Just like the morning before, Adrianno woke with Angela beside him. Except this time, his mother was walking around his room, opening the curtains and cleaning around.

"Time to get up Adrianno, it's almost noon." She clapped her hands together. He squinted as soon as he opened his eyes, realising it was his mother. His head shot to his right to see Angela still half asleep, but about to wake.

"Mother! Get out." He was stroppy from being woke up from his amazing sleep, he never usually talked to his mother like that.

"Not until you tell me you're going to get up as soon as I leave, and get your conquest from last night out. We're late and have already missed the appointment for the cake this morning." Angela was awake now, and surely heard it all. She was blushing although still wasn't aware of everything that was happening because she needed time to wake up. Adrianno loved his mother, she was straight and got to the point but right now, she was irritating him. Maybe it was her "conquest" comment or the fact that he now had to plan his birthday party in a few weeks' time on his day off.

"I'll get up okay?"

"Good boy." She joked and walked out the door, shutting it behind her. The room filled with silence. Adrianno took in Angela's just-woke-up appearance again. She was yawning, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. Her hair was coming out of her ponytail she slept in last night and was messy.

"I'm sorry about that." He said sheepishly. She gave him a polite smile.

"Don't worry about it." She replied and he got up. She wasn't ready to move yet.

"I have to go soon, but I'll be home tonight. That's if my mom lets me." He laughed a little and then got up, putting a shirt on before he made his way to the door. "Go back asleep if you like. I know it was late when we got to sleep last night." He didn't look at her when he said the last part. She just nodded and smiled as he shut the door quietly behind him.

He remembered every bit of last night, and was glad he could too. They had stayed up when she came into him, talking until she had gotten sleepy and couldn't stay awake. They had talked about her life in Florida, and how he had visited the state a couple of times. They laughed and shared and before it had happened, Adrianno would've thought that doing so would've been pointless and stupid but not anymore. He enjoyed it, enjoyed feeling the closeness of her when they both eventually moved closer to one another and Adrianno slipped his hand around her shoulder.

He remembered how she gripped his side when New York was brought up, and how stiff she felt in his arms. But once he had changed the subject, she returned to normal again. It made him wonder but he didn't ask any more questions about it, he knew better from what happened that night at dinner.

Adrianno noticed how his mother had already began making herself at home, pouring a mug of coffee for both herself and Adrianno to drink. He sat at the breakfast bar across from where she was standing and took a sip of the scorching hot drink.

"So, who's the girl?" she finally asked, why was she being so nosey? Oh wait, Adrianno thought, it was his mother after all, he didn't know why he was surprised.

"Not another one of my conquests if that's what you're wondering mom." He said gruffly, not looking at her yet.

"If she isn't that then what is she?" she asked, surprise showing in her voice.

"She's... Angela?" he didn't know what else to describe her as. Adrianno noticed how his mother's eyebrows had risen up at the mention of Angela's name.

"So that's Angela." She said it as if she was someone she had been dying to meet. "Maria has told me all about her! I'm sure she'll give Luisa a run for her money huh?" she said excitedly. Luisa, he panicked as soon as his mother mentioned her name. He had made dinner plans with her tonight, finally giving in to his father and everyone else he knew to give it a shot with her again. He definitely wasn't looking forward to tonight and wished he could go out with Angela instead.

"What's Maria told you?" he questioned.

"Oh nothing, don't worry about it Adrianno."

"You know, my life isn't some soap opera for everyone to watch. I wish everyone would just leave me the fuck alone sometimes." He said frustrated at the fact that even his own mother thought she could peek in at his imaginary love life with two women he didn't even want. Luisa, was old news and Angela, wasn't his type. She couldn't be? He liked tall blondes who left when he was done with them.

"Oh Adrianno honey, calm down." His mother came around the counter to put her hands on his shoulders affectionately. "Your life is way more interesting that a soap opera." She added.

"Morning." He heard Angela say from behind them. She kept her head down as she walked around the kitchen and he noticed how she had gotten into her dressing gown now.

"Angela! Please forgive me for being so rude a few minutes ago, I've heard a lot about you. It's nice to finally meet you. I'm Carmela." She extended her hand for Angela to shake and she done so.

"Nice to meet you too." She replied bashfully.

"Adrianno, how come you've never told me about Angela before, I've only ever heard about her from Maria." His mother looked at Adrianno who was squinting at her now.

"Maria? How is she?" Angela asked quietly, her eyes lighting up slightly when she remembered Franco's wife.

"She's fine dear. Has Adrianno told you about his party yet? I hope so. What are you going to wear?" Carmela continued on enthusiastically.

"Mom..." Adrianno said and gave her a knowing look. He was turning thirty on the 31st of December, and his mother had thought it was a good idea to plan a huge party for him. Why not? She loved parties, Adrianno on the other hand, wasn't too pushed. He hadn't thought about bringing Angela with him, considering yesterday, he wanted to send her home and now it wouldn't be safe for her, he thought. She had barely seen anyone he associated with and Adamo was already after her, she didn't need any more threats getting sent her way.

"Oh what Adrianno? She has to go, I'm inviting her." Adrianno rolled his eyes at his mother.

"I'm fine really." Angela looked down at the marble counter top. "I better get dressed. It was nice meeting you Carmela." She added before grabbing an apple and heading for her bedroom to shower and get changed.

"I like her already. I think. Shy isn't she?" Carmela said once she was out of earshot.

"Yes." Adrianno muttered and lifted the mug to his lips again. Adrianno quickly got dressed after his coffee, and left with Carmela for an appointment with the manager of the hotel where his birthday party was going to be taking place.

When Adrianno came home, he had a woman with him except Angela noticed she was different from the rest. She had glossy, long black hair that fell just below her shoulders, she wasn't blonde. She was tall and curvy and dressed rather glamorously in a tight royal blue dress with high heels to match. She had a fur shrug wrapped around her and was made up to perfection.

The pair came through the front door, her arms wrapped around Adrianno's and Angela couldn't help but feel slightly jealous but couldn't put her finger on what exactly it was she was jealous of. Maybe it was because she was gorgeous, no one could deny that, or tall, or because she had Adrianno beside her and they both looked like they went perfectly together. Angela guessed it was probably a mixture of everything.

Angela heard the jingle of her expensive bracelets once she extended her hand out for Angela to shake. Adrianno had obviously come home because he had forgotten something and went straight to his room once they stepped in the door, detangling the woman from his arms.

"Luisa." The woman said confidently, smiling and flashing her beyond perfect teeth at Angela.

"I'm Angela." She looked up at Luisa and tried to smile.

"Luisa, what are you doing?" Angela turned around to find Adrianno glaring at the woman.

"I'm introducing myself to this... girl." Luisa spoke.

"Let's go, we'll be late for dinner." Adrianno said dismissively but still looked at Angela. He wanted to just tell Luisa to go home, he was staying here but he couldn't. Not now. Dinner? Angela thought, He didn't tell me he was going out to dinner. She was trying to stop her jealous thoughts and remembered to wrap up the food she had made him for tomorrow instead. She had assumed he would be home tonight to eat but was obviously wrong.

"Goodbye Angelina." Luisa got her name wrong but Angela didn't even try to correct her.

"I'll be home in a bit. Bye." Adrianno told her softly once Luisa was at the door, waiting for Adrianno to follow. Angela just smiled up at him and nodded. Her eyes flashed with something Adrianno couldn't put his finger on but it made him want to stay here even more. He reached out and took her tiny hand in both of his. "I-"

"You said we were going Ad." Luisa had her eyes narrowed at the two standing in the living room.

"I'm coming." Adrianno said, trying not to make it obviously he was gritting his teeth. He released Angela's hand and gave her a small smile to which she returned.

"Bye." Angela had said before the two disappeared through the front door to go for dinner.

Mike had come over after a little while of Angela lounging around the apartment and two failed attempts to play the piano. Maybe another time, she had thought. When she heard the knock, she jumped but soon afterwards, a key turned in the door and it opened to reveal Mike, in casual jeans and t-shirt. She had thought it was Adrianno coming home but wasn't disappointed at the sight of Mike.

"Hey Shortcake. How's it going?" he smiled warmly at her, closing the door and jumping down beside her on the couch.

"I'm good Mike. How are you?" she brought her knees to her chest as she sat up on the couch.

"Never been better. Adrianno told me to come over, keep an eye on you. You know?" she just nodded at him and smiled. She hadn't seen him in a while and was glad he was here. "Hey, you want to come out for a milkshake or somethin'? We won't be long."

"Sure. Let's go."

And so the two went out in Mike's car to the a McDonald's nearby for milkshakes. Angela didn't bring her coat, so the two went through the Drive Thru instead. They were sitting outside the fast food restaurant in Mike's car, which was much like Adrianno's, drinking their shake's and chatting. Angela was wondering a lot of things about Adrianno, but started with the easiest one to ask about.

"When is Adrianno's birthday?" she finally brought up the subject.

"On New Year's Eve. Didn't he tell you about the party?" he asked.

"Um, no."

"Well, our mom's throwing a huge party for him that night. It's going to be epic, when my mom's involved, it usually is." She noticed how his eyes twinkled when he talked about both he and Adrianno's mother.

"Oh, I see." Was all she could say.

"Hey, you know when Adrianno bought the piano for his apartment?"

"For his apartment?" he scoffed. "It was for you."

"Well, yes. But anyway, he said something to me about it. I was just wondering if you knew what he was talking about."

"Go on." He gestured for her to continue.

"He said something like 'I know what it feels like to give up something you love for someone else'." Angela could see how Mike's expression had fallen slightly at her words.

"Well... he means exactly what he said." Mike was trying to get his way around explaining it to Angela, she knew he understood what Adrianno had said.

"Yes, I know. But what?"

"I'm sorry Shortcake, I don't want to intrude. I'll get in deep shit with Adrianno if I tell you any of his business. You'll need to ask him yourself."

"It's okay. Thanks anyway." She smiled at him as he started up the car to drive home.

Once Mike made sure Angela got to the front door of the apartment, he disappeared into the elevator to go home. Angela unlocked the door, saying a quick "Hello" to the guards outside, noticing that there were more than when she had first got here and went inside.

The apartment was quiet so she guessed Adrianno wasn't home yet. She just hoped he didn't bring that woman Luisa home with him, she knew she was getting jealous when she had no right to be but Angela just couldn't help it. She took off her coat and sat down on the piano stool, staring at the black and white keys for a few moments.

In her many years of playing the instrument, she had memorized a lot of pieces and right now, it was the first time since she had been in Franco's house, that she really wanted to play. And so she did, she played and played for what felt like only minutes until Adrianno's voice stopped her.

"You're finally practicing." He had said. She was too busy to even notice him coming in and walking right up beside her. She jumped a little bit out of her seat and looked up at him. "You mind if I watch and listen?" he asked her. She shook her head and was surprised when Adrianno sat down beside her on the stool.

Angela couldn't help but notice how his thigh was brushing off of hers and she gulped at his close proximity. She could smell his expensive cologne too. His stare was excruciating and he noticed her reaction to him. It was then that Adrianno began to wonder was she as affected by him as he was by her. He sat there like that, his breath tickling the side of her neck as she played another song but the tension became unbearable for the two when Angela finished her piece.

"Who's Luisa?" Angela finally asked, trying to act casual about it. She looking for a bit more information about the beautiful woman she had met just a few hours ago. He laughed a little at her but didn't know how to answer her question. He wanted to tell her she was just some woman he neither liked nor wanted. That dinner with her had been terrible and he couldn't wait to come home and see her but he didn't. Instead, he answered her question with another question.

"Why?" he replied.

"Just wondering, she seems nice."

"Well she's not." He told her truthfully, this made her look up at him with a quizzical look on her face.

"What?" Her voice was barely above a whisper because when she looked at him, he was a lot closer than she thought. She didn't know whether she should be happy he said that or not.

Adrianno's eyes trailed down to her pink lips and back up to her big, grey eyes and in that moment, he just couldn't help himself anymore. He leaned in quickly, and placed a few slow kisses on her lips before she began kissing him back, not even thinking about what she was doing or why. Her hands went up to tangle in this dark, black hair and he took her waist, lifting her onto his lap so she was straddling him.

He licked her bottom lip, begging for her to open her mouth and so she did. He ran his hands up and down her back, causing her to shiver in delight and deepen the kiss further but once she realised what the hell was going on, she pulled away, at the same time Adrianno had too.

She gave him a look that showed only confusion and touched her swollen lips. Her eyes connected with his and she noticed he was surprised too at what they had both done. He hadn't let go of his grip on her waist yet, he wanted more, he didn't care about anything else right then.

"I'm sorry." Angela apologized quietly, putting both her hands on his shoulder now and began to get up. She noticed how hesitant he was to let her go but as soon as she scrambled to stand up, she left him in the living room, immediately walking right to her room.

He hadn't said a word, and Angela had never felt so split in half because of it all. She wanted him and didn't want him at the same time and it was all too confusing for her. She sat on her bed, staring blankly at the wall, trying to recollect what had happened outside. He never did tell her who Luisa was, and she hoped she wasn't anything serious because if so, Angela would feel awful.

Through all of Angela's scrambled thoughts, she knew one thing for sure: She had never kissed any other man before like she had kissed Adrianno just a few moments ago outside. And she had never felt as much when doing so either.