CHAPTER 99: BREAKFAST TO REMEMBER

Valentina woke up with a start, after feeling a sharp pain in her abdomen.

"Oh no!" The words rolled out of her tongue frantically, as her eyes darted across the room as if help was somewhere on the wall.

The pain came again, and she jumped out of bed instantly.

Her eyes went to the sheets.

"No blood yet. Definitely tomorrow then. Oh my God! Not here, and not now!"

Valentina began to pace back and forth, in hopes she could outpace the contractions that took about ten minutes breaks in between.

"Just when you think life can’t get any worse, boom, PMS! In Neravalle of all places. I could have skipped this part, thank you!" She said to the ceiling.

Her mind went into so many directions.

"What do I do now? I don’t have anything! Not pads, not enough panties, nothing! I have absolutely–oh my God!" She paused, and held her abdomen as another solid cramp hit.

The door opened at that moment.

"Rise and shine beautiful la—" Elio paused, his eyes widening. "What are you doing?"

She turned slowly to him with her knees buckled, and her shoulders slouched.

Elio took a cautious step back, when he saw the look of dread on her face.

"Elio, help me," she whispered dramatically as if she was on her death bed.

"Val? What is it?" He whispered back to her, his eyes following her very carefully.

The cramp ceased for a few seconds and she breathed out as she finally straightened up.

"Okay. I need you to bring a pen and a notepad over. I have needs that must be met, or so help me God, I will bring down this entire place with my screams."

Elio swallowed hard. Somehow, he didn’t think that was a lie. It sounded too much like a real threat.

"A pen and pa-per?" he stuttered.

"A pen and paper." She nodded.

He turned right around, and practically flew out of the room to do her bidding.

Valentina resumed pacing, and soliloquizing her sorrows.

"One morning, you’re waking up to be prepared for some stupid, stupid, engagement party. And the next morning, you’re waking up with your stupid, stupid, uterine lining ready to shed. All in this stupid, stupid—" she choked, her heart squeezed, and she felt the onset of tears.

However, she snapped her body out of it with a suspicious squinting of her eyes.

"That explains why we were so emotional yesterday. The tears and all. Yeah defi–"

The door opened, and Elio returned with the pen and notepad.

"I’m here!" He announced.

She turned to him with a smile on her face. "Elio?"

"Yes babygirl?"

"Everything I’m going to mention is going to be paid for strictly by Luciano, understood?"

He double blinked. "But I could just pay—"

"Nope," she cut him off, shaking her head. "He’s the one keeping me here, so he must be the one to pay. You’ll take the list to—ugh!"

She grabbed her lower abdomen as the cramp hit her hard again.

"Val, are you okay?"

He moved to come closer to her, but one hand pushed forward immediately to stop him.

"Don’t come close to me please. I’m like a tigress right now. I don’t need people of the opposite gender close to me. You all are what is wrong with this world. No seriously, if it were just us women, the world would be such a better place," she sniffled, pushing back tears.

Elio went from concerned to confused as he stared at her.

"Right?" She bulged her eyes in a flash, and he flinched.

"Right right!" He agreed immediately.

She breathed out, and straightened up again. "Here’s my list," she began to list them out.

When she was done, Elio was both traumatized, and speechless.

"Make sure it gets to Luciano—please," she added when she felt she was being too much of a bitch.

He nodded like a zombie. "He’s in the dining room for breakfast now. I’ll get going," he said through a static voice.

Elio turned around at once, and began heading for the dining room.

In the dining room, a host of people were already seated.

"I can’t believe Giovanni just left," Luciano said, looking straight at Daniela who was right across from him.

"I know. But he couldn’t personally come say goodbye when he knew we were together, right, my love?" She blushed, as she returned his gaze.

"Ugh, that’s disgusting!" Aurora scrunched her nose.

"You’ve not stopped grinning like a sheep," Salvatore said to Marcello.

"I’m just happy to be here," he replied, ending it with a grin.

A hot, steaming meal passed around, and everyone began to salivate.

"Where is Vitto?" Salvatore asked.

"Oh, I sent him on a little mission," Luciano replied.

"And Elio?" Chris seated next to Luciano asked.

Salvatore frowned, as he stared at Chris, wondering why he was still in Neravalle.

"Yeah, I’ve not seen that brat. Have you, Marce?" Luciano questioned.

"Not really." He shrugged.

"Well he’s going to be missing this delicious treat. Well-done to chef, and tell her I said that, Sonia!"

"Sìsignor," Sonia smiled, as she continued to serve.

"Are you still headed for the northern borders, Salvatore?" Chris questioned him.

His forehead creased. "How do you know I am headed for the northern borders?"

"What? I was the one who informed Luce about the possible forceful entry at the northern borders. I got the message straight from my intel."

Salvatore looked directly at Luciano.

"He’s not lying. The triplets are on a mission to Mexico. We can’t count on them right now to confirm Chris’ suspicion. Hence why I’m sending you," Luciano explained to him.

Although it didn’t sit well with him that the intel had come directly from Chris, Salvatore swallowed his retort.

"I take it you’ll be going then?"

"Of course. And speaking of leaving, I’m surprised you’re still here."

Chris’ face spread into a bemused smile. "Really? Why wouldn’t I be? The Miss Aurivilla pageant is coming up soon, and I’m not missing it for the world."

"Filthy rascal. Always ready to jump on the next woman," Aurora said loudly, and then hissed even louder.

"Oh Aurora darling, but I haven’t jumped to you."

Luciano’s hands swiftly went to his pockets, and Chris lifted his hands in surrender even before he noticed him do that.

"I would never, Luce. It’s all jokes."

"You better. And that goes for every other man around me. In fact, we’ll make an announcement. If I see anyone so much as look at Ro twice, I’m cutting off their manhood. Understood?"

They all muttered that they did swiftly, because they knew Luciano was damn serious.

"At this rate, I’m going to die a prude," Aurora sighed.

"See, you’re very understanding," Luciano smiled as she glared at him.

The energy in the room continued to rise, as they ate, and conversed.

From the staircase entrance, they heard footsteps.

Everyone’s eyes moved up to see who was coming.

Chris’ breath sharpened when he saw who was beside Vittorio.

"Natalia Esposito," he thought in his mind.

"Why is she here?" Daniela asked when they finally came down the stairs.

"Why not?" Luciano questioned back.

Daniela held her tongue, but deep down, she raged.

For Aurora, the glare in her eyes did not shift, and when Vittorio glanced her way briefly it intensified.

"Good morning everyone," Natalia was saying, when her eyes fell on Chris.

He smiled tauntingly, and her breath fastened.