Chapter 37 He Did It On Purpose

I hesitated to disturb Antonio further as he worked, so I began to organize the food in the bamboo basket. Dante had prepared an array of items: cakes, fruits, vegetables, and meats, including ready-to-eat roasted chicken wings and legs.

When Dante handed me my camera, I asked him for a glass bowl to chop the washed vegetables and fruits into small pieces, mixing them with salad dressing. I placed the finished fruit salad on the table next to Antonio and was about to pick up my camera when Matteo emerged from the trunk of the car with a red frisbee, running over like a husky, eager to play. However, he quickly remembered my injured foot.

Glancing down at my foot, I decided it was a minor injury that wouldn't stop me. I looked up at the sky, agreeing with Antonio's earlier remark that it was a clear, beautiful day, perfect for picnics and frisbee. Indeed, many people were enjoying frisbee on the lawn.

My gaze followed the flying discs around us, and I couldn't help but think of my once ordinary and tranquil life. Without the $80 million debt or Antonio, where would I be now? What would I be doing? Perhaps I had just finished a part-time job, ready to find inspiration for my graduation project with my camera; maybe I had just completed the first draft of my thesis and was about to reward myself with a cup of hand-ground coffee; or maybe Chiara was organizing a new gathering for a picnic in a park outside Boston or a mountain hiking and camping trip.

I admit, that life was exhausting and bland. I would be strapped for cash at the end of the month, without designer clothes or backpacks, nor catching envious glances from others. But what did that matter? At least I was free.

"Sienna!" Antonio called out my name, snapping me back to reality. I looked at him involuntarily, unsure how long he had been watching me. His gaze was intense.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked.

I didn't know how to answer. Should I tell him I wished to return to the past? Or that I longed for freedom? No, it wasn't wise to share such thoughts with my employer, Antonio. I chose to conceal them.

"I was thinking about playing frisbee. Do you want to join?" I had forgotten I was still dressed in my LV skirt and jacket, hardly appropriate for such activities.

"No, your..." His gaze drifted to my foot.

"I feel much better today," I added quickly.

He didn't say much more, just looked over at Matteo, who immediately understood, "I won't let her get hurt."

"Alright," Antonio said, returning his focus to his computer.

I was relieved. If only Antonio could always be this busy, then he wouldn't have time to keep an eye on me, keeping me trapped by his side.

It was a rare opportunity to leave the hotel and breathe some fresh air. I decided to cast aside my worries and fully enjoy this brief moment of freedom.

Taking the frisbee from Matteo, we arrived late but finding a spacious spot wasn't hard. The challenge was finding a spot that was not only wide but also within Antonio's view.

"We can play here, today this area is ours," Matteo declared.

"Why?"

"Dante had reserved it with the park's management in advance, so no one will bother us. Look, they aren't coming this way."

Matteo's reminder made me realize that although children love to run around, they didn't cross the boundaries set by their guardians into our area.

My surprise was brief. I knew Antonio's status and wealth, renting a part of the park was trivial for him. But was it just for a picnic?

I didn't understand, yet I wouldn't object, and I was determined to enjoy myself.

Playing frisbee alone was monotonous, so I challenged Matteo to a precision-throwing contest. Matteo looked unsure, "You want to have a game with me?"

Dante's expression mirrored Matteo's when he heard about the game. I overheard Matteo whispering to Dante about whether he should let me win, which irritated me instantly, "No need."

I firmly refused Matteo's consideration, "If you dare lose on purpose, I'll tell Antonio to ban you from having cakes and snacks."

"Alright, I'll play seriously, you can't tattle," Matteo replied, looking troubled, "You're sure you want to play in those shoes? Just so you know, I'm pretty good. Don't cry if you lose."

Matteo's confidence that I would lose only fueled my competitive spirit. I decisively took off my LV jacket and shoes, my bare feet touching the slightly prickly and itchy grass. A bit of damp soil stuck to the bottom of my feet.

I was grateful that the park's management kept the grass well-maintained and free of sharp stones, allowing me to run and play games more safely.

Though I was worried about the costliness of my skirt, my desire to win this match overcame that concern. There was no better sportswear to change into, so I rolled up my sleeves and tied a knot in my skirt, hoping to minimize any damage.

Although it was expensive, this was no excuse to hold me back from enjoying the frisbee game.

I asked Dante to act as our referee. He agreed and borrowed some metal frames from the park management to serve as targets for our precision-throwing contest. He placed them at various distances and locations, such as three feet away, on a small hill, and beside some bushes, and then announced the rules.

We weren't playing a typical two-player game, perhaps to accommodate me, opting instead for a style that required less running. The competition's only requirement was for the participants to stand in a designated throwing area and hit the metal frames with the frisbee in as few throws as possible.

"No problem, I'm going to win," I declared confidently, taking the frisbee from Dante's hand and stepping onto the soft grass toward the throwing area. My target was the metal frame on flat ground, the easiest one, even from a considerable distance.

I didn't notice when Antonio had stopped working, but by the time I saw him, I had already hit the third metal frame, which was hidden in some bushes. It took me a moment to nail it.

"Nice form, have you practiced this before?" Antonio asked.

"No, I'm not a professional athlete," I responded, my body warm and beginning to sweat, yet I was immensely enjoying the moment, boldly moving to my next target. "I often play like this with my friends."

"You must win a lot," Antonio observed, following behind me. He didn't seem to mind that I was engaging in such rigorous activity in an expensive skirt.

I proudly lifted my head, "Of course, I'm very good." As I spoke, the frisbee flew from my hand, grazing low-hanging branches and striking the metal frame, but it didn't go in!

Antonio laughed.

Was he laughing at me?

"It's just a mistake," I argued, my face turning red, "The slope was too steep, I miscalculated the distance."

"Sure, I know," Antonio replied, his arms crossed and a smile still playing on his lips.

He was mocking me!

My face flushed even more from annoyance.

I snatched the frisbee back from Dante, determined to make this shot. But the more eager I was, the less cooperative the frisbee seemed to be, and Antonio's laughter grew louder, almost uncontrollable.

I knew he was doing it on purpose. My hands trembled with frustration, and as the frisbee slipped from my grasp, it completely missed the intended trajectory, skimming past the edge of the metal frame.