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He’s a better actor than I am as he’s back to being strictly business. “You should meet Luciana. She’s my daughter. And of course, Alessio. My middle son.”
I nod and smile at them.
He told me about his children, little stories about them here and there. But it’s still a completely different feeling meeting them in person.
“Nice to meet you.” Luciana shakes my hand, eyeing me curiously.
“I was just showing her some of the new launch.” The lie rolls off his tongue so confidently that I even doubt my own memory for a second.
“Did she like it?” Alessio asks. He’s a splitting image of his father, even more so than Valentino.
“I, um, yeah, it was really nice.” I do my best to keep my smile on.
My stomach sinks as I realize what Enzo is trying to do here. It’s a feeling I know all too well.
Liam would do the same thing whenever we’d be out with his friends. It was like he was a different person when the two of us were alone, but in public, he’d act like he was too good for me.
What was I thinking?
Of course, Enzo’s going to be the same way. I’m closer to age to his children than I am to him, for heaven’s sake.
“Should we be expecting a good review, then?” Alessio smirks at me. “It’d mean a lot, coming from an influencer like yourself.”
His tone is flirtatious, and I’m surprised he has the audacity to do this in front of his dad. But then again, why wouldn’t he?
“I’ll do what I can. Now, if you please excuse me…”
“What’s the rush?” Alessio blocks my path. “We’ve only just started talking, and you look like you’d be great company.”
My cheeks are burning now.
Enzo mentioned that Alessio is a ladies’ man, but never did I imagine that he’d try something on me.
I glance over to Enzo. I hate that I care about what he thinks, but it just doesn’t feel appropriate what Alessio is doing.
“Behave,” Enzo chides. “I’m sure Quinn has a packed schedule ahead of her.”
The way Enzo addresses Alessio, it’s almost like he’s talking to a little boy.
I smile at Alessio and say goodbye again before quickly taking my leave, not bothering to glance back at Enzo’s reaction.
Is that how he sees me too? Like a silly girl? Someone to pass the time with?
The thought makes me dizzy, and I’m suddenly reconsidering everything I’d been taking for granted.
I’ve gotten ahead of myself and let my guard down too much. I justified it as a harmless fun, But it has clearly gotten much further than that.
“Stupid.” I shake my head as I enter the hotel. “So, so, stupid.”
I have been deluding myself into thinking that Enzo and I share some special bond. We have to, right? It is just so easy with him.
But then maybe, it is normal for him. He’s never once indicated that he wants anything serious with me, and I’ve been too blind to see it until now.
It doesn’t matter how sweet he is to me, or how cared for he makes me feel. In reality, I am nothing more than a temporary fling. Someone to play with, and then discard at the end of the day.
Not wanting to be alone with my thoughts, I take a detour to the bar instead.
“I’ll take a daquiri. Or… make that two.”