--- 10 ---

Reba stared at him as if he had two heads. What the heck was she doing in his dream?

"What the heck was I doing in your dream?" Reba was startled, did she just said that aloud? She must have, as Paul was laughing.

"You really want to know or should I show you exactly what we did?"

"Never mind, I really don't want to know." She was afraid it might be the same type that she once dreamt about Mel Gibson

"But now I want to tell you. Hmm... Where did it start... Oh yeah you threw yourself at me and we were kissing. I said... I mean, you said, you love me." Well, he only told her part of the dream.

"Well there, that would only happen in your dream!"

"Want to hear more? The exciting part hasn't even started yet."

"No!"

"You really don't want to hear about how your clothes end up on the floor?" Paul found it amusing toying with her. He just loved seeing her turn red.

"I'm going to watch the morning sun at the other balcony." Reba stood up, Paul sat her back down next to him.

"Alright, I'm sorry I was just kidding." Reba sighed. She sat back down and enjoyed the rest of her coffee watching the morning sun slowly shine on to the mountains. She sighed constantly at the view. Paul didn't continue to tell her about his dream, but he thought about it. It was an odd dream for him. He told her he loved her in his dream. It was just... overwhelming. Reba was wondering if she was really in his dream or was he just kidding with her? She could never tell when he told the truth or when he just teasing.

"Paul, when you told me about how your parents met, was that true? Or did you make the story up?"

"It's the true story, you can ask my mom when you meet her. She'd be glad to share the story, over and over."

"Your mom? The one in Paris?"

"I only have one mom, yeah that one." He chuckled. "You're gonna like her, she's fun to be around." After he had said that, he wondered to himself why would he care if she would like his mom or not?

"So your home is in Paris?"

"I have condos all over the place."

"No I don't mean as a place to stay, I mean 'home' home. Like the place you miss after you've been away for a while. I'm not talking about the building." Reba clarified.

"Hmm... I'm not sure... I'm the man with so many houses but no home I guess."

"Aren't you lonely sometimes? I know you have a lot of friends. But when you go home, you're all alone. Or your usually not alone?" Her question made Paul grin.

"If I said I don't usually go to bed alone, would you say I'm full of myself again?" Reba shook her head. "I do go to bed alone from time to time, only because I want to."

"We really have a different point of view of relationships." Reba mumbled, she told herself to get over him in the process. There was no way they would want the same thing. "We have a few hours before the meeting, do you mind taking me sightseeing? Please..." Paul grinned.

"Sure, where would you like to go?"

"Wherever you'll take me." Reba excused herself to go get ready. Once she was done, Paul took her to his car and he drove to the mountains to visit Lake Como. They spent half a day by the lake before Paul had to go to the meeting. He took Reba with him. Martin came over to greet them. Paul spread a huge grin from ear to ear when Reba stopped Martin from kissing her cheeks. He chuckled. Paul must have told her that wasn't the proper way of greeting.

"Martin, I need to talk to you," ordered Paul. That tone of voice usually ended with 'you're fired', but Martin was one of a handful of people that chances were slim that Paul would fire him. They'd gone through a lot together. "Reba can you please wait here while I talk to him?" Paul asked her to wait at his private waiting room. Reba flipped through a magazine waiting for them.

"So what's the deal with you two?" Martin shot the question. Paul was caught off guard. It took him a few seconds to reply.

"She's my assistant."

"That's all?"

"Yes"

"Then you wouldn't mind if I ask her out?" Martin studied Paul's reaction.

"Let's get back to business first shall we?" Martin chuckled when Paul did not answer his question. Normally he would said 'that's none of my business, if she wants to go with you than go ahead.' "I want Reba to be my guest model for next season, what do you think?" Paul steered the conversation toward business.

"You have your mind set on her, what can I say?"

"I'm not asking for your permission I'm asking for your opinion."

"Well, if you're asking me if she could be a professional model, I'd suggest you to think twice. But for once as a special guest, I'd say go for it. There's something about her that's hard to describe."

"Her smile. It's always sincere. Her face expression never lies." Paul complimented almost dreamingly. "And her eyes when she smiles." Martin chuckled. Paul cleared his throat when he noticed Martin's look, sounding a little more serious. "And her hourglass curve is hard to find nowadays." He steered the attention back to her physical appearance than the emotional ones.

"Too bad she's too short by modelling standards." Martin commented. "Oh by the way, was that 'thee' black dress she wore last night?"

"Yes, it was. The dress fit her, so I let her wear it." Paul brushed off the question with his face turning a little red.

"I thought that design was never made into a dress."

"The design was perfect for her body shape, and nothing more." Paul felt the need to clarify.

"You're telling me that of all the dresses we have, nothing would fit her so you had to have 'that one' made? Tell me again, you don't think of her more than an employee?"

"You can be dismissed." Paul gritted. He got up from his chair and walked out with Martin. Reba looked up at them when the door opened. She yawned. Paul saw her yawning so he yawned too.

"This could really be interpreted the wrong way." Martin pointed out with a laugh.

"Jet lag. And can you believe it? He was dreaming about a model and the alarm tried to wake him, he got frustrated and threw it at the wall. He woke me up!" Reba ratted him out. Martin glanced at Paul with a smirk. Like 'Model? Yeah right' type of smirk. Paul shook his head, Reba didn't believe that it was her he dreamt about last night.

"Is Reba required to be at the meeting?" Questioned Martin.

"That's up to her." Paul had a hunch what Martin would say next.

"Then I'd like to take her out to visit the church."

"The church?" Reba's eyes lit up "You mean the Duomo?"

"Yes, do you want to see it?" Martin didn't have to convince her much, she was ready to see everything. Paul was a little disturbed by her enthusiasm.

"You should have told me this morning that you want to see the church." Paul grumbled. "Martin, don't you have to be in the meeting?"

"Not this one, they want to talk to their president, they see me all the time. Don't worry, I'll take good care of your guest." Martin winked when he emphasised the word 'guest'. Paul eyed him, determined to kick his butt. Now Martin seemed to think he liked her, Paul hoped he wouldn't make a pass at her.

"Can I go?" Reba didn't feel right about leaving him, but she really wanted to go.

"You're not required to be in the meeting." He really didn't want her to go with Martin, he wanted to take her there himself, but if he said 'no you can't go' that would be really mean of him, especially since they were going back to Houston the next day. Martin took that as a yes, and he took Reba out. Paul watched them leave to his dissatisfaction. How could she go with him after they admitted they loved each other? Wait… That was just a dream. Paul motioned through the meeting only thinking of the redhead. He kept looking at the seat that Reba would have occupied: empty. Man this meeting was longer than every other one he had been to!

"Reba."

"Yes? Sorry Martin, I wasn't listening."

"I can see that. Something bothered you? I thought you wanted to come here." Yes she wanted to see the church, but not with Martin.

"I should have been in the meeting. I feel bad, I came here to work." That was only half true. She wouldn't have the same feeling if the man who stood next to her, told her about history of the church was Paul. "Can we please go back to the office?"

"Sure, if you're not having fun I'm not going to force you to stay. I'm sure Paul will take you back here again someday. And I'm sure you'll enjoy it more then." He spoke with a grin. Reba blushed.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"All I said was, Paul would bring you back to Milan again in the future since you're his assistant, I'm sure he'll take you all over the place. Why? What do you think I meant?"

"Nothing, can we go back please?" Martin led her back to his car and drove back to the office.

"Paul never had a personal assistant, you know? I work with him for almost twenty years. He doesn't like to be followed all the time. I was surprised when I heard he hired a personal assistant. But I think I start to know why he hired you."

"If you're wondering if I slept with him to get this job, no!" Reba stated firmly.

"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that at all. No offense, but Paul wouldn't give you a job, even if you were Miss Universe that was willing to do whatever he pleases. I told you before; he doesn't like someone following him all the time. Yet, he took you all over the place. You don't follow him, but he'll drag you with him anyway. Why do you think is that?"

"How would I know, I've only worked for him for five months."

"You'll find out more about him that he is nothing like what the media portrays him to be." Martin chuckled.

"What, you're telling me that he's not a playboy like the media said? I was at the party last night. I saw him kiss every model at the party."

"They kissed him first, didn't they?"

"That shouldn't be an excuse."

"Were you jealous?" His question made Reba jump a little.

"No I wasn't. It's just…. I don't think it's appropriate." Reba denied. Her cheeks turned red. Martin glanced at her and he smiled.

"Paul had three dresses that he specially designed: one for special someone, the other one for his fiancée, and the other one he wanted her to wear at the wedding reception. You wore one of those dresses last night."