The Mafia Boss

“Aurora, I need you now.” I hear my dad yells at me as I paint. I roll my eyes wondering what he needs now. I sit my paint brush in the water can, and head out and down the stairs. “What do you need?” I ask walking into the living room. “Lose the attitude for one.” He snaps at me. “This is Leo Lemaster, you are going to marry him in one week. Until that time you will remain living with us. But we will start moving your things to his house….” “No she goes with me today.” The man says cutting my dad off. “She can go pack a few things I can provide everything else she needs.” He says looking towards me, he adds. “Go get what you need and meet me back here.” When I stand there looking at him he adds, “now.” I turn and walk up to my room. After a few minutes my dads wife comes into my bedroom. “You had better not embarrass us. Listen and do as told.” I roll my eyes at her. She goes to say more but I hear someone clear their throat behind me. “Leave her alone so she can pack.” I hear Leo say, then watch her walk out. “We need to get going soon.” He says to me. “I can buy you clothes and anything you need. I have a meeting in two hours and I need to get you home before I go to it.” “Why?” I ask him. “Because it’s not a meeting for you to attend.” “No why are we getting married?” “Your parents owe my three million dollars.” “So they are giving me to you as payment.” “Yes now let’s go.” “Can I grab my paints and what I am working on?” “I can buy you new stuff.” He says turning and walking out. I follow behind him. We get down stairs and he looks a guy in the face. “Show Aurora to the car. I will be out in a minute.” “Come with me.” The guy says before turning and walking out the door. I stand there for a minute then I walk out behind him. I follow him to a black Corvette, he opens the passenger door for me. I slide into it and he stands next to my door. I jump when the driver’s door opens. “Verdi amici alla villa.” He tells the guy standing by my door before he gets into the car. “My meeting should only take about two hours. After I get back we will go shopping for everything you need.” He says as he drives out of my neighborhood. I sit back and think while he drives. “Once we get home I will take you inside and leave you with Francesca.” He drives for what feels like an hour. Then he pulls up to a gate that opens. He pulls up in front of a huge house. I climb out and wait on him. “Follow me.” He says walking past me. We get inside and he leads me down a hallway. “Francesca, please show Aurora around the estate. I will be back to pick her up in three hours.” He says as he walks into a room. I walk in behind him and see it’s a huge kitchen with stainless steel appliances. “Yes sir.” I hear what sounds like an older female say. “I have to go. There will be men here to clear out a room in about ten minutes, she needs to tell them how to set up her art studio, for now.” He says turning and walking back the way we came. “Signore, in quale stanza alloggia?” “Mio.” He says to her. She looks at his back shocked. “"Falle sapere se ha un fidanzato e deve farla finita adesso." She looks at me. “What have I missed?” She asks. “A business deal with my dad.” I reply watching him walk out. “So what was that language?” “Italian.” She tells me. “What do you want to see first?” “How about the bathroom.” As soon as I say this she walks past me. I turn and follow her. She stops at a door and points at it. “I will just be a minute.” I tell her walking in and closing the door. I do my business and wish my hands. Then I open the door. I see a group of men talking to her. “What room did he say it was to be in?” She asks one of them. “Greenhouse, vestibule.” He replies looking at her. She looks at him in shock. “Everyone follow me.” She says when she sees me. She starts to walk. She stops at a set of glass doors. “This is the room. If you gentleman want to start getting it ready to go I need to have a word with the young lady.” She says then grabs my arm. “Leo told me to tell you to break up with any boyfriend you might have.” “I will at school tomorrow.” I tell her. “Very well then, shall we?” She says walking up to the doors. She opens one of them and we walk into the room. My mouth drops open. It’s a very open room made of glass that has another set of doors that lead out to a garden. “Oh my god, I love the view from here.” I say to no one in particular. “This is to be your art studio.” She tells me. We stand there watching the guys work taking things out. After about twenty minutes they start bringing things inside. I see an easel, shelves and a table. The guys look at me. “Where do you want everything?” One of the men ask me. “The shelves can go along the walls the easel I want in the center of the room. The table can go against the wall beside the door leading out into the garden.” I tell him. Then I look at her and ask, “can we go out and look at the garden?” “Yes, after that I need to show you to the bedroom.” She tells me, walking to the doors and opening them. She lets me walk out first. The first thing I see is different colors of roses. Then I see strawberry plants and grape vines. “We have fresh fruit grown here, a little ways back there are fruit trees. If you walk to the left you will find fresh vegetables. To the right are different flowers.” “How big is this greenhouse?” “We have twenty of each fruit tree, fifteen tomato, green, jalapeño, and banana pepper plants, and about twenty each color rose bush, then five areas of each of the other flowers. I come out here some nights and walk for hours not reaching the end.” She says as we hear the doors open. “Francesca you may go home for the night. We can manage dinner.” Leo tells her. “Yes Sir. I will return tomorrow to make breakfast.”