i declare.

"Are you sure, you don't...." Wallace protests, glancing at Angelo a few times.

"I am sure. Thank you"

"Well, I will let you two get back to work then....I will have my PA get in touch with you over that proposal Peter" Angelo smiles at Wallace and gets up. I stand up too.

"Sure, i will appreciate it. Good to see you again." He smiles back at him.

He offers to walk him out but Angelo declines and we walk out together.

"I have to go away for a while, for work, Dad and Ben are coming with me too" he says as soon as we are alone in the hallway.

"Oh, when" Sounds serious.

"Now. I am going to the airport from here" he utters.

"For how long?"

"A week, maybe a little more" he shrugs and i stop walking.

"That long?" i feel the energy leave my body.

He turns to me.

"I need you to stay at home for now, where i know you will be safe, atleast until i figure this out" he says seriously.

"So it's about the other night, what's going on?" i ask.

"Nothing for you to worry about" he says lightly, but that's not comforting to hear.

"Hey....take back the long face, i will try to get back as soon as i can" he says, his fingers slightly brushing mine in the hallway that in now begining to fill up with people.

"I just needed to see your face before i leave....You look beautiful by the way" he says, studying my outfit.

"Hey, so did you have Wallace distracted so we can have some time alone?"

He nods.

"So why didn't you just tell me that?" i glower.

"Because i want you to actually trust me when i ask you to, i told you we had time" he says accusingly.

"How did you know he would stay away long enough?"

"Trust, Sam told me i would have fifteen minutes, and i believed him. That's how's how it works princess. You know, i don't get a kick out of stressing you out, sometimes.....but i will never do anything to hurt you..I need you to really understand that" he whispers, smiling slightly.

I smile back, shaking my head a little.

"Over a week...." i sigh, feeling uneasy at the thought.

"It will pass by quickly" he winks. But that's not true, even he looks sad despite the smile he is trying to put on for my benefit.

"Mary??" i recognize Rachel's voice immediately.

I turn and see her approach us.

"Hi" She murmurs, looking between us. I smile back, giving her a knowing look.

"Hey, you remember An....."

"Angelo Morreli, ofcourse i do. I know who he is. Doesn't everyone" she smiles and extends a hand to him.

He smiles back, taking her hand.

She turns her head to me and mouths an 'OMG' before facing him again with an innocent smile.

"Angelo, this is Rachel, maybe you remember her from....."

"The party, i remember, it's a pleasure to see you again." he murmurs.

"Oh believe me, the pleasure is all mine" She responds.

Angelo smirks and turns to me.

"I will call you when i can" he says, his eyes lingering on me for a while.

I nod, thinking how he won't be home when i get there.

Rachel clears her throat.

He winks and walks away finally as Rachel and i both watch him dissapear out of sight.