17. Grumpy Ivy

VALENTINA

I move downstairs to the living room I believe? I find someone's back towards me. And by the looks of it, its a hot back people.

I stare at his back and maybe he felt it or something because he turned and set his eyes on me.

Oh Damn!

Holy shit!?

He is hot.

"Who the fuck are you? What are you doing here?" The man asks glaring at me.

Talk about Deja vu but sadly this is not Luciano.

"I'm Valentina." I move towards him with a smirk and stand right in front of him.

He stares at me as if I'm crazy to even talk to him.

"Looks like you already met my son Piccola." I hear Leo and turn around to find him standing at the end of the staircase.

"You know her Dad?" The man asked him with raised eyebrows.

"Yes. She is Valentina." Leo introduced me not saying anything more about me thankfully.

"I'm Ivan." He said taking my hand in a firm grasp.

"Isn't she beautiful Ivan?" Serena comes out of nowhere and asked him hooking her arm with his arm.

"What!?" Ivan looks at her confused.

"Wouldn't you like to date her?" She asked again making me choke on my spit.

Oh my god.

What is she trying to do?

You don't even know me woman.

I can be a serial killer for crying out loud.

"What the hell Mom!? I don't even know her." Ivan whispered looking mad.

I don't look that bad for him to act like this. I look at both of them and Serena laughs making Leo shake his head smiling at his wife.

"You can know her now." She said smirking.

"Why dont you just leave them darling? Ivan has some work to do anyway." He said smiling at her and pointing Ivan to get lost basically to save us.

"Why would you do that Leo?" Serena glared at him and stomped out of the hall making me chuckle.

"Let's talk Piccola." He said sitting on a couch.

"So where do I start?" I said getting nervous all of a sudden.

"The beginning. Everything honey." He smiled knowing me.

I don't really like to share my personal shit with anyone but looks like I have to. I don't really have a choice.

I tell him everything from how we met him to what happened there when he was there and what is happening now and he listened with utmost concentration.

"You dont know some things about Dante and my family yet. I'll tell you soon. Now is not the time." He said with a different look on his face.

"Okay?"

"Don't worry Valentina. We will go through this together. If what you're saying is true then I can't lose a chance to get my daughter back. I'll tell Ivan about it." He said sincerely.

"Thanks Leo." I smiled.

"You can go and have dinner Piccola. Can you let Serena know I will be in my study ?" He said and I nodded.

I walked into the dining hall to see my friends already settled and shoving food like hungry animals.

Serena is looking at them with a genuine smile on her face making me feel happy.

"Hey Serena." I walk towards her.

"You're late sweetie. Cmon sit and eat everything." She said making me sit and ordering the maid to serve me.

"Leo asked me to inform you that he is going to be in his study." I said and she nodded.

"Will you eat everything without me or do I have to watch you?" She asked in a strict voice.

I'm not a kid.

"You should watch her Serena. She won't eat properly otherwise." Nia said with an innocent face.

Watch her my ass!

I'm sure I'll kill Nia before I kill Dante.

I glare at Nia making her smirk and others laugh slightly.

"I knew it. I'll wait till you finish." Serena said sitting in front of me.

"I'll finish everything. I swear." I said with a pout for extra effects but she didnt listen and didn't leave me till I finished everything.

I dont know what Leo will do now. He looked pretty serious. I hope he and Ivan can find something.

I call Luciano taking a walk around the garden. Its a beautiful place really. Serena told me that she loves gardening and she did most of it.

Luciano answers after four rings and I feel my knees go weak when I hear his voice.

"Hello love."

That same deep husky voice. So damn hot. Will I ever get used to this? I don't think so.

"Hey" I reply smiling.

"Missed me?" He asked cockily making me laugh.

"Of course. Not." I said making him chuckle.

"So what are you doing?" He asked.

"Walking in the garden. What about you?" I asked.

"I'm working sweetheart." He said softly.

"Oh I disturbed you. I'll call you later then." I said quickly.

"You can never be a disturbance love." He whispered making me shiver.

My heart.

"Will you guys stop being so cheesy? Its gross." I heard Luca yell making me laugh.

"Sometimes I'm really jealous of Luca. He is always around you." I said.

"Well you see he is not the one keeping his identity a secret." He pointed out and I'm damn sure he must be smirking.

"I told you we will meet once you come back from Italy." I defended with that cuz I didn't really have anything to say.

"You better be ready then love. I'll be back soon." He said in a determined tone.

I won't be back soon though.

Why am I so mean?

"I'm always ready for you." I whisper.

No you're not.

--------------------------------------------------------------

I walk inside the house after walking for an hour and move into the kitchen to have some water when I found Ivan making coffee.

"You know its not healthy to have coffee at this hour." I pointed out taking a glass.

He didnt say anything and shrugged going back to his coffee. I sat on the stool in front of the countertop and he raised a brow at me.

"What are you doing?" He asked slowly.

"Nothing. Just staring at you." I said smirking

Do not get me wrong people. I do not like him and I am not flirting with him. I'm just trying to figure him out. He looks so secretive.

"I don't like you staring at me." He stated looking into my eyes.

"Cool. I'm going to do it anyway." I shrugged smirking.

"You're so weird." He said rolling his eyes.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" I asked.

"No."

"Of course you don't. You're really an eighty year old grandpa in the body of a young man."

"Do you ever just shut up?!" He asked glaring at me.

"I'm jus trying to get to know you..Geez. I didn't know you were on your man period." I said with sassiness.

"Get the fuck out of here." He hissed glaring making me chuckle.

"You seriously think that will work on me?" I laughed and he looked at me as if I'm crazy.

He shook his head muttering something and took his mug moving out of the kitchen.

I followed him and hooked my arm on his free arm which was not holding the coffee.

"What the fuck is wrong with you woman?" He groaned.

Wow.

I think he loves me.

"Let's watch a movie? I am not sleepy."I asked and he pushed me away from him.

"I'm not watching anything with you." He stated moving towards the staircase.

"Cmon dude! I'm bored and my friends are sleeping like dead people." I pouted making him think.

"Please." I batted my eyelashes for extra effects.

"Do not make that face ever again in front of me." He stated and moved back towards me.

"Where are you going Ivy?" I smiled running towards him and he stopped.

"What the hell did you just call me?"

"Ivy."I stated smiling.

"Do not call me that ever or I'll kill you. Now I'm not watching any movie with you." He gritted and moved back upstairs.

"But I love you grumpy Ivy." I yelled laughing at the end when he showed me the finger.

"Fuck off."

Alright.

He so loves me.

___________________________________________

Hello lovelies!🖤

How are you all?

What do you think about this?

What do you think is happening between Ivan and Valentina?

Do you think Valentina will go back soon to meet Luciano?

Vote. Comment. Share.

Love ya.🖤

Naia