CHAPTER 37: COMFORT-CONTRAST-CONFLICT

Valentina was given the mug of hot cocoa, and a blanket was covered from her waist down.

She adjusted her body, resting her back properly on the couch.

Satisfied with the comfort level she had been able to provide with the help of Sonia, Natalia nodded.

"You can go on now, Sonia," she said, as she found a space to sit too.

Sonia took a deep breath, as if reluctant to say anything. But in the space of a second, she began to blurt.

"Luce angry. Very angry," she repeated.

"Yeah, we get that. Why is he angry though?" Natalia asked.

Valentina’s ears stayed open, as she sipped her hot cocoa.

"I don’t know. No one know. He just walk–" she rose to her feet, puffed her chest and inflated her shoulders. "Like this." She demonstrated him trodding through the hallway.

Valentina burst out laughing at her mimicry of Luciano’s walk. "You’re hilarious Sonia," she said.

Sonia took her seat again, and sighed. "He really mad. Never in a long time see him like this. Never!" She shook her head.

A shudder ran through Natalia. "He’s already super scary just as he is. Imagine him actually being mad? God help the people of Neravalle." She shuddered again.

"No. Luce good. Really good," Sonia came to his defense.

"Well it’s your job to say that because you work under him, duh!" Natalia countered.

"No! He really good. This good." She stretched her arms widely to demonstrate just how good.

Natalia scoffed. "Nah, I don’t see it. He scares me."

Valentina watched the back and forth silently, but in her mind, she broke down the points each tried to make.

"No miss Natalia. He not scary. What about Signor Vittorio? He scary," she said.

"He is?" Natalia raised a brow. "I don’t find him scary. Quiet, yes, but not as scary as Luciano."

"Hmmm, interesting–" Valentina thought, as she continued to observe silently.

"No? You no? Ha! Signor Vittorio face, scary. He no smile. Never smile."

"At least you see what you get with him, unlike Luciano." She shrugged.

"Signora Natalia," she shook her head, and then turned to Valentina. "You Val? Who more scary?" She asked her.

"I don’t know. I haven’t given it any thought yet. But going by their appearances, I can see why Vittorio would look scarier, considering the fact he never smiles. But Luciano has also killed someone in cold blood right in our face, so I understand why Natalia thinks he is scarier. Realistically, anyone who has this much power has to have done scary things for it right? Just saying." She shrugged, and sipped from her cocoa.

"No one can convince me it’s not Luciano, and I’m not sorry. He probably isn’t even angry for good reasons. Maybe he just woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Or he stubbed his toe on a hard surface. I don’t know."

"He isn’t all that bad," Valentina surprisingly came to his defense.

"Huh?" Natalia whipped her gaze her way.

"The man saved me from drowning. We should give him some credit, don’t you think?"

Natalia sneered. "Give him credit for being a decent human being? Is he not the reason we’re here in the first place? Should we give a fish a prize for swimming? Give him some credit my ass." She hissed.

Sonia’s brow furrowed, as she stared at Natalia.

It wasn’t just a fleeting emotion. It was very clear Natalia not only feared Luciano, but didn’t really like him..

Valentina had a different thought, and it broke her heart when she considered that she could actually be right.

Knowing Natalia for as long as she did, she could beat her chest that she didn’t really dislike Luciano.

She just thought if she talked down on him in her presence, she wouldn’t come to like him or even find him decent enough. Then her precious sister could keep her man.

Although it was sad to see she really thought someone like Daniela would help her connect with her father, she understood her desperation.

"No, signora Natalia. Not fair." Sonia shook her head.

"I don’t care what’s fair or not fair to be honest. I still don’t believe we need to be thanking him for being a—"

A heavy knock rocked the door, drawing all of their attention to it.

"Did you invite someone over?" Valentina asked Sonia.

She shook her head negatively.

"Maybe it’s Elio and the other one then," Natalia said.

"Oh, that’s definitely possible," Valentina agreed.

"Come in!" Natalia called.

The door creaked, and slowly opened. They watched in curiosity as heavy boots stepped into the room.

Valentina perceived him the second his frame fit through the door.

He had a peculiar scent. Leather musk, cedarwood, and expensive whiskey. All mixed in one. Unlike any of the American men she knew.

It was so dark and intoxicating, it made him stand out.

Her heart jammed in her throat, and she swiftly lowered her gaze to her cocoa, just as Luciano shut the door behind him.

****

The pink ford roughly drove into the Ferrari mansion, and Daniela jumped out of the car right after she parked haphazardly.

She tossed her car keys to the man that was in charge of taking care of the cars, even before he could reach her.

The keys ended up falling on the ground, causing her to sneer.

"Usesles man! Why don’t you learn to do your job? So annoying!" She hissed, and stormed into the mansion.

"Good morning miss—"

She wheezed past the maids, and went straight up the stairs.

On getting to the top of the stairs, she went directly to her mother’s room.

One knock, and she opened the door without being invited in.

"Mother!" She called at the top of her voice.

Helena, who was on call, quickly ended the call. Her eyes squinted towards the door, and she saw Daniela marching her way.

"Princess," she called, rising to her feet.

"Princess?" She scoffed, as she plopped on the bed, and folded her hands across her body. "Then why do I feel like the pauper, mother?" She whined.

"I don’t understand. What are you talking about?"

"It’s that bitch, Valentina! I hate her so much. Ever since she came, things have been going sideways. I hate her mum, I hate her!" She screamed out.

Helena’s head doubled back in shock. She had never seen her daughter this stressed out about another woman before.

"Oh my princess. Have I not told you not to ever let another woman intimidate you? You’re my daughter. You’re the prettiest girl on earth."

She rolled her eyes. "I used to think that too. You made me think that. Then I saw that stupid valentina. The girl is absolutely gorgeous, mum."

Helena scoffed. "Being beautiful is not enough. You have an edge over her, sweetheart."

"I do?" She lifted her gaze curiously. "What edge?"

"You have money. Remember you told me she’s a golddigger looking for a come up?"

Daniela grabbed a pillow, and used it to hit her face, as she screamed.

"Princess!" Helena sat beside her, and dragged the pillow away from her. "Have you lost your mind? Don’t hurt yourself!"

"She’s not poor mama," Daniela cried out dramatically.

"How do you know that?"

"You know the maid that never minds her business? The one I told you I can’t wait to marry Luciano so I can kick her out?"

Her brow snapped as she recalled her daughter mentioning someone like that. "Yes?"

"Okay so the maids on my side told me Valentina gave her a diamond bracelet. Not gold or silver, but pure diamonds. Is that kind of person poor? No wonder she looked at me weirdly when I accused her of being a golddigger! I hate her mummy. I want her gone!"

"That’s enough," Helena dragged her head to rest on her bosom, as she stroked her hair in comfort. "We’ll find a way to get rid of her, I promise. We always do." Her eyes looked far away, as she felt a burning desire to get rid of the obstacle for her daughter.

Same desire she had used to her advantage, many years ago.