Bab 18: The Turmoil
Vincenzo and his family ordered a table at the restaurant. It was one of the best restaurants in Milan, and it belonged to them. His mother had carefully planned this venue so that they could have an advantage. She didn't want them to be cut off guard.
"We've not been to this restaurant in ages, and suddenly mum chooses this place for dinner?" Vincenzo whispered to his father.
"You know how your mother is. She probably has her reasons for making us come here. Just follow her lead, and everything should go on smoothly."
His dad said reasonably.
He was always on the quiet side. He thought things through and was never in s hurry to pass judgment. Vincenzo was glad he took his wisdom from his dad. It was just a pity he never quite forgave himself for the role his foolishness played in losing the love of his life.
He got his impatience and quick temper, however, from his mother. He wanted things to be done as soon as he asked. He had no room to occupy failures of any form. Maybe that was why it hurt him, seeing that he had managed to lose his prototype.
"That little wench has still not arrived?" Viola Santoro exclaimed, joining them from her brief visit to the ladies' room.
"Maybe she won't be coming," Pietro Santoro said
"Nonsense! If she's anything like her crafty mother, I know she is purposely stalling to get us mad. But don't you worry, son. I'm more than capable of handling cockroaches like that," she said, seething.
"Calm down, mum. There's still time," Vincenzo said. He loved his mum because she was his mother.
However, he caught himself wondering if he would be able to stand her if she wasn't his mother. Those times, he reminded himself that she might be hotheaded, but she had never failed to put him first.
Everything she did, she did for him. Those were the times he forced himself on her shoes. She had to live with a man she loved more than anything but could never reciprocate that love. His parent's dynamic was the sole reason he decided not to get married.
He would rather die than be with someone who could not love him. He also would rather die than stay with a person he could not love. He did not feel like he was capable of loving someone.
The most he could go with women was fulfilling his lust. It started and ended in the sheets for him.
"Maybe we should order some wine before she arrives," his dad suggested.
"Maybe," Viola grumbled.
Vincenzo raised his hands, and a waiter approached him, his head bowed. "A glass of sparkling wine, please," he ordered, and the waiter left to fetch the order.
"The staffs here are very professional," his father observed aloud.
"They better be if they want to be paid," Viola responded. A commotion ensued as a woman in black entered the restaurant with a man beside her. Behind her were some men in black.
One stepped forward and presented her with her signature black hat. She put it on along with a smirk. Roy stretched out his hand, and she obliged by taking it. Together they walked towards the Santoro's.
Vincenzo felt a cold breeze in his spine and smelt her even before she arrived. She had an aura so powerful it could move even the strongest of men. He turned to catch a glimpse of her face but frowned when he saw Roy holding her hands.
He couldn't believe she had brought him as a date. How far was she willing to go in pissing him off? The waiter came with the wine and presented it to them.
"Just drop it and leave," Viola hissed, pissed at the audacity of Maria to make such an entrance.
She could not believe her eyes. The girl looked exactly like Gisela. As if it wasn't enough that she had to deal with that woman in her youth, now she had to deal with her replica in her old age.
Maria's eyes never left the Santoro's as she walked towards them.
She wanted to see every one of their reactions. She gloated at her ability to rile them up. However, she paused when her eyes landed on someone else. Her feet were glued to the ground and refused to move.
Roy stopped to ask her what was wrong, but she seemed to be in another world of hers. Vincenzo watched her eyes turn from glee to shock and pain. He followed the direction of her gaze and saw it rest on the waiter that had just served them.
He wondered what it was about the young man that had her reacting this way. Maria's mind was in turmoil. All sorts of thoughts ran through it but most consistent was the picture of her brother.
"There is no way in hell it's him," she thought as she stared at the man who bore a striking resemblance to her brother.
"Marco?" She called out softly until she felt a hand on her shoulder that brought her out of her thoughts.
Turning, she saw Roy staring confused at her. It finally dawned on her where she was and what her fleeting moment of weakness may have caused her. She hoped her little display went unnoticed but wasn't lucky as she was immediately called out.
"Take off your heart, Maria Caruso. The jig is up. We all know it's you," Viola said. Maria counted to ten in her mind. She needed to control her emotions if she was going to survive this dinner. Smiling, she slowly took off her hat with a graciousness that looked second nature to her.
"Stand down for now. I would love to have dinner with old enemies," she ordered her bodyguards. Placing her hands on Roy's, they proceeded to the table.
"Forgive the little display. It is only fair I double-check the venue considering our history," she said, her eyes dancing with mischief.
"We're glad you honored our request, Maria," Pietro said, unable to take his eyes off her. She looked exactly like the woman he loved. He didn't know why but it made him want to protect her instead of how he had failed to protect her mother.
"You don't need to apologize, darling. Courtesy is not a strong character of the Caruso's anyway," Viola replied.
"Of course, you would know a lot about the Caruso's. Old age looks good on you, Viola," Maria said, pouring herself a glass of champagne.
Viola looked like she was seconded close to ripping Maria's throat out. She tried to compose herself, but she was running out of patience. And patience was not a virtue she possessed.
"Again, I apologize for my manners," Maria said, dropping her glass. "This is Roy Hudson Steel. I'm sure your son is familiar with him," she said, turning to Vincenzo for the first time tonight.
Their eyes met, and they both tried to read each other. Maria wondered what was behind the facade of nonchalance he put up. If he was mad that she had brought Roy along, he didn't show it. On the other hand, Vincenzo wondered if she was calm and collected as she looked.
He could bet that behind the mask she put up, she was scared. Her little moment of weakness also gave him all the insight he needed.
"Roy," Vincenzo said, turning to him.
"Vincenzo," Roy returned and smiled in the typical Roy fashion.
"Now we've all been introduced, let's order. I'm starved," Maria said. She hoped the man she could swear was her brother would come around again, but this time, another person was sent to serve them. Vincenzo caught the disappointment in her eyes and noted it.
"You do know we have a business to discuss, right?" Viola asked after the food was served.
"Well, the business can wait till after our meal, right, Mr. Santoro?" Maria asked, unsettling the man. She had noticed his unease ever since she walked in. It couldn't be easy for him to see the face of the woman he fumbled sitting directly opposite him. She found her loophole.
"Absolutely," he replied, taking a bite of his food. Viola seethed. She couldn't believe that even the offspring of Gisela had her family smitten. She was disgusted by everything, and it only infuriated her the more.
"I see where you get your character from, Vince. It's not from your dad," Roy exclaimed typically. Maria stiffed a laugh as she watched Viola's eyes grow in anger.
"Surely you did not come to insult me, Roy," Vincenzo warned dangerously.
"Of course not. Except you're saying having your mother's character is an insult," he replied.
Vincenzo dragged his chair to stand, but his father stopped him. Maria watched, enjoying every bit of the drama. She was so glad she had followed her instincts and invited Roy. He was unhinged and the perfect fit to deal with the Santoro.
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