"That's a great news, Chloe."
I said and there was a big grin on her mouth.
"I should call Enzo, first."
I said and Cloe handed me the cordless phone, she was holding. But I kept it back on it's place because I wanted to call him from my personal number and for some reason it fascinated me to talk to him on phone, with my personal number. Crazy, wasn't I? I took out my phone from my handbag and was about to call him when the door flew open and Enzo's tall, muscular, beautiful body walked in. There was this formal look on his face which made him look all the more gorgeous. I pushed the thoughts aside. He was only my boss, in a way as he was letting me handle his hotel, nothing else... Right?
He looked at me and said,
"Congratulations on your first big achievement."
He said and smiled. This time the smile reached his eyes that meant he was genuinely happy.
"Well, our achievement."
I corrected him and he chuckled.
"You have make arrangements for their stay and our meeting with Benjamin. Best of luck for that."
He said and suddenly I felt responsible, now everything depended on my work and the arrangement I make for Benjamin Williams. The better the arrangement,the better our bond will be. Although I wasn't why he was visiting Milan and for how long would he stay but everything should be according to what he likes.
"Make sure the biggest suite of the hotel remains vacant for Williams and I would like you to personally research on likes and dislikes of Benjamin."
I ordered to Chloe and she scheduled it on the tablet device she was carrying. And when she was done she beamed at me.
"I'll talk to Benjamin's manager and arrange for our meeting."
I told her and she left with a nod. I decided to talk to them tomorrow and before that I needed to know about how Benjamin liked everything around him. I typed his name on a search engine and soon the home page filled with websites containing his interviews or articles along with his photographs. Seeing him, one can tell he was in his mid fifties and his once muscular figure was now shaped into a saggy skinned body but he wasn't fat. Maybe he still kept check on his exercising and diet and for that I would have to make arrangements in gym and consult our best nutritionist to pay extra attention to Williams's food.
After reading a few articles about him, I came to the conclusion, he was no different than the rest mafia men and was cruel in a twisted way and it wouldn't be possible for me to handle him without taking help of Enzo. Benjamin said in many interviews, which I read, he doesn't trust women race, they are mere deceptive creatures for him and that was the reason he left his wife after generating an offspring out of her. Disgusting, right? But I have heard enough of these kind of things that I don't get shocked easily. He would have hated me after knowing how I escaped my husband on my wedding night, even if he knew the whole story, then why was he interested in shaking hands with us. He clearly knew that staying at our hotel would mean that he is interested to become friends with us. That's how things worked here.
After a long day at work, I finally decided to call it off but I didn't want to go back to Enzo's house just yet. I was bored and wanted to just see around. I was in the beautiful city of Milan and the only things I saw yet were, Enzo's big apartment, The Rexivo Oriental and the neon nights. Well, I would never wanna visit the last place again. Chloe entered the room with her tablet and same professional look on her face. Doesn't she gets bored of maintaining those expressions?
"You are familiar with the city, right? Can you show me around?"
I asked her without even thinking but I wasn't sure if she would like the idea or not.
"Yeah sure, what kind of place would you like to see?"
She asked with a smile which wasn't formal but genuine. The sun was about to set and we would not be able to sight seeing, today but I really wished to go out and have fun with a girl of my age, who didn't fake her smile.
"It's soon going to be dark outside, we won't be able to go sightseeing . How about we go to a good place and have dinner, I am really tired of eating dinner alone everyday."
Even I had to eat lunch alone, in my office.
"What about Sir Enzo, doesn't he eats with you?"
She asked and then suddenly her expressions changed. I know she was cursing herself mentally for asking this. Maybe she read the newspaper, too to think I and Enzo had any other relation other than business. She was certainly wrong but that wasn't her fault.
"See it's not like what people think and talk about me and Enzo on our back. We are only business related and Enzo is helping me out because of his own reasons and I am staging at his side because of my reasons, we both are selfish in our ways."
I told her with a smile but she was still tensed.
"I'm so sorry ma'am. I didn't mean that."
She apologized.
"I know, Chloe and it really is OK. You are one of the few people I can trust here and you can call me Valerie."
I said and she smiled.
"Thanks ma'am...I mean Valerie."
She said and we both giggled.
"What would you like to eat?"
She asked, searching her tab.
"I would like to have some sea food but we won't get any reservations at this hour."
I told her and she gave me a raised eyebrow look.
"Oh yes Enzo's name will do."
I said and chuckled.
"No, your name will do."
She said and winked and reserved us seats on her tab. It felt good and powerful that I no more had to use Enzo's name. But not to forget, all these was happening because of him only. We both winded up the files kept on the table. Chloe handed me file on Benjamin Williams, which she prepared after researching on him. What a quick work! This was so impressed.
"Good work, Chloe."
I told her and she beamed at me.
The file contained everything about Benjamin, how he liked things around him and what tastes and preferences he had, including his diet plans. Being famous reveals everything about you. Nothing remains private, once the trail of fame follow you. After we were done, we decided to leave for our dinner.
"We can take our car, Duke will drive is over there."
I suggested as we walked out of the elevator in the underground parking spot and I knew Enzo wouldn't like it if I left somewhere without him or Duke.
"Yeah, OK. But if we get late, what about my car, how would I take it back?"
Chloe questioned and she was right. She couldn't leave her car here.I called for Duke and after a few minutes, his tall, muscular figure walked out of elevator. He stood stuff in front of me.
"I and Chloe have plans for dinner tonight. She can't leave her car here, so I will go with her. You can drive our car along."
I said and in that way our problems would be solved.
"Okay, but I will drive right behind you."
He said and I nodded then headed towards Chloe's car. I sat on the passenger seat and she drove us to the restaurant. The city was bright and stunning, the talk buildings and the hotels were magnificent. After the drive of twenty minutes, she stopped the car in front of an enthralling building. It was so beautiful and exquisitely decorated. But the Rexivo's dining places were much more luxurious and beautiful.
"This place is good."
I told Chloe while the aroma of delicious sea food filled my nose and I was taken by it. Duke walked right behind us, and the girls were all looking at him. Yes, he was hot but not more than Enzo. The manager approached us and after greeting me, he took us upstairs to our reserved seats. It was a VIP area with only few tables along and most of them were vacant. We took our seats and after going through the menu, we ordered some, oysters, crabs and fishes. We talked about some stuffs until our order came. The waitress walked towards us and as she came closer, I could see the tall, muscular figure walking behind her.
Enzo took a seat beside me and across Duke. Chloe and I watched him in utter shock, as he didn't even cared to explain his sudden appearance and even Duke was calm on his seat. After settling down, he looked at my bewildered face and smiled."Would you bother to explain your sudden appearance?"I questioned."I called Duke to check on everything, he told me you were planning to dine here, so I came to join you."Enzo answered."What about Genoa? You didn't you go there today?"I asked."No, Valerie I don't go there everyday. I have businesses to attend in Milan too."He said simply and that's when I realised he must also have his illegal businesses going on in here. The waitress served us food and I was happy that Enzo joined us for dinner but I was cursing Duke in my mind for telling everything to Enzo. Of course, Enzo cared for me for
"Can you ever stop surprising me?"I asked with a laugh and Enzo smirked."No."He simply said and motioned to move towards the restaurant. I followed him and so did Chloe and Duke. It was becoming a nice routine to hang out with them.The restaurant was comparatively smaller from the ones I have been to. But the place was decorated in a very artistic way without much expenditure. We settled on a simple booth. The waitress took our orders and I ordered more food than others. I was a shameless foodie."All preparations done for Benjamin?"Enzo asked."Almost."I replied in a low voice, not wanting to extend the topic. Enzo, sensed it and turned to Duke to talk about business. They talked till our food came and it took a long time, their servicing wasn't much appealing but the aroma of the food made me forget about that and I o
Enzo and Duke performed as a good team and it didn't take them much time, finishing off half of Alantino's men. Even I hadn't expected that, I thought the night was gonna be end of us, it wasn't like, I didn't trust Enzo's strength but one could never underestimate Alantino too."Do you think, we can help them in anyway?"Chloe asked me."You think?"I said, gazing at the direction of those tall and muscular men. We wouldn't stand even a second."But we have to do something, we can't let them fight. They are so many and Enzo and Duke are gonna get tired up soon. We can't wait for that moment."Chloe stated as a matter of fact. She was right we couldn't just stand there and wait for men to complete their fighting. I was thinking of calling in the hotel to ask them to send more men when a car reached the spot and all of us were confused because, no-one took their ass
"Why don't you face it? Why do you always run away from it?"I finally asked him, I couldn't take this anymore. He always pretended like he was an emotionless monster without feelings. But at times, when I sneaked through his cold mask, he wasn't what he pretended to be. He was a different Enzo, who cared for people, he was ought to protect and sometimes even nervous, when things weren't going well for him. He declined to show this, but I have been close to him, enough to know about actual Enzo. I think that's why he preferred to live alone. He was afraid that people might know that he was capable to feel. But he didn't have to pretend that he was emotionless, just to show the world. He was still Enzo, the treacherous capo of southern Italy and a man who was capable of being a gentleman and a ruthless capo as well."What are you talking about?"He asked but he knew what I meant."Why are you afraid of sh
I went to my office and as usual Chloe was sitting on the couch, taking sips of coffee from her cup and working on her tab at the same time."Hey, good morning."I said and she realised my presence."Good morning, how are you?"She asked with a concerned face, yesterday's event has taken a deep impact in her as well,but I wanted to tell her it was okay and it happens in the mob world, but she wasn't one of us and the thought would make her even more petrified."I'm good. Are you okay?"I asked."Yeah, but when you were late I thought you wouldn't come, today."She admitted with nervousness, she was too innocent to understand all this."I am alright,Chloe. You don't have to panic, incidents like this are not gonna stop me from working."I stated and she looked convinced.
"Are you out of your senses? What the heck are you talking about. And how do you know so much about me? Do you have a death wish?"I shouted fiercely at him. Who did he think, he was ? Bloody teenage boy, showing me tantrums."Shut your mouth up, Valerie Monaro. You must really not know, who I am or else you wouldn't dare to talk to me in that loud tone of yours."He yelled back and anger shone in his dark eyes, they were identical. I have seen them before, but with some wrinkles around. What the heck? Why did his facial features resembles Benjamin Williams. Could he possibly be...."Yes, Valerie Monaro, you are right. I am Warrick Williams,the only son of Benjamin Williams."He said as if reading my mind, a proud smile covering his face. As if it is was something to be proud of! I've read his name in few articles of Benjamin, but his photo wasn't shown in any of them, so I didn't knew h
"I don't want to tell him, but I don't have any other choice either. He will eventually get to know.If I won't tell him then Benjamin might talk about that stuff with him."I told Chloe and she nodded in agreement."Yeah, I get it."She said and we went back to working. The rest of the day was quiet and passed peacefully as I were so consumed in working. I didn't realise it was already half an hour past seven and I usually left for home at seven. I closed the files and arranged them in order."Are you done?"I asked as I saw Chloe still engaged with her small office on her hands, well, I guess that could be even called her small world because she barely did anything else than working on her tablet. From arranging meetings to reserving seats for dining, she did it all on her fingertips. It was cool but she was too lost to have some actual fun which girls in her age did. Well, we were of same ag
The waitress appeared with our orders and we enjoyed the meal. I was having good time with Chloe and Duke but I wished Enzo was here, too. His work was obviously much more important than me, what am I wishing for?"That's non-vegetarian."Duke nearly shouted making me come out of my thoughts as I saw Chloe was taking a slice of pizza kept in the center of the table."Yeah, I ordered non-vegetarian pizzas. Is it not good?"I asked seeing Chloe conflicting in her mind as she placed back the slice."No, it's good but I was just warning her."Duke said simply."Warning?"I didn't know, what they were talking about."Yep I am a vegan and meat doesn't suit my body. I am allergic to non-vegetarian food."She told me and I nodded, taking in the situation. But how come Duke know about it?
"You should be sleeping now, you already had alcohol and I remember you refused to have champagne in your wedding, saying, you don't consume any alcoholic thing. When did you start drinking alcohol?"She asked in a solemn tone. She was worried at my situation, I wondered how pathetic I must have looked for her to be this concerned for my alcohol consumption."I still don't usually drink alcohol, this was the second time I did."I told her and a realisation struck her as her expression changed and gave me an encouraging smile."You've been through a lot Valerie but you must choose your ways wisely. Alcohol will only make ugh distracted from your goals and attracted to it."She explained to me as she helped me wipe my makeup off and undo my hairs."Mrs Russo... ""Mom*"She corrected me."Yes, mom, do you suppo
"You should be sleeping now, you already had alcohol and I remember you refused to have champagne in your wedding, saying, you don't consume any alcoholic thing. When did you start drinking alcohol?"She asked in a solemn tone. She was worried at my situation, I wondered how pathetic I must have looked for her to be this concerned for my alcohol consumption."I still don't usually drink alcohol, this was the second time I did."I told her and a realisation struck her as her expression changed and gave me an encouraging smile."You've been through a lot Valerie but you must choose your ways wisely. Alcohol will only make ugh distracted from your goals and attracted to it."She explained to me as she helped me wipe my makeup off and undo my hairs."Mrs Russo... ""Mom*"She corrected me."Yes, mom, do you suppo
Mrs Russo helped me reach my home and I was feeling much better in the silence. She put her hand on my head and smoothened my hairs. Then gently sat beside me on the bed."Are you okay Valerie?"She asked gently with a motherly love, that I almost felt like hugging her and crying all my problems out. The void was so filled with depression. I was tired of all this, I didn't want to fight anymore but I couldn't even step back now. How many things would I have deal to survive in this world? I wanted to live not just survive."Not really."I answered in a hushed tone. I wasn't sure what to say, to tell her his son was the ultimate reason of all my suffering? Or should I tell her that her husband was the worst man I've ever seen? I couldn't, she was being nice to me and I couldn't take that for granted. I know she could only help me till she saw no threat in me but if I started making her familiar with my rea
Mrs Russo helped me reach my home and I was feeling much better in the silence. She put her hand on my head and smoothened my hairs. Then gently sat beside me on the bed."Are you okay Valerie?"She asked gently with a motherly love, that I almost felt like hugging her and crying all my problems out. The void was so filled with depression. I was tired of all this, I didn't want to fight anymore but I couldn't even step back now. How many things would I have deal to survive in this world? I wanted to live not just survive."Not really."I answered in a hushed tone. I wasn't sure what to say, to tell her his son was the ultimate reason of all my suffering? Or should I tell her that her husband was the worst man I've ever seen? I couldn't, she was being nice to me and I couldn't take that for granted. I know she could only help me till she saw no threat in me but if I started making her familiar with my rea
"What are you doing Alantino? He's the son of one of our underbosses."Mr Russo reminded him but his expressions remained same. Deadly."He dared to touch Valerie."He said in a voice that would make anyone tremble out of fear and many of the people gathered around dance floor were already frightened. No-one would want to get their name associated with what that guy had been doing with me. And I could see many of them had already made a distance from me."That doesn't mean you'll beat him to death."Said Mr Russo as he gave a disgusted look towards the man lying on the floor drenched in blood. Then another disgusted look at my way."What did he exactly do?"He asked me and was he fucking kidding me, by asking me in what way did the man harass me, in front of everyone?"What did he do Valerie?"He asked again
"You look fabulous, Valerie!"Complimented Mrs Russo, who herself looked epitome of charisma. She always managed to look so effortlessly beautiful, she had a great sense in fashion."You look stunning! "I couldn't stop myself from complimenting her, she looked so gorgeous."Should we have something to drink, dear?"She asked and I knew her drink meant having to join other ladies, wives of mafia men."Yeah sure."I said despite the urge of not wanting to face those trophy wives who had poor ideologies of a lady and I certainly did not wanted to be their next target to have tea about. But then, Mrs Russo was the only person that would be easy to go with and I couldn't possibly be alone throughout the whole party.Mrs Russo directed me towards a group of ladies siting around the table, drinking and laughing and gossiping... Unt
we went inside the hotel and to the hall where party was meant to be."whose party is this?"I asked trying to know about the people I was surrounded with."It's the eighteenth birthday party of the only daughter of our enforcer."Alantino answered."Do mafia people even celebrate birthday of their daughters? I thought the only celebration for them was the induction day of their sons."I said the bitter truth of our world."True but our enforcer seem to love her daughter and he is not the only one who feels that way, there are many fathers in our world too who loves their daughters, sometimes more than their sons."His words made me think about a men that I have came across who loved his daughter as Alantino was saying, but I couldn't even remember of a single man with that quality. Daughters were only raised with luxury so that in future they can b
we went inside the hotel and to the hall where party was meant to be."whose party is this?"I asked trying to know about the people I was surrounded with."It's the eighteenth birthday party of the only daughter of our enforcer."Alantino answered."Do mafia people even celebrate birthday of their daughters? I thought the only celebration for them was the induction day of their sons."I said the bitter truth of our world."True but our enforcer seem to love her daughter and he is not the only one who feels that way, there are many fathers in our world too who loves their daughters, sometimes more than their sons."His words made me think about a men that I have came across who loved his daughter as Alantino was saying, but I couldn't even remember of a single man with that quality. Daughters were only raised with luxury so that in future they can b
we went inside the hotel and to the hall where party was meant to be."whose party is this?"I asked trying to know about the people I was surrounded with."It's the eighteenth birthday party of the only daughter of our enforcer."Alantino answered."Do mafia people even celebrate birthday of their daughters? I thought the only celebration for them was the induction day of their sons."I said the bitter truth of our world."True but our enforcer seem to love her daughter and he is not the only one who feels that way, there are many fathers in our world too who loves their daughters, sometimes more than their sons."His words made me think about a men that I have came across who loved his daughter as Alantino was saying, but I couldn't even remember of a single man with that quality. Daughters were only raised with luxury so that in future they can b