Victoria didn’t immediately tell Martino her wish in the boxing ring, instead she helped him out and when they were out of the underground boxing ground, now in a cafe. “Are you going to look at my face all night?” Martino frowned after the waiter had taken their orders.“Am I not allowed to do so?” Victoria smirked.“Where did you learn how to box like that?” Martino asked, disregarding her reply.“My father.” She said curtly as if she was not interested in furthering the conversation.“He was a professional?” Martino raised a brow.“Something like that.” Victoria shrugged.Martino nodded. “So are you a professional boxer?”Victoria watched him for while then her lips curved into a smile. “Why? You still can’t get over the fact that I kicked your ass.”Martino drew a deep breath. “Something like that.”Victoria scoffed and shook her head.“So what’s your wish? I don’t have all day.” “Aren’t you scared?” Victoria pressed.“What?”“I mean I’ve been unpredictable all night. Aren’t you
Victoria let out a soft chuckle. “If you thought I had ulterior motive, why did you come then?” Martino regarded her for awhile. “I am a curious person you know, and you, Victoria intrigue me.” “Really?” Victoria raised a brow in a playful manner. “So do you, Martino. And that’s why…..I would like to know you. Know you beyond your icy exterior.” Martino let out a hearty laughter. “I am letting my guard down around you, Miss Victoria. You just didn’t realize.” “Should I be thrilled?” Victoria smiled.“You should.” Martino replied and rested on the desk as he stared at her intently.“I keep getting this feeling that you are not good for me….” He paused as he watched for an expression change, but she kept a straight face. An awkward silence ensued for a while then Victoria finally broke it.“All of those guts feelings and you’re still here?” She gave an amused look.“Like I said earlier, You intrigue me.” He rested back on his chair as the waiter returned with their food.As they sta
Now seated in a restaurant and variety of dishes served in the table, a reluctant Luca started intently at Elena as if she was some danger lurking around and he felt the need to the wary of her.“Thai food taste so nice!” Angelo shrieked happily.“You eat it everyday. What’s the difference today?” Luca said with a Frown as he picked on his food.“You always spoil the mood, Daddy.” Angelo turned to Luca who dropped his cutlery and rested back in his chair. “Do you like your food….” Angelo realized he didn’t know his new found friend’s name. He gaze at her with an expectant eye. “What’s your name?”“Ariadna. You can call me Ari.” Elena said with a forced smile, hoping she was as natural as she wished she is.“Ari,” Angelo nodded as he turned to look at his father.“Dad’s name is Luca. You can be his friend too.” He said with a smile as he turned to look at Elena who had a surprised look.“Ugh?”“I can chose my friend, Angelo. Thank you.” Luca said with a frown.“Well it’s okay if you d
“You keep getting weirds ideas,” Luca waved dismissively. “Having Angelo is enough for me.” He turned to the window in his study as If trying to gather his thoughts. Rio drew a deep breath. “I won’t judge you, Luca. Angelo talked about your being lonely. And…” he bit his lower lips as the word felt too heavy to let go. “The need for a mother.” Luca swung around to meet Rio’s carefully gaze. “What?” He raised a brow.“It turned out the boy secretly need a woman figure in his life.” Rio explained as Luca raked his hands through his hair.“But…”“He cares about you more than you can imagine.” Rio interrupted as Luca watched Rio.“And you?” “Me?”“Don’t give me that look Rio. Your feelings for me…..they remained unrequited for years. Even after Elena’s death, I still couldn’t move on. Still couldn’t give you a chance.”“Don’t!” Rio said abruptly. “Don’t blame yourself. We don’t have that luxury. Just concentrate on Angelo. You don’t have to force it.”“Rio,I….”“You won’t be able to
“Elena?” Luca called absentmindedly as Elena jerked her hands away when she realized what had happened. “Wait…what did…”“Daddy?” Angelo who stood in the middle of the stairs called out as they both turned to see the boy whose eyes shone at the sight of Elena.“Ari!” He shrieked in delight as he descended quickly and rushed towards her. Elena was thankful for the distraction as she opened her hands for the boy who flew instinctively into it. She held him for what seemed like a moment before the boy moved away. He smelt so good. So much like his father. Elena realized that she couldn’t got back again. She would stay here, with her son. No matter the result of this charade.“How are you doing, Angelo?” She asked as she focused on him, trying to ignore the insistent gaze Luca shot her. They were going to have a conversation sometimes later about what had happened earlier. But not now“Great! I’m so glad you actually came, Ari!” His eyes glint.I’m more happy to see you. Elena wanted to s
“They were unusually close earlier. I think Daddy is starting to like her, Rio! It’s a good thing right?” Angelo's eyes shone in anticipation.Rio opened his mouth to talk but he felt constrictions in his throat. “I’ll call you later.” He said when he could manage to talk.“Rio, I…..” Angelo looked at the phone when he realized he had hung up.“Is he not happy?” He asked no one in particular. But as he remembered the thought of how his father and his nanny were close.“I might have a new mummy soon.” He giggled as he walked out of the room, back to the dining area.Meanwhile, Rio was disconcerted by the news. How could this happen? Luca was close to another woman? He made to dial Luca’s number to get across to him but he stopped. Angelo might wonder what was wrong. He would need to see him physically.********Later that night, after dinner, Elena tucked Angelo into bed while she went to her room after watching him sleep peacefully for a while. On her way to the room assigned to her
Rio shook his head in disbelief as he watched his father as he was some sort of deranged man. “Killing people is like a hobby for you. How can you easily do such a thing?”“Don’t play innocent, son. I have done it before. And I can do it again. I will do anything for you. For your happiness.” He said the last statement with the kind of protectiveness that scared Rio. “Never mind. I shouldn’t have come here. I thought we could just talk. Like every other normal father and son. Not on how to kill a person.” Rio made to stand up but Levante’s next statement stopped him.“You already have blood in your hands, Rio.” Rio turned to him slowly, as his face switched to that of a child that saw his mother in a pool of blood.“What are you insinuating?” “You had a hand in Elena’s death, man. Don’t play dumb. That call….”“Stop!” Rio fired angrily as Levante's lips curved into a sly smile. “I get it!” He said and continued. “And I regret it to date. That is why I want you to stay out of my bus
“Us?” Luca stared at him as if his statement was shocking.“Yes. Us.” Rio said as he watched him intently as he searched for any sign of resistance. But he was more interested in getting his approval. More obsessed with his reply.Luca smacks his lips. “Look. Rio. We have only just started dating. And we are still trying to make things work….”“Still trying?” Rio asked with a disbelief look. He shook his head in disappointment as he made to stand up from the bed but Luca held his hand in time to stop him.“Let go, Luca.” He breathed without sparing him a glance.“Rio…” Luca started instead, without loosening his grip on Rio.“Fuck off!” He jerked his hand away as he walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.Luca raked his hand through his hair and cursed under his breath. Things weren’t going as he had expected. He thought dating Rio would help him take his mind off Ari. Off obsessing over her. He drew a deep breath, the only person he has obsessed over like this in the pa