Chapter Two - Gambling debt

Emiliana’s pov

“Daddy let’s take a loan from the bank” I say . “ if this was possible I would have done it ten years ago, I am clueless on how to pay back the debt” my father says looking downcast.

I tell my father to contact David morano to schedule a meeting, to which he looks at me skeptically, but proceeds to book the meeting anyways,by instructing his secretary to send the message.

The ball is now in my court, I will save my family, I say this to myself on my way out of my father’s hospital room.

I think about David morano and the debt my family owe, as I drive towards the house in silence, with a sad smile,enjoying the view of the dark sky, lights on the streets, the bustling and hustling of individuals on the streets, little kids with their parents making their way home.

Arriving home, I slowly turn the door knob and make my way to my room without switching on the lights, as I don’t want to be reminded of my moment of pain again. I immediately pick up my phone, laying on the night stand, I sit on the bed, turning on my data, I surf the internet for information relating to David morano.

Several websites pop up, I start my research by clicking on the top one, it all talks about him being the feared assistant to the youngest and most eligible bachelor Luciano martello in New York city. Surfing through the rest, I retire to my bed calling it a night, after taking a shower.

I am awake, preparing food for my father, as I will pay him a visit at the hospital today. While preparing the food my phone rings, I quickly move over to answer it, seeing an unknown number. “Emiliana Russo the time for the meeting is 8am and the location will be sent to your number, don’t be late” the deep voice say, immediately ending the call, before I could utter a word.

I beckon the maid over, asking her to finish up the cooking, and deliver it on time to my father at the hospital, while I prepare to meet with David morano, the man I loathe the most right now.

I dress up, with nervousness written all over my face and demeanor, looking at my night stand, I pick the picture of a little girl and boy smiling towards the camera, on a beach, which is a photo of me and my best friend. “I need to win this for my family, but I don’t know if I can, I wish you were here to hold me, and tell me everything is going to be alright,but I got this, and I won’t let my father down.” I say to the picture, with tears dripping down my cheeks.

I immediately wipe my tears, dropping the picture, when I hear my phone beep,I reach for it , swiping through, I click on the message icon, and I see a text on the location, and time of the meeting, which is slated for 8am, and at the bells resturant.

I rinse my face again with cold water, and reapply my lip gloss, eye liner and powder, wasting no time I smoothen my sundress and put on my glasses, to cover my swollen red eyes, with my hair pulled up in a messy bun, I head downstairs, grabbing my bag and ordering a cab as well, because I don’t drive whenever I feel anxious.

“ where to madam” the driver turns slightly to me smiling like he just won a lottery

“ the bell restaurant please” I say, the drive is long , taking about an hour to reach, to which I am grateful for, as I am still a box of nerves. Nevertheless I make it to the restaurant on time, with an hour to spare, I calm my nerves down with a glass of cold water before David’s arrival.

I bend my head down to check my watch once again after waiting for an hour, immediately I lift my head. I see David morano walk into the restaurant at exactly 8am, with two bodyguards towing along behind him

He takes a seat in front of me, and I grip my bag tightly, with my heart beating loudly, and I fear he can hear it.

“ I never knew ladies could be punctual, nice first impression anyways” David morano says, I however Keep mute, which creates more tension between us. “ I’m sure you didn’t ask to meet so you could keep mute, what do you want?” David asks.

“I want an extension of the debt payment period can you do that?” I say.

“ She speaks after all , I can’t help with this but I will set up a meeting between you and my boss this evening, you can ask him about the extension” David says smirking, while standing up to take his leave.

I sit for few more minutes processing the information I just got, after David left. Done processing it, I book a cab, making my way home to prepare for my meeting with David’s boss.

I arrive at my door step, when I receive a text from the same number from the morning, with a location, name of the boss and time of the meeting. I make my way inside the house, I notice the scene of the incident has been cleared. I move to my room, and begin another round of preparation to meet David’s boss.

At exactly 10pm I move downstairs to the parking lot, dressed in short red sequins dress and black stiletto heels, getting into my black SUV, I make my way towards the box club, where I will be meeting David’s boss, Luciano Martello.