Cristiano's Craving

Forty Two

Rose

"Tough decision," I said, my eyebrows creasing in distress as I gazed at the two things in front of me. "I don't think I've ever had to struggle this hard with figuring something out. I think I need your help."

I lifted them up and her bright eyes glanced between them as she bit her bottom lip.

"What do you think, Princess Sapphire? Jam or Nutella?"

She hesitated, her vibrant eyes scanning both tubs of the different substances. Her hand raised and pointed to the component in my left hand. I grinned at her as a small smile came onto her sweet face.

"I was thinking Nutella too. Great minds think alike," I told her, giving her a genuine smile as I spread the chocolate across the toast. Handing her the plate, she thanked me quietly, sipping her drink before taking a bite of the Nutella.

She looked up at me and smiled and I grinned. "Told ya it would be good," I said playfully, taking a bite out of my toast.

"Morning, ladies!"

My smile automatically faded and I turned away, making myself some more toast.

"How are you doing, Princess?"

As usual, I didn't hear her reply. When I turned, she was nodding with a smile on her face. She munched on her toast, her eyes glancing over at me cautiously. She was a clever girl and already sensed the tension.

Her sapphire eyes moved over to the door then back at me. I nodded and she smiled before slipping off her chair and leaving the room with her toast.

Then my eyes landed at Cris, my eyes filled with bitterness. "What are you doing here?"

"I want to talk to you."

I rolled my eyes, leaning against the counter and sucking my teeth. "We've been through this. No matter how many times you apologise-"

"I know," he butted in, his eyes filled with disappointment. He licked his kissable lips that caught my attention and continued, "I'll figure that out later but for now, I need answers. How do you know that girl?"

I rolled my eyes again. I almost considered not answering them I realised that he was paying for the hotel room we were in, the food we were eating and the clothes we were wearing. It was much better than struggling in that old apartment I despised.

"I escaped from Stefano a few months ago. I killed him and all of his little perverts," I confidentially told him, my eyes burning with anger at the thought of the ruthless man. I licked my lips slowly, ignoring the shocked look on his face. "Don't ask how but that's that. When I came out, I had nothing all because of you. So I stripped."

"Then one night, one guy got handsy and he tried to attack me. I was about to stab him until that girl saved me." I shook my head, smiling a little in disbelief. "That sweet, little girl - who can't be older than five - saved me. She hit him with a pole on the head. She didn't have to do that but she did."

"Turns out she was hiding in my dressing room. We left and she didn't really talk. It was late so I took her back to mine and cleaned her up. I was supposed to take her in but she didn't let me. . .she said someone was coming for her so I didn't need to hand her over."

"Who?" Cris interrupted, his tone filled with curiosity. I shrugged softly, sipping my drink. "As you can tell, she doesn't talk much. I think she's scared so I'm still trying to warm up to her."

"We've been together ever since and she won't let me hand her in so I won't. I'm just gonna wait for this mysterious person to save her. She won't tell me where her parents are either. I don't think she even knows."