CHAPTER TWO

Lucinda's POV

I stared hard at the iron gates of the Berlusconi Mansion in silence as Father talked to the head security guard. I never thought there will be a day when I would willingly enter the house of my arch-nemesis. I sighed and Adrianna turned to look at me.

She gave me a reassuring smile and I returned it. If we were to be left alone with those boys there would be bloodshed.

The Mansion was fairly impressive. It had fountains and all, and gardens. But every mafia Mansion had one. Including ours.

Four guards came to receive us as we made our way into the Mansion itself.

I channeled good thoughts. I mean what is the worst that could happen?

"This way Sir, Mr. Berlusconi is in the dining hall." A man I presumed to be their butler said and ushered us to their dining room. Sweat trickled down my spine.

I gave out a sigh of relief when I realized the boys weren't here yet. That Lorenzo' wasn't here.

"Pietro. Good to see that you made it on time" Don Riccardo said and shook fathers hands and they both nodded.

Their dining table was so long and thick that it could be used for a conference meeting. It could hold about 25 people if I'm not wrong.

Don Riccardo sat at the head of the table. Arrogance seeps off him along with dominant vibes. On his left sat his mother, Mrs. Guilla Berlusconi.

On his right, father sat, and beside him sat Nanna and then Adrianna, and then me. I was a nervous wreck.

"We all know why we're here. No one is a stranger to what we are coming to discuss. Also, the food will come when our latecomers make an appearance." Don Riccardo said breaking the silence.

"Yeah," Father said sitting up straight. These two men looked as proud as peacocks. I silently prayed the boys will bail.

"I've given it a lot of thought and came up with the conclusion that either our phones might be bugged or one of the maids overheard," Father stated.

Don Riccardo nodded.

"There is a high chance possibility that your phones were bugged or maybe a maid overheard something," I added.

"Yeah maybe from your side as your house was ambushed. Maybe they implanted a camera your crew missed." Adrianna added.

Don Riccardo held an amused look and Mrs. Guilla's eyes shot up. Nanna beamed.

"And what do you know about this implantation, or bugging or hacking?" Don Riccardo asked.

Don Riccardo reminded her too much of his youngest son, Carlo. Though they didn't exactly have similar features as Carlo looked like his mom, they did share only one similar feature though, which was the eyes but the habit of taunting people was something that Carlo truly got from his Dad.

"I know all that there is to know. Adrianna and I always got through the security system and as we are 'computer geeks' ourselves we have made sure to hire people who can detect any kind of breach, or invasion and make sure to go through every call made by our men in the house, mafia, around premises and anywhere else as we have tapped into every person's phone to make sure that no foreign calls are made to anyone outside the mafia. So we would be notified if someone was listening to our conversation" I explained.

Don Riccardo looked stunned and it was quickly replaced with a smirk.

"That's very impressive dear future 'daughter-in-law' but as you see" He got cut off by a voice. A voice I knew too well.

"That information cannot still show who heard and ratted it out."

I cursed inwardly. I thought they wouldn't be here. Oh, dear Lord.

I turned to the source of the deep rich velvet-like voice to find Lorenzo leaning against the wall with a bored expression on his face and Carlo standing beside him, a sly smirk on his face.

Lorenzo was a handsome man. I won't lie. He alongside his brother both were very handsome, something they got from their parents. Lorenzo had dark hair that flickered brown when the light hits it just right, he got that from his father but inherited his mother's green eyes. Carlo on the other hand looked more like his mother with blonde hair.

"Oh! I knew you would come. Have a seat they will bring the food after the discussion" Mrs. Guilla beamed.

I turned to look at Adrianna to see her somewhat glaring at Carlo. This was bad.

Lorenzo sat first facing Nanna and Carlo sat next to him facing Adrianna.

I silently thanked God that none of them were facing me.

"Anyways..." Mrs. Guilla drawled out breaking the silence that formed due to the tension in the room.

"Since we are not sure who did it how about the girls go stay with the boys? It will enhance their.. erh... relationship. Also, there will be no hassle in shifting their clothes" Mrs. Guilla continued.

I snapped my head in her direction so fast I'm sure it could've broken if I added more speed. Everyone was staring at her.

"It's a pretty good idea" Nanna added.

What!!

Adrianna and I turned to look at her pleadingly.

"But Nanna-" I started but of course, Lorenzo cut me off. Ugh!

"We would love that. Let them move tonight to avoid any more gossip"

I threw him a nasty glare and he returned it with a sly smirk.

"If that's the case we should speed things up. Let them get married three days from us. It only gonna be between us so no one will know." Mr. Berlusconi suggested.

Father nodded as if its nothing to be worried about. Why!! The boys smiled triumphantly. Oh gosh, why?

"It's settled then. I will call for the maids to pack and bring their clothes and you can leave late at night when the house is dead. I will investigate my side but that doesn't mean you shouldn't investigate your side too, Riccardo" Father said sternly.

Don Riccardo nodded.

"Father, Nanna, a moment with you after this dinner" Adrianna coldly suggested. Our parents nodded and I sighed. Soon the food came.

" Oh, I forgot! My grandmother likes to have a four-course meal for dinner. If you can handle it. If you can't it's okay" Carlo said with a smirk and I blinked at him. What a low-key insult! Nanna's eyes narrowed at him.

The starters came and it was Tuscan Mussels and shrimp. It was delicious. I mean Italian dishes are of course delicious. I caught Lorenzo glancing at me from time to time. When I felt his eyes on me I stared back at him and he smirked at me. This man had no shame. It's like he was planning my demise or something.

He looked as if he would hurl a knife my way.

I internally sighed as I thought of how life would be if we were married. Hell.

The first course came and soon the main course. Nanna and Mrs. Guilla were the only ones talking in the room while everyone ate in silence.

When the dessert was yet to arrive I thought I would explode. Though my family was wealthy we only bothered ourselves with 4 or 5-course meals when there were guests.

"There are all sorts of varieties of cakes so please request yours and get a share and don't worry whatever you want will be brought." Mrs. Guilla said warmly. She seemed kind out of the men in her family.

"Well, I would like fruit cake but only a small portion," Dad suggested.

Nanna went for a chocolate cake, Adrianna went for a carrot cake and I went for the molten chocolate cake.

Lorenzo and Carlo both ordered coffee cakes and Don Riccardo and Mrs. Guilla both requested a red velvet cake.

"It might take a while but don't worry" Mrs. Guilla assured.

"So Adriana.." Carlo drawled out. I saw Adriana tense at the mention of her name from my peripheral vision. What was this fox up to? His voice was just as deep as Lorenzo's. Only the way he talked he seemed approachable.

"What are your thoughts on the idea of moving into our house and getting married earlier than expected? Wait. Wait. What do you feel by the sudden move?" He asked.

She scowled at him. It was evident that none of us girls were happy about the sudden move into a new house. Their house even.

Adrianna exhaled harshly and answered. "Since I'm too honest I'll answer truthfully, preferisco non stare nella stessa casa con le puttane, quindi no" I snickered at her answer. Everyone whipped their heads to her and I caught Nanna pinching her. She winced a little.

[TRANS:" I prefer not to be in the same house with whores, so no"]

Father smirked and Don Riccardo had an amused expression on his face. Mrs. Guilla looked like she didn't care.

Lorenzo and Carlo's faces hardened at her answer. They stared hard at her and then tore their intense gaze from her, Lorenzo looked back at his phone which he'd been staring at for a while now and Carlo turned to me. "What about you?" Carlo asked.

" I don't know if you want a worse answer or you are just in the mood to be insulted. I mean who would live in a house with you two in it? " I rolled my eyes.

"Girls" Nanna hissed.

I feigned a look of innocence and just in time the cakes arrived. The room was filled with the sweet scents of the different varieties of cakes. I didn't waste time and dug in. The way it melted in my mouth was heavenly.

When everyone was done father and nanna decided to leave as they didn't want the others to be suspended, but then I reminded them of the talk we had to have.

"What you girls did back there was so uncalled for, I mean why?" Nanna scolded. I rolled my eyes and ignored her. We were escorting them out of the house and decided to talk.

"Father, think of the decision you're taking. I understand this is good for us but what about our opinion huh... I mean we are going to live with them forever?"

Adrianna questioned. She had a point there.

"I know this is out of the blue but it's for the best. Vladimir might come after you girls and this is the best. It's like killing a thousand birds with one stone." Father explained.

'Which is impossible' I yelled in my mind.

"Are we going to have to consummate erh..have sex and bear their children?" I asked worriedly.

"Yes. And no need to rush you but do it fast" Nanna said. I suspected she didn't care as long as she got grandchildren. That woman!

I sighed and Adrianna and I bade them farewell.

"Well, let's move to our new home." I sighed and we walked back into the Mansion, on our way inside I saw Lorenzo kissing one girl intensely not secretly but right at the entrance. So much for moving in to build a relationship.