Vincenzo's POVMatteo and I decided to use the minor altercation with Roy as an excuse to leave the fundraising event but not before writing a cheque for the foundation. We drove silently, our thoughts both heavily occupied. I wondered if I was going crazy.The Maria I met tonight might have been the Maria I used to know. The proof was literally in the uncanny resemblance she shared with her birth mother. She had acted so snobbish and arrogant in my presence.Between us, there was only one person that should have worked that way. The pretty liar stole my prototype. I couldn't believe it had just hit me. I was busy fawning over how drop-dead gorgeous she was when I should have been demanding the return of my prototype.Shit!"Yeah, we're screwed, man," Matteo replied. I didn't know that aloud, but now I was curious to know what he meant with that declaration."Why's that?""Well, for starters, Maria doesn't look like a woman that easily folds. She barely even acknowledged you except to
Maria's POVFor the first time in a very long time, I slept peacefully. I didn't wake up before or by the sound of my alarm. I dreamt, but it wasn't a nightmare. It was about an alternate universe where I was thrilled. My family was alive and healthy, and I was in love. I woke up every day with cuddles, kisses, and breakfast.It was beautiful and peaceful. The face of the man that made all these possible was unclear, but his scent stuck even after I awoke. He smelled of hope and serenity mixed with fire and wicked passion.I couldn't recall where I perceived that smell before. It didn't need to, though. I was just glad I had that dream. I got up from my bed and checked the time, ten o'clock.I had slept. I proceeded to the bathroom to brush and take a bath. My mind kept on trying to make me remember something. I fought back, trying to enjoy this peace. I couldn't remember the last time I felt this peaceful, and I don't know why. I raised my head and caught my reflection in the mirror.
Ursula and Zia discussed their plans for the day over a glass of wine in the car as they took off for their girl's day trip. Zia had allowed Ursula to doll her up after the latter refused to take no for an answer. It was typical of Ursula, though. She was never the one to relent."What do you think we should get first?" Ursula asked, ecstatic. This would be the first time she would be touring Milan, and she was glad it was with the beautiful Zia Benedetta.Maria promised to show her around, but she understood how busy her friend was. She would never put her needs above something as crucial as Maria's mission, so she was glad Zia was available to go with her."I say food first. We do need our strength if we're going around the city.""Do you have any ideas?" Ursula asked, her mouth-watering already. So far, every meal she had eaten banged. She wanted to taste more and more. She couldn't get enough of it."There's this local espresso bar just around the corner, and I think it'll do.""Y
Matteo couldn't believe his eyes when he turned around. When Vincenzo had ordered him to pursue and seduce a German princess and best friend of Maria's called Ursula, he had imagined some plain Jane who had nothing exciting going on in her life, so decided to follow her best friend to another country.When he had entered the boutique and sighted her from afar, his thoughts changed a little as he watched her change from one dress to the other. But seeing her up close and personal now, she took his breath away. She was stunning."I did not ask you to pay for my dress," Ursula said, finally finding her speech again.In an alternate universe where nothing was a threat to Maria's life, and everything was all good and friendly, she would have ditched the sweet Zia and taken the chance of a one-night stand with this stranger.Yes, he was that sexy. She felt like all Italian men were made on the Lord's favorite day. However, she lived in a real world where a stranger stalking and paying for h
VINCENZO'S POVI got to the office before anyone hell-bent on solving the mystery of the stolen prototype. Matteo had filled me in on his run-in with the princess. That was already looking like a dead end. I didn't want him to be persistent. It'll only appear suspicious, so I told him to halt the plan for a while. He was still very much mad at me. I even offered for him to crash at my place, which was his favorite thing to do, but he turned me down.I would have to come up with something extraordinary if I was ever going to get Matteo to stop being mad at me. I walked into the boardroom thinking back to the day I displayed the prototype to everyone. I tried to recall everyone present at that presentation.I had ruled Priscilla out already. I didn't think she was stupid enough to cross me like that. Matteo may be mad at me now, but he would always be loyal.Esteban and Lilly had been with me forever. It didn't mean they couldn't betray me, but I doubted it was them. Mr. Hudson Steel w
MARIA'S POV"You could maybe repaint the walls since you're looking for a total renovation," Ursula said. We were currently drawing plans to renovate my father's home office. I couldn't bring myself to do it all this time till now. Every time I thought of renovating it, I broke down in tears. Coming back to Italy was like opening afresh an injury that was in the process of healing. It was a month already, and things were still a bit shaky. I finally gathered enough courage to do it. I was going to make it to my office now. However, I wouldn't rid it of my parent's presence.It was only a matter of time before I began to think of ways to revive the legacy that is my father's company. If there's anything I am grateful for the duchess for, it is the way she drilled business sense in me. She managed to maneuver over five companies, and they were all successful.I'm not trying to brag, but I've preserved her legacy. I was going to do the same for my parents."I was thinking black," I sa
Maria's POV"You should wear the mauve suit and dress it up with Tiffany diamonds," Ursula said. I was preparing for dinner with the Santoro's, and everything was coming out nicely."Maybe," I replied. I secretly thanked Lord Ursula for always being present to pick my outfits. When she insisted I got a walk-in closet, I looked at her like she had gone mad.Simply because I didn't expect I'd be required to wear lots of outfits. Alas! She was right. It did come in handy."However, I would have loved to go for black. And listen before you crucify me. I think it goes well with the theme of the night.""And what would this theme be?""Maria C. Delvey or Caruso, if you please, in her very essence," I replied, trying to pull off Ursula's dramatic effect. I composed myself when I saw how ridiculous I looked."Fine. But you're wearing the pink shoes," she said, handing them to me."Absolutely," I replied."So, what are your plans for the night," she asked while fixing my hair."I want to play
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 ready 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 i
Ursula finished her story, and they all were in awe."Are you in love with him now?" Zia asked. Maria and Ursula looked at themselves and burst into laughter."Oh, common Zia, am I twelve?" She jested."Well, love at first sight does exist," Zia said, and Ursula caught on to that same dreamy voice she had used the other day at the cathedral."Zia, is there something you want to share?" Maria went along with the teasing. They both stared deeply at Zia with mischievous smiles playing on their faces."Stop it, you girls. We're talking about Ursula now," she blushed."Zia Benedetta, one day, we will force you to tell us about your secret lover," Ursula said and laughed."What about you, Maria? Have you ever been in love?" Zia asked."Love," she repeated like it was the strangest word she had ever heard. Just then, Maria's phone rang, successfully taking her out of a tricky spot."Who could be calling me at this time?" she complained. She hissed when she saw the ID pop on the screen."Who
She couldn't react fast enough as he scooped the juices that clung to her mouth and licked it, his eyes never leaving hers. She didn't know if it was his boldness doing something so sensual in public without care if her driver or his mother was watching or how he was looking at her like he wanted to ravish her, but Ursula was well and truly undone. She desired to know who this bodacious man was. "Stop playing with food and attend to the customers," his mother scolded, coming out from the kitchen. The spell was broken, and his perfectly mischievous smile came in place. She wanted to ask for his name so badly since he knew hers already, but she didn't want his mother to look at her a certain way. The food was ready and handed to them. In no time, customers filled the stall. He became preoccupied and didn't even spare a glance at her. Ursula felt disappointment consume her, and she shook her head violently as if it were some physical force she could ward off. "Do you think we could
Ursula felt suffocated, so she exited the house to get her head together. The only way Ursula knew how to do it was through shopping. Zia Benedetta was busy so she couldn't come with her. Maria locked herself in her room since the confrontation with the crazy Viola and refused to come out. Everything was getting too intense for her, and she just needed to press pause for a minute. She needs time to calm down her nerves, or else our next step might cause havoc.They drove past an ice cream shop, and she begged him to stop. It had been quite a while since she indulged herself in sweet treats. Ursula needs some sweetness to kill the bitterness of the sight of that wrench Viola Santoro.Another thing that caught her attention when she came down was the small building that sold the most interesting-looking food she had come across in her short stay in Milan. She made her mental note to taste that roadside food after her quick stop for some Ice cream."Common, let's go take some ice cream,
Maria's POV"Aghhhh!" I screamed and smashed my phone on the wall. Damn, Vincenzo! I thought to myself. It wasn't just his words that made my toes curl in disgust, but also how he said them. He wanted to hurt me. Have they not hurt me enough? At what point does that family stop and say it's okay? 'Why do they keep hurting me!' I raged and began to smash everything in sight. Ursula must have heard from her room because she panicked into mine."What is going on, Maria?" She looked at me in fear."I am going to kill Vincenzo! I will do it with my bare hands," I replied."What is it again?" she stood before me, stopping me from damaging my mirror. "Wait, does this have something to do with social media's trending topic? Did you perhaps have something to do with that?" She asked. I could hear the panic in her voice. I wondered if she was disappointed in me."Yes, I did," I announced proudly. Her face fell, and she shook her head as if it were a dream. "Marie, I would slap some sense
Vincenzo led Matteo to the room where he kept Marco. At the room entrance were two hefty men, obviously to keep watch of the man. They bowed slightly as Vincenzo and Matteo approached the door and allowed them to enter. Matteo looked around, taking in the environment where what might be their most prized possession was being hosted. It was a large room with a bathroom and barely any furnishing: just a large bed and a table stand. The captive was looking out the window when they came in. Not even the sound of footsteps approaching was enough to get his attention."Well, that's him," Vincenzo pointed to the tall, skinny man. Matteo wished he would turn around to get a better view of him. Unfortunately, the man looked adamant about remaining in that position. "He's not much of a talker or a looker, I guess," Matteo replied Dryly, Vincenzo shrugged, short of words. "Why did you take me?" A strange voice suddenly asked. It took the duo a while to notice it was coming from Marco. Weir
Matteo walked into Perini Navi as a force of habit rather than enthusiastically. He had taken a break from work because of Vincenzo and his many shenanigans. However, he is doing much better now. Vincenzo's selfishness no longer annoyed him, and the thoughts of the sharp-tongued princess trumped it. Ursula.He tested her name in his mouth, and it came out nicely. The image of a furious woman flashed before his eyes, making him chuckle slightly. The mere thought of seeing her again made him smile. He almost wanted to try to run into her on purpose, coincidentally. He walked into the reception and contemplated between visiting Vincenzo's office and the workshop. He was going for the former when a loud noise stopped him. It was coming from the direction of the workshop. He strained his ears to hear, realizing he was the only one present at the reception. He followed the sound of the noise, which led him to the path of their workshop. Stepping out, he met a chaotic scene. Uniform men
MARIA'S POVMy bodyguard led me into the house. Ursula and Zia watched their favorite telenovela in the living room when I arrived. I tried. I tried to look like everything was fine, but seeing them, my resolve shattered. They ran to me when they saw how much I was shivering. They didn't say anything but only hugged me."I lost him," I struggled to say, but they did not understand me. I don't remember how, but the next thing I knew, I was immersed in the bathtub.Zia Benedetta turned on the warm water, letting it cleanse me. I don't know if she knew this, but it wasn't only my dirty body. My soul was in rot. I was in so much turmoil.Whenever the thought of how I was so close to reuniting with my brother resurfaced, I shuddered at my weakness in being unable to protect him. The image of his face caught in chaos appeared in my head. He looked so scared and clueless.He didn't recognize me, which was worrying initially, but it didn't trump my desire to save him. The tears fell from my e
It was good while it lasted, but now Maria was over it. She wanted to go straight to what she came here to do. She took the last bite from her plate and waited for the table to be cleared before she cleared her throat and asked the question on her mind."Why am I here?" she directed to no one."You're here-""Now that you've asked, I'll say it plainly," Vincenzo interrupted his mother.He was bored of whatever game Maria was playing. He also could not stand the sight of Roy for one more minute. He believed it was in their best interest to get to the crux of the matter before he lost control."I want my prototype back," he said."What do you mean by that? What does your prototype have to do with me?" she asked, feigning confusion."I know you took it, Maria. Just drop your silly act and return it to me," he warned dangerously."That's some serious accusation you're throwing around, Vincenzo Santoro. I hope you have proof to back up this ridiculous claim if I sue," she said casually, si
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 ready 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 i