Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
“I’ve missed you.”
A gentle kiss landed on Mirabella’s forehead, swiftly followed by another on her lips.
Romeo’s voice, laced with a teasing whine and a seductive timbre, carried with it his unmistakable air of dominance as it enveloped her.
Mirabella found herself lifted off her feet.
The door shut behind them, and Romeo, cradling her in his arms, walked deeper into the room, placing her gently on the sofa for another kiss.
The scent of her fresh shower lingered on her skin, making him almost lose control.
Mirabella vaguely felt her back pressing against something, “Wait a sec.”
Romeo forced himself to pause, seeing her pull out a small gift bag.
It was a trinket he had picked up from a quaint shop in Dawnstar, something he had been carrying around until now, having forgotten to set it aside in the heat of the moment.
“This is for you,” Romeo’s voice still dripped with affection.
Opening the bag, Mirabella found a pale blue gemstone, seemingly of significant value.
“I thought it would suit you, I just had to grab it,” Romeo explained, tucking a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. Her face, unbeknownst to him for so long, compelled him to reach out, to touch her soft, almost breakable skin.
“Don’t buy me stuff like this next time.”
“But anything wonderful I see, I’ll immediately think to bring back to you.” He kissed her lips once more and asking, “Would you have room for me tonight? I’ve got no place to go.””There’s a spare room here if you don’t mind.”
Wait. Wasn’t the presidential suite just one bedroom, one living room, and one bathroom?
How could there be two bedrooms?
Seeing his failed calculations, Mirabella couldn’t help but laugh, “Or you could always book another room.”
“But that would mean being farther away from you. If you’d let me, I could just lay out a sleeping bag next to your bed. That way, if you roll off, I’ll be there to catch you.”
“In your dreams,” Mirabella retorted.
Their banter continued, and Romeo shifted to a more comfortable position, holding her close. Then, recalling something, he broached, “I’ve got two mates here in Belloria. They’re available tomorrow, and I was hoping you would meet them. Are you free?”
His best friends on one side, his fiancée on the other—Romeo was full of anticipation at the thought of them meeting.
He wanted his friends to see just how remarkable his fiancée was.
“I’ve got a meeting at Rick’s Café tomorrow. Someone has helped me out twice, and I owe him a cup of coffee.”
“Then I’ll bring them there. What time’s your meeting?”
“Two in the afternoon.”
“Perfect, I’ll set it for three.” Romeo whipped out his phone and texted his friends.At that very moment, Timothy couldn’t believe the coincidence. It was also at Rick’s Café, but at two, that he’d planned a date with the girl he was smitten with!
If he and the girl were still there at three when Romeo and Derrick arrived, they’d get to see just how stunning her girl was!
Buzzing with excitement, he eventually calmed down, deciding to keep the coffee date a secret from his buddies for now. He wanted to surprise them! When they saw her with their own eyes, they’d understand why he was so taken with her.
Content with his plans, he fell asleep.
The following afternoon, Romeo and Mirabella arrived at Rick’s Café ahead of time.
The café was a well-known spot in Belloria, boasting a spacious and beautiful setting. From the window seat, one could enjoy the seaside view and admire the grand Ferris wheel in the distance.
“What coffee would you like?” Romeo asked Mirabella softly.
He knew her usual choice, but wondered if she’d opt for something different.
“I’m good with anything,” Mirabella casually replied. She was easy-going with food and drinks.
“You could find a spot, and I’ll take care of the order.”
The coffee shop was an old-school kind where orders were made at the counter. As Romeo queued, a few girls noticed him, drawn irresistibly to his charm.
“He’s gorgeous.”
“Is he a couple with that girl here from earlier?”
“They’re such a good match.”
“I’d love to add him on WhatsApp.”
“Me too, and let’s do it! A guy that hot—If I don’t add him now, I’ll regret it for life.”
One brave college student, studying abroad at Belloria University, summoned her courage. She approached Romeo with a tentative “Hi,” and bashfully asked, “Could I possibly have your WhatsApp?
I’d love to be your friends.”
“Apologies, I’m already engaged,” Romeo declined politely.
Yet, despite the affable refusal, the girl remained captivated by his gentle voice and courteous demeanor.
Returning to her group, she exclaimed, “He was so polite and well-mannered, even apologized for being engaged. That girl over there, she must be his fiancée, right? She’s so lucky. I adore guys who can gracefully deflect such attention!”
“Totally.”
Mirabella had chosen a window seat when her phone vibrated with a WhatsApp message.[Mirabella, have you arrived?]
It was from Timothy.
“[I’m here,] she typed back.
She had a rendezvous Timothy at two, and Romeo, ever the escort, had accompanied her.
Timothy replied a surprised Emoji, [Already there? Hold on, I’ll be right there!]
Upon entering, Timothy accidentally bumped into a server and hastily offered a flurry of apologies. He spotted Mirabella by the window, gazed directly his way.
He enthusiastically waved and made his way to her, “You’re early! What coffee do you fancy? I’m on it.”
“You think I’ll lend you to get coffee for my fiancée?”
The moment was punctuated by Romeo’s timely return with their coffees. “Seems you two are acquainted?”
Timothy’s smile stiffened as he gazed in disbelief from Romeo to Mirabella. “Mirabella is your fiancée?”
“Why, do you think we don’t look like we belong together? That we aren’t a good match?”
The blunt realization hit Timothy like a bolt from the blue. Spotting an iced coffee among the ones Romeo carried, he grabbed it, downing half in a gulp.
Mirabella was confounded, and Romeo looked on, puzzled by his friend’s strange behavior.
“Romeo has spoken of you before. But seeing you in person, you surpass the beauty of legends. I knew your name, and now, what a small world—you are Romeo’s betrothed, so that we’re almost like family.”His heart was breaking.
He struggled to keep up his smile.
“Wait, where’s Derrick? I’ll go check.”
“Wait a second,” Romeo said, eyeing Timothy and then Mirabella. “Did you two know each other before?”
How could they have met if not here?
Before Timothy could respond, Romeo pressed on, “How did you come to know each other?”
“I told you, he helped me out a couple of times, and I just wanted to return the favor with a coffee. So, he’s a close friend of yours as well?”
Romeo nodded, “Yeah, me, him, and a bunch of other guys grew up together.”
Because as they grew older, they each started their businesses or took over the family companies, they were always jet-setting around the world, and hardly ever had time to gather.
“What favor did he do for you?”
In Romeo’s mind, Timothy wasn’t the type to poke his nose into other people’s affairs, or go out of his way to help.
Yesterday, in the presidential suite, he hadn’t asked too much, only knew that his Bella was meeting someone today over coffee. As for who this person was, or what favor they’d done, he was clueless.
“I had run into a bit of trouble, and both times he stood up for me,” Mirabella explained succinctly.
“Me—Timothy—always had a soft spot. I can’t help playing the knight whenever I see someone in need. Well, I’m a bit thirsty, let me grab a coffee.”
“Didn’t you still have half of iced coffee left?” Rome found Timothy was distracted, his mood a bit off.
With a laugh, Timothy responded, “It’s too cold, I’m gonna get a hot one.”
He was about to walk away when Romeo offered, “I’ve got a hot coffee right here.”