2- Protection and care
GIULLIA SANTORI’S POV
It took me a long time to fall asleep, replaying the scene repeatedly in my mind, even dreaming about it. This caused me to wake up the next day looking tired.
I go through the same morning ritual before heading to the university, wearing my usual clothes and having breakfast more calmly this time. I leave for the bus stop, noticing a black Audi circling slowly. I start feeling frightened, quickening my pace until I reach the bus stop.
"Good morning, Giulia," Antoine greets once again.
I offer a half-smile, still shaken, and sit on the bus, breathing a sigh of relief for being in a safe place. Lost in thought, I imagine what I've gotten myself into after saving that man the previous night. I remember his face, his clear eyes locked onto mine, and I shake my head to push the thoughts away.
When I got off the bus at the university entrance, I noticed the same car parked behind me. Growing even more nervous, I hasten my steps toward the location. Two men dressed in black approach me, stopping a few meters away, just observing. I glance sideways, then ignore them and quicken my steps, and they do the same. Then, I abruptly stop.
"What's happening? Why are you following me?" I speak irritably.
"The boss ordered us to ensure your safety," one of them states.
"First, who is this boss? Second, why do I need security?" I ask incredulously.
"Vittorio Cassini, and he wants to thank you for saving his life. He's arranging your security due to your involvement in last night's incident," one of them explains.
Vittorio Cassini is the name of the man with the beautiful eyes who was attacked last night. So, he's a boss. From what I'm gathering, there's something somewhat shady about this situation. I take a deep breath, trying to process this information.
"Do I have a choice?" I inquire, exhaling heavily.
"No," he responds firmly.
I roll my eyes and resume walking as they do the same. It's an entirely new sensation for me—being followed by two men with serious expressions dressed in black, and I have no idea what I've gotten myself into.
Arriving in the classroom, I feel completely embarrassed. My face is burning, and I know I must be blushing intensely. I walk to my seat, and the two men enter, positioning themselves by the door with their arms crossed over their chests. This catches everyone's attention—me, who always did everything to avoid being the center of attention.
Students chatter, and the professor looks puzzled by this unprecedented situation. It's not an everyday occurrence it's never happened before.
"Is this necessary, Giulia?" he asks me.
"Yes!" the two men reply in unison.
As all the classes conclude, the two of them stand by the door and accompany me everywhere—even to the restroom. It's absurd. I cursed the moment I saved that man.
Three days have passed, and everything continues in the same manner, except that that man's eyes are stuck in my mind, and his security guards are tailing me twenty-four hours a day under the guise of keeping me safe. They escort me to and from classes daily, claiming it's their boss's orders.
By this point, I'm irritated enough to not want to give in and revert to my usual routine. At the end of classes, when I reach the bus stop where I usually catch my ride home, one of the men approaches.
"Miss, allow me to take you home safely?" he asks politely.
"It's not necessary," I deflect.
"I insist, miss. Let's go," he says a bit more sternly.
I ignore all the requests and board the bus. I see the driver smile as usual. I head to a seat in the back, leaning back and taking a deep breath, reflecting on how these past few days have been anything but ordinary.
The bus starts moving, and I gaze out the window, lost in thought about recent events. Suddenly, the bus brakes sharply, startling me and some other passengers.
"Are you crazy? What the hell!" the driver shouts, wholly irritated.
He continues grumbling until he notices a man stepping out of the luxurious black car. Dressed in dark attire from head to toe, the driver seems taken aback and remains silent.
I look at the man I saved a few days ago as he boards the bus, leaving all the passengers confused and talking simultaneously. He stops in front of me and extends his hand toward me. I can see his handsome face perfectly—stunning and charming.
"Come with me, Giulia," he demands.
"You're insane. How could you do this?" I complain.
"Come!" he demands, even angrier this time.
I glance around and decide to comply with his order. After all, this man has been trying to protect me for days, and somehow, it intrigues me to learn more about his life. I grip his hand and follow him from the bus until we reach his car. He opens the passenger door, and I get in immediately. Now, I feel anxious, and his presence triggers indescribable sensations. Vittorio has a serious, penetrating, and hypnotic gaze.
My breath is heavy as the man walks around the car, eventually settling into the driver's seat. Beyond the window, I notice people staring and drivers of other vehicles muttering about Vittorio's sudden and risky maneuver in the middle of the avenue. I know it's wrong, but deep down, I found that act incredibly impressive. Adrenaline provides a pleasant sensation.
I glance at the man beside me; his expression is firm and stern, with a strong jawline and a penetrating gaze that's etched into my memory from the first time I saw him. Covered in blood and bruises then, now I can observe him. He starts the car, focusing on the road ahead, and promptly takes the route onto the highway. I glimpse his security guards following closely behind through the car's rearview mirror—expected.
The tension in the air is immense. I consider saying something, but shyness renders me unable even to form the first words. So, I take a deep breath, summoning the courage to break the silence between us.
"How do you know my name?" My voice is low.
"I uncover much more difficult things." His voice is almost melodic. "Why didn't you accept being escorted home safely?"
"I don't understand why this is necessary," I explain.
"You saved me and got involved in something you shouldn't have," he looks at me now.
Our eyes meet briefly, and I look away, my face flushed.
"Explain it to me then," I suggest.
"It's very complex, Giulia," he states with conviction.
We remain silent throughout the journey until we reach my house. He parks the car just in front of the residence and gets out immediately, circling the vehicle to open the door for me, displaying courtesy. As I step out, I notice him approaching, stopping in front of me with his hands in his pants pockets. He looks intently at me, sending shivers down my spine.
"Thank you," I express, giving him a shy smile.
"Don't oppose my security team; don't refuse to accept their protection," he looks intensely at my face.
His gaze on me is making me uncomfortable. I step away from him, walking along the stone path through the front yard. Upon reaching the tiny porch, I glance back again, finding him still in the same position. I open the door, leaning against it after it's shut, bringing a hand to my forehead, and taking a deep breath. The madness of everything that's been happening. This man is making me feel something different; his presence has disoriented me.
I woke up very early that morning; the night's sleep wasn't perfect due to insomnia. I had time to tidy up the small house where I lived and prepare for university.
A week I had passed since the incident on the bus and my encounter with the man with bright green eyes. My routine was the same, with well-prepared guards escorting me to and from the university daily. By this point, I hadn't objected to it; I was getting used to their presence, and they were pretty considerate.
Nevertheless, I still felt suffocated at times. I wanted to walk and breathe fresh air without two hulks by my side. I left the house, and they promptly approached me.
"I won't go far; I just want to walk. Please!" I asked politely.
They exchanged glances and nodded in agreement. I felt relieved to have a moment of solitude and freedom.