Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 868 : Contradictions

*Bianca*

I got a few more hours of sleep after Leo left, falling into a deep dream that I couldn’t quite recall when I woke up but I knew had been a good one. I couldn’t stop smiling as I rose out of Leo’s bed, the comforter still smelling like him and his musty fragrance that I didn’t realize until now that I’d become intimate with him.

I was smiling as I gathered up my clothes from last night, even as I slipped out of his room in nothing but an oversized shirt I’d stolen from his closet. By the time I got to my room, my cheeks hurt from how wide my grin was but I couldn’t help it.

Butterflies were nothing. A whole flock of birds had taken shape in my stomach, leaving me giddy and feeling like I was floating rather than walking. This was like a windstorm, a hurricane coming crashing into every part of me and I was weightless as it washed me away into the eye of the storm.

I’ve been in love before- I had felt it so tenderly and deeply I thought it was a wide ocean. With waves so torrent they push you so deep you can feel nothingness like it was your everything.

But now, standing in the middle of my room, I realize I was wrong.

That ocean had simply been a raindrop.

This was love. This crazy, burdensome, and wild feeling made me want to scream out his name until everyone in the world could hear me while simultaneously holding it so close and so tightly that not a single soul would be able to take it from me.

It was contradictory and confusing and...

So wonderful.

I couldn’t even count how many times I sighed as I went straight for the shower, the steam of the hot water coating me as I stripped down to nothing. I was still sore and heavy from last night so I rubbed my muscles, lathering with soap as my hands followed the paths that he had trailed across my body last night.

From my neck down to my breasts, my fingers spreading across my belly- I made sure to wash every inch of my body very thoroughly and the longer I stood under the hot water, the more I thought back to last night and how absolutely wonderful Leo was.

Not just in bed but with me.

I’d never had a man as kind and considerate as he was, never had someone who would always put me first, my pain and my pleasure, making sure to take care of my needs first and his own second.

I knew Leo liked me. I’d known it since the first day I’d arrived. How could you not when a man looked at you with stars in their eyes, like they would pluck the heavens out of the galaxy and bring it to your feet if that was what you asked.

Leo was everything I wanted and so much more.

And now I finally was brave enough to accept those feelings.

I wrapped myself in a towel after the shower, heading out to get dressed but as I headed for the closet, I heard a polite knock on the door. I jolted in surprise, nearly losing hold of my towel, but I firmly tucked it against my body, my heart beating wildly in my chest.

“Miss?” a soft voice called from the other side, “I have a surprise from Mr. Leo.”

I recognized the maid’s voice. It was Sophie, the maid who I always asked for anything when I was a bit lost. She was a sweet, cheerful girl who I’d gotten rather close with over the past few months living here.

“Um, yeah, just, uh, one moment! I need to get dressed!” I yelled panicky as I rushed for the closet but Sophie’s next words halted me in my tracks.

“No need, Miss! Mr. Leo has sent you something to wear already! He said it was for your date tonight. May I come in to help you get ready?”

I blinked in surprise, vaguely remembering Leo mentioning something about a surprise tonight but a date? My cheeks flared up with heat and I relaxed, finally relenting. It was embarrassing to have someone see me like this but I did want to look my best for our first official date.

“Uh, sure,” I hid the embarrassment behind a cough and the door opened, showing the rather young maid with her cheery disposition holding boxes and bags all with fancy label designs on them.

I gawked at the amount of the things she brought in, holding them like it was nothing as she set them down on the bed, shutting the door behind her with her foot masterfully like she did this all the time.

“Well, let’s get started, huh?” Sophie grinned widely, a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. I gulped.

It turned out Leo didn’t buy me an outfit- he bought me an entire store’s worth. My mouth dropped open as Sophie showed off the dress, which was gorgeous but also the several pairs of shoes ranging from heels to flats in multiple styles, the jewelry which was worth a fortune by the looks of it and so many accessories it made my head dizzy with price tags.

All of it massive designers that even I, who wasn’t the most fashion forward, had heard of. I couldn’t believe how different my life was since I had left Italy - going from being trapped to Matteo to now being pampered like this with Leo.

It was insane.

But I couldn’t deny the way my heart was thumping with gratitude and excitement.

Mia was the only person I knew with this kind of money and ever since she and Alessandro had gotten together, my cousin had started showering our formerly poor family with glamorous gifts like this. She’d claimed it was because of Alessandro’s job, which to be honest, I still didn’t know what he did for a living but something had seemed fishy about it.

Mia had paid off all my college expenses and paid for my tuition as a birthday gift and now Leo was buying me a new closet just for a date. It just seemed too similar to be a coincidence. I still wasn’t used to accepting such amazing but expensive gifts or having much money in the first place so it felt odd but maybe just one day it would be okay.

Leo had been so kind to me, that I didn’t want to turn down his generosity. Still, I couldn’t let this be an everyday occurrence. I tried to make it out here in LA on my own two feet, not relying on Leo or Mia for an easy life.

Sophie helped me get ready for the date and I ended up choosing a rather short long-sleeve burgundy dress with a neckline collar but an open back and pinched waist. It was tight around the bodice but the skirt flared out in loose swirls at the bottom ending near the thigh.

Sophie helped to style my hair - a loose curl with a small braid on the right and side-swept bangs, then we chose jewelry, a pair of gorgeous black amethyst gem drop earrings, a more simple teardrop bangle with only one diamond in the middle. Then the makeup and shoes- I chose a pair of lace burgundy flats which were more comfortable than I thought they would be.

By the time we were done, Leo had gotten home and as I descended the stairs towards him, I saw the loving look in his eyes as he saw me. He didn’t look half-bad himself, cleaned up in a suit and tie that matched my own dress, hair brushed back, and face clean-shaven. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

He kissed my hand, murmuring how beautiful I was and I glowed at the gentleman before me, hooking my arm between his as I was ready to go anywhere with him.

“Any hint as to where we’re going, handsome?” I asked teasingly as he led me out to his car.

“Just out.” He grinned, sending me a flirty wink.

It turns out that what Leo meant by “Out” was by taking me to Providence, one of the most expensive and fanciest restaurants in LA. I was in awe just sitting in the parking lot, which for some reason was quite empty from what I thought it would be.

I didn’t realize until we got inside that it was because the restaurant was empty. The servers were attentive, giving us the famous private chef’s table which included a tasting of all the menu. Each platter was rather small but they added up quickly.

Sashimi and crab, black cod and king salmon, duck and rabbit, each with their own wine pairing and more delicious than the last. Leo even dared me to try the caviar they placed and though I was hesitant, knowing exactly what they were, I wasn’t about to back down from a challenge.

And what I thought would be a fishy gross taste was absolutely not. It was salty and briny, yes but also somewhat sweet and buttery, bursting in the mouth somewhat like tiny boba balls that I oddly enjoyed.

We shared a decadent dessert, a slice of chocolate cheesecake decorated with actual edible gold flakes.

“This is the most delicious and beautiful meal I’d ever had,” I couldn’t help mentioning, moaning as I took another bite of the cheesecake which was quickly becoming my top favorite dessert of all time.

“Well,” Leo grinned, watching me with a lovesick look on his face, “you know who gets the most delicious and beautiful meals like this all the time?”

“Who?” I played along with a grin.

“My girlfriend,” Leo whispered in my ear like it was some kind of secret advice he was giving me, “And it just so happens the position is vacant at the moment. I’m accepting applications, but just between you and me, you’ll get first priority if you want.”

I laughed, beaming at him as I pulled back.

“You’re so silly,” I said with a grin, digging my fork into a bite of the cheesecake.

“Hmm... And why is that?” There was a hint of vulnerability behind his levity, almost like he was afraid I’d say no or laugh in his face but there was no way I could ever do that. Before he could overthink it, I stuffed the fork into his mouth, letting him taste the chocolate as I grinned brightly.

“I’m afraid that position was already filled by me, Leo. You’re a step behind, I’m afraid. Get with the program,” I smirked and I watched his eyes widen, brain whirling to catch up with me and I melted as I saw his eyes fill with sheer joy, lighting up like Christmas had come early.

I’d made my decision the moment I’d snuck into his room last night, probably before that even.

He was mine and I was his.

And nobody was going to get between us.

After our drinking, Leo called someone to come get us just to be safe and I curled into his embrace in the backseat, sleeping off the alcohol which had quickly drugged my brain into sleepy mode.

We stumbled back into the compound, both too drunk to do anything but sleep as we collapsed onto Leo’s bed, curling up next to one another. I couldn’t help but hold his hand as Leo passed out almost immediately, gently tracing every line on his palm to memory.

I’d never felt happier or safer than when I was beside him. I knew I’d made the right decision to leave Italy, to leave Matteo and come here to be by his side. I was exactly where I needed to be.

Fate or luck, it didn’t matter, I was beyond thankful anyway that they’d given him to me.