Chapter 4

After 5 years

"sir we blew the farmhouse as per your order, everyone is dead. We made sure of it" his most trusted man replied while he took puffs of his cigarette. 

"Well done" he complimented in a hoarse voice. 

He motioned his finger in the direction and all of the men exited the room at once after bowing to him. 

Carter was now a well known name in the city of Rome. A ruling Mafia who had control over people's lives and had the right to stop their breaths whenever he wanted. 

Five years he spent in Italy, letting his blood and sweat flow each day but in end he was now ruling over Italy. His Mafia boss, who trained him all these years passed his territory onto him after he died. 

All the illegal dealings were done under him, all the goods were smuggled from different countries on his decision. He turned into a fierce, brutal man who slaughtered the betrayers and his enemies like onions. 

He stood up from his armchair, the whole room clouding with thick grey smoke. He walked slowly towards the wall, opposite to where he stood before. The long, thick, red curtains hung below, an inch above the ground. 

He moved to the side and pulled the rope, letting the curtains move aside and reveal the treasure which he harboured all these years, waiting for the perfect timing. 

A portrait of women shone, a painted canvas of about three meters and wide. The woman with whom he was obsessed with, who was the real reason behind his success, the queen of his castle, the heiress of his territory. 

Everything he had today was because of her, now was the time to retrieve the real reason, his love. 

He picked up his phone from the nearest table, and dialled a number. The call was picked up on the other side at the first ring. 

"Prepare a bouquet of white roses, and deliver to the address I'll send you. And don't forget to mention the giver 'From C', get it done and report" he said in a deep voice which echoed in the whole room which was already dipped in darkness. 

He cut off the call immediately after it and looked directly into the eyes of that woman.

"Start counting your days my lady, I'll make sure, I break you so bad and you still come to me for the healing of that pain" he repeated the promise he made to his younger self that day.

*

"Veronica please don't be stubborn, we need to measure your ring size. You can go to office after that. Our engagement is more important" Jonathan tried to convince Veronica who seem to be busy with her schedule. 

Veronica was a fashion designer, she completed her degree last year in Paris and moved to Italy with her fiancee.

As per they agreed, they moved to Italy because Jonathan had his family there and a proper home where he wished to start his family. 

They both fell in love in Paris for the first time, when Veronica visited his company which was a clothing brand and used to manufacture their own quality cloth.

She was dazzled by his sense of vision and his capabilities. On the other side Jonathan was mesmerized by her beauty. Together they made a great couple.

Soon Jonathan opened a branch of his brand in Italy so they could get married soon after the business expands gradually. 

But as their parents wanted, they both decided get officially engaged to continue their relationship until marriage.

"Okay Jon but that has to be quick, you know it I need to meet my client" she told him cautiously as she couldn't afford to make her clients wait. She was very a punctual person who always liked things to be get done properly.

"I assure you amore" he pecked her on her lips and she nonchalantly kissed him back.

They both went to the jewelry designer, where Jonathan already booked his appointment beforehand. They both choose their desired rings, but one thing that they wanted to get customized mutually, was each other's name carved on the inner side of the ring.

"You both look madly in love, such a beautiful couple" the middle aged man commented as his lips stretched into a thin smile.

"We sure are! And how much time it will take to get them done?" Veronica asked him, concerned.

"Don't worry you'll receive them next week. When is your engagement scheduled?" The man inquired rather professionally with thin lines formed on his forehead.

"It's on the next weekend but it will be great if we receive our rings beforehand to approve them from our families too" This time Jonathan spoke, exchanging a smile with Veronica as they both shared the same thought.

"Sure! Sure you can call me for any queries. And as I said they will be at your home on Monday or you can just come here to receive them, as you like" he assured both of them with his professional kindness, which he used to persuade his clients.

"Then I think that's all, see you on Monday then" Veronica stood up from her chair, Jonathan following along. 

They shook hands with him and left in hurry.

"I think I've got late Jon" Veronica exclaimed while looking at her watch, which was wrapped around her wrist delicately.

"Don't worry darling, I'll drop you! You know how fast I can drive, if needed" he opened the car door for her.

"Ahh and I don't want to end up in hospital bed" she teased him as he sat down, right next to her on driving seat.

"Talking about bed, you're making me feel horny!" He leaned closer to her, taking her lips by surprise.

She exhaled a warm breath as she was caught off guard. He bit her lips harshly, and shoved his tongue inside, making her feel turned on at once as his hands slid inside her shirt.

"We're in public Jon" she whispered, which came as moan as he nibbled on to her neck while his hands were an inch away to pinch her pebbled nipples beneath her bra.

"As we care" he groaned, feeling his himself hardened as his hands moved in the opposite direction, between her legs to feel the heat in her pool.

But she held her hand, as soon as he touched her warm womanhood.

"Tonight Jon! But right now I'm getting late or we'll end up...you know what I mean and I don't want to" she moved his hand away from between her legs making him frown.

"You're such a mood off Veronica. Now I'll end up with blue balls" he complained.

"As if we had sex before" she mimicked him.

"You and your rules! What's the difference between sex after engagement or before it?" He addressed her while igniting the engine on the road.

"I feel like it's inappropriate. After all our engagement is two weeks away. We can have all the wild sex you imagine." She said quietly while adjusting her shirt.

"Two weeks and you'll be too sore to even stand, beyond from doing work and meeting your clients" he smirked, amused.

Her cheeks turned red at his remark, she laughed off to lighten the tension.

"Let's see about that"

*

As soon she reached her studio, her assistant came forward.

"Is miss Elizabeth already here?" She asked worriedly.

"No mam, she called and told me that she'll be 30 minutes late due to the severe traffic in her area. But this came for you...." She hesitantly forwarded the white bouquet of fresh roses towards her.

"Who sent it?" She asked her assistant out out curiosity as she received the bouquet from her hands.

"There was no name of the sender, but there's a card tucked inside it" she told her and took her leave, retrieving back to her reception desk.

"Thank..." She merely replied at her name while looking for the card inside it.

The purple shaded card was not difficult to found. She opened the envelope in which it was placed and took out the plain white card from inside.

"Hope you have a good meeting with your client

From C" it read.

"Who's C? And how does he know that I'm going to meet my client?" She asked herself, rather astonished by the message.

And more importantly white roses were not an good indication. Because few people if realize, white roses symbolize "change".

What change was going to happen in her life? And who wanted to change it? Was someone stalking her?

Because there was no way, anyone's name in her family or Jonathon's family started with C. 

The roses were too beautiful to be dumped in trash so she placed them in the vase and threw the card in the dustbin.

"If ever again, such roses come for me, don't accept it. Because I don't know the sender, they must have been sent by mistake" she instructed Stella, her assistant.

"Sure mam"

She discarded the worrisome thought,  they must have been sent by mistake, taking me for someone else or maybe someone tried to pull a prank on me. She thought and sat on her chair, going through her latest designs which she was soon going to offer to miss Elizabeth.