Chapter 50: Pamper me a little first
Sara ate her breakfast in silence, intentionally avoiding Luca’s gaze. She finished quickly, dabbing at the corners of her mouth with the napkin, then lifted the glass of water to her lips, contemplating moving to the living room.
"Wait. Don’t leave the table while I’m still eating," Luca said.
Reluctantly, she hummed and fidgeted with her fingers in her lap. ’Why isn’t he saying anything about how he feels? Should I ask him? Whatever he said earlier... it didn’t seem like a lie,’ she thought, uncertainty flickering across her mind.
"Say what’s on your mind out loud," Luca said, tilting the glass to his lips with a gentle clink as it met the table again.
"You didn’t answer my question earlier. Jonathan... he interrupted us," Sara said softly.
Luca’s eyes softened with a quiet warmth in his expression. "I liked the way you tried to steal my attention all the time," he said.
"What kind of response is that? If you like me, just say it," Sara said, frowning at him.
"If you tell me you like me, then you’ll hear it from me too," Luca replied, a faint, teasing grin tugging at his lips.
Sara narrowed her eyes at him. "I shouldn’t have asked," she muttered, rising to her feet and heading toward the living room.
Luca’s expression shifted into seriousness as he wiped his mouth. ’I ended up saying the truth I didn’t want to admit,’ he thought. Rising from his seat, he followed her out.
"Let’s go," he said, addressing Sara, who held the office bag Jonathan had handed her earlier. Outside the mansion, Luca gestured for her to enter the car first. She slid into the backseat as he moved in from the other side.
"Good morning, Sir. Madam," Fabio greeted, handing a file to Luca.
The car began to move, and Luca’s eyes scanned the contents of the file.
"Today, there’s a media briefing, as per your instructions," Fabio informed him. "It starts sharp at ten."
"Is it about our marriage announcement? I don’t think we need to address the public," Sara remarked.
"No," Luca said, tilting his head thoughtfully. "It’s about why I saved Falcone Industries and removed the board members. There’s a lot of speculation, so I have to clarify. And of course... I’ll have to tell them that I married the former CEO of Falcone Industries."
"Did you ask my father?" Sara asked.
"Your father’s decision doesn’t hold much weight," Luca replied. "Are you still hung up on the fact that he abandoned you? Why can’t you move on? Sometimes parents are too harsh on their children, forgetting how deeply their words can wound."
Sara paused, wondering if he was speaking about her father, or his own. She remembered the brief confrontation Luca had with his father just in the early morning.
It became clear why people often called Luca heartless: he had left his family long ago. But because his grandfather had placed everything in his name, money had never been a concern for him.
Luca didn’t press Sara for an answer. He flipped through the file in his hand, scanning its contents. After a while, he closed it and leaned back in his seat, adopting a relaxed posture as if nothing could disturb him.
An hour later, they arrived outside the company. Sara stepped out first, waiting as Luca made his way to the front. When he did, she followed his lead, crossing the threshold into the grand lobby. Managers and employees paused to greet him, receiving only a brief, polite smile in return.
"Isn’t that Sara Falcone?"
"I heard they got married."
"She’s lucky."
Sara tilted her head slightly at the murmured gossip from some of the female employees. She walked ahead, stopping only when they reached the elevator.
They stepped inside together.
"Fabio, take the other one," Luca instructed, stepping back as the doors began to close.
"Why didn’t you let him in?" Sara asked, glancing sideways at Luca.
"Because I’ve to speak something personal. My parents will keep meddling in my affairs, and yours, too," Luca replied. "I want you to ignore them. Will you do that?"
"Ask nicely," Sara said, crossing her arms.
"I am asking nicely," he insisted.
Sara arched a brow, a faint smirk curving her lips. "No, that still sounds like an order. If you want me to listen, you’ll have to pamper me a little first."
He chuckled softly and closed the gap between them. Sara’s back pressed against the cool aluminum wall of the elevator as she kept her gaze fixed on the floor display.
"Get away," she murmured, trying to sound stern.
"Don’t you want to pamper me?" he teased, tilting his head.
"This isn’t pampering," she corrected, but froze when she felt the gentle brush of his nose against her cheek.
"We’re still in the honeymoon period, remember? You haven’t even kissed me today. How are we supposed to look like a lovely couple in everyone’s eyes? What if they say we don’t have an ounce of love between us?" Luca murmured in a playful tone.
Sara rolled her eyes, trying to regain her composure. "Your female employees are jealous that I married you. And almost everyone knows we tied the knot because you wanted to save Falcone Industries," she said. "We don’t need to pretend to be in love."
"You are so tough to please," Luca laughed, taking a step back. "Fabio will brief you about your responsibilities shortly. I hope you work efficiently, Sara. And if you make mistakes, be ready for punishments. I won’t give you special treatment just because you’re my wife," he affirmed.
"I get it, Sir." She passed him a wide fake smile when the elevator doors opened.
Luca stepped out while she followed him to his office space. Entering the room, she recalled the day when she knelt before him; when she took a decision which changed so many things in her life. She never imagined to enter this place after that day, but right now she’s standing as Luca’s secretary.