Chapter 4

　　Adriano

　　I was busy giving Emmet a rundown of the meeting and going over the days itinerary when I felt someone touch me and a tingle run up my arm.

　　I turned in shock and saw a petite young girl looking anxiously up at me. My hand shot out and covered her much smaller one.  More tingles…like a low voltage zap.

　　A breathy gasp escaped her when my much larger hand clasped hers. She peeked up from thick sooty dark lashes, and mouthed a "Hi"at me warily. Again I simply looked down confused at our connected hands.  Her lashes flicked up and I was taken aback by the most striking blue eyes I had ever seen…

　　I stiffened. Actually stiffened. Like an electric spark had been ignited. Gulping back my shock, I masked it with snapping anger.  "Speak up girl…I'm on a call here…what do you want?  If its change, then I don't keep any"  I said  flatly.

　　She shivered as I cut her to the quick and even flinched as if I had struck her. Her cheeks bloomed with soft colour and she froze, blue eyes flashing like lazers as she glared up at me. I was entranced, those eyes spoke volumes.

　　"I'm not—" she shook her beanie covered head, flustered. "I don't want money."

　　"Then what do you want?" I snapped, my irritation clear. But my irritation was with myself. This girl was affecting me in a very strange way.

　　I felt her hand clench into a fist in my hand. "I didn't mean to bother you Sir.," she said quickly, her cheeks turning even redder.

　　I inhaled and a tremor passed  through me at the Sir but she wasn't done. "I wasn't approaching you for charity.  I was just hoping you could watch my cart." She finished, flushing prettily so you could see the colour tinge her cheeks and neck even through the grime.

　　I let out a breath, ran a hand along my jaw, then finally looked behind her and registered the cart.

　　I stared at it, brow furrowed and then shifted my gaze back to her, fully taking in the shabby young girl in front of me.  I looked at her from head to toe, taking in the worn clothes and beaten up sneakers.

　　She fidgeted and I saw the fingers of her free hand tighten around the cart handle, knuckles turning white. "I just needed someone to watch it for two minutes while I order food. They won't let me in with it. I thought—" she said and paused – gesturing to the cart. "You looked like someone who wouldn't let it be taken."

　　I was bemused. This entire exchange so foreign to me. Her cheeks reddened even more as I stared.

　　"It's okay, I can find someone else." she said. I saw her face fall and she looked so disappointed that her initial assessment of me had been wrong.

　　And for the life of me I couldn't understand why I felt a twinge in my chest at her obvious disappointment in me.

　　"No." The word left my mouth like a bullet, coming out sharp and vehement. "I assumed," I said, and just stopped there, at a loss for words. I wasn't sure if I was processing or apologising.  Maybe both.

　　"I'll watch it," I declared, surprising myself. "I have a few minutes until my driver gets here. Go."  I waved in the direction of the MacDonalds.

　　You could see the relief that relaxed her tense little frame.

　　"Yeah???" A huge smile split her face, transforming the gamine little thing to truly pretty.  It drew attention to full pink plush lips completely unadorned and white pearly teeth.

　　I literally slow blinked – just staring and something tightened in my chest.

　　"Really, oh thank you so much Sir,"

　　Again with that fucking Sir…this girl was killing me with her low dulcet tones and those unforgettable eyes and my dick made an interested twitch. If she only knew how the Sir affected me..I cringed feeling like a pervert.

　　"I won't be long… I am so grateful Sir"

　　Sure…rub it in gambina!

　　Another small shy smile and she raced off as if afraid I would change my mind.

　　I looked in bewilderment at the cart, wondering..What the fuck just happened?????

　　I held onto it, giving it a disdainful once over.  The wheels were rickety, rust over most of the metal not covered by the tarp and worn faded rope secured it.

　　I wondered about her concern with leaving it unattended..I mean who in their right fucking minds would steal it?

　　Looking down at my phone in the other hand, I realised… shit Emmet was still on.  "Jeez Emmet, you still there?"

　　I waited for confirmation. "Yeah, sorry about that.  So where was I…yeah don't forget to pick up my suit for the gala. And I might get out to the Estate and spend next week-end there. Have housekeeping prep for me. The builders are done, I want to see how the guest cottage came out.  Oh and confirm the Thursday 9am meeting with Dicor Construction."