Chapter Forty-Five
As the bus left the bustling city of Milan, the golden hues of the late afternoon sun cast a gentle golden glow over the landscape. The sky transitioned from a bright azure to a warm palette of oranges and pinks as the sun began its descent toward the horizon. Alicia’s voice, always filled with enthusiasm and knowledge, added a last bit of information on the region as they slowly left it behind.
“Look to your left,” she said, pointing out the window, “you’ll see the vast expanse of the Lombardy region. This area is known for its fertile plains and agriculture, primarily producing rice, corn, and wine. The Alps are to our north, and on clear days, you can see the snow-capped peaks in the distance. This region is also famous for its silk production. For centuries, Lombardy has been a major center for the silk industry, which has significantly contributed to the region’s economy. We have about two hours to your final destination. Don’t eat too many snacks as we have a large farewell dinner planned. Enjoy the ride. ”
The bus meandered through charming villages with cobblestone streets and terracotta rooftops. Fields of sunflowers and vineyards stretched as far as the eye could see, painting the landscape in vibrant hues as Fernando and Sophie held each other in their own little cocoon in the back of the bus.
“Sophie, I can feel you thinking. What’s on your mind, my love?” Fernando asked, placing his cheek beside her head so she wouldn’t have to speak loudly for him to hear her.
“So much. I mean… a month ago, I was just your personal assistant mooning over her boss. Yesterday, I was your girlfriend, and today, we designed our wedding clothes and practically planned the entire event. Does that seem a little fast to you?” She was obviously concerned about this, but he felt none whatsoever.
“No, not in the least,” he said confidently. “Sophie, I’m sorry it took me so long to see you for the loving woman that you are on a romantic level, but once my eyes were open, there was no hesitation. Think of it this way. If a blind man is given the opportunity to have corrective surgery and have full sight, is he going to go around with his eyes closed, worrying about what he will see, or is he going to open them and enjoy the view? That was a rhetorical question, but that is how I feel. We already know each other. We already care for each other deeply; this is just another more wonderful layer, so why wait any longer to enjoy the bounty of what life is offering us, true love.” He kissed the side of her head and allowed her time to process all that he had said.
“I get it, but… what will people think when they hear you married your personal assistant six months after going on vacation with her?” Worry continued to color her words as she stared out the window.
“Love, I know that a good name is better to be chosen than great riches, and I try very hard not to contradict the Bible, but in this area, I honestly don’t care what people think. They will wag their tongues no matter what I do. We aren’t going to have a big splashy wedding, so I imagine it will take a hot minute for folks to even realize we are married. It would be fun not to tell them and see how long the office folks take to figure it out. No matter what, though, I will never be ashamed of you. As for marrying my assistant, what can I say? I’m a really good judge of character and hiring high-quality staff. Have I put your mind at ease on that topic? I have a question for you.”
“Yes, if you don’t mind getting slammed in the tabloids, then I guess I will try not to care when everyone calls me a ladder-climbing gold digger.”
The deep breath he felt leaving her lungs told him she wasn’t convinced, but only time would address this problem in the long run. “Sweetheart, if anyone on my payroll says anything of the kind to you, I want you to promise to give me their name within twenty-four hours of the offense. Do you promise?” Fernando tried to be calm, but he knew that came out more like a command.
Sophie turned in his arms to glare up at him. “Andy, I’m not a snitch.”
“Promise.” His voice was steel. This had triggered something deep inside him. “I will not have anyone displaying that type of behavior on my staff. That would be unacceptable on so many levels. If they dare utter that kind of slight to you, imagine what they would be doing to less powerfully placed people. No, I’m not budging on this. If you hear any such thing or feel disrespected in any way, you will tell me, and I will investigate their overall behavior before making a move. But a move will be made, that I promise you.”
Sophie rubbed down his arms where he held her, trying to soothe him; this had hit a cord. “When you put it that way, I promise. Now, what was your question? ”
Fernando took a moment to compose himself and took a few deep breaths to slow his heart rate. The thought of someone bullying Sophie made him crazy. The dark feelings from his childhood that momentarily clouded the edges of his vision started to recede, and he held her a little closer once more, resting his cheek next to her head so they were as close as possible, given their seating arrangement.
“I was wondering, if you could do anything with your life, what would it be? What was your dream job in high school?”
“Oh, that’s an easy one. I always wanted to be a lawyer.”
“What about now?”
“I mean, yeah, it would be cool to go to law school, but I love being your assistant. We’re getting married, and I have a child. It’s not like I can just drop all of that and go back to school. What would I do with it anyway?”
“What did you want to do with it before?” he asked, not wanting to drop the subject until he fully grasped her dream.
“I wanted to be a family lawyer, to help women and children who had no one to fight for them,” she whispered.
“That sounds just like the woman I know and love. And you know what, that sounds like something my wife would do. We’ve made a lot of decisions today, and I don’t want to overwhelm you, but I want you to think carefully about going to law school. Just because you are marrying a man with money and don’t need to work doesn’t mean you can’t have your own goals and dreams. A career if you want it. I would support you one hundred percent. And you said that part of your culture was the older generation taking care of the up-and-coming generation. Your parents will be living close by; we could hire a nanny, and Javier will be in school. We will find a way for you to go to school and still feel good about being a mother and wife if that is what you want to do. ”
“About that, Javier did kindergarten at home this year through a virtual school program. I want him to attend school and learn all the social skills he needs, but I’m terrified. This is going to sound terrible, but I am trying my best to protect him. They won’t do facial reconstruction on him until his facial bones stop growing in late adolescence. I can’t keep him locked away in the house until he is a teenager! I enrolled him in martial arts camp this summer, and he had a panic attack every day he went until I came on this trip. What should I do?”
“The first thing we will do is consult with my brothers. They will have the latest information on the Reyes Cartel and their current level of danger. Then, we will evaluate the best private schools in the area and conduct a deep analysis of every child enrolled and their family histories. We will select a school with the safest children and the most successful parents. The security will be high, and there will be little chance of anyone sneaking past security because it will be overly tight for all the children. Javi will have friends. They will have to come hang out at our home, but we will make sure that our home is way better than all of theirs. We will have play equipment like they have never experienced because most of them are little drones who sit inside all day, but Javier is going to be an athletic and very tanned outdoorsman with skills any boy would envy. We will go on vacations and expose him to new places and cultures, and we will wear disguises and stay out of the eye of the paparazzi, or we will wear specialized sunscreen that has special isotopes that will prevent a camera lens from being able to see our faces. We will figure it out as a family. Javier and your safety will be all of our priority. Don’t worry, Sophie. I’ve got you. Nothing and no one will endanger my family.”
Sophie turned and stood, then sat on Fernando’s lap and tucked her head under his chin, her arms around his neck. “Thank you.”
“Always and forever. Finders, keepers. You’re mine now. Never forget that,” Fernando’s voice left no question that it was a promise he intended to keep.