Chapter 1: Arrangement (pt.2)

ROME, ITALY

The loud banging of church bells woke Seth up. He inhaled deeply before rising to his bed. He walked towards the window, which automatically opens when he gets close to it and allows him to see the beautiful city slowly being covered by the sun's rays as they rise. He stood there watching it in silence, thinking about what would happen later.

Seth didn't waste any time preparing for a battle he had to face. In front of the mirror, he adjusts his black tie, which complements his dark navy long sleeves and emphasizes his well-defined figure. Seth Corpuz, consigliere of the Corpuz Famiglia—a legal adviser or counselor to the boss of an Italian mafia.

When Seth had finished checking his appearance, he grabbed his suit and walked out of his hotel room. All woman's eyes were following Seth's every step as he walked into the lobby with elegance and a dashing look, but he didn't bother to notice them and kept walking until he got out of the hotel. When he finally gets out, a black limousine and two men in black suits are waiting for him at the car's door. No one dared to speak as one man in a black suit opened the door for him.

Seth speaks as the driver settles into his seat. “A casa di Fabio. (To Fabio’s house.)”

“Sì, signor Consigliere. (Yes, Mr. Consigliere.)” The driver responded by starting the car's engine.

Their trip was filled with silence until they arrived at Sambuca di Sicilia where Don Fabio’s vineyard was and where the don is. After a long drive, Seth was able to see how huge Don Fabio’s land have. He silently observes the green vineyard where there are no people around. After observing, he turned his look to the tablet he was holding and continued what he was reading earlier.

After a few seconds, the car stops in front of a huge gate of the hacienda owned by Don Fabio.

“Cosa stai facendo qui? (What are you doing here?)” The armed man asked in a strict and scary voice to Seth's driver, but he didn't say anything, instead, he just gestured so the armed man peeks inside the car.

Seth saw what the armed man did in his peripheral vision, but he didn't look at him and just stared out the window. The armed man stepped back and signaled to his other men to open the gate and allow Seth to pass. Seth's driver gave them a silly smile, which irritated them even more, but the driver didn't care and kept driving until they arrived at Don Fabio's hacienda's main entrance. Seth got out of the car and walked up the stairs, which led him to the terrace where Don Fabio was eating his favorite pasta.

Don Fabio became aware of Seth's presence and turned his gaze to him as the old man clacked his tongue.

“Come puoi fare affari quando il tuo capo è in condizioni critiche? (How can you do business when your boss is in critical condition?)” Don Fabio expressed surprise at Seth's unexpected appearance in front of him.

Seth remained silent and only smiled at the old man, as if unaffected by what he said. He looked at the three bodyguards standing behind Don Fabio before taking his seat, despite the fact that the old man had not given him permission. He quickly pulls out the tablet from his attaché case and has a quick browse before presenting himself to Don Fabio, who is eating.

“Questa è l’ultima offerta del mio capo, Fabio, (This is the last offer from my boss, Fabio.)” Seth stated it bluntly.

Don Fabio cast an intriguing glance at Seth. “L’offerta di un moribondo? Non interessato. (An offer from a dying man? Not interested)” He said with a light shake of his head. “Puoi prenderlo e andartene. (You can take it and leave.)” He continued, pointing the fork he was holding to Seth and shoving it in the direction Seth walked in.

Seth raises one eyebrow in response to Don Fabio's rejection, putting down his tablet and taking a deep breath before returning his gaze to the old man.

“È stato un errore da parte vostra assassinare il presidente dell’Unione Oscar per impossessarsi della vigna e del sindacato. Vincenzo lo considerava un fratello. (It was a mistake on your part to assassinate Union President Oscar in order to take over the vineyard and the union. Vincenzo regarded him as a brother.)”

Don Fabio looked at Seth, and their eyes locked. “Qualunque sia l’offerta, non la accetterò. (Whatever the offer is, I’m not going to take it.)” Don Fabio pointed out and returned his gaze to his food.

Seth grinned deviously as he heard Don Fabio's words. “Ti sembra un’offerta? (Does it sound like an offer to you?)” He asked, and Don Fabio looked at him again, his brow furrowed, while stuffing his pasta into his mouth. “Questo è l’ultimo atto di gentilezza di Vincenzo verso l’uomo che ha ucciso il suo caro amico. (This is Vincenzo’s final act of kindness to the man who murdered his close friend.)” Seth added that he gave the old man a meaningful look.

Don Fabio, on the other hand, completely ignored Seth's words. He spits the pasta out of his mouth, grabs a napkin to wipe his mouth, and then leans back in his chair.

“Sei qui per fare un patto o per minacciarmi? (Are you here to make a deal or to threaten me?)” Don Fabio inquired, his gaze fixed on Seth's eyes, serious and emotionless.

Seth smiled and leaned forward, drawing his face closer to Don Fabio's. “Non ci saranno problemi se firmi questo in questo momento. (There will be no problems if you sign this right now.)”

And as a result of what Seth said, Don Fabio exploded in rage and slammed his fist on the table. “Va al diavolo! Torna al tuo paese, bruno altezzoso! (Get lost! Go back to your country, you haughty brown!)” He yelled, continuing to point his finger at Seth's face. “Ho combattuto in modo leale e diretto per conquistare questo vigneto e l’unione. La Famiglia Corpuz non possiede azioni in questa struttura! (I fought fairly and squarely to take over this vineyard and the union. The Corpuz Famiglia owns no stock in this establishment!)” He continued by extending his arms and pointing to the entire vineyard. “Quindi, esci di qui! (So, get out of here)!”

Without Don Fabio's knowledge, Seth made a move ahead of time, and by the time he rejects Seth's proposal, something spectacular will have occurred.

“Sicuro che non te ne pentirai? (You sure you won’t regret it?)” In a serious tone, Seth inquired.

Don Fabio burst out laughing and shook his head in response to Seth's final warning. “Rimpiangere? (Regret?)” And he looked out over the vast vineyard. “Ho il sostegno della famiglia Luciano. Non ho paura di andare in guerra. (I have the support of the Luciano family. I am not afraid of going to war),” he said confidently.

Seth grinned. “Il rimpianto è la cosa più dolorosa che puoi affrontare nella vita. (Regret is the most painful thing you can go through in life.)”

Don Fabio nodded repeatedly as he continued to listen to Seth's words uninterestedly.

“Non sono qui per iniziare una guerra, ma per darti una possibilità di riscattarti, Fabio. (I’m not here to start a war, but to give you a chance to redeem yourself, Fabio.)”

“Sicuro. Qualunque. (Sure. Whatever.) Xiexie.” He said this while putting his palms together like a prayer and bowing his head, mocking Seth. “Tu marrone incivile. (You uncivilized brown.)” He then returned his gaze to his food and continued to eat.

Seth just grinned and put his tablet inside his attaché case as the cold wind blew. When Don Fabio noticed this, he took a napkin from the side and wiped his mouth and hands. Seth looked Don Fabio in the eyes, and he also stared, but after a few moments, he stood up from his seat, causing the three men to hold their guns, fearing that the young man would do something to their boss.

A reason to make the young man laugh and return his attention to Fabio. "Fabio," Seth called the don's name to get his attention, and he immediately responded and looked at him.

“Pagbabayaran mo ang pang-iinsultong ginawa mo sa lahi ko. Putang ina mong hayop ka! (You will pay a big price for insulting my race. You son of a bitch!)” Seth was furious as he cursed Don Fabio.

Don Fabio stares at Seth as the young man prepares to leave, unsure of what will happen next. Seth simply smiled at the clueless and arrogant old man before turning his back and walking away, but before he could get far, Don Fabio abruptly stood up from his seat.

“Seth, mi hai maledetto? Cosa mi hai detto? (Seth, did you curse at me? What did you say to me?)” He asked while shouting, but Seth didn't respond and just continued walking away.