"What?"Angelo smiles at me.

"Nothing" I respond, continuing to pick up some of the little stuff i left unpacked yesterday, so that i can use them today to get ready.

"What!!!" Angelo asks again, staring at me with exasperation.

"What have i done? I haven't said a word. I am packing and minding my own business here?" I retort and try to keep a straight face as i go about my business.

"Keep that grin on your face and i will give you something to really laugh about!" He says iritably, and it causes me to snap, and burst out laughing.

"Mary!!!!!" He warns.

And it only makes me laugh harder.

He huffs in fustration and goes about his business too, ignoring me, and i come up behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist.

"Ok...ok..I am done now" I murmur.

He turns only his head to look back at me.

"We agreed to never talk about it" he mutters, referring to late last night and how his 'little surprise' worked out against him.

"And I haven't said anything" I argue.

"You keep laughing and making that face, that's no different" he complains seriously.

"Ok..i'll stop" I murmur, tilting my head down abit in his back to hide my growing smile.

He notices my dilemma and rolls his eyes, turning away.

"Ok, i am sorry, but i can't help it. You are just mad that i finally have something to hold over you" I mumble.

"Whatever" he frowns.

"Ok, ok. I am done, don't be mad" I utter, coming to stand in front of him and pouting, but he tries to ignore me.

"You are going to upset the baby if you are going to be mad" I whisper, when he continues to look away and this time, he smiles, shaking his head a little.

"I will miss this...just being us and having all this time to ourselves" I whisper.

"Me too. But nothing has to change.... we will have alot of time together.....you will see" he utters with promise, his fingers lightly rubbing my baby hair.

"Ok....you done?" I ask, referring to his last minute packing too.

"Done"

*

The flight back home is a little less dramatic than our flight to Mexico, but still just as interesting. Again, champagne is popping today, to celebrate a memorable holiday, only this time, everyone seems to tire out quickly from the excessive talking and soon gets preoccupied with their phones, or sleep.

I generally feel tired most of the time lately, so i spend the hours sleeping, next to Angelo, who in turn is very hooked on watching movies to kill the time.

I lightly elbow him to get his attention.

"Apart from the news and sports? Do you ever sit down to watch anything else?" I ask.

He pauses the movie and chuckles at my question.

"No..I never had time for movies....then over time i generally lost interest......" He says, before unpausing.

"So are you enjoying it now?" I ask, wondering if he is watching it out of interest or boredom.

He pauses again.

"I am....this is really good. I guess i have been really missing out" he utters and presses play.

I smile to myself, and decide not to disturb him further, glad to see him enjoying the movies i recommended.

Snuggling up closer to him, i close my eyes and go to sleep again.

*

Touching down at a private airspace in Hartford, we are met with the familiar faces of Sam and Max. I never thought i would ever miss these guys, but I did, and i am genuinely happy to see them. I suppose i have gotten used to having them around me all the time, and they are starting to feel like family to me. AJ, Angelo's number one was with us though.

"Welcome back, Ms Wright, Mr Morreli" They both mumble, one after the other as we approach them after co.ing down the stairs and in excitement, that surprises even me, I step forward, giving each a hug.

Their surprised is evident, and they vaguely return the hug, barely touching my shoulder in return to the contact i initiated. I suppose their indifference could also be due to Angelo's presence, who frowns at my actions.

"It's just a hug, relax." I mumble at his unimpressed face.

"You have been here barely five seconds and you already want to form frown lines" I tease him as we walk to the others.

We all say good bye to each other, sharing hugs and kisses and promising to keep in touch or meet up later.

I interlace our fingers as we walk towards the car, dragging him with me by the hand. It's early in the evening on tuesday, my favorite time of the day and i genuinely feel happy to be back.

"After we settle comfortably in our sits, i turn to look out the car window when Angelo speaks.

"Don't do that again" he says, capturing my attention.

"Do what?" I ask obliviously.

"It was inappropriate and unprofessional" he responds instead, and i realise he means the hugging.

"Was it really that big of a deal?" I ask, surprised he is till hanging on to that.

"Yes. Don't do it again" he says again, as the car starts moving.

I turn back towards the window without replying, feeling annoyed. Does he really have to rain on my parade with his bossiness.

I am genuinely feeling happy and now he is starting to ruin it.

It's like i went on holiday with one Angelo who was generally happier and more relaxed and carefree, but the minute our vacation was over, the old, insufferable, controlling Angelo took his place again.

Reading my mood, he places his arm around my shoulders, and gently pulls me closer to him. When i don't turn to look at him, from the corner of my eye, i see him take out his phone, finally switching it on.

Soon after, the hear it pop up with message alert after message alert, non stop for over two minutes straight. The sound is a silent reminder that we are back to real life, and he no longer belongs to me alone now, and the world wants it's share.

Without attending to it, he puts his phone down and turns to me, side hugging me with both hands and kissing my temple.

I turn to look at him.

"Hey" he whispers.

Before, i can respond, his phone starts to ring and we both look down at it.

"I literally feel you being pulled away from me right now" I mumble.

"Hey......I am yours first before being anything else"he says and i smile at his cheesiness.

"You are so corny" I chuckle.

He laughs too, kissing my cheek.

"We are both going to get busier, but nothing changes. At the end of the day, we get to come back home to each other, and i promise to make alot more time for us this time....ok?" He murmurs.

"Ok" I reply, kissing his cheek too repeatedly until he laughs.

"You ought to answer that" I gesture to his phone, when it rings again.

As he answers the phone, I take mine out too and switch it on.

Angelo stares as message alerts light up my screen one after the other too.

Rachel, Luke, Mom, Jaden, Ryan from work, Marcy, one of my neighbors at the old apartment, another colleagues from work and literally everyone i know who has my number was either calling or texting me.

Angelo with his phone to his ear, watches in amazement at the number of missed calls and messages and leans over to peak, as i open some messages.

"Nosey" I utter, as i turn his head away.

I was hoping to hold off, until the last minute facing the reality of our return, maybe until we are back home, but now that we are here and Angelo is busy, i guess it's time for me to face the music too.

At the apartment, both Mario and Selene are around to receive us, despite it being passed their working hours.

Honestly, i didn't think it was possible, but i did miss home, the familiarity of this place and how it makes me feel, and now knowing that i am pregnant, i feel like i am seeing everything through different eyes.

"Welcome home" They both say.

"You look, radiant and beautiful.....and such a beautiful tan you have..." Selene murmurs excitedly, as we walk upstairs.

*

"Diner is ready and set on the table when ever you are ready" Selene informs me, after helping us settle in and unpack.

"Thank you....you should really go home already..it's really late now" I offer for the second time.

This time she nods in agreement and walks to the door.

"I am really happy to have you back Madam Mary"

"It's equally good to be back" I smile, before she walks away.

It truly is.

As i sit down to eat, due to the open door of this office, i hear Angelo's voice as he speaks. I don't expect him to be done anytime soon, so i go ahead and eat, my phone close by. I will get back to some of these people later or tomorrow.

*

As i have been finding myself loosing sleep towards morning lately, i wake up early again. It's Wednesday, and i expect Angelo to go back to work today. So waking up before him, i quickly freshen up and throwing on a comfy oversized sweatshirt only, and go down to make him a quick breakfast, that i hope he will eat before he leaves for work.

After i am done in the kitchen, i grab a coffee for him and take it upstairs with me. It's still quite early, so i expect him to be either working out or showering.

But when i get upstairs, he is doing neither, but still sleeping in bed.

I put the cup of coffee next to the bed and sit on the edge with the intention to waking him up. Then abruptly, i am tackled to lie flat on my back on the bed.

"You crazy S.O.B." I yell, covering my face with my hands, my heart beating at an abnormal rate.

He laughs, arranging himself properly, so that he can look down at me.

"Don't do that! you will give me a heart attack you lunatic" I mutter, my hand now on my chest.

He laughs some more.

"Is this for me??" He asks, taking a sip of the coffee and then another one.

He notices me clutching my stomach as i calm down from the fright.

"Are you ok, you scare easily?" He asks

"You know, high blood pressure is not good for pregnancy" I mutter.

He smiles and leans forward, kissing my belly.

"Goodmorning" he whispers to it.

I smile and grab a fistful of his hair with my hand, and rub his scalp abit.

"And good morning to you" he murmurs, coming up to me.

"Goodmorning to you too" I respond, before his lips take mine.

"Why are you still in bed? Won't you be late?"i ask.

"I will work from home today, so i can be closer to you" he says.

My smile widens.

"Really?"

"Really" he chuckles.

"Great...by the way, i made some breakfast for you" I say softly.

"This is the only breakfast i need right now woman" he mumbles, coming up on top of me.

*

Some time later, now dressed in a blue comfy shirt and black stretchy shorts, barely visible through my long shirt, my first order of business is to call back mom.

'Why didn't you tell me what was going on? You just go around making out in public and then run off to another country' mom mutters through the phone.

'Mom!!'

'And why didn't you tell me about the annulment either'

'Because it just happened. I didn't really have time to get into it...'

'Well, you have your name plastered all over the papers. Add the fact that Judge Ivan Morreli announced that he is stepping down from his job due to health reasons, and boom, you have become a hot topic.' She murmurs.

Ivan stepped down from his job? I wonder if Angelo knows.

'Stop exaggerating, it's not really that bad....I will come home tomorrow so we can catch up'

'Here? You can't come here. I had reporters knocking at my door for a while, wanting to interview me about you and asking where you are, until some of Angelo's people come over to manage the situation and keep them at bay... it's been over a week now, but they are still out there.......you can't come here' she advises.

'Really?'

'Really? That's all you have to say? You don't seem to be taking any of this seriously honey' she mutters.

I sigh.

'What's the point. It won't change anything....it will pass in a couple of weeks and people will move on to something else' I say, genuinely believing it.

'Well, let's hope so..Your brother is dying to talk to you by the way. Actually he wants to see you, thanks to you, he has become somewhat of a popular guy around here if you can believe that..' she chuckles.

'What?...any more popular than he already is?' I laugh.

'Believe it' she laughs too.

'Well, i am going to call him in a bit.....can you guys come over here instead then?'

'He will love that.'

'And you?'

'I miss you. I would like to see you too.... especially after all this drama....I want to make sure you are ok' she murmurs.

'How's tomorrow?'

'That will work.'

'Great, I will make the arrangements and call you back'

After I hang up on her, I call Luke next, but his phone just rings, so i call Rachel next.

'Well, well, well. Where do i even start from?' she says immediately she answers.

'Hai to you too, i am fine, thanks for asking' I mumble sarcastically.

'You know, i was offered good money, that I missed out by the way, just to give out some juicy details about you and how you are at work?' She utters.

'You don't say' I laugh.

'Yep!! You are lucky i love you ...otherwise i have plenty of stories to tell, like the one time you had that scuffle with that bully Josh, and then later got into an even bigger fight, that got physical with his drunk mother' she laughs.

I laugh too.

She fills me in on everything i missed out on and how some of my other workmates were being asked about me aswell and how most of that was ending up on gossip news and social media.

'By the way, thanks to a photo Andre Morreli posted on a yatch with you and Angelo sitting on the edge of the boat in the background, you are now officially a hot topic'

'Wait what photo?' how come i didn't know about that.

'Yep, it's all on the internet. Listen babes, i got to go, but i will talk to you later, maybe we can have lunch or something....kisses.' she murmurs, before hanging up.

I smile, genuinely amazed at how our friendship had evolved so beautifully.

As soon as i hang up, Luke calls me back.

'Hey you'

'Hai yourself' he responds, sounding incredibly calm in comparison to my other callers.

'How was your holiday?' He asks.

'Good..great.....how are you?'

'Busy.....but good'

"Good"

'Good'

'Well?"

'Well what?' he asks.

'Spite it out already' I murmur and he laughs.

'Well, what can I say, you are famous now.....who would have ever guessed, I mean, Angelo Morreli did not have a significant social presence... the man is pretty good at what he does and he is very well known in the business and professional circles for his work and his father....but you two dating has taken broken that and taken on a life of its own, everyone seems fascinated by it, especially since he just broke up with supermodel Claire Denning for you.'

They didn't break up, they never dated, I want to say but bite my tongue.

'Right....well you are making it sound very dramatic'

He laughs inhumorously.

'It is.....have you any idea how crazy the last week has been? The Meraki court case is turning into a scene from a Mafia movies, literally, Maxwell Denning was mentioned as one of his 'associates', and now, his sister just got married then divorced in a matter of weeks to guess who, your new beau....I am tempted to write a story about it myself...hell you should write it yourself, seeing that you are so good at it.' he utters.

'Yeah...well......'

'Anyway, when do i get to see you...by the way, my mom has been giving me hell about letting you slip through my fingers, after seeing who you are with now.' he says softly.

'How's Majorie? I miss her' I smile, thinking about the kind woman who treats me like a daughter.

'Good.....'

'We should have coffee, i could meet you somewhere tomorrow'

'Meet me somewhere? Have you not been listening to me?'

'Relax, it's not that bad... from what i have seen, every thing seems calm so far.' I mumble.

'You just arrived last night, have you been outside, or anywhere?' He asks.

'No...but still "

'Tell you what, how's three thirty tomorrow at Crystal's.. it's low key' he suggests.

Crystal's is a cafe close to my old neighbourhood, and it's a cool and quiet environment.

'Sounds good, but i am expecting mom and Jaden tomorrow, so let me confirm the time later'

'Ok..cool. I will see you tomorrow then'

'Ok..bye'

'Bye'

I hang up.

I can hear Angelo still talking in the office. Both Mario and Selene are around and with the later preparing lunch for us. Not having anything serious to do, i grab my laptop and check out what all the fracas is about.

*

There is alot to catch up on. I need to meet Dad and find out more about this retirement issue that i am only hearing about for the first time today. I hate that i am the last person to hear about it, he never keeps anything from me and it annoys me that i didn't know about this sooner, even if it is not surprising considering his ill health.

Before, sitting down, i call mom, and let her know Mary and i will be over for dinner later.

Then i have to meet with the security team and find out the new routine and additions to the team that are now critical, considering Me and Mary's lives have now been thrust more into the public space.

We made an appointment for friday, for her to meet with the gynaecologist at the hospital my family has been going to for years, so atleast i don't need to worry about that for now.....Then there is the actual work, that i need to attend to aswell.

Right now, i am receiving updates on everything.

Who knew a ten day holiday and complete communication shut down would be so chaotic.

But i am glad I did it. In fact, i plan to make it that Sunday is a no touch zone, free from all work related issues and i will ensure also that i take two days off work every month.

This is something i have never done, before, so it is a huge deal and adjustment for me, but something i know is necesary if i am to make it work with Mary.

*

I didn't plan to spend this much time reading this stuff, but i got hooked over how much information is floating out there and also anxious to see if the wrong kind of information made it out.

I can't believe people are really interested and writing about me.

People are speculating over my relationship with Angelo and coming up with some crazy ideas about how we met and how we are obviously crazy in love.

Andre's picture of himself from when we where all on the yatch with me and Angelo in the background is obviously adding fuel to that narrative. Though oblivious to the camera, we look cozy in each other's arms, lying on the lounger with my back to his chest. Our faces, clearly recognizable when zoomed in.

But with the positive stories and comments comes the negative ones and even though i want to ignore them knowing all these people don't really know our story like we do, i can't help but feel dragged into reading more and more of it.

She's pretty, but not as pretty as Claire, like hello!! Claire is a super model.

What could they possibly have in common, except that she resembles his ex.. he is obviously rebounding.