Chapter 38

-Ava’s POV

He took me to Italy!

Italy!

I was still trying to wrap my mind around it as we landed. Not just on any ordinary flight either–his private jet. Grayson h driven straight to his private hangar, ordered me onto the jet, and now, here we were.

In Italy.

For pizza.

I stared at the breathtaking view of the Italian countryside as the jet slowed to a stop, my mind racing. I was just going to order in. Who takes someone all the way to Italy for pizza?

Grayson Blackwood, apparently.

He didn’t even ask if I had plans, or work to do. He just… decided. And the most ridiculous part was that I had actually followed him. I could have stood against him even what the order. I didn’t. The man exuded this unshakable confidence, and I found myself caught in it like a wave. Was this how he always operated?

Just throwing his weight–and wealth–around like it was no big deal?

I wasn’t exactly dressed for this either. The simple jeans and sweater instead of a coat I’d thrown on earlier felt completely out of place as he led me down the steps of the plane and into a sleek black car waiting for us. Everything he did was effortless–powerful–and the way people scrambled to open doors for him, clear pathways, it was like watching a lion movi through a field of sheep.

The ride was quiet, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. I caught myself glancing at him every few seconds, trying to make sense of this man who could terrify and fascinate me in equal measures. His face was unreadable, as usual–cold, calculating. The kind of cold, like he could shut out the entire world without blinking.

Yet here we were, on what felt like… a romantic getaway.

No. It wasn’t a romantic getaway. It couldn’t be. There was nothing between us like that.

Right?

Stop dreaming Ava.

We finally pulled up to a restaurant that oozed elegance. One of those places where just the scent of food in the air screamed “expensive.” My eyes scanned the exterior, and immediately, insecurity washed over me. There was no way I was dressed for this.

Before I could stop myself, the words tumbled out. “I’m not even dressed for this place

expression that always made my heart jump. “It doesn’t matter what you wear,” he

said, it was how he said it–like my beauty wasn’t even a question. Like he had decided, and that was that. I swallowed, heat

he even aware of how his

without another word, and I had no chole

Dec 13

Chapter 38

had just complimented

Even more baffling?

fact that it hit me so

dr to steel, but Grayson? He didn’t even blink. He moved through the restaurant like he owned

man I assumed was the chef hurried

long!” The chef practically kissed Grayson’s hand, his enthusiasm borderline ridiculous. I stood there,

to me, his eyes widening as if he was seeing something unbelievable. “Che bellezza!” he exclaimed,

blinked. “Uh… pizza?”

waving my suggestion off. “Nonsense! I will make you something far

say, so I just nodded, blushing under the weight of his flattery. Grayson, meanwhile, had already seated himself, looking completely unbothered by the attention.

Was this real life?

slid into the chair across from him, my thoughts still swirling. Everything felt surreal–the atmosphere, the people watching us, and most of all, Grayson How could he sit there, completely unfazed

to break the silence that had settled between us. He had gone quiet again, his focus entirely on his phone

up at me, eyebrow raised.

on a whim, being treated

royalty and

unsure of how to respond. What

fit him. It fit the image of who he was. Cold, ruthless, completely in control. I guess

moments later with plates of food I couldn’t even name, placing them in front of us with flourish. My stomach growled at the sight of it all, but I felt a little

(“Thank you, I’ll call you if she needs anything else.“)

course he spoke

it and then he left. Grayson turned to me. “Eat. You

glanced at him, realizing how ridiculous that sounded. This wasn’t pizza. This was an entire gourmet spread.

told the

09:01 Fri, Dec 13

Chapter 38

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