[ Arielle ]I took countless pictures of the vineyard, sky, birds and mine. It took me by surprise that Vincent quietly handed his phone to me and stayed behind when I ventured freely in the vineyard and clicked many pictures. I was taking my selfie when I caught him staring at me. He was leaning on a poll.“Vincent, please let me take a picture with you.” I requested him.“I am fine here, Arielle and if you have taken enough pictures, give back my phone.” He said with a bored expression. I pouted and walked to where he was standing.“One picture won’t hurt you, Vincent.” I said and blinked my eyes.“What’s the use of our picture?” He asked me with a raised brow and I won’t lie, it hurt me.I lowered my eyes and shook my head, “It’s okay. Here’s your phone. Thank you for letting me use it.” I stretched out my hand to give his phone back.He took it from me without saying a word. I turned my back to him and started exploring the vineyard, the workers were excited to have us there, they
[ Vincent ]I thought I just broke her heart. I must feel satisfied when I made an attempt to take the gleam of hopes from her blue eyes. I should celebrate my victory as she would hate me more because I just told her the cruelest truth that I kept hidden from her after I let her paint her dreams. I waited patiently for her to complete what brought a genuine smile on her face.Then why was I not feeling good?“You have Adrian here at the estate as your prisoner?” She asked me, for the first time her face wasn’t readable.“I can’t put it like this. We don’t treat our prisoners but yes, I have kept your brother under strict observation, even a fly can’t pass through his security, he won’t be able to escape because I fear he’ll find a possible ally in one of my cousins who wants to dethrone me.” I said the plain truth with no filter.“I think he’s safer here. I believe you’ll teach him some good lessons, if not, at least he won’t be able to create more problems for Alexander or someone e
[ Arielle ]“I can’t believe I’ll be living to see this day, dear brother.” I crossed my arms and saw my brother glaring at me, he was sitting behind a glass wall which separated us. He’d not hurt us because there were more than two dozens armed guards on both sides.“It is your sick scheme to get your revenge, right?” Adrian sneered at me like a pissed off cat.“I am not like you, Adrian. Your father dearest made the deal with my husband. You should be feeling grateful to him that he spared your life and from where I can see, you’re living a much better life than mine at our father’s home. I can’t see a single scratch on your body. Do you really think Nikolai would show mercy on you?” I arched my brow at him, I challenged him to answer me.“I never asked father to beat you. It used to be your faults which led you in trouble and get punished.” He defended himself and right in that moment, I wanted to smash his pretty face.“Right, it was always my mistake. I deserved to be beaten like
[ Arielle ]“I heard from Marcello that you gave an earful to your brother, is it true?” Vincent, who was silently eating his food asked me when I was also tangled in my thoughts.“Yeah, kind of. I feel light now though I wanted to punch his face badly but I guess you have promised my father to keep his son unscratched so I didn’t want to give you unnecessary headache.” I replied and sipped the fruity wine.“A small can be fixed over the time. You could beat him if you wished, I’d not stop you because you have the right to kill him. He is a scumbag at such a young age.” He said with bitterness in his tone.“How was your meeting with your cousin?” I asked him, I didn’t want to discuss disturbing matters over the dinner table when I can use the time that he gives me to know him better.“He’s the Adrian Wilson of my family so you can imagine how stressful it is for me to deal with him. I received information of trespassing of Irish ships from our route and he’s the one who handles the sa
[ Arielle ]I don’t realize when I slept while crying my eyes out. All the happiness that I felt in the day, those blissful moments, they were blurred by the harsh rejection I received from Vincent. I don’t know what was the deal with him, he treated me like a trash. When I woke up next day, my whole body was aching due to sleeping on the floor. It was carpeted which saved me from freezing.I looked at my face in the bathroom mirror, my eyes were puffy and veins were visible due to crying for hours.“What were you thinking, Arielle? Vincent will accept you and give you a princess treatment? Wake up and live in the reality. You were always unwanted, an abomination and you’ll die like this. So, don’t dream for love and care.” I mocked myself looking at my reflection in the mirror.I cleaned my face and had a long shower. The last thing I wanted was to face Vincent if he was still present in the house. I changed into comfortable jeans and loose top. I didn’t want to live according to the
[ Arielle ]After the earth shattering revelation, which gave me a glimpse of Vincent’s life. He lost someone who was very close to him.Who was the person?A family member, a friend or a woman…?I tried to shrug off the queer feeling which sprouted in my heart when I thought about a woman whom Vincent gave an important place in his life. Perhaps, her cruel end turned him into a heartless person. He isn’t ready to give me a chance because he had seen his love getting stabbed to death in front of his eyes.I groaned as these conflicting assumptions kept stirring in my mind. I couldn’t find mental peace. I have to see Vincent. I know it’d be a suicidal attempt. He has gone mad but if I don’t try, he will never allow me to be a part of his life.Throughout the day, I kept waiting for him. I also skipped my lunch because I was worried for him. I had no means of communication to talk to him or know about his whereabouts.“Ma’am, should I bring your dinner now? It’s eight in the night. You
[ Arielle ]His lips were moving smoothly against mine while his hands roamed on my back, it sent a sensual wave down my spine. My hands were paralyzed, I couldn’t process what just happened, was he kissing me in real or it was another hallucination.“Fuck! I don’t know how long will I be able to hold myself back?” He cursed against my lips then I realized, he actually kissed me. I had his taste in my mouth and this closeness, it was very intimate and ignited a new flame inside me.“Holding yourself back from what?” I asked him, even though my breath ditched my lungs.His grey eyes pierced through my soul and his hands moved southward and rested on my butts. My pupils dilated, no man had ever touched me there.“From not having you, Principessa.” He said huskily, he wasn’t much drunk but the way his eyes changed their colours from grey to dark like stormy clouds, I gulped down.My legs were getting weak and my body was getting hot.Did he just say that he want me?“Wha…what do...you me
[ Arielle ]The kiss we were sharing in the moment was totally different from the one we shared on altar or the few kisses we shared recently. It was hunger, the way our mouth fought to prove each other the sincerity of our words, it felt surreal. His tongue swiped the insides of my mouth while his hands roamed on my thighs, his warm touches left burning sensation on my skin, his touches were like igniting the fire within me. Our eye contact never broke when he skilfully discarded my dress off my body and his eyes turned a shade darker when they scanned my almost naked body.The soft material of the satin sheets hit my back when he laid me down, I was shy as he was the first man to see me just in my inner wears.“Beautiful…pure and perfect.” He said in a heavy voice.I was too shy to look at him, even in the dim light and dark interior of the room, he seemed to dominate the little space and I willingly surrendered to him.“Look at me, Principessa because I am going to make you experie
[ Marcello ]I kept hitting the punching bag, sweat dripping down my face, my breathing heaved and body wanted to give up but I didn’t stop as my anger couldn’t sustain because the image of Ella being hurt by a man whom she trusted, it kept reminding me that I failed my promise to protect her. How she coiled in fear when I pulled that monster away from her, it kept paining me.“Capo, please stop.” Vincenzo tried to stop me for the multiple times but I didn’t hear him.Finally, the punching bag fell off and I was totally exhausted by the vigorous work out since the early morning. He quickly grabbed a towel and wiped my sweat but I took the towel from her and cleaned myself. He gave me a water bottle which I finished in a go.“Why are you punishing yourself, Capo? The man is under police’s custody and I assigned our best lawyers to represent Miss Ella in the court. He’ll receive a good sentence for God’s sake if we’re going to punish him in our way.” He said but I couldn’t find my menta
[ Ella ]Vincenzo dropped me off at my house. Lucy decided to stay with me. I told her to go home since she was equally shocked and terrified with the incident but she chose to stay with me. She said that she couldn’t leave me alone or she won’t be at ease. Rita went to the hospital, she didn’t want to go to see Adriano but Lucy told her as his parents and family live in Rome. He’s all alone here.“Ella, go and take a shower, I’ll prepare hot chocolate for you.” Lucy said to me and I dragged my half dead body to the bathroom.When I discarded my clothes, I saw bruises on my arms. Those hellish moments refreshed in my memories. Tears brimmed into my eyes. Adriano called me a whore, this word stung. If Adriano thinks that I am behind Marcello’s money then others must be thinking the same about me.I let the warm water soak me. The scars on my body will be healed in a few days but I don’t think the wounds on my mind and heart will ever be healed. People whom I loved and trusted, they bru
[ Ella ]“What are you saying, Adriano? I think we should talk tomorrow or when you’re sober enough to talk with a cooled mind.” I said to him when I sensed that he wasn’t in his right state of mind due to the effect of the alcohol.“Answer me now, Ella. I want to know what you feel for that man slayer.” He raised his voice.“Adriano, you’re crossing your line again. I told you not to mention Marcello again. It’s not your business what is my equation with him.” I said in a stern tone this time because he was hurting me mentally.“I get it. I should have seen it coming since that bastard started visiting us often.” He scoffed and laughed dryly which started scaring me because he was a totally different person from the man I know.“I am leaving, Adriano. We’ll talk tomorrow.” I said and about to leave but he grabbed my arm and pulled me back.“Adriano, what the hell is wrong with you? Leave my hand, you’re hurting me.” I yelled at him and tried to pry him off but his grip only tightened
[ Ella ]Marcello dropped me off at the café. I requested him to stop for a coffee and fresh buns but he denied saying he had a lot of work and he’d be occupied till the weekend. My heart sank when he left with only a formal goodbye. I am kind of habitual to his cheesy talks and flirting.I couldn’t concentrate on my work which was to bake fresh sets of cupcakes for a birthday party order. Rita was with me but I didn’t see Uncle Rio and Enzo. Aunt was on the counter. It was good at one side but my mental peace was gone.“Ella, a penny for your thoughts.” Rita eyed me and I shook my head. I am not someone who expresses herself easily unless it’s too heavy to bear alone.“Come on, my sweet little girl. I can tell by looking at your face. A certain someone has stolen your mental peace and….” She pointed her finger at my heart, “Heart, Ella. You are in love with Marcello Romano.” She yelled and my eyes widened because there were others in the kitchen.“Rita! Have you gone nuts?” I whisper
[ Ella ]Fuck!What did I do? I kissed Marcello Romano on the lips. What he must be thinking about me? I couldn’t resist myself when I heard him promising me everything that a lover can do for me. I know he likes me, he expresses his feelings for me now and often but I am not certain about my own feelings for him. Sometimes, they are too intense that I am not able to supress them just like the unexpected kiss and sometimes my brain questions my heart.I shouldn’t be harbouring such emotions which may hurt me in the future. Marcello is a great person who only showed his good side to me but I can’t ignore the fact that he’s a mafia. He may not use violence in front of my eyes but he’s a part of it. He’s tend to use violence, if it’s not me, then others, his enemies. His life is always in danger. I can’t shake the insecurity off.I didn’t recall when I fell asleep while thinking and debating about my present and hazy future. When I woke up next day, I felt recharged and ready to start my
[ Marcello ]The beauty in front of me, I have no words to praise her because no words in the dictionary can justify her beauty inside out. I am obsessed by her, her sweet scent, her smile and laugh like a music to my ears. This girl stood against storms in her life, fought them bravely and still stay positive about her future even though I am not happy with her decision to go away from the city.“Marcello, you can drop me here. I can walk from here.” Ella’s soft voice forced me to look at her. we drove mostly in silence. This time I had my security with me because I don’t want to take chance with her safety.“No, I’ll walk you to your house, it’s not very late but your safety is my responsibility.” I said, she nodded her head in agreement.We stepped out of my car. I gestured my bodyguards to follow us closely behind but don’t catch attention of her nosy neighbours. I don’t want any inconvenience for her which can solidify her desperation to move.“Thanks for a wonderful day, Marcell
[ Ella ]“Thank you once again for this memorable day trip, Marcello. I enjoyed every single second I spent at the De Niro’s property. I can’t believe that I am one of the few people who got the opportunity to live this dreamy life of one of the wealthiest families in the city.He smiled and poured more wine into my cup, “I can do much more for you, mon cheri. Just give me a chance.” He said. We were having our dinner at the estate.I was afraid at first when I saw hundreds of armed men guarding the estate at each corner. The security was unbreachable. I met his mother who is a very nice lady. I didn’t feel like an outsider and they definitely didn’t behave like dominating people.“You can drop me off at my house now. It’s getting dark and I don’t want my neighbours to gossip about my personal life. I bet you’re already a breaking news among them.“Are you not happy that most of your neighbours now think that we’re a thing between us?” He teased me and I immediately looked down at my
[ Ella ]“You shouldn’t come to my house unannounced. The entire neighbourhood was looking at you. I bet, it’ll be spread to the others by now. Those ladies were practically eye raping you, Marcello.” I said to him with rotten mood remembering how those women ogled at him as if he was a piece of meat.“Are you jealous that I am quite popular among the ladies of your neighbourhood?” He smirked and I coughed while sipping on my coconut water that I bought to keep myself hydrated. I am still not used to with the humidity of the place.“No, I am not jealous. Why would I be jealous? You’re not boyfriend or something like that.” I defended myself.“Touche, I am hurt by your bluntness, mon cheri.” He acted to wince and again focused on the road.“This place is beautiful. I have seen vineyards but never been to a private property before.” I said as I saw vineyards on both sides of the road, stretched far and wide. It was a picturesque view.“You have the golden chance to spend an entire day a
[ Marcello ]“What if I tell you that I like you? Will you still leave?”I asked her, it was a now or never question for me. After she shared her fears and her goals for her life, I understood her. I know how it feels to go through pain of losing your loved ones, I had gone through this dark phase myself. Sometimes, I also wanted to leave everything behind and start a new life but I could never really discard myself from this city and this life. Eventually, I found my peace in my work.“Mr. Romano, I don’t know how to answer this yet but we can certainly be friends.” She said.I felt a ache in my heart after hearing her answer. She doesn’t feel in the same way as I do. I was willing to give her everything she deserves, from safety to fulfilling her dreams. I’d give her a loving family. All that I wanted is her companionship because my feelings for her are getting intense day by day.“I think it’s quite late. I should be going now. Please, don’t hesitate to contact me if you need anyth