Chapter Three

Memories of Scarlet Rossi were images that as I grew older, tried to bury. It rarely ever worked, most especially when I was alone. It didn't matter if I was in the seclusion of my bedroom or office, or a public space, as long as I was alone with my thoughts, she was the first thing that would appear in my head.

I must admit that with the years that had passed, after everything that my family had managed to put me through, the need to prove that I wasn't as worthless as they believed made it impossible for me to try forming any sort of emotional connection with other people, and forget the one person that I'd manage to feel anything for but as soon as Mother mentioned her name, I had been unable to sleep, the past crashing through me with a force that kept me awake all night.

Scarlet hadn't just been the quiet girl that tried blending into the background and always failed tremendously. She was the one person that I could be with and never have to put a tough façade for. Life in the house always held a thick tension floating in the air. My Parents couldn't stand looking at me, never impressed with anything I did as long as I wasn't using that time to study, the maids were terrified of speaking or talking to me so as not to get my Father's attention on them.

In my home, I had been segregated and alone and as much as I liked to act as if I didn't care about how I was treated, I craved the attention, craved that someone would ever find me worthy company, and then one day, it happened.

Mr Romeo Rossi used to visit when I was younger with his sons, three rascals that never understood why I had my face buried into books all the time and only gave me space after I beat all three of them then kept their distance, their Father being the only one who didn't ever treat me like a statue or a house ornament.

He would come with gifts, snacks, and a smile on his face all the time. Romeo Rossi never frowned, and I had begun to await his visits, but one day, it stopped and six years later, he had returned, but not just with the triplets.

I remember standing at the window, watching as a bodyguard opened the car door they had driven in with, and Romeo came out. I had expected the tricksters, but the thought vanished when he put out his hand for whoever it was that had sat with it in the passenger seat then watched as a pale small hand reached out and placed theirs on his, the male now gently pulling out a being I had never seen before.

She had long black hair that reminded me of smooth and refined marble, and her eyes were small. Everything about her was small and dainty and even when she had stepped out of the car, she held unto him like she couldn't bear the thought of losing him.

She had on a blue beret on the top of her head, a white long-sleeved shirt and black and blue stripes plaid shirt, long white socks and black flats. I don't know how long I stood there staring at the creature that she was, completely lost by her, the glow radiating off her. Her brothers had joined her, all the same age as me, trying to startle her. I watched as she tried going closer to Romeo, the male not bothering to put the triplets off before she suddenly looked up at me.

I didn't know her age. I didn't know who she was, more than the fact that she looked like a Rossi, and yet, something stopped my heart from beating. Stopped me from breathing. There had been this look in her eyes like she had somehow blocked out the sounds of her brothers and all she could see, all she could feel was me, and I... That feeling, of suddenly knowing that you were being seen, for the first time. The focus, the centre of attention... It was too much. All of it was too much.

Her brothers had caught her as she stared, now turning to look at me but before they could see me, I was already turned away from the window, my back on the wall beside it, my heart beating fast. I had never felt so caught in anything, and it terrified me, in a way that I couldn't dare to explain.

I had planned to stay in my room and hide, but Mother and Father had sent for me so I went anyway. In the foyer of the first floor, she stood beside her Father, a photocopy of him, her face expressionless but her eyes... They had looked lifeless until they found me. She stared, and I stared too, unable to say anything.

Luckily, Romeo had been the one to break the silence, introducing her to me as his six-year-old daughter, Scarlet. Her age had been enough to cause me to double-take. She was ten years younger than me, and the moment he said those words, shame and disgust filled every part of me. She was just a child and should never be my object of affection, or cause me such distress. I shouldn't feel... whatever it was I was feeling for her. 

So, after I introduced myself in return, I asked for permission to return to my studies in the library and immediately after I was permitted, I left as fast as I could. I told myself I would never cross paths with her again because even though I still didn't understand what it was that made me feel so attracted to her, it couldn't be good.

And I did. Every time they came over, I did what I was supposed to do and escaped back to my room, and for a while, it worked, until one day, the door of the library opened. I hadn't needed to check who it was, considering the maids wouldn't dare enter without knocking, my parents never cared enough to check on me, and the triplets didn't go past their boundaries.

So it had to be her, and I had been right.

I looked up from my book, ready to tell her to go away before I noticed the flour over her face. I already summed it up as a prank from one of those idiots and stared at her. Scarlet didn't move from the door, staring at me like she awaited my permission to come in any further.

I should have sent her away regardless. Whatever happened to her shouldn't have been any of my business, but I found myself walking to her, taking out my handkerchief and wiping her face. I hadn't needed to say anything more after that.

Every time she came over, she spent it in the library with me. She never said a word and neither did I. It was like we had an unspoken agreement not to speak to the other and respect each other's spaces, and yet... Yet, every day, I would wait for her to join me, unable to concentrate till she was in the same room, seated some feet away.

Scarlet became the one thing that gave me a reason to feel like I had any worth, or that I mattered. She saw me and didn't think I was below her, or that I was something unworthy of her attention.

Or that was what I thought.

"Please," Even with the years that had passed, Romeo Rossi's face had not changed an inch. The same old smile was there, though there were now extra skins all over his cheeks as the smile stayed on. "Take a seat."

I do as he says, taking off my suit button so I can relax more. Enzo leaves the space he was standing on behind his father and joins me on the empty chair beside me, his eyes glancing at me while mine stay on his Father who says, "What do you think of our principessa?"

What do I think of her? I hadn't even given her a good look yet, and I don't think I would be able to after now. The hate and anger she felt towards me could easily be sensed from the door. It was almost choking as I entered and my nerves still feel like it's in a twist.

"What?" Enzo says. The bastard has a smug smile on his face. "Your brain is scrambled and your heart is completely terrified by the wrath she possessed at you?"

I don't want to admit that it's true. In my years, I feared nothing but now, there's a feeling in my bones that makes me want to steer clear from her in that state.

Unfortunately, my silence is taken as a yes and Romeo replies, "Don't worry, I understand this better than you do, I am married to her Mother after all and she is a million times more terrifying to behold when upset."

That catches my attention. I have never heard or seen Mrs Rossi before, and though there are certainly images of her existence, she had never visited the house herself. "I have never heard you speak of her before."

"That's possibly because I speak to her constantly in my head since she lives in my heart." His words remind me of Mother's random wordings, with an underlying meaning that I would not understand, and continues, "She is rarely with me, considering how she enjoys travelling around the world. I am hoping to see her very soon during the wedding of you and my daughter."

No one says anything, but the silence between us isn't filled with tension. Unlike Mother, his ability to drop a bomb doesn't just cause want to detonate but has time to find a way to escape its explosion. I know the rest of my words are being watched so I say carefully, "I am surprised you are agreeing to Diana's words. You know after Jethro's death, she has been trying to find things to keep herself busy with."

"I'm sure a grandchild would be the best choice." He replies, then he tilts his head, asking in a low voice, "Or do you not find her attractive enough for you?"

I keep any outward emotions in check, saying as stoically as possible, "I'm not opposed to marrying her, because I'm a businessman and I see a lot of profit in this agreement. Azure Tech specialises in dangerous technology that many companies would do anything to get their hands on and the Italian Mafia has always been the backbone, protecting us from situations like this while we keep you up to date with the things you ask of. Marrying into your family would keep our bond stronger for generations to come. There is nothing more reasonable than this."

Romeo's smile had vanished now. It wasn't that he looked upset but thoughtful. "I hear a but coming in your words."

"But," I say, "It is clear that your daughter doesn't find me suitable for her, and I'm not exactly comfortable in using her as a... Breeding machine to have children. I have known Scarlet for years and I respect her, if there's something that she doesn't wish for, I will abide by it, and there is the age—"

"A ten years difference in age will not be a problem, brother," Enzo speaks now, mischief lacing each word. "Considering how she has a very... Clear history of being attracted to older men."

I turn to him. "She was a child. She didn't know what she was doing or asking for."

"My Principessa was far wiser than her years," Romeo answers, "She knew what she wanted and got it, and she was rarely ever wrong when she did such. Still, your reasons are valid and also why I had chosen you as her betrothed. Many people would jump at the opportunity to have ties with the Italian Mafia and yet, you hesitate because you truly care for her, and I know you don't fake it because I know you, Alexander Wolfe. I know you more than you even know yourself."

The words would scare someone else, but they calm me in a way. My Father never acted as one to me and the only one similar enough to the title would be Romeo Rossi. Asides from the gifts and smiles he gave, we barely ever exchanged words but he always seemed to know the right gifts to bring, or the right words to say. "Thank you for your kind words."

This time, he smiles fully. "Of course, I will always help a son." Then adds with a sigh, "Talking about helping, you would need to go find her and apologize. Right this second. It is best to deal with the anger now than later. It grows like cancer that would destroy you if you don't handle it now. "

The idea of meeting Scarlet Rossi now, when she doesn't wish to see me has a knot tightening in my stomach. It is confusing how I've met scarier women, chaotic ones that made it clear how destructive they were, and one just has to express her disapproval of me and I can't seem to find it in me to talk to her. 

A slap on my back has me snapping out of my thoughts, clenching my fists from smashing it into Enzo's face, the male having one of his infamous smiles that promised nothing but he'll when I turn to look at him as he says, "Padre has been looking for who to share his woes about Madre's constant threats at him and now, he's finally found a party. How lucky you must feel to be blessed with a Rossi woman as well."

I haven't even agreed to the proposal but it's clear with their words a no would be taken kindly, but for some reason, I don't mind it. There's something about how they act, like a family, and I who have never felt something like that cannot help but be drawn to it.

Just the same way I'm drawn to her.