CHAPTER TWO

Gianna's POV—

"Babe, just take a good look at the guy right behind us. He's so hot." Laura whispered, biting her lips.

I slowly turned over and looked at the hot guy she was prattling about. I just rolled my eyes.

"What's wrong? The guy is cute." she exclaimed looking at the guy again.

"Laura, I don't suggest drooling over random guys who wouldn't even care to know whether you exist or not. Guys like him are only interested in getting into your pants. And for God's sake you have a handsome hunk as a boyfriend now. So quit or you might end up ruining your relationship." I clarified.

"Well, for the reminder Josh is not officially my boyfriend yet. And I'm just 22, so I still have enough time to play around before I settle down. Like duh girl, you need to step up a bit and live life, have fun while you still can but no, you chose to sit down comfortably waiting for your future boyfriend to come walking towards you. If you want to date a guy, then you need to open your pretty brown eyes and date cause miracles don't fall from heaven." 

Blah… Blah…. Blah…….

I blocked the rest of her words out and continued to pretend to be listening to her.

Staring at her car which was parked on the other side of the road. I closed my eyes and exhaled, hoping she would keep quiet but when I opened them, she was still talking.

We've spent almost two to three hours in the park just six blocks away from Oliver's school. My dad asked me to pick him up from school after my shift because his car is faulty. I mean, don't get me wrong, Oliver is thirteen years old but my dad still treats him like a little baby and he treats me like an egg.

Well my shift ended pretty early today and my boss gave us a week off from work because he really enjoyed our cooperation yesterday which earned him at least thousands of dollars I guess.

Laura kept on talking about how she had a fight with her parents when she was caught having sex with her ex boyfriend 4 years old in their living room. I tried to laugh at her funny sentences but my mind couldn't help but divert to the thoughts of my family's financial status.

"Hey sis," Oliver hugged me from behind, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Hey Oli." I said tiredly.

"How was the cla…………"

"Hey buddy?" Laura chimed in.

"Sup," Oliver replied.

"Girls, can we grab a bite. I'm starving, my stomach is churning wildly." Oliver said and took my hand.

We ate at a cafe opposite the park. After filling our empty stomachs we decided to go home. My stepmom would definitely be at home by now. She works at a hospital while my dad works at a small business firm. My brother and I take care of the house whenever they're away.

"Bye Laura." I said getting out of the car.

"Bye Laura." Oli said, running into the house.

"Don't forget to come pick me up next week" I reminded her.

"Sure, girl." she said, hugging me. I waited until her car disappeared.

My father's car was parked in the driveway. A satisfied grin crept through my face knowing my parents are back home and I'd get to spend some time with them now.

'But why are they back home early today?

Is everything okay?

Or did they fire him again?'

As I was turning around to go inside the house, I saw a tall black man in a black tuxedo leaning against a black Limousine parked across the street. A strange feeling made me want to check whether the strange man is here to see my dad or just a random person.

I shrugged and walked inside.

As soon as I entered my house I was greeted with the fragrance of Louis Vuitton Ombre Nomade EDP. The cologne filled my lungs.

'Wait, I've perceived the scent of that perfume before. And the price is so extravagant.'

I saw my dad and stepmom sitting on the sofa across from an old man probably in his late seventies I guess. But he's old enough to be my grandfather.

"Hey dad," I said simply and hugged him before hugging my stepmom "Hey Mom"

"Hey, Baby." my dad said.

"How was work today?" my stepmom asked, smiling brightly.

"It was cool and exhausting too," I said.

"Dad, who is our guest?"

"Oh, no I'm not your guest. I'm your family. Well we might not be related by blood but we're family." he said standing up.

"Gigi, this is Mr Eduardo Altamira, my late mother's friend," my dad said "And Eddie, this is my daughter Gianna."

'Altamira' wait i've heard of that name before, but i can't remember where exactly, uhhh gosh i have a terrible memory'

"Pleasure to meet you Sir." I smiled.

"Me too, and you don't have to call me sir, just call me grandpa okay." he said, engulfing me in a hug.

"Okay, grandpa." I replied and hugged him back.

"Okay, let's go sweetie, I actually needed a little help in the kitchen." my stepmom said, making me break the hug.

"Where is Oli?" I asked.

"I don't know, I think he's in the backyard probably playing football." she sighed walking into the kitchen.

She was making Brunswick stew and London broil for lunch which was my dad's favorite food but I noticed that the food was more plentiful than usual. She asked me to serve the table and instead of four plates she told me to serve five plates which means Mr Altamira is joining us.

While arranging the plates and cutleries on the dining table, I had my dad and Mr Altamira talking about stories about my late grandmother and Mr Altamira's family. Everytime they mentioned my grandmother's name, Mr Altamira's laughter would be heard from the living room. An interesting thing is that his voice sounds so masculine despite being old. His voice sounded as if it held utmost power. 

Suddenly I heard them talking about me and my dad's voice lowered.

'Why are they talking about me? Why is dad's voice suddenly so low? What are they talking about?' The W-H questions didn't stop popping up on my mind because I was nervous' 

I crawled through the dining room to the living room where they are and hid behind the two seater sofa my dad sat down across from Mr Altamira.

"She's so beautiful, innocent and I don't even know how to describe her again Aaron and an innocent girl like her can melt his cold stoned heart" Mr Altamira said.

"No, I can't do that, first of all, she doesn't even know him at all and secondly he's too old for her, like seriously the guy is eleven years older than her. And that's one decade and a year." my dad clarified.

"I understand what you mean Aaron but he is well known, stardom is at his feet, he has chains of restaurants and factories all around the world, so she definitely knows him and also age doesn't matter when there's love."

"No Eddie, you don't understand what I am saying, he is a sadist for christ's sake and my daughter is an angel. You can't bring the devil and the angel together as one." my dad argued.

'What in God's name are they talking about?

Who are they going to bring together?

And who is the 'he' that they are talking about?'

"Just trust and believe me Aaron, she is my grandchild and so is he." Mr Altamira sighed "I promise you, nothing bad will ever happen to Gianna because I will protect her. And trust me, he is a good man, you've seen it with your own eyes didn't you? He sent millions of dollars to you when you went bankrupt. And I'm very sure he will love her, just please talk to her about it." he pleaded.

"Listen Eddie………"

"I promise to clear all of your debts and forgive the hospital bills I lent you when you told me she had an appendix surgery. I know you can do this for me Aaron, just give it a try please." Mr Altamira pleaded but this time he was about to go to his knees.

My dad suddenly stood up and grabbed his hands pulling him up "Okay, I will give it a try but if she says no then it's no, understood?"

"Okay, I understand. Thank you so much Aaron." Mr Altamira said with excitement in his voice and hugged my dad.

Then my stepmom called everyone to have lunch. During lunch everyone ate in silence, everytime I looked up, I would see Mr Altamira smiling at me and I would smile back but deep down I was curious and nervous about what he and my dad talked about. I bid Mr Altamira bye after I was done eating and quickly ran upstairs to my room. I tried to take a nap but my mind kept drifting to the conversation I heard downstairs.

After thinking deeply, I drifted to sleep. I woke up to the sound of the knocks on my door. I stretched my body and yawned looking at my watch on the nightstand. It's twenty-five minutes past seven. Oh my god, I slept for five hours instead of thirty minutes. The knocking on my door kept on going.

"Come in." I said tiredly.

"Hey, baby." my dad walked in.

"Are you busy?" he asked, sitting at the edge of my bed.

"No, I'm not. I was actually taking a nap."

"Okay, so I'll just let you be for now."

"No, I said I'm a free dad. Is everything okay?" I asked worriedly.

"Yes, everything is okay. I wanted to talk to you about something not so big and not so small." he said.

"Okay, go on dad. I'm all ears." I urged him.

"But first I need you to calm down and not panic okay?"

"Okay." I eagerly waited to hear what he wanted to say.

"I know you already know who Mr Altamira is right?"

"Yes, dad."

"Okay, so he has a grandson named Adriano James Altamira. We Americans call him Adrian or AJ. He is a very famous man. I'm pretty sure that you've seen him on billboards. He is a very successful businessman. He's going to be 32 years of age this October." he stated.

'Adriano Altamira, I have heard that name before. Lord Jesus, where have I heard it?

Yesss, now I remember, AJ Altamira, the CEO of THE ALTAMIRA'S HOLDINGS.

He's the boss of the boss of the boss of the boss of the boss of the boss of the boss of the boss of the boss of the boss of our boss.

  He is the actual owner of our restaurant.

I have only caught sight of him on most of the billboards on the road and in Laura's list of hot guys in her phone.

So Mr Altamira is his grandfather. But how is Mr Altamira related to my Dad and my late grandmother?'

"No, I've never seen him before. I have never even heard of that name before." I lied.

"Okay, one minute……." he brought out his phone from his pocket and searched for only God knows what. Scrolling down his phone he showed me a picture of Adriano shirtless posing for Christan Dior. "This is him."

'Oh my god, he's so hot, he looks very delicious.

He looked like a Greek God with those six pack abs and that shiny wavy raven hair.

He's so tall and handsome with his emerald eyes glittering like gold.'

"Okay, he's not that bad. So what's wrong?"

"Mr Altamira asked for your hand in marriage for Adriano. And he promised to protect you from all bad dear. And I believe him because I have always known Eddie ever since I was a child. He would have been my dad because he was my mom's first love but fate decided something else for them." he said rubbing his knuckles.

"What?" I asked, my heart started beating faster.

"I know you're scared, surprised and angry right now but please just think about it. Adriano is a great gentleman. He helped our family when my company went bankrupt and his grandfather also assisted me when you were sick. And I've met him on special occasions and he seemed nice to me. And moreover you're legit for marriage."

"But dad, the guy is a decade older than me, he is far beyond my reach. Like I'm not even on the tenth list of his ideal type of girl." I stated.

'I was right.

He will never even spare a glance at me not to even talk of approaching me. And now we're talking about marriage.

Yes, I admit I have a huge crush on him. I mean, who wouldn't? The guy is so hot.'

"I know, baby. But it was his grandfather that asked for your hand, so I think he will like you. And think about our financial status Gianna, Oliver can't go to a proper elementary school because of me." he said with teary-eyes.

"No dad, that's not your fault. We all have ups and downs in life so it's not your fault. And I agree, I will marry Adriano Altamira.

"Okay, baby. I will call to tell him. But are you really sure that's what you want? I mean, I will just tell him no if you don't want it." he said with concern.

"Yes, dad, I've never been surer in my life." I said to ease his worry.

"And Eddie said to get ready tomorrow by 9pm, he's inviting us to meet Adriano."

"Okay."

"Don't forget to come down for dinner." he said walking out.

'Oh god, tomorrow night is definitely going to be a long one I guess.'