Taming Giovanni

Family Dinner.

“Madison.”

The voice that replied was sad, sorrowful. “I'm sorry, Vickie. It's closed.”

Unexpected tears rushed to the back of her throat. She cleared it, blinking back the ones in her eyes. “Oh. Okay, thank you, Maddie.”

“It— it's not just that, Vickie.”

She sighed. Of course. Bad luck came in three. “What else, Madison?”

“It's the Landlord, Vickie.”

She made sure her voice remained steady. “Go on.”

“He's threatening to break your door down and throw your belongings out if you don't bring in your rent today.”

The sentence dropped like a stone onto her head, but she held herself tighter still, “Alright, Maddie. Thank you. I'll be there as soon as I can.”

She hung up and took the pen from the table, any hesitation disappearing into thin air. “So where do I sign, Mister Caruso?”

*****

“My men will reach out to you for further details.”

She got up and took her tray. “Thank you.”

Giovanni watched as she made her way out. Whatever news she'd just heard had been big enough for her to forget the money he'd previously offered her.

“Are you sure about this, sir?” Alaric, his head of security asked hesitantly. The boss wasn't to be questioned, of course, but the decision he had just made...

Gio sighed, his eyes still pinned to the doorway. “I am very sure, Alaric. Trust me. Get the hard copies from my lawyer and mail them to her. Before that, she needs to meet the family. What are your thoughts about her?”

“A fine-looking young woman, I'd say.”

“She interests me.” He'd barely finish speaking when Vickie appeared at the entrance.

She pointed to the table. “I— the money. I forgot the money.”

A corner of Gio's mouth rose in a sharp, cutting move that really couldn't be called a smile. He swept a hand over the table, gesturing. “Well, be my guest, Miss Victoria. We don't bite.”

Even if they did, there was no way she would leave that money.

She walked fully into the room and picked the bundle she'd been offered earlier. She paused and thought fast. Then decided that there was no harm in trying.

“Can you advance me? I've already agreed to marry you, so, you know, can you add a little bit of money to this, please?”

He kept staring at her and she was forced to move on.

As she spoke, she almost burst into tears. “My father.... he needs surgery right now, and —”

Silently, Giovanni moved two extra bundles towards her.

She stared at him, too stunned to move.

“Time's ticking, Miss Victoria. Your father's waiting.”

****

By the next day, the surgery had been carried out and her father was in a stable condition. Right now, she was in Giovanni's utterly wealthy mansion, waiting for the arrival of his family.

The place was nothing like she had ever seen before—marble floors so polished they reflected her image, chandeliers glittering with the kind of light that belonged in palaces, and a silence so heavy it pressed against her skin.

Every step she took echoed, reminding her of how small and out of place she truly was.

She was currently in the kitchen with her glass of wine, staring at herself in the shiny surface of the fridge.

The dress, plus a ring, had been delivered to her by Giovanni's men yesterday evening with an invitation.

They were both beautiful, but she was too nervous to think of anything else.

She had to pull this off. She had no choice.

Her hands trembled as she smoothened the silk fabric for the umpteenth time.

“Calm breath, Vickie. Calm breaths. It's just for today.”

The wine slid down her throat like liquid courage, but even that couldn’t quiet the storm in her chest.

She thought of her father, recuperating in the hospital and she grew a little bolder. She wasn't just doing it for herself, it was for her father's survival.

Breathe in, breathe out.

After doing that, she raised her chin.

“Cheer up, old girl,” she said to herself. It's not the end of the world.

Dimly, she heard the doorbell ring in the living room, and then the sound of footsteps heading her way.

She painted on a bright smile to welcome whoever it was.

It was Giovanni.

“Your family are here?”

He raised an eyebrow. But she didn't notice as she advanced towards him, still smiling.

“I am so excited to meet them, darling,” She said, already putting on a false front. “Let's go, shall we?”

She whirled around him. And froze.

Another Giovanni stood in the doorway. Same face. Same dark eyes.

She whipped her head back and forth — from the Giovanni behind her to the one in front of her.

The one in the doorway spoke first.

“That, Miss Victoria, is my twin brother.”