Chapter 3
I gripped the handle tighter. How my father’s voice remained so calm as he imploded my world was beyond me.
“I don’t want this,” I gritted out between my teeth. I couldn’t move. The thought of turning around made my pulse kick up. Not once did I ever think this could happen to me. My father wouldn’t do this. We had an agreement!
“I won’t do it,” I whispered as I dug my nails into my palms, certain that I had drawn blood.
“Isabella, I’ve already made up my mind.” The air behind me shifted as I felt him rise from his chair. His movements were almost cat-like.
“How?” A cascade of emotions burst into my chest as I turned to face him.
His face was as expressionless as ever. If there was ever a time I needed my father rather than our family’s Don , it was now.
"You've only just had this conversation with Luca. How can you make such a big decision about my life without discussing it with me? Hell, you haven’t even slept on it!
" My sadness at this betrayal from my father was yet again replaced by boiling rage.
“I don’t need to sleep on it. Andre doesn’t want it and moreover he’s too young. But you, my little diamond, you were born to lead.” His lips turned up into a crooked smile and I instantly felt sick. I didn’t want to be a leader. I couldn’t think of anything worse.
“Yeah, well, I don’t want it either! I told you this years ago. What makes Andre so different? Because he’s the fucking baby of the family?”
“Isabella Ricci… watch your mouth.” His smile suddenly turned into a frown, and I realised I'd gone way too far. I may have secretly been my father’s favourite, but right now I knew I was anything but.
“Who I step down to is and always will be my decision. You will learn to accept the choice I have made, and, at some point in your life, I hope you’ll be happy with it. ”
My nostrils flared as I huffed out a breath.
There was no point in arguing with him. My father always had a way of winning.
This morning, I was a happy woman, a woman who didn't have a care in the world except to spend every waking moment with my nephew, making sure he felt every ounce of the love he deserved, and now?
Now, it was up to me to take on the responsibility of learning the ropes that Luca had spent countless years learning.
To earn the same respect that my father and Luca had, and, above all else, to fill the biggest boots I'd ever known.
My father’s.
“You promised you would never do this to me, and until this day you have never ever broken a promise to me, so why, Papa? Why?” Tears filled my eyes as I allowed my emotions to surface. My father quickly clasped my hands in his much larger, calloused ones.
“Because, I trust you, that’s why.” His face eased as his eyes softened. “I wouldn’t suggest this if I wasn’t positive you’d be able to lead the business I’ve spent years building and crafting.”
“But Papa, I know nothing about what you do! I can protect myself but that’s it.
I don’t know the first thing about being you.
” I yanked my hands out from his and the hurt on his face was clear as day.
“There has to be someone else, please. Anyone else!” I pleaded desperately with him, but deep down I knew… there was no point.
“Bella, my diamond, there is no one else. I love and respect your brother, but he would never be able to lead the way I know you can.” His best smile, usually reserved for no one but me, my mother, and my brothers, rose to the surface as he tucked a hair behind my ear.
“I understand this isn’t what you wished for and that you’re scared, but I need you to do this for me and our family. ”
“Papa, I can’t…” I glanced down at the floor unable to hold his gaze.
“Luca is a much better option. It was always meant to be him! There is no way I can replace him, I’ll screw everything up.
I’ll run what you spent years building into the ground.
I-I’ll disappoint you.” Internally, I begged him to come to his senses.
“Bella…” Gripping my chin with a light hold, he lifted my eyes to meet his.
“You could never disappoint me. You were born for this. You’ll see.
” His eyes softened as he lowered his voice.
“The only reason I picked Luca over you was because your mother and I knew how much you wanted nothing to do with the business. But you have no idea how much I believe in you, and how much we all do.”
“Okay, Papa.” Defeated, I gave him a smile that didn’t fully reach my eyes. “I’ll try my best.”
“I know you will.” Despite how angry I was, the idea of letting down the most important man in my world began to eat away at me.
My father had worked very hard to protect our family’s legacy and run the city with a firm but fair iron fist. “I will go through everything with you. All the deals, connections and associates we have. I won’t leave a stone unturned.
I’ll also appoint you a trainer who will also stand by your side as protection. ”
I frowned. A trainer? He wasn’t serious, was he?
“Uhm, Papa, I have like eight bodyguards,” I scoffed. “They report back to you on a daily basis about everything.”
“Bella…” My father’s eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke.
“I mean, come on, who out of them is going to train me? I can already put all of them on their ass.”
“You’ll still have your regular bodyguards, that won’t change, but I’ll be hiring and appointing a new head guard. Someone who will put you through your paces in training and prepare you for everything and anything. I will be with you every step of the way, just as everyone will be.”
Yeah, right. Screw that. I wouldn’t have some jumped up MMA wannabe telling me what to do.
I turned away from my father and ran my fingers through my hair, squeezing my eyes tight shut. Taking over was going to be no joke, and I had barely any time to get ready to take over, but I was a Ricci and we never gave up.
Swallowing past the fear, I looked back over my shoulder to give my father a nod. “Whatever you need, Papa.” I didn’t know how true that really was, but I had to make it somewhat believable. “Can I leave now?”
“Of course, but make sure you’re around tomorrow, please.
I will officially announce it to the team, and you and I will sit down for our first meeting to begin going through everything you need to know.
” His palm came to rest on my shoulder. The action used to be somewhat comforting, but right now, it wasn’t. “You are my only hope, Bella.”
I wanted to reply, believe me, I did, but I couldn’t. The words were jumbled in my head, unable for me to unscramble and I could see the hope in his eyes, the same look of a man who had just dumped the weight of the world on my shoulders.
“I’ll be there, don’t worry.” I tore my gaze away and headed towards the door, the trembling of my hand was too much to hide as I pulled the door open.
I had never fled my father’s office so quickly. I wasn’t one to normally cry, but that moment felt like one huge exception.
I couldn’t believe this was happening.
A single tear had just begun to trail down my cheek when I collided with a rock-hard chest. I jumped back in horror, about to apologise, when my nostrils were invaded with a familiar spicy scent. A comforting one I knew so well.
My grandfather. Artem. A man almost as menacing as my father… almost .
“ Dobroye utro, tsvetok. Where are you running off to in such a hurry?” His hands cupped my shoulders as he searched my face, his eyes full with worry.
“Uh… Nowhere. I was just going to take a walk outside.” That was a lie. I wanted nothing other than to lock myself in my room, bury myself under the covers, and shut the world out until further notice.
“Well, how about I join you and you can tell me the exact reason you look close to tears, tsvetok ?” He smiled warmly, the gesture reaching his eyes.
“I’m not—” I stuttered.
“I wasn’t born yesterday, Isabella, I know a lot more than you do. Now come on, let’s walk.” He held out his arm for me to take. I eyed it for a second, debating running back up the stairs to escape his questions. “Don’t even think about giving me the slip young lady, let’s go.”
I tightened my grip on his arm as his other hand rested on mine.
I had always been close with my grandparents, especially my Dedushka .
He always knew when something was wrong, he was always there when I didn’t want to talk to anyone else.
Luca wasn’t fussed about spending hours on end at their house, but I adored it, there was something comforting about it.
My Nonna used to let me tend to the flower garden with her while my Dedushka would fill me with enough sugar to bounce off the walls.
As we stepped outside and the warmth of the morning sun hit my face, my stomach finally unclenched. The sound of Theo’s laughter, while he played with Luca and Red, soothed my anxiety. That boy’s energy had always caused my heart to swell and today was no different.
“So, tsvetok , tell me what’s wrong.” He asked as we kicked our shoes off to stroll barefoot around our estate’s lake.
Fuck it.
“Did you know that Papa was originally going to pick me to take his place?” I asked. Dedushka didn’t so much as flinch as he cocked his head to one side. He and my father tended to discuss near enough everything business related, so I knew… There was no way he didn’t know.
“Yes. We discussed it the moment he saw the woman you were becoming. A strong, independent one, Isabella. But the moment he realised it wasn’t what you wanted, he chose Luca.
” He turned and carried on walking down the path.
“Luca knew that he wasn’t the one your father would have chosen, and Lorenzo didn’t believe in hiding that fact either.
Luca accepted this because he saw the same strength in you that your father saw and still sees.
” A smile crept across his lips as he continued. “What makes you ask?”
“Luca’s stepped aside.” I sighed. “Papa wants me to take his place… H-he broke his promise to me.” Dedushka slid an arm around my waist and pulled me into his side.
“Do you blame your brother for causing this?”
“No, of course not!” I replied, horrified.
“Theo is Luca’s world. And that’s how it should be.
I understand his reasons and I support him one hundred percent.
I just don’t think I’m as ready as he was.
” And I wasn’t. Anyone with eyes would see that.
“Papa wants to announce it to everyone tomorrow. I’m going to be laughed out of that room. ”
“Don’t be so ridiculous! Your father will end anyone who even looks at you funny, let alone laugh, tsvetok . I’d help.” He chuckled gruffly as we came to a standstill.
“Deda! How am I supposed to be the one to take another one’s life if they deceive me? How can I take someone from their family if they turn against me? I-I’m not a killer.” Tears pricked my eyes as I fought the urge to let them trickle down my cheeks.
“Trust me, you’ll find the strength you need to resolve an issue if someone deceives you. You won’t think twice. And you’ll always have us in your corner, and, deep down, you know Luca won’t let you do this alone. He may be stepping aside, but he’ll still get his hands dirty when you need him to.”
“No. I would never ask that from him. Besides, I couldn’t afford to look weak. Clearly, like I’m doing right now.” I pinched the bridge of my nose as I let out a sigh.
“ Tsvetok , it’s okay to show weakness—especially to your family—but when you come face to face with an enemy, you show none .
You will slip that mask into position and show no mercy as you continue the Ricci legacy.
” He was right. He always was, and as much I hated it, I couldn’t deny the sense he spoke.
“And no doubt your father is hiring someone to train you for that? Train you to be fierce and above all else be by your side to protect you and watch out for you.”
“Ugh, I don’t see why he needs to hire someone for that. He already has so many men he can ask here!”
“And we all know you give them the slip!” He grinned.
“How do you know I do that?”
“You’d be surprised, tsvetok . I know everything.” He winked as he squeezed me tighter into his side. The softness of his cashmere pullover stroked my cheek.
“Do you really think I can do it? Do you think I’ll make him proud?” I muttered.
“I have no doubt in my mind that you will be a phenomenal leader, just like your father. But I know you’re capable of bettering him and deep down… so do you.” I felt his smile against the top of my head, and it was times like these that I believed his words, or at least started to.
“Hey! Auntie Bells! Come play with us!” I heard Theo’s angelic voice call me from the other side of the lake.
“Looks like you’re being summoned.”
“I won’t have as much time for him anymore,” I choked back a sob. Over the years that little boy had become like a shadow to me, and I couldn’t bear the thought of not spending as much time with him.
“Trust me, you’ll find the time. Just take each day as it comes, remember to breathe, and know that I’m behind you with each tremendous step you take.
” He clutched my hands in an action not too dissimilar from my father and lightly kissed each one.
The smell of his favourite peppermint candies skated across my face as he then kissed my forehead.
“Thank you, Deda , I love you.”
“And I love you, tsvetok .” He tucked me back into his side as he redirected us back to the house. “Now, come on, let’s see what that little troublemaker wants.” We both chuckled and all seemed right with the world again.
For now, anyway.