She needed a moment of peace just for herself. Robert locked himself in the room, busy with an important conversation with contractors, she could sit on a cavernous pouf on a terrace covered with a glass roof and watch the charming mountain massifs drowning in the glow of stars in the cloudless sky. It was going to be a frosty night. She wrapped her hands around the sleeves of the sweater over the thick-sided mug and took a sip of her tea with some rum. Tatiana gave her a drink one winter evening as they sat on the balcony of her room. The evening was very similar, and the sister needed a moment to talk to the younger one after the hardships of childbirth. The inability to breastfeed twins, caused by too low weight, was somewhat convenient for her, thanks to which she could drink tea with the flow, it did not even bother that her companion was a minor. Neither of them had ever had a problem with excess fat, but Tatiana had always been the particularly skinny one, even though she ate for two. Nadia remained slim but slightly rounded, mostly due to sports. This is also why Tiana was so eager to sew for her. The clothes fell apart on a perfect hourglass figure and rounded arms. She sighed, taking another sip. Her peace and quiet did not last long. After a while she heard the joyful laughter of Enrique's two friends and the sad footsteps of Johnny's girlfriend.

- Oh ... are we not disturbing you? Can we sit down? - Rosetta asked laughing.

- Oh please. - she replied with an enigmatic smile.

- Beautiful evening, isn't it? - Bianca muttered with a smile. - Nadia, can I ask you something?

- Ask ... - she sighed, taking a sip of her tea, wondering if the agreement was a good idea.

- How do you get along with Robert? - she whispered conspiratorially. - He looks rather haughty, not very emotional ... You know ...

- I don't have a problem with that, because that's what I like the most. - she replied truthfully. - Dignified and mature.

- By the way with a sizeable wallet! - The redhead chuckled.

- Sorry? - The blonde grimaced. - I'm not interested in his wallet, I have my own.

- You look very happy. - Heather interjected softly, looking up at her from under her flowing fringe. - I'm worried about me and Johnny. I don't think he likes me ...

- Nothing unusual. He won't start to like you if you don't like yourself. - Nadia judged, tucking a blond strand behind her ear. - I see you're hiding something. Are you going to play in front of your future husband for a long time?

~~~*~~~

He didn't like to interrupt his free time even for a moment, but unfortunately the conversation turned out to be more urgent than he might have expected. Fortunately, it only took half an hour to get things done. When he came down, Nadia was sitting on the terrace with the rest of the girls, and his three friends were calling him into the living room. He sat down next to them in a very square, even cubic armchair placed next to a similar sofa and a table, on which he noticed a waiting cup with steaming tea. Directly in front of them, flames shot up cheerfully in the fireplace. He saw that the blonde-haired host was constantly looking at the two friends. They apparently knew it, chuckling about something among themselves every now and then. He didn't even want to guess what Nadia was going through in their company. He knew that he didn't like this type of girl, just as much as he did. They were way too loud and too much of their presence. But it was tactful not to mention it.

- It's none of my business, but what do you have in common with them? - he asked, looking calmly at the young Italian.

- We are friends, sometimes we go shopping together ... - replied Tornatore.

- ... which you always pay for. - Oliver interjected wryly. - In my opinion, not a very good basis for a friendship, but what can I know ...

- It wasn't hard to guess, actually. It seems they only care about your money. - Jurgens replied coldly.- Oh, Robert, you are not a saint! - The blond muttered, twisting his arms. - You yourself used your fortune to appease Nadia.

- I have no idea what you are talking about. - the man replied with a shrug.

- And a monthly trip around the world? I remember the day you came to Rome. Nadia was all in larks! I guess you shook the bag for trinkets and clothes pretty well!

- Honestly speaking, I thought it would be like that too. I was actually ready for it, I WANTED to fulfill her every wish ... but she wanted nothing from me. If she liked something, she stubbornly paid herself. - he explained calmly, combing his fringe combed back. - The trip did not change much, except that we had time only for ourselves. I suspect that's why she was so happy.

- If my parents told me to go on such a thing, I would probably move out sooner. - Johnny snorted nervously.

- It was my decision, basically ours. Mine and Nadia.

He was weary of proving that money wasn't everything. Actually, as if to reflect, if he had faced him now with a similar argument from two years ago, he would probably have laughed himself. It is true that he was not as wasteful as Enrique, he preferred to think carefully about the investments, but ... Money is not everything? "True love" exists not only in movies for immature girls who sigh at a prince charming? Nonsense! And yet ... she had proved him wrong. He only noticed how much friends still have to learn, how much a loved one changes. He turned to look at her. She stepped inside, put her mug on the dining-room counter, and headed for the stairs. Her face was slightly flushed.

- Something happened? - he asked with concern.

- Not. I'll go to bed. - she replied.

- I'll be with you in a moment ... - he said, finishing his tea.

She smiled and climbed upstairs. Moments later, he heard the door to the room closing.

~~~*~~~

Before he came, she took a quick bath and changed into her pajamas. This time it was a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, a set in a juicy red color, decorated with tiny dots. She hid under the large sheets, taking Freud's book out of her bag, hoping that this time she would be able to read at least a fragment. On a few pages, she felt his hand slip behind her back. A warm shiver ran down her skin, especially as he rested his lips on her neck within seconds. She couldn't help herself. She turned her head to meet hazel eyes and meet warm lips. She couldn't wait to dissolve the happiness in his arms again. He gently took the book out of her hand and put it on the cupboard next to it.

- Then what, interesting? - he muttered.

- I think I'll let it go, I can't read with you. - She laughed softly, gently nudging him with the tip of her nose.

- Then I'll tell you the ending. The murderer was the maid. - he whispered, embracing her lovingly and setting her down on the mattress.

- Oh, Robert! - she snorted, pretending to be offended, then placed her arms on his shoulders.

She felt that he had fallen asleep. He placed his hands on her stomach, cuddling against her thin back. The steady breath warmed her neck. She wondered what she would be doing right now if she had aroused her pride and rejected him. She would most likely still be drowned in immoral amounts of documents and invoices, or she would end up in the hospital with a heart attack or worse, without even watching her life fly through her fingers. She would wake up around forty or fifty, like Aunt Awrora, always earned, busy, ultimately alone and sulky. She had many admirers in her youth, not only because of her wealth, but also because of her great beauty. She rejected all of them, claiming that she had time, she was not interested in whether such a candidate was a slander for the family. She touched gently the warm hand near her navel. She was glad that she held out until he started talking to her normally. She wouldn't forgive herself if she let go so easily.

She woke up in the morning, the sun did not rise, and Robert had to try to turn to the other side in his sleep. He was lying on his back. She smiled again at the blissful calmness on his face. Regular breath lifted a slightly wide chest tucked in a dark shirt. She got up gently, taking care not to let a single plank creak, and covered him a little more tightly. A gray sweater was folded perfectly in a straight line on a nearby chair. She grabbed it gently to hold it against her face. Saffron, jasmine, ginger ... and a hint of masculine intoxicating fragrance. She spilled towards him. He was still asleep. She threw the sweater over her head and quietly left the room. There was no one on the ground floor, even Enrique's servants seemed to be asleep. So she could do some research in the kitchen. She rarely cooked, more, if ever, prepared cold dishes. She craved the simplest porridge in the world. She managed to find the ingredients, the blonde-haired friend was extremely prepared for the guests. Oatmeal, plain yogurt, dark chocolate, apricots, pears, a handful of macadamia nuts. She sat down on the couch on the terrace to eat in peace and wait for the sunrise.

- So this is where my sweater went ... - she heard a sudden grunt behind her.

She shuddered a little, glancing slightly to the side. He was looking at her exceptionally cheerful with the funniest hairstyle she had ever seen on his head. Part of the fringe held the shape, as usual pulled backwards, but a few strands were trying hard to lean towards the nose. She laughed softly, and as soon as he sat down next to her, she combed the purple strands back into place. They were incredibly soft, yet thick and fluffy. He threw a black fleece sweatshirt over his shoulders, from under which equally dark, long pajama bottoms protruded. She cuddled up, drawing her legs together and letting him hug her.

- I was surprised it was gone. - he asked, looking at her. - You didn't find yours?

- I just wanted to wear this one. It is imbued with your scent. - She whispered calmly, putting a large sleeve covering her small fingers to her mouth. - It's very pleasant in the morning ... watching the sun rise while drowning in the long jumper of the fiance.

He smiled as he held her even tighter. Hidden in a caring embrace, she could finish her meal and gaze at the mountain ranges in front of them.

- How was your problem solving yesterday? - she muttered softly.

- Not bad. In fact ... I wanted to ask you to look at my company's accounts. There is something I don't like there. - he replied. - Besides, it's still worthwhile for me to introduce you before the wedding.

- I will be glad to help you, my love.

She put the bowl down on the low table in front of them. He put her legs over his own. These small gestures and affectionate words pleased her. She let her lie down on the couch to cover her with his body. Moments later, she felt a sweet, warm, slightly insistent mouth. He had been like that since the morning in Tuscany - step by step he was smuggling his imperious tastes, and she ... didn't blame him. On the contrary. When she started to pose and the effort took effect, she was afraid that his proud disposition would completely disappear. Fortunately, it didn't come to that, he found space for a bit of strength and domination in their relationship.

With a pure heart and a great desire, she gave him this room for maneuver. She could have been immersed in his embrace endlessly, had it not been for the fact that they heard the growing sounds of young people descending from inside the house. They sat more comfortably, she felt a warm hand on her calves. She cuddled up. They saw the sun rising, scattering golden rays among the mountain peaks.