Chapter 5
E dmundo – Age 17
The last thing in the world I wanted to do tonight was attend a business dinner. Father said we were meeting with someone important so I’d finished up the work he had given me and taken a shower. Now, I was getting dressed in a suit. It might have been summer break from Wayward Academy, but I was making the absolute most of my time at home.
But tonight, my plans had only included Ana. I wanted to hang out on the phone while we watched a movie that we could both find. It was harder than you’d think, but tonight was my night to choose.
Picking up my phone, I texted Ana.
E: Hey there, anima mia. It will be later than normal when I call. I have to attend a business dinner with my family.
A: I’ll answer no matter the time.
I smiled at my phone even though she couldn’t see it.
Two more years and I could propose to her. Every time I looked at her, all I could think about was our future. I’d been working hard at my papa’s company and had managed to land a couple of new distributors who would open our sales into Africa and New Zealand. It would bring in millions more a year, and I knew that was what Papa wanted to celebrate. Honestly, having wealth wasn’t enough. I needed to be so powerful that Mr. Mikhailov couldn’t deny my request.
E: I can’t wait to see you next week. I miss you.
A: I miss you more. I can’t wait to see you either. It feels like forever. Every second is a second closer to being able to hold you.
E: I feel the same way. I better go, but I’ll call. Promise. Love you.
A: Love you, too.
Slipping on my gold bracelet, I made sure my tie was perfect before leaving my room. My parents were just putting on their coats as I walked down the stairs.
“You look so handsome,” Mama said, and I hugged her as she kissed both my cheeks.
“Thank you.”
Grabbing my long coat, I pulled it on as we walked outside to the car. Maurice’s hair was now white, but his smile was still as warm and welcoming as it had always been. He gave me a wink as we got it.
We pulled up in front of Il Picco, and I raised a brow.
“Wow, what are we celebrating?”
This was a Michelin three-star restaurant, and we only came here for big occasions.
Papa wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
“You’ll soon take over, and every day that I look at you, I see the man I knew you’d become. Smart, brave, and determined. It is time that we celebrated your accomplishments.”
I smiled as we walked inside and were guided to a full table in a private room. But it fell the moment I spotted Mr. and Mrs. Mencioni, Mario, and Patricia. This was no ordinary celebration.
My cousin Francisco, who worked as the COO at my father’s company, stood up and hugged me.
Just as I suspected, once I’d greeted everyone, I was pointed to the empty seat beside Patricia. Other than saying hello, I didn’t speak another word and kept the conversation going with Francisco, where he sat on my other side.
Appetizers were served, and our main course came and went. I thought that maybe I would get out of this without facing the elephant in the room, but no such luck. My father dinged his glass as I sipped my after-dinner espresso. Instantly, my heart began to pound out of my chest.
Don’t do it. Don’t do it.
“As you all know, Edmundo will not only inherit my businesses, but he is my successor as Don of this region. I couldn’t be prouder of the savvy deals he’s already making to bring our investments to the next level.”
Everyone clapped, and Francisco grabbed my shoulder. We raised our glasses in a toast to me and then sipped wine that was made from our grapes. Pride burned in my chest. I’d worked harder than anyone I knew, and it was paying off.
“That brings me to my next announcement. I’m sure this one won’t come as a surprise.”
Any joy I felt moments ago vanished as I waited for him to say it.
“Mr. Mencioni and I have come to an agreement that will be beneficial for both of our families.”
My heart hammered in my chest as Mr. Mencioni reached into his suit jacket. He placed a folded piece of paper down on the table and slid it across to me with a pen.
“All it needs is your signature. Then our families will be united by an unbreakable bond.”
Patricia smiled at me as I opened the contract and read over everything I had dreaded. Shaking my head, I folded it back up and returned it, unsigned, to Mr. Mencioni. His smile vanished along with Patricia’s and Papa’s. The only one at the table who didn’t look shocked and was as unhappy as I felt was Mama. Her face told me that she’d tried to talk him out of this, but he didn’t listen.
Everyone stared at me as I wiped my mouth and tossed the napkin down on the table. I glared at my Papa.
“I bring in millions, and this is how you repay me? Take me out to dinner and blindside me with a marriage contract?”
I looked around at all the stunned faces.
“I’m sorry to have wasted your time, Mr. Mencioni. I mean no disrespect but you were ill-informed, and I’m betrothed to another.”
Papa gasped along with everyone else at the table as my mama pinched the bridge of her nose.
“What? Who,” Papa asked as he burst from his seat. “I demand to know.”
Walking up to my papa, I stared him in the eyes. It took an awful lot to ignite my rage, but he’d managed to do it tonight.
“If you’d like to discuss it, then we will do it in the privacy of our home, not here.”
He grabbed my arm, and I looked at his hand. Leaning close to his ear, I whispered.
“I love you, Papa, and I respect you, but do not force my hand. If you do, then you’ll find out just how serious I am about becoming Don…the old-fashioned way,” I growled.
“Did you just threaten me, son?”
“Just letting you know that backing me into a corner may be the wrong move.”
“This conversation is not over,” he said, but let go of my arm.
“So be it, but I’m leaving.”
He glared at me and then sat down. I nodded to Mama before marching to the door, messaging Maurice to pick me up and Marcus to vent.
“Edmundo, wait. Please, can we talk about this,” Patricia asked, running out of the restaurant behind me.
“No.”
“But….”
Snarling, I rounded on her.
“I said no. I’ve been saying no for years. How many times have I shot you down?” Patricia crossed her arms and looked away, not answering. “Do you really think I don’t know you had something to do with that bullshit? You just won’t take a hint. How many times do I have to say no to you before you get it through your head that I’m not interested? You probably begged your papa to make it happen.”
She looked at the ground, answering my question. “The union makes sense,” she said.
“For who? Not me. I’m in love with someone else, and you keep pushing. Sending me texts and emails while I’m away at school. Making sure that you’re always with your brother when we get together. I see what you’re doing. I’m just not interested, and I’ve tried really hard to be nice about this, but I’m done with this game you’re playing. I don’t want you, Patricia.”
“What if you could have the best of both,” she asked.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means that I want to marry you, and if your papa doesn’t know about this other girl, then there is a good chance he won’t approve of her.”
“You don’t know that. You’re making an assumption.”
“Maybe, but from what I saw in the restaurant, I’m right. What if you marry me to appease our families and still have her.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You’re insane.”
“Edmundo, listen to me. My papa wanted to marry me off to one of his friends. The guy is like fifty. All I’m saying is that we could do this for business only. You can still love who you want to love and the businesses would prosper. It’s a win win.”
“I’m not like that.”
“Don’t be so naive, Edmundo. Everyone does this.”
She grabbed my arm, and I jerked it away.
“Keep your hands off me. Don’t make me tell you again, or I won’t be as nice about it. I belong to another, and I want nothing to do with this shady fucking offer.”
Maurice pulled up, and I didn’t wait for him to get out and come around before getting in and slamming the door. Patricia looked pissed as she stomped back into the restaurant. What the hell was she thinking?
“Is everything alright, sir?”
I sighed. “It will be, Maurice. Thank you.”
“You know that your papa only wants what he thinks is best for you.”
“Did you know what he was going to pull tonight?”
He shrugged. “I’ve overheard enough conversations to put it together. He is doing it out of love.”
“No, he is doing it because he sees me as his new way to gain power. Power that is rightfully mine,” I said, and Maurice looked at me in the rearview mirror.
“Careful, sir. Thoughts like those lead to wounds in families that can’t be repaired.”
“Maybe you’re right. But I thought he respected me enough to discuss it with me before making decisions behind my back. I won’t marry her.”
I’d done everything that Papa wanted and had proven myself at every obstacle. Nothing and no one would stand in the way of me getting what I wanted, including my papa.
“Does your father know about Ms. Mikhailov?”
My eyes snapped to Maurice’s in the mirror. “How do you know about her?”
“Like I said, I’m a good listener.”
“Noted. And no, not yet. I need things in place before I propose to her.”
“May I make a suggestion, sir?”
“Yes, as long as it’s not that I marry Patricia. That is not happening,” I said, crossing my arms.
“No, I was going to recommend telling your father. Before you disagree, try to remember that he isn’t your enemy. He is trying to secure your future so that you have every opportunity to continue to succeed. I have never known your father to scheme as you claim. If he knows how you feel, maybe he can help you get what you want.”
It was unnerving to trust him with this information. If I did and Papa didn’t agree, he could use the knowledge against me and Ana. Secrecy had been the one thing that kept us safe. He could ban me from going on any more trips or tell her father. But then again, my mama had proven herself to be an incredible ally and had kept my secret.
“I don’t know, Maurice. It’s an awfully large risk,” I said.
“Maybe, but at least you’ll have stopped him from unknowingly creating more issues.”
Sighing, I had to agree that Maurice had a point. Papa had never been malicious, and he didn’t know of my feelings for Ana. If he only wanted me to be happy and have a plan then I needed to negotiate a new plan. The bottom line was that I’d need his help at some point and could only hope this wasn’t a huge mistake.
“Maurice, take me to the tattoo shop. There is something I need to do.” He looked at me and then smiled.
“You’ve got it, sir.”
I wasn’t spending another moment without Ana’s name on my body. She was mine, and I was going to prove it, starting right now.
It was after ten when I walked through the front door. I’d ignored the numerous calls from both my papa and mama while I was getting my new tattoo. It was a large piece and would take time to complete, but it would be stunning, just like her. I used the pain to clear my mind and the time to think and plan.
Following their voices, I found them in the sitting room. Mama spotted me in the doorway first and jumped up to run to me.
“Edmundo, don’t you ever take off like that again. I was so scared.”
“Sorry, Mama, I just needed some space to cool down,” I said.
She stepped back and cupped my cheeks, tears threatening to escape.
“I’ll leave you two to talk.” She looked between me and Papa. “Talk, Alessandro, no yelling, or I will be back,” she threatened before leaving the two of us alone.
“May I start,” I asked, sitting down.
Papa poured himself a drink and nodded.
“I want to start by apologizing for what I said to you. I was angry and felt threatened. I don’t respond well when that happens, but that doesn’t excuse how I spoke to you. I would never hurt you, Papa.”
Papa sighed and sat down on the couch across from me.
“Who is this girl?”
“I can’t tell you that unless you agree to help me and not sabotage my relationship. I won’t let you or anyone else rip us apart.”
He took a sip of his drink and finally met my eyes.
“She cannot be someone that I will approve of then.”
Shrugging, I unbuttoned my suit jacket and sat back.
“I don’t know what you’ll think. But if you suspect she doesn’t come from a good family, you’re wrong. If you think that her family doesn’t have money, you’re also wrong.”
He tilted his head as he stared at me.
“Is that all you think I want for you or this family? To add more wealth?”
“I’m no fool, Papa. I know and understand that it is a driving force, even if it is not the only one.”
He smirked. “Wayward has changed you. Sometimes, I hardly recognize the boy and only see a man. It is a good thing, just difficult to wrap my mind around the fact that my boy is now a man.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment, Papa. Telling you has been on my mind for some time, and I’d love nothing more than to have your help. But you also have an agenda and it may not align with mine. So, either you agree to help me, and I share this with you, or I don’t. But there will be no marriage contract with anyone but her. It won’t happen.”
He stared at me, his finger tapping the top of his glass before he finally shook his head. Papa mumbled under his breath, having finished the fight with himself. I couldn’t tell who won.
“Tell me, son…do you love this girl? Are you willing to die for her?”
“Yes, I love her with everything in me, and I’ll endure eternal torture to be by her side. She is mine as I am hers.” I stared my father in the eyes. “No one, and I mean no one, will come between us.”
There was nothing else to say.
“You are certainly determined, Edmundo. We’ll do this your way. I swear that I won’t interfere with your decision. Who is this girl that you’re so in love with that you will do anything for?”
It was now or never. Licking my lips, I swallowed the fear. No decision for the better was made while listening to the little voice of doubt.
“Yulianna Mikhailov,” I said, just as Papa took a drink and started to choke.
“Here, I was worried you were punching down. I should’ve known you’d be punching up.” I smiled as he rubbed his eyes. “Edmundo, this is nearly impossible.”
“It was you who told me there is nothing in this world worth having that comes easy. I will make Yulianna mine, with or without your help, but I prefer to have you by my side for this fight.”
“And she feels the same? You two always behave as if you can barely stand one another.”
I smirked, and Papa chuckled.
“Devious, the pair of you.” He lifted his glass in the air like he was toasting me and nodded. “Alright, I’ll help. But you must prepare yourself. Vadin may never agree to a marriage, he is a difficult man at the best of times. If he gets it into his head to refuse you…there won’t be any changing his mind.”
“Yulianna is mine,” I growled.
Papa chuckled. “Okay, son. She is yours.”