Adopted- Episode 15

ADOPTED – Episode 15

© Happy William

Anne’s POV

.

And again, breakfast. An experience I didn’t look forward to. But I think Emilio will be there, so it mightn’t be so unpleasant.

I wore a summer sandals that slapped against the marbled stairs, making a kind of plat plat sound on the floor as I walked.

At the dinning, Portia sat at the head, as usual, and Sergio at her right. I sat on one seat after her left and said a quiet “Good Morning,” to which she hummed in response.

“I hope you’ve had a good night?” she asked, but icily.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“Good. I’d like to have a word with you later at noon. In private.”

“Oh, but I’ll be going out with Emilio, and won’t be back until later,” I said, and Sergio dabbed a towel at his lips and asked, “Going out with Emilio?”

“Yes,” I replied, and saw something like anger or irritation flash through his dark pupils, before he scoffed and left the table.

“Where are you off to?” Portia asked.

He ignored her.

She muttered something under her breath about ‘her boys acting all proud because the father had died….’

I was taken aback. Emilio’s father died, and he never told me. There’s a lot we don’t know about each other.

“Do you love him?” Portia’s voice broke into my thoughts.

“Hmm?”

She frowned at me, silently telling me she didn’t repeat her words.

I took a sip of grape juice, and it tasted very good.

“I don’t understand you.”

“Then if you don’t, you’re marrying him for the money,” she stated flatly.

I looked up sharply. “I don’t know what kind of person you think I am, signora, but I am not a gold digger. I didn’t want this, and neither does Emilio, because—-”

“Poppycock,” she cut in and waved her hand. “Don’t be so dramatic. I just wanted to get to know you better. You’re my future daughter in law.” She smiled a little, and I was kind of shocked.

“Oh…um…”

“Troubling my wife, Portia?” Emilio asked as he descended the stairs.

“No, Emilio. We were getting to know Each other, right Anne?”

it surprised me that she even knew my name.

“Yeah, right,” I replied.

Emilio looked at her for a second longer, and then said to me, “Come. Let’s go.”

As we left, I didn’t see the sinister smile that curved Portia’s lips.

.

I kept glancing around as Emilio drove at little past speed limit, with the late morning air caressing my face like a lover’s soft, making my hair fly in billows around me. Quite wonderful.

I turned to Emilio and smiled. “It’s a wow,” I said and tucked locks of my hair behind my ear.

He was having the same problem, because his hair was also reacting to the wind.

“I know. And although the city can enchant one with it’s bustling activities, I prefer the quiet of this part.”

“Me too.”

He raised an amused eyebrow at me. “Are you sure, or is it because I said so?”

“And why would I do that?”

He shrugged. “Perhaps… I don’t need to say. You know.”

I shook my head and hid a smile.

“What do you say we have breakfast? I noticed you picked on your food at the table.”

“Yes please. I don’t know how I’ll survive over here with the terrible food.”

He laughed. “You don’t know how to eat them, that’s why.”

We pulled over at a fancy breakfast diner with ‘El Nico’s Pizza’ written on a pizza symbol at the entrance.

“Pizza!” I squealed. “Finally, something reasonable.”

“A personal favorite of mine. And the owner is a friend. Besides, reporters aren’t likely to buzz around us here.”

“Reporters?”

For a moment I’d actually forgotten that he was probably a most talked about person. Maybe the vineyards.

“Although, I keep things private. Don’t fret.”

The inside was cool, and like a solace to the blithering sun that was just beginning to spread heat. The place smelled of pizza, that heavenly aroma, and I breathed in deeply.

There were two glass doors on either side of the walls along the entering hallway that led straight to the ordering counter. I kind of liked the privacy.

“Come,” Emilio said and took me around. “Nico would like to see you.”

At the back, and fat, rounded man with chubby cheeks was speaking in high tone rapid Italian to a staff in uniform who kept bowing repeatedly and saying something like “Sorry,” countless times.

“He’s harassing the poor guy,” I whispered to Emilio, with an image of my foster mother doing same to me, then getting tired of talking and lifting the cane. . .

I barely registered Emilio as he said, “Nah, he’s just getting rid of excess spittle,” and said loudly, “Hey Nico, my fiancée here thinks you’re harassing the poor guy.”

That’s when I snapped to attention. Fiancée??? I looked at my ringless finger.

Nico paused, turned with a big smile, “Emilio Salvatore! You finally decided to pay this old man a visit!”

They both engaged in a big hug with slapping of backs and laughs that made me smile. I’ve never seen him as happy, or free, as this when he was at home. It sort of pulled at my heart.

Aww…

“You’re not old, Nico. Just fat,” Emilio said, and I laughed out, putting a hand over my mouth the stop it.

Nico paused in chastising Emilio and looked at me for the first time since I came in.

“Emilio…” he could nudging Emilio’s ribs repeatedly.

“Nico if you want an introduction, just say so and stop damaging my poor ribs,” Emilio whispered loudly, and Nico shot him a glare while I giggled again.

“Hi, I’m Anne,” I said and held my hand out for a handshake, but he turned it over and placed a small kiss.

“And Nico, is pleased to make the acquaintance of such a beauty as you,” he said, and I felt flattered, until Emilio cleared his throat, and had an unpleasant look on his face.

“A one sitting pizza,” he said in clipped tone, and grabbed my hand, leading me away from Nico as if he couldn’t get me away any faster.

What’s up with him?

__

.

Anne’s POV

.

The white linen covering the table we sat at did nothing to bring peace to my conflicted mind as I stated at Emilio who had had some normalcy restored to his features. What was it with his fluctuating attitude? I’m not sure I’ll ever understand.

We had our pizza in silence, listening to the occasional hum of conversation around us. The silence was kind of awkward to me. I’m thinking too much these days.

After the pizza, we thanked Nico, who didn’t seem to be offended by Emilio’s act earlier. In fact, they talked and laughed like when they first met. And here was I being worked up.

After I promised to come by some other time later, we got into the car again, and drove off.

This time around, Emilio had the roof of the convertible rolled up, saying that it didn’t make much sense leaving it open with such a sun.

“The pizza was ñíçê,” I began, looking to return the atmosphere back to how it was when we started.

“Sì. Nico makes the very best. When I was quite younger, Prudence used to bring us here each day for a treat when we were on our best behavior. And for me, it was being on my best behavior was equivalent to saying that Portia actually attended a social party in tights and suspenders.”

I burst out laughing, and it was like the second joke he made today. I envisaged the image of Portia wearing bright yellow trousers, and maybe a fuchsia blouse, with the green suspenders, and I laughed again. Emilio chuckled a little.

“So , you hardly got pizza. And the other one…”

“Which other one?” he asked still smiling a little.

“You said Prudence took ‘us’ for treats.”

Suddenly his expression was schooled.

“That must have been a slip. I meant me.”

After that he spoke so little, and I knew somehow that that wasn’t a slip. Emilio didn’t just say things. I’m guessing there’s something about his family.

.

Once again, we were smiling as we went through the miles on foot filled with classic buildings every corner. We just went in, had a look, and went out. I was kind of shy to pick anything, so Emilio gave up on it altogether.

Now he parked the car somewhere along a terraced sidewalk, and turned to me.

”Let me see your hands, ” he said simply.

“Why?” I asked , but stretched it out to him nonetheless.

He took it in his own, and I felt that spark, that surge of electricity coursing through me. I immediately looked up to him, then back at our hands, and him again. And the way he stared back at me…surely he felt it too.

He slowly let go of my hand, and said a quick ‘I’ll be right back’ and went out of the car.

I leaned against the headrest and exhaled a shaky. breath, unconsciously massaging the place he held.

A few minutes later he came back in calm but lengthened strides.

“I got a call,” he said, “And I have to be off. It’s an emergency.”

“Hope it isn’t something bad…?”

“No. I’ll call Fergus to pick you up. I’ll meet you at home later.”

“OK,” I said, half expecting him to kiss my cheeks.

He didn’t.

The Fergus guy came over, and I switched cars. He drove away without a word.

I guess it was something crucial because of the change in his facade.

.

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Sergio’s POV

.

My room stank of alcohol. I practically reeked of it this afternoon as I sat all cooped up by my window, nursing a bottle of sherry.

I’ve been dormant–quiet–for far too long, letting my ‘little brother’ go prancing about like the lord of the manor. I’ll have to do something. I’ll have to contact somebody.

Mother said she was taking care of things. But it was taking so much time.

I gulped a mouthful and swallowed. It burned my throat. But it made me tough.

A single knock sounded, and the door opened. I knew it was mother. She didn’t have respect for privacy.

“There you are my baby,” she purred and stretched her hands out to me.

“I’m not a baby anymore,” I growled and turned away from the window to her. “How long? How long before I inherit?”

“Patience, my boy. The lawyer is coming in by Monday for the rereading of the will. There’s no way Emilio will be married before the stipulated date. And once the donship is taken away from him, and placed on you, then you’ll have the power to take over the mansion, the vineyards and everything else. Just stop this shameful attitude,” she took the glass out of my hand, “And be a man. I have my ways. I just need you to do your part.”

Just then, I heard an engine pull up in the driveway, and I returned my gaze to the window.

Anne.

Yes, I was going to steal everything away from my brother.

Mother placed a hand on my shoulder, and walked out.

This desire to have her was too strong, it was only a matter of time I gave in.

I could feel my groin hardening as I poured my self another shot, and gulped it down.

To be continued

ALL EPISODES

4 Comments

  1. I don't even understand this Emilio self, why don't he tell d poor girl why she's there so she won't start having feelings for him wen it's just to retain his will

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