My legs were shaking like a swing, sweat dripping through my forehead, my hands were sweaty, and I was finger-locking them very tightly.
"It's gonna be ok, Elena," Sofi said, putting a reassuring hand on mine.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Class, gather in the auditorium. They will be here soon." The announcement echoed through the hallway, making my heart race even faster.
Hearing this, I felt my legs go numb. "Sofi, what do you think? Will he still select me after yesterday's incident? I've really worked hard for this opportunity."
Sofi squeezed my hands gently. "Elena, don't think so much. Besides, it was him who kissed you. Oh, I mean, helped you, right? That's what he said. So, calm down. You're going to be selected."
I nodded, trying to believe her words, but my mind kept replaying the events of the previous day. My anxiety mixed with anticipation, making it hard to focus on anything else.
We sat in the back row, and Sofia settled beside me, trying to calm me down. My heart raced, not because I hadn't done well on my projects, but because of the uncertainty of how things would unfold today. The memory of yesterday's incident lingered, making it hard to focus.
"Elena, just breathe," Sofia whispered, squeezing my hand. "You've got this."
I nodded, taking a deep breath, but my nerves refused to settle. The anticipation of what was to come weighed heavily on me.
Sofi, I'll get some water, I'll be back in few minutes.
"Ok, Elena, but be fast."
"Yeah," I said, standing and leaving.
As I was filling my bottle, a voice from behind startled me. "Hey, pretty girl, do you need help?"
Damn, I recognized the voice instantly and prayed silently, "Please, God, not him, not him, please."
I turned around, and there he was, just as I feared. I murmured very low, "I knew it."
"You saying anything?" he asked, his voice sending shivers down my spine.
"No, no, sir, nothing."
"But, you murmured something. Tell me, what did you say?"
"Not..." I stammered as he leaned closer, my heart pounding out of my chest. I looked at him, and he was staring back at me, unflinching.
He slid his hand beside my shoulder, and I felt myself getting numb with each passing second. "You're wasting so much of water," he said, showing me the tap behind me.
Then it hit me-the tap was still open. He reached over and turned it off.
Damn, what was I even thinking? Wait, I wasn't even thinking; my mind goes blank around this guy.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize the tap was still open."
"You should be careful, sweetheart," he said, winking at me.
"Mr. Enzo, you here? Come, please, students are already in the auditorium," the chairperson called, and Enzo followed him.
I stood there, dumbfounded. What just happened? I had another encounter with Mr. Enzo, and he winked at me before leaving.
I hurried back to the auditorium, my heart still racing from the unexpected encounter. Sofia glanced at me as I slipped back into my seat.
"What took you so long?" she whispered.
I hesitated, then leaned closer. "Enzo. He was at the water fountain."
Her eyes widened. "What happened?"
"Nothing," I murmured, trying to steady my breathing. "Just... he closed the tap for me and winked."
Sofia's eyebrows shot up. "He winked at you?"
"Yeah," I said, still in disbelief. "He called me 'sweetheart' too."
Before Sofia could respond, the chairperson took the stage, signaling the start of the announcements. I tried to focus, but my mind was a whirlwind of confusion and anticipation. The memory of Enzo's gaze, his proximity, and that wink replayed in my head, making it hard to concentrate on anything else.
"Remember, you've got this," Sofia whispered again, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze.
I nodded, taking another deep breath.
As soon as we left the auditorium, Sofi insisted we go to the pub tonight. She was over the moon about my selection and wanted to celebrate.
At first, I rejected the idea, but then, I agreed. "Okay, Elena, be ready by 9:00 PM. I'll pick you up myself today."
"Okay, Sofi," I said, and we roamed the campus.
An announcement came over the PA system, instructing all the selected interns to gather in the conference room.
"Sofi, I'm nervous. I don't want to go alone there."
"Elena, you have to. I won't always be there with you. Go with confidence, and don't let anything disturb you."
"Hmm, I'll try, Sofi. Anyway, I'll catch you after a while."
"I'll be in class, okay, baby?"
"Okay, Sofi. Bye, and wish me luck."
"My girl is gonna slay. Chill, Elena."
With that, I left. As I reached the door of the conference room, my heart started pounding hard. I placed a hand over my chest to calm down.
"What happened? Nervous?"
Not again. God, why are you doing this to me? I silently prayed.
"No, sir."
"Liar. See? Your face has drained all the color," he said, looking directly into my eyes. His gaze was so intense I couldn't resist.
"Yes, a little," I admitted, looking away.
"Calm down. I've seen your project reports. You already slayed those. Trust me, your project was one of my favorites. Don't be nervous. Come on, I have to talk to all the interns about their work."
He opened the door for me, and I walked in and took a seat. Mr. Moritti followed and started explaining our tasks and responsibilities. We were to join his company next week and prepare a presentation this week, which we would present to him by the end of the week.
"Guys, based on your presentations, I'll decide who will work where. So, do your best. You can go now."
I stood up and walked out as quickly as possible. I picked up my phone to call Sofi.
"Sofi, are you still in class?"
"No, Elna. Come to the parking area. I'm in the car."
"Okay, I'll be there."
As I made my way to the parking lot, I tried to process everything that had just happened. The nerves, the surprise encouragement from Enzo, and the overwhelming reality of what was to come. But for now, I just needed to see Sofi and try to relax before tonight's celebration.
It was already 8:00 PM, and I couldn't decide on a dress. I always seemed to be out of clothes when I needed them. What would I wear tonight? I didn't have any perfect dress for the occasion. Frustrated, I started crying.
My phone rang, and I picked it up without looking at the caller ID. "Hello?"
"Bitch, open the door. I've been out here for the past ten minutes! Haven't you even heard the doorbell?"
"What? Wait, I'll come."
I rushed downstairs and opened the door. "Bitch, have you gone deaf? I've been ringing the bell for ten minutes!"
"I'm sorry, Sofi. I really didn't hear it. My room door was locked, so..."
"Anyways, why are you crying?"
"I don't have a dress for tonight."
"Damn, I knew it! Guess what? I got you a dress."
"Sofi!" I hugged her, excited.
"Okay, okay, see the dress now," she said, pulling out a black bodycon dress.
"Go wear it fast."
I hugged her again and rushed to my room. The dress was perfect-a black bodycon dress that hugged my curves perfectly. It was backless, so I decided to keep my hair open. I went with minimal makeup, a maroon lipstick, and black heels. I was ready.
I came downstairs and saw Sofi. She had also gotten ready, wearing a blue dress similar to mine and had put her hair in a ponytail. She looked so hot.
"Elena, look at yourself. You're looking like a goddess."
"Come on, Sofi, have you looked in the mirror? You are slaying, girl."
"Okay, we both are slaying, and for sure, we are gonna make so many guys fall tonight."
I laughed. "Yes, Sofi, for sure."
"Okay, let's go."
"Okay, let's go."
We entered the club, the mix of smoke and alcohol immediately reaching my nose.
"Sofi, it's so crowded here," I said, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"Yeah, baby, but it's fun in the crowd. Come, let's fetch some drinks first," she said, pulling me towards the bar counter.
We sat and ordered some drinks.
"Sofi, don't drink too much. You'll get tipsy, and you know how you get when you're high..."
"Elena, please, darling. It's such a good occasion today. Don't stop me today."
"Okay, but keep it in limit, okay?"
"Whatever, okay," she said, gulping down more drinks.
Soon, a guy approached her and asked for a dance. She got on the dance floor with him.
"All the best, Sofi," I winked at her. She winked back.
I sat there, watching Sofi moving her body to the beats. As I was sipping my drink, a guy sat beside me and ordered a drink for himself.
"Is she your friend?" he asked.
I looked at him. He was good-looking, but he wasn't as intimidating as Enzo. Why am I even thinking about him? my subconscious mind reminded me.
"Yes," I replied casually and looked back in Sofi's direction.
"And the guy is my friend. They look cute together, don't they?" he asked.
"I don't think so," I replied bluntly.
He laughed. "You're possessive of your friend, but chill. My friend is a nice guy," he said, looking in their direction.
"He must be, but mine isn't," I said sarcastically.
"Anyway, can I buy you a drink, Miss Sarcasm?"
"No, thanks."
"Come on, let me."
"I don't drink much, and I've already had my drink, so thanks. I'm okay."
"You're a tough one," he said, gulping down another drink.
"You think I am?"
"Yes."
"Then I must be..."
"By the way, you're looking hot," he said, his eyes roaming over me and lingering on my chest.
"My face is up here, Mister."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, but you really do look hot."
"I know I'm hot," I said coldly, sitting up straighter in my seat and looking towards Sofi. She was laughing with the guy, clearly enjoying herself. A smile crept onto my lips seeing her so happy.
The guy next to me was still staring with hunger in his eyes. I decided to ignore him, focusing on Sofi instead.
A guy from behind approached me and said, "May I buy you a drink, pretty girl?" As soon as the words "pretty girl" left his mouth, I turned around and found Enzo Moritti standing in front of me.
I don't know why, but I said, "Yes, sure."
He moved towards the bartender and ordered two drinks. The guy who had been staring at me looked furious. Though he didn't say anything, I could see the rage in his eyes.
"Here's your drink, Elena," Enzo said, handing me a glass.
"Thanks, sir," I replied, emphasizing the last word.
The guy was still sitting there, and Enzo must have noticed something off because he placed his hand on my waist. As soon as his hand grabbed my waist, a shiver ran down my spine. He leaned in, kissed my cheek, and said, "You look pretty, Elena."
"Thank you," I said, a blush spreading across my cheeks.
The guy saw this and promptly made his way away from us. I guess he thought we were a couple.
Enzo removed his hand from my waist and said, "He's gone now, Elena. You're good to do anything you want."
I looked at him in confusion. "What?"
"The guy. Weren't you uncomfortable because of him?"
"Yes, I was. But how did you know that?"
"I saw you two, and he was staring at you with hunger."
"Thank you, sir, for this."
He smiled a little and extended his hand. "Would you mind a dance with me?"
I looked at his hand, still hanging there, unsure of what to do. Finally, I placed my hand in his, and he pulled me towards the dance floor. We started dancing to the slow music, our bodies moving rhythmically to the beat.
We started dancing, it was a slow music and he moved our bodies to the beats slowly and rhythmically. The room seemed to fade away as we glided across the floor. The soft light of the club cast a warm glow over us, creating a moment that felt almost surreal.
"You're a good dancer," Enzo murmured, his breath warm against my ear.
"I had a good teacher," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. The proximity was overwhelming, and I could feel the strength in his hands as they guided me.
The song changed to an even slower melody, and Enzo pulled me closer. Our bodies were now almost pressed together. I could feel the steady beat of his heart against my chest, mirroring my own rapid heartbeat.
"Do you come here often?" he asked, his voice low.
"Not really. Just for special occasions," I said, trying to focus on his words rather than the way his hand felt on my back.
He looked into my eyes, and for a moment, everything else disappeared. The noise of the club, the people around us, it all faded away. It was just us, swaying to the music.
"Elena, I..." he started, but then seemed to reconsider. "Never mind."
"What is it?" I asked, curiosity piqued.
"Nothing. Just enjoy the moment," he said with a soft smile, pulling me even closer.
We danced for what felt like an eternity, yet also like no time at all. The world outside our little bubble ceased to exist. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, the scent of his cologne intoxicating.
"You're really something, you know that?" he whispered, his lips grazing my ear.
I blushed, unable to find words to respond. Instead, I rested my head against his shoulder, letting the music and the moment carry me away. It was both comforting and exhilarating, a strange mix of safety and danger.
When the song ended, he didn't let go immediately. We stood there, still holding each other, as if neither of us wanted to break the spell. Finally, he pulled back slightly, his eyes locking onto mine.
"Thank you for the dance," he said softly.
"Thank you," I replied, feeling breathless.
He led me off the dance floor, back to the bar. Sofi was there, a knowing smile on her face as she watched us.
"You two looked great out there," she said, winking at me.
"Thanks, Sofi," I said, feeling a mix of embarrassment and exhilaration.
Sofi gave both of us drinks and the guy she was dancing with was with her.
"Sofi, no, I don't want to drink more. I've had enough already," I protested.
"Come on, Elena, just for me, please. It's a good occasion, please don't say no," she pleaded.
I sighed, "Ok," and took the drink from her hand. Enzo was standing beside me, he also took a glass, but his demeanor seemed colder now. Sofi was eyeing me; this bitch, she's going to get me in trouble tonight.
I gulped down the drink, feeling the alcohol hit me almost immediately. This drink was all it took to make me tipsy.
"Elena, you okay?" Sofi asked, noticing my sudden change.
"I'm fine," I said, though my voice wavered slightly.
Enzo's gaze was intense, his eyes scanning my face. "You should sit down," he suggested, his tone still cool but with a hint of concern.
I nodded, feeling unsteady on my feet. Sofi's guy offered me a seat, and I gratefully sank into it. The room seemed to spin slightly, the lights blurring together.
"Maybe you should take it easy," Enzo said, his cold exterior softening just a bit.
"Yeah, you're right," I mumbled, trying to steady myself.
Enzo's hand brushed against mine, sending a shiver down my spine.
Sofi looked between us, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Mr. Moritti, can you please be with her for some time? I'll call a cab."
"Cab? No way she isn't going in a cab at this hour. I'll drop you two. Fetch your and her things, come, I'll drop you."
"But sir, we'll manage, please don't," Sofi said, trying to argue.
As they continued to argue, I felt nauseous and stood up, running towards the washroom. I barely made it before I started vomiting, the drinks making me crazy.
Someone held my back and forehead. I didn't care to see who it was; either it was Sofi or Enzo. By the weight of the hands, I guessed it was Enzo.
He patiently waited for me, holding me until I was done. As I stood up, he pulled a napkin from his pocket and helped me clean my mouth.
I felt dizzy and rested my head on his chest. It was warm and cozy with him.
"Let's get you home," he said gently, his voice a comforting murmur.
I nodded weakly, feeling safe in his arms.
As we walked out of the restroom, Sofi was waiting there.
"Elena, are you okay? I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have forced you to drink. Let's go home."
"Sofi, I'm okay. No need to apologize. I'll go on my own. The guy is waiting for you. Don't ruin your night."
"Elena, you're my friend, and nothing is more important than you. I can see him anytime, and I won't let you go home by yourself."
"I'll make sure she reaches home safely and securely," Enzo stated, holding me by my shoulder.
I looked at him and said, "Sir, don't trouble yourself. I can go."
"Elena, you can barely walk and you're saying you'll go home by yourself. I'll drop you. Sofia, don't worry, go and enjoy. He's waiting for you. I'll take care of her."
"It's you, Mr. Moritti, so I'm chilled. Elena, drop a message when you reach." She kissed my cheeks and left.
Enzo guided me gently toward the exit, his grip firm but comforting.
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