Chapter 6

Cristo had showered and left the moment I fell asleep. I felt bad for soiling the very nice sheets of Mrs. Beaumont’s guest room, and I hoped her servants wouldn’t tell her if they found out. Other than that, I’d never slept better in my whole life. I was a little disappointed that my favorite black sweats were ruined, but I just rinsed them out, dried them, and shoved them into a bag to throw into the laundry when I got to Italy.
I understood that our troubles weren’t over. Did the sex mean anything? I wasn’t sure, but I had time to figure it out later. It was a confusing place to be in, but Cristo hadn’t let go of Blair, and there wasn’t space in my heart to endure pain from her through Cristo. I could never come to trust Cristo until she left. Plus, after everything that had happened, we still barely knew each other. I didn’t have to confine myself to a hope that one day we’ll get to know each other better. There were no promises.
Our one-night stands were accidental at best. Well…two-night stands, not one.
Regardless, he knew there was much to sort out on his end and that I wasn’t giving into my emotions until I knew I was emotionally safe.
It wasn’t until I was boarding the plane that I started to feel giddy. I was really leaving the US again to a foreign country. I had to remind myself that I was going for work, not vacation, but it wasn’t like I couldn’t indulge myself a little, right?
Focus, Lilith, I scolded myself. It was common for me to daydream ahead of time and become disappointed by the outcome of reality. Although, I thought I’d stopped doing that a very long time ago. Strange, how I was doing it again. I wondered if something had changed.

I walked around in Rome Fiumicino Airport, keeping my eyes peeled for anyone with my name on a placard. It didn’t take long for me to find the person, and I was surprised to see that it was Guasparre Ricci himself that had come to pick me up. He didn’t smile, but had a kind look to his face regardless.
Also, that he attracted a lot of attention to himself. I just hoped him being here didn’t spark another needless tabloid.
“I wasn’t expecting to meet you this early on.” I commented as he took my suitcase from me, “Oh, it’s all right.”
“Allow me.” He insisted politely, his accent much like his mother’s, and stuck his hand out. I shook it. “I’m sure you already know who I am.”
“Of course.” I nodded, “You must be aware that I’ll be your matchmaker.”
“The session won’t begin right now, though, will it?” he asked, seemingly a little closed-off as we started walking out of the airport. I shook my head to assure him.
“We’ll start whenever you’re ready,” I explained, “I need to carry out a personal profilin on my own. Please excuse me if you find me observing you a little too closely in social events.”
“I’ve had some experience with matchmakers in the past.” He sighed, “I hope you’ll be different. You’re considerably younger compared to the ones I’ve had to see before.”
“A lot of families have matchmakers that follow them through a few generations and other extended members of the family. They’ll have equally experienced matchmakers in their circles they’ll refer your parents to. I’m from America so we’ll have a clean slate and a very different method of approach.”
“I look forward to it.” He responded sincerely. We reached the car and he held the door open for me. He was very gentlemanly, and I had no reason to believe he was faking it. If anything, it seemed very habitual.
Now that we were in person, I realized his scar was a lot more prominent in person than in the pictures. But it didn’t get in the way of his good looks at all. It simply made him look mysterious, but the intimidation was higher. Perhaps women found him unapproachable because of it.
He was still a very good-looking person. Guasperra, for the most part, seemed like a very relaxed person. Keyword: seemed. I knew he was forcing most of it, but he was good at masking his anxiety. I wouldn’t be wrong to suspect that he was perhaps forced to push his feelings down. There was possibly a lot of repressed emotions and trauma that he was dealing with. I could tell he wasn’t the most comfortable at that moment. His fingers would tap across the steering wheel to no music, and his eyes were constantly flitting everywhere as if expecting something to happen. Perhaps driving a car again after his traumatic accident was still not something he’d come to terms with.
“Mother said you could take a week to settle before getting to work, if you wanted to.” He explained, “She was hoping you’d be accustomed enough to be able to proceed with your job comfortably.”
“I won’t need longer than a day or two to shake off the jet lag. How long is she expecting me to stay here?”
“As long as it gets you to find me someone.” He chuckled lightly.
“Do you want to get married, though?”
“Yes, I do.” He nodded, “I’m just not very good at…uh, how do you say it, making moves?”
That got a laugh out of me.
“I understand. I think we’ll be just fine, and hopefully I’ll find you a nice woman to spend your life with.”
My eyes were caught up by the scenery outside, of towns flitting by with bold statues within fountains, beautiful old architecture towering above us, and churches with their spires looming in the skyline. The city looked visibly ancient, yet so well maintained. The people really care for their history.
I watched in awe as we drove past plazas, some sunken and some raised, houses arranged into mazes through small streets and stairs. The plants hung heavily with orange and yellow leaves, ready to drop at any given moment.
Rome was so beautiful.
It wasn’t long before the cityscape fell away into lush greens that left me breathless. It was just miles and miles of long green grass that fell off into cliffs, overlooking a strikingly turquoise ocean before a sinking sun.
“Our estate isn’t too far from the city if we take the road down the back of the mountain.” Guasperra explained, “These parts are mainly for grazing. My family and I like to have picnics here sometimes. A little ways ahead you’ll see a forest. There’s a river inside that leads to a waterfall over the cliffs.”
“It’s wonderful.” I breathed, “I’m going to have a hard time leaving this place.”
“Well, if my family likes you enough, they could replace our current match maker with you for the next generation.” He said, “My parents are really impressed by you, you know? So I have high hopes.”
“Totally no pressure.” I chuckled nervously.
“Be confident.” He assured me, “You’ve done this plenty of times with little failure. You have nothing to lose.”
“Thank you.”
Guasparre was a kind person. It made me want to work harder so he could be with someone who appreciated him and complemented his personality.
We turned around a hill and found ourselves driving uphill. I looked ahead and gawked at the building that was slowly coming into view from behind the slope.
“Not what you were expecting?” he said with a laugh in his voice. I shook my head.
“I thought all uber rich people lived in old-timey renaissance mansions carved out of marble.” I admitted.
“Oh, that house is across the country and too old to inhabit. Too many ghosts.”
My head whipped over to him incredulously, wondering if I heard him right, “What?”
“What?” he shot back humorously.
The house up ahead was a picture of modernity, and the very best of it. It was built into the base of the damn mountain!
“Is the inside carved out of mountain rock?”
“Wouldn’t you rather see it for yourself?” he glanced at me from the corner of his eye with a raised brow.
“Point.”
Blue glass and pristine white walls protruded from the mountain, layering onto each other until it disappeared into the rock. It was lit up warmly on the inside, standing out against the darkening sky. I could see waterfalls from within the rock that fell into various outdoor pools and gardens. Traditional marble statues stood proudly in the fountains peppered around the place. And the place was blooming with colorful plants that curved down the side of the mountain and onto some exposed roof layers.
I fell in love with the place.
“This is my mother’s favorite house.” He said, turning the car into pebbled pathway of the estate, “My sister is an architect, as you know. She designed this house after seeing it in a dream.”
“No way.” I breathed, “She’s a genius.”
“Truly.” He smiled, “It’s a shame she went on hiatus. Hopefully she regains her energy again.”
He parked the car into one of the many garages and we stepped out. A short woman in a formal deep blue suit stood outside the garage and greeted us.
“This is your personal butler, Ariana. Feel free to consult her for whatever you may need while your stay.”
Ariana and I shared a quick and polite greeting and we followed her inside the house. Close up, I realized there were natural stone brick accents to the place that made the place look homey. Stepping inside onto the dark wood floors, I marveled at the interior. High ceilings with minimalist chandeliers, majestic stairways. There were fountain ponds inside the house! Was that koi fish in them?
“Wonderful, isn’t it?” he asked. I could only nod, “Come, I’ll show you to your room. It has its own pool and garden.”
What did I do in my past life to deserve this?
I followed him carefully up the steps to the top most level where my room was situated.
“I’ll have dinner sent up to your room while you’re washing up. Door to your left and then straight ahead.”
Straight up ahead? I thought to myself, That doesn’t make sense.
Please rest up well, and we’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” I smiled. He nodded politely in acknowledgment with a small smile and left. I looked around the cozy room with its rock accents, off-white walls, and warm lights. The sheets on the queen bed were white and fluffy with a light wood headboard. A large wardrobe stood across the bed, and a vanity on the adjacent wall. Large windows to the side revealed the personal garden that overlooked the beautiful rolling hills and mountains in the distance. It was such a classy and timeless room. It had a mini fridge and a microwave, too!
The house seemed to have good warmth, but I still felt a little cold. Unpacking my suitcase for some comfortable grey sweats, I grabbed my toiletries and opened the door.
“Fuck me…” I gasped. There was a glass corridor that stretched out all the way to a glass cube where I could see a pristine white bath tub placed in the center. The ground was pebbled flooring with spaced wooden planks for footing. I hovered my toe over a glistening pebble and realized it was wet. There was a thin layer of water running over it!
I wondered how much it would cost to hire Guasperra’s sister to make me a house. With a squeal, I skipped towards the glass cube and examined the place. Although it was made of glass, there was plenty of foliage that provided enough privacy for a bath. A wall of rock stood behind me, and I turned around it to find the toilet and a cabinet of towels hidden behind it. There was even a small washing machine! I was quick to bring my favorite black sweats for a wash.
Getting undressed, I stood in the tub and reached for the shower taps. A warm shower fell upon me and I sighed, muscles loosening their tension under the steam.
There was no way this could get any better.
As I shampooed, my hand hit a chain dangling from the wooden roof. Curious, I tugged at it.
Splash!
I yelped as a stream of warm water fell over my head continuously. Stepping away from the stream, I looked up and realized a section of the roof had opened, which rerouted part of a waterfall into the bathroom.
My mouth was left gaping in awe. I needed this house.
I must’ve been enjoying my shower a little too much because by the time I came out and got dressed, my food had gone cold. The moon was high up in the sky with the stars glinting brightly. And there were millions of them!
“Wow…” I breathed. There was no way it was real.
But it is, I told myself.
It was all real.
A smile crept onto my face, realizing that things were finally starting to look up for me. I felt confident that I was going to have a great time here.
The Billionaire Matching Club Books 1-6
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