Chapter 4

"Wow!" Martin Rocci said as Andres revealed the reason for Edward's visit. "And you allowed him?" Martin questioned his son.

"I've known Edward since University, dad. He is a good man." Andres said with a smile. "Plus I think it's a good match. The Vernon family might not be at the top of the pyramid, but they are a good family, they have businesses in industries we don't."

"Wait, how did Edward meet Francesca?" Matteo asked his younger brother as he eyed him suspiciously.

"Well, that's my fault." Andres said as he scratched his head. "I asked Francesca to take something to Edward and well, he was smitten the moment her saw her."

Francesca wanted to step on her brother's toes out of anger, he was taking this whole courtship excuse way too far.

"Dad, think of it this way. If Francesca marries Edward, she can pursue acting and you wouldn't have to worry about her marriage." Matteo said as he seemingly quickly shifted sides to agree with Andres.

"She still shouldn't get involved with that industry." Martin Rocci said with a frown.

"Darling, let Edward court Francesca." Tina Rocci, Matteo, Andres, and Francesca's mother, said as she placed a hand on her husband's arm. Their marriage was an arranged one, luckily the young couple quickly fell in love after their marriage, resulting in a harmonious one.

"Very well." Martin said with a nod.

"Dad, one more thing." Francesca said nervously.

"What?" Her father asked as he looked lovingly at his only daughter. Despite being quite strict on her, everyone knew that Martin spoiled Francesca, the only thing he didn't let her do really was to join the entertainment industry.

"Dad, it's kind of tough living here while I'm at the university. People treat me differently and I have a hard time adjusting. Could you let me live at the dorms, or maybe rent me an apartment near school?" Francesca asked in a sweet tone as she batted her eyes.

"Really? You ask me that when you've just gotten a suitor?" Martin asked his daughter.

"Please daddy." Francesca asked again.

"Fine. Matteo, arrange it for Francesca." Martin told his eldest son.

Francesca ran up and hugged her father tightly as she went back up to her bedroom to pack.

When dinner was done Andres and Francesca were talking about the arrangements that needed to be made when Matteo suddenly entered Andres' study and slammed the door behind him.

"Matteo! You'll disturb everyone." Francesca scolded.

"What are the two of you up to?" Matteo asked as he poured himself a glass of liquor.

"I was going to tell you but I couldn't tell you in front of dad!" Francesca confessed.

"Spill." Matteo said with a cold glare.

"Edward just signed me as an actress slash model under Ver Industries." Francesca excitedly announced to her eldest brother.

"And you think the way to hide it is to lie to dad? Say you're dating your boss?" Matteo's line of questioning made their plan seem worse and worse.

"Well, I'll tell him the truth eventually. It's not like I can keep this from dad forever." Francesca said with a shrug. "I need to pack. Good night, brothers." Francesca said as she walked out of the room.

Fancesca made sure to keep the door slightly ajar as she stood nearby, she wanted to hear what her brothers would talk about.

"You are seriously letting her do this?" Matteo asked Andres.

"Yes Matteo, and I'm sure that it's just a phase. In a few months when she realizes that the entertainment industry is tougher than she thinks she'll come back home." Andres said.

Francesca who was listening in from the other side of the door smiled, Andres was sticking to their script.

"You did this on purpose, didn't you? Letting her meet Edward and all." Matteo asked his younger brother.

"I was just helping her get a shot at her dream." Andres said.

"You did this to discourage her. I know you Andres, you're so sensitive to society you would never let Francesca into the entertainment industry." Matteo said.

Francesca didn't hear a reply from Andres but she heard footsteps approaching so she rushed to her own room down the hall.

She was torn between believing that Andres wanted to help her and believing Matteo's words that Andres wanted her to get tired of the industry.

When she got to her room she took out her phone and dialed a number. The phone rang for a while before a sleepy voice answered.

"Hello?" The woman on the other end asked.

"Are you really still asleep?" Francesca scolded.

"Ugh, Francesca." The woman groaned. "My alarm hasn't even gone off yet."

"Ha, you were just busy last night!" Francesca accused with a chuckle.

"So what if I was?" the woman said as her voice started to sound livelier.

"Kat! I need to talk to you." Francesca whined. Katerina Sebastian was one of Francesca's closest friends back in high school. Katerina was currently in America studying to be a lawyer just like her mother.

"I told you not to call me Kat." Katerina said angrily.

"Katerina sounds so formal, so respectable. I prefer Kat!" Francesca said with a giggle.

"Are you saying I am not respectable?" Katerina asked. "If you didn't know, my family is one of the oldest and most powerful in politics, even my playboy brother can win an election purely on his credentials and track record!" Katerina said proudly over the phone.

"I know, I know, the Sebastians must not be crossed. If not for your own power and influence then for the five princes." Francesca said with a laugh.

"Six princes." Katerina corrected.

"Who is the sixth?" Francesca asked. The five princes were the five sons of the most powerful clans in the country, the Reyes Clan being the most powerful, the Sebastians who dominated politics, the Abads that controlled the media, the Laurence Clan that ruled the underworld, and the Chans who owned almost all the major hospitals in the country.

"Nicole Chan's eldest brother, you've never met him." Katerina simply.

"My parents would throw a party if I could marry your brother." Francesca teased.

"My brother is disgusting." Katerina said as she made puking noises. "Anyway, why did you call?"