Chapter 4
E dmundo – Age 15
“Mr. Mikhailov, it’s great to see you again,” I muttered under my breath.
Pacing the foyer of my home, I rehearsed what to say to him and, of course, Ana. I didn’t know why I was so nervous. No, that was a lie. Our home was more than anyone ever needed, and I loved it, but it resembled a quaint beachside villa compared to the Mikhailov mansion.
Yes, it was prime land. Yes, we had hundreds of acres of vineyards. And yes, I was proud. But…men like Mr. Mikhailov didn’t do quaint.
“Son, what is the matter?”
I turned at the sound of my mama’s voice. There were few things more calming than my mother’s smile. She grabbed my shoulders, and I took a deep breath.
“I just want everything to be perfect for Mr. Mikhailov. Whenever we go there, he always makes us feel like royalty.”
“Are you sure that is the only reason?”
“What other reason would there be,” I asked, chuckling, but I knew that I was doing a terrible job of lying.
The arch in my mama’s eyebrow confirmed my suspicions.
“Fine, I may have another reason,” I whispered.
“Do you think I don’t know how you feel about the young Ms. Mikhailov? Every time you come home from a trip, you practically glow, caro mio .”
“Please, don’t tell Papa.”
She waved her hand at me like she did when I was little and being ridiculous.
“I won’t tell your father. But Edmundo, you must know that….”
“Mama…please. I need to make this work, and for now, I don’t want him to know. Making a statement on my own is the only way for him to take me seriously. For any of them to take me seriously.”
“Fine. Are you willing to take a small piece of friendly advice from your old mama?”
“Always,” I said, smiling.
“To impress your father and the Mikhailov family, you need to do more than work hard. You need to work smart.”
Her eyes were filled with a deviousness that I’d never seen in my mama.
“You have my full attention.”
“I have it on good authority that Mr. Bernardi is selling his business and all of his property. But it’s not on the market yet.”
“That’s a massive piece of land with a private airplane runway, storage facilities…it’s perfect for us to expand. But I don’t understand. I thought his son Carlos would inherit everything?”
“There is a rift in the family. He wants to sell now and not give a dime to his son,” she said.
“Wouldn’t that be taking advantage of the situation?”
Mama’s eyes softened as she grabbed my hand and led me to one of the stairs. We sat down, and she cupped my cheek, just like she had when I was young.
“My sweet boy. You have a kind heart, but if you’re serious about becoming a Don of Dons, there will be many things required that you will not like. Getting to the top is difficult and not always pretty, but staying there is even harder. There is a reason your father has never pushed for the position. He never had the stomach for the bloodshed and backstabbing.”
I looked away from her and down at my hands. Could I be ruthless? Could I kill for Ana? For us to be together? I swore to myself that I would do whatever it took, but murdering my way to the top wasn’t me either.
“Are you serious about this girl?”
“Yes, Mama.”
“Then use the information and show your father that you’re ready to take the next step,” she said.
“But it feels so dirty. I like Carlos.”
“Yes, I know. If it makes you feel any better, everyone will know soon enough. Mr. Bernardi is going public with his plan the day after tomorrow. You’re not taking anything away from Carlos that his father is not already planning on selling. There are many ways to get to the top that don’t include death, but no matter what, your hands will never be clean. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I’ll visit Mr. Bernardi first thing in the morning, but I don’t know if he’d even take me seriously.”
Mama nodded.
“Mr. Bernardi will if you present yourself and the proposal properly. He enjoys an espresso at nine every morning. Be there five minutes before that. Bring this with you.”
Mama pulled a box from the folds of her skirt. Taking it and cracking the lid, I whistled low at the sight of the fancy pocket watch.
“I may also know that he is a collector. This is a piece he has been after for a very long time.”
“How do you know all of this?”
“An old woman like me never reveals her secrets. I will leave the particulars of his business and properties in a folder in the top drawer of your nightstand. Make sure you have it memorized before you get there. A very generous offer has been drawn up. The contract is also in the file. You can go ten percent higher if needed, but that’s it. Wear your best suit and make us proud.”
“You really want me to close this deal on my own?”
“ Caro mio , you’re a man, and not just any man, but a Genovese who wants to be a Don of Dons. I have made no deal. That is your job. I simply got the paperwork in order. Call me when it’s done, and I’ll transfer the money.”
“Okay, but how did you know to do this for me?”
“Do you really think your father has been the one pulling the strings to make this place as successful as it is?” Mama shook her head. “If you believe that, then there are many things you still need to learn. The first one is to know what is going on under your roof.”
I knew Mama was smart, but now she was scaring me. That was one hell of an ability, and it was one I desperately needed to learn.
“What about Papa?”
Mama shrugged.
“Why should he always benefit from my hard work? It’s time that man learns how to find his own dirt. I’ll teach you all that I know and help you as much as I can.” Mama grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze, her warm eyes making me feel lucky to have two wonderful parents. “If you want to marry the young Ms. Mikhailov, then prepare to fight for her. Show the world what you’re made of.”
Smiling wide, I knew I could do this. I’d been studying corporate finance and was better at the books than that shady accountant Papa had killed. I would close this and put my stamp on my very first deal at fifteen. Mama was right. There was more than one way to get to the top, and I would have to claw through the mud at some point. Tomorrow was the first day of many. To have Ana by my side was worth whatever I had to do.
We stood from the stairs, and I put the gift in my pocket. The extra bribe to push him over the edge and sign with me.
“Thank you, Mama. For believing in me, but also for helping me with Ana.”
“I will do what I can. But you must still prepare yourself. Some deals aren’t meant to be closed, and we never know which ones.”
We looked over when we heard cars pulling up and the thrill of seeing Ana again had me smiling like a fool. One of the servants walked out and opened the door wide as the procession of people made their way into the foyer.
Papa had waited outside for the Mikhailovs and was in deep conversation with Vadin already as other businessmen, their sons, and guards filed into our home. My heart sank when I didn’t see Ana in the first wave of people.
Then, through the crowd of chatter and laughter, I spotted a glimpse of pink and blonde. Greeting men as I passed, I weaved my way toward her. Ana stood just inside the door with Frida behind her. Ana smirked in that flirtatious way of hers and looked me over. Rolling her beautiful eyes that could capture the soul of any man, she sighed.
“It has been a very long flight. I need to freshen up before anything else. Are you just going to stand there staring at me, or will you show me to my room?”
“Who says I’d ever lift a finger for you,” I asked, the noise of the group fading away.
Ana’s eyes flared with challenge.
“You will if you don’t want to be fired. I know the owner of this place, and he wouldn’t take it well if you were treating me badly.” She pointed to the pile. “That’s mine.”
“I see. Well, since my job is on the line, I guess I better show you the way.”
“That is a much better attitude.”
I grabbed Ana’s suitcase from the pile outside the door. The house staff would deliver the rest to the various rooms once the hallway cleared. Wanting to get Ana alone as quickly as possible, I winked and knew she would follow.
Slipping behind the wall of suits, my mama smiled when she spotted me and then looked away as I led Ana from the crowd. With each step we took, my entire body sang a little louder. I stopped at the guest room prepared for Frida.
“This is yours.”
Frida nodded and walked inside. Just being alone with Ana was like walking on air. I had no idea how one person could affect me the way she did, but in such an uncertain world, the one thing I was certain of was Ana.
Her room was the next in the hallway. I didn’t say a word as we stepped through the door and closed it. My need for her was unbearable, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed Ana, wrapping her up in a hug I never wanted to end.
“I’ve missed you,” I said as she held me just as fiercely.
“I’ve missed you more.”
“Impossible.”
Yulianna – Age 14
I couldn’t imagine what it was like to grow up in a place this beautiful. Not that I didn’t love home. There was much beauty there, too, but this felt magical. We’d passed what seemed like a thousand rows of vivid green and purple grapes. Workers had smiled and waved as we drove by, and Eddie’s home had shone like a bright white pearl in the late morning sun.
“Do you have to go to the party tonight,” I asked.
It was customary that when the meetings lasted longer than a day that a welcome gathering was held the first night. It was filled with food, drinking, cigars, and cards.
“I’ll have to show my face to be polite, but Papa has nothing planned until this evening. I was hoping to take you to the beach.”
“What if my father comes looking for me?”
“We’ll have chaperones. He should be fine. I’ll have at least two guards, and I’m sure Frida will want to come as well. Do you want to ask, and I can volunteer to take you?”
I smiled as I thought over his deception, but I had a better idea.
“No, let’s just go. I can ask for forgiveness later if he’s angry. With my luck, he would say no for a dumb reason. I’m not letting him ruin this trip for us.”
Eddie kissed my cheek, and his lips were warm against my skin. My stomach fluttered with excitement. I’d never been to a beach, and my first time would be with Eddie.
“I’ll change and round up a couple guards.”
“I’ll grab Frida and get ready.”
His gaze was so intense that it made me blush, and I looked down at our feet. It was getting harder to hide how I felt around him.
“I’ll meet you back here in fifteen minutes,” he said.
I nodded as he let me go and walked to the door. Eddie stopped and looked over his shoulder at me. He didn’t say anything, but the corner of his mouth lifted in a goofy, lopsided grin before he left.
There was a door connected to the next room, like at home, and I ran to it and knocked. Frida opened it immediately. I squealed with excitement, and we jumped around like we’d lost our minds. It was wonderful having her here. She was not only my friend but the only person I’d been able to confide in about Eddie.
“What did he say,” Frida asked as I dragged her into my room and over to my suitcase.
“We’re going to the beach. You can wear my stuff.” Unzipping the suitcase, I pulled out two pairs of shorts and t-shirts and tossed a set at Frida.
“Are you sure? I can go get my suitcase.”
“Don’t be silly. I don’t care if you wear my clothes. Besides, we don’t have time. Eddie will be back in ten minutes.”
“He’s so hot,” Frida said, and I laughed.
“I know. He makes my heart race.”
There was no way to keep the blush off my face as I thought about the smile he’d given me.
We quickly stripped out of our travel clothes and I put my bathing suit on underneath the summer wear. I was just slipping on my sandals when someone knocked. Fearing it might be my father, I took a deep breath and composed my face before opening the door.
My neutral expression melted at the sight of Eddie.
“Are you ready?” I nodded. “Here you go.” He held out two thick towels. “These are extra large beach towels.”
Handing one to Frida, I clutched the other to my chest. I wanted to hug Eddie again, but we didn’t dare anywhere that someone might see us. Slipping on my sunglasses, I followed him. Two guards stood waiting at the end of the hallway and fell into line behind Frida.
We walked out the back of the house and across the grass, so green it looked fake, before taking the stairs down to the beach. A couple holding hands greeted us cheerfully as they passed.
“I didn’t think there would be anyone else here,” I said.
“Why?”
I shrugged.
“My father would never let people this close to our home. He’d want to own the beach, too.”
“We do, but my papa allows the neighbors access. Everyone here is loyal to my family.” Eddie pointed at a large boat out on the water. “That’s ours. One day, I’ll take you on it.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Something about the open water makes you feel free. You’ll love it.”
We each picked out a lounging chair and dropped our towels down.
“I’m going to stay here unless you need me,” Frida said and sighed as she lay down.
Kicking off my shoes, I wiggled my toes into the warm sand and watched them disappear. It was such a silly little thing, but this was so cool.
“Come on, we can walk the beach. The water feels really warm here.”
“Do you go swimming,” I asked, looking at the water shimmering in the bright light.
“Sometimes, but there is a lagoon not far away where dolphins play and I prefer going there.”
My mouth dropped open. “You swim with dolphins?”
Eddie laughed.
“I do. If your father allows, I can take you there.”
“Wow, I’d love that. I know how to swim, father had me learn, but I’ve never been in the ocean before.”
Even though I was used to guards, it was strange to look back and see two men dressed in suits following us while we wandered the shoreline. We stopped at one point, and the men turned their backs to us, searching for any potential threats. Eddie took advantage of the moment and linked our fingers for a few seconds. It wasn’t a lot, but I loved it.
We picked seashells, and Eddie pointed out the different homes, explaining who lived in each house. I’d lost all track of time, completely swept away by Eddie when we reached Frida and our chairs. Or, I had been until I spotted my father marching toward us.
“Oh no,” I said.
“It’s okay. We weren’t doing anything wrong.”
My father glared as he stomped right up to me.
“Yulianna, you do not sneak off without asking for permission.”
I looked around and then up at the house he’d just come from.
“Father, I didn’t think I had.” He narrowed his eyes, but I pointed to the house. “This is still Mr. Genovese’s property. Eddie gave me and Frida a tour. His guards were with us the whole time.”
“Sorry, Mr. Mikhailov, I didn’t mean to worry you. Yulianna mentioned she’d never been to the beach. I thought it would be nice for her to see ours where she would be protected, but I should’ve come and asked you first,” Eddie said, and my father’s face softened for him.
He looked around and then down at me, and I held my breath to see what he said.
“How do you like it?”
I smiled wide. “I love it. Look, I have sand between my toes,” I said, pointing, and his lip twitched.
“I have some friends from school coming over to play football. Would you like to join us,” Eddie asked, and my father full-on laughed.
“No, I don’t think so.” He put his hands on his hips and sighed as he spotted Frida lying on the lounger. “Okay, you can stay down here. But make sure you’re ready for dinner.”
Wrapping my arms around my father, I hugged him tight. It was the first time he was allowing me to be my age and have fun.
“Thank you,” I said as his hand touched my back.
“See you at dinner.”
He turned and walked away. I made sure he was out of sight before punching Eddie in the arm.
“Tag, you’re it,” I said and took off running.
“Oh no, you didn’t,” he yelled and started chasing me down.
Nothing could wipe the smile from my face. I loved Eddie, and this place felt like home. I never wanted to leave.