Is this destiny?

Chapter 1347 - Emma Meets Bruno (2)

When Emma heard that Bruno is from Italy she nodded knowingly.

"Ah, I guessed something like that… because of your accent…", Emma's voice trailed off when she realized that someone is standing behind her and Bruno is looking that way with a slight frown.

"Miss Ronin, is everything OK?", the bodyguard was right behind Emma and eyeing Bruno suspiciously. He was watching from the outside and came inside as soon as he saw the coffee-spilling incident.

Emma turned toward the bodyguard and explained with an awkward smile. "Ugh… I spilled coffee on this man's shirt. It's totally my fault. Thank you Arthur, for checking."

"Can I help you with trashing that, Miss Ronin?", Arthur gestured toward the coffee cup and napkins in Emma's hands.

"Yes. Thank you…" Emma gave things to the bodyguard and turned to Bruno. "Let me start by getting you another coffee, since I ruined this one."

Bruno glanced at Arthur and he was happy that the bodyguard kept his distance.

Bruno flashed his charming smile at Emma. "I don't want to drink coffee by myself."

Emma understood that he wants her to join him. She was conflicted. Emma knows that it's the right thing to make it up to the man, because it's her fault, but… "Sorry, I have a meeting I need to attend, and I don't have the time to accompany you."

"How about we meet later for a coffee?", Bruno suggested.

Emma paused while thinking if Bruno is hitting on her or not. He said that he does not want to drink coffee by himself but… Didn't he have the first coffee (the one she spilled) without company? It seems that he is alone. But it does not matter, because one way or another, she is not interested.

Emma wondered, should she say that she is engaged? If she blurts it out it will be awkward if her sense is off and he is not attracted to her. As much as she knows, he might be a lone tourist, happy to meet someone local, and it ended up with a stained shirt. Well, the fact is that she spilled his coffee and ruined his shirt.

"I'm not sure about later, I will need to check my schedule and my assistant is not here. But if you don't want that coffee now, let's go and get you a shirt. That is the least I can do."

Bruno took a deep breath and after a second of contemplation he smiled and nodded in agreement.

He was hoping to get Emma to sit and have a coffee with him. Actually, it can be anything as long as she accepts to spend time with him. But she is obviously not willing and if he insists, he might push her away.

Bruno cringed internally while confirming that charming Angelo's daughter will take longer than he thought. Bruno balled his hands into fists. Why is this woman not cooperating? He is a good looking man, she should be happy that a charming Italian man is offering her his company! She is stubborn and unpredictable, just like her father.

He reminded himself to play it cool. There is a bodyguard watching them and if he acts out of line, his plan will fail. He is in Los Angeles for three more days, and he will come up with an excuse to come again soon without Angelo suspecting anything.

Bruno thought that as long as he gets to meet with Emma again in the next three days, he will treat this first visit to Los Angeles as a success. But before planning for their next meeting, he should extend this one as much as possible because coffee or not, she wants to take him shopping.

Emma was happy that Bruno agreed. When she gets him a shirt, she will not feel so guilty. But she needs to hurry.

"Great! There is a clothing boutique right here. If we hurry, I can get you a shirt and not be late for my meeting…", Emma said while leading the way out.

"Arthur, we are going to the store and will head to the rehabilitation center next.", Emma informed the bodyguard when they got out of the coffee shop.

"Yes, Miss Ronin. Do we need the car?", Arthur offered.

"No need. The store is right here. We will walk."

Bruno observed that Arthur is following them at a two steps distance. That means he is on alert. Well, he should be on alert. Bruno can only praise Charlie's bodyguards. He wondered how skilled Arthur is. Is he carrying a gun? Probably. In the United States almost everyone has a gun and it would be strange if a bodyguard is unarmed.

Emma felt awkward to walk next to the Bruno is silence, so she tried some small talk: "Are you enjoying your vacation? Other than me bumping into you and messing up your shirt..."

Emma's question pulled Bruno out of his thoughts. He scolded himself. Isn't he here to charm Emma? Why is he getting distracted with thoughts about her bodyguard?

"Yes. I only have few days, so I am trying to understand the American life. It is different than what I saw in the movies. Much less guns and robbers. It's my third day here and I didn't see a single superhero. It makes me think that they are made up." Bruno said with a lingering smile at the corner of his lips.

Emma stifled a laugh. "Well, now I know what kind of movies you are watching. You came to a Starbucks? That is not a bad place to see how Americans start their day. Don't you have fancy coffees in Italy? The ones we have here must be boring."

"I admit that I'm not much of a coffee drinker. I was here for the experience. In Italy, we have more outdoor seating, and people are not in such a rush. I would order a macchiato and spend two hours watching the people walk by."

"Sounds… relaxing.", Emma was happy that she found a suitable expression.

They reached the boutique within few minutes and Emma immediately asked a staff member to help them out.

Bruno was trying out fifth shirt when Emma checked the time and asked Arthur to go and get the car. As soon as Bruno picks a shirt she will pay for it and go to the rehabilitation center. She wondered, why is this taking so long? He is looking at every shirt forever before deciding to try it on. Are all Italians so picky? It's just a shirt!

Bruno was in the dressing room. He does not care about the shirt, but he wants to spend more time with Emma. He cursed that he is not on his territory, and because he came secretly he was unable to get any men with him. After all, they are loyal to Angelo and he does not want anyone to expose him.

Bruno thought that if he is not fearing Angelo's wrath, he could just kidnap Emma and force her to marry him and everything else will come later. Then there would be no need for these useless games. He would make her obedient and that will be enough. He does not need Emma by his side forever, few months or years until he establish himself as the next boss and then he would let her go and she can do whatever she wants. 

He can see that his time is running out, so his goal will shift to exchange phone numbers. Of course, he already knows Emma's number and her address as well as her workplace, birthdate, and anything else worth knowing, but he can't admit to it.

This is his third day here and getting close to Emma is nearly impossible. Her coming to a coffee shop was Bruno's luck because she is usually in the car between her work and home and always followed by bodyguards.

Bruno was contemplating to hurt himself so that he has a reason to go to Emma's rehabilitation center. He smiled while thinking that luckily that is not needed because Emma is right here, on the other side of that door, waiting for him to come out. He reminded himself to come up with some interesting topic to get her attention.

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