The Godfather's New Wife

A Devil In My Blood

Ariel POV:

TABLES, chubby fingers struggling with the letter F, I sat at my desk multitasking. On another day with such a cool atmosphere, I put happy stickers on papers, entered completion grades on my computer and eating a tuna sandwich. On this day, I had accomplished only one out of three and I was starting to regret ever coming to school today, I knew I was making the life i had coming for me difficult before it even started. How could I be in a spat with my potential husband and children. My head hurts not just from the thoughts but from the exposure to Aurora scream for such a long timeframe

What sort of excuse would the twins’ father make this time? He and the girls had been in the principal’s office for nearly an hour.

“Missus Dawson?” I glanced up to find Charlie Elton holding a broken crayon. He also had several missing teeth "I broke it

“It’s okay, sweetie.” Taking the red oversize crayon, I peeled off the paper from the two halves. “See? Now it works again.”

“Thwanks!” All smiles, he dashed back to his table.

Toothless grins were what led me to teaching. Feeling that every day I made a positive difference in my students’ lives was what kept me in the career. Which was why the tension mounting between myself and the Giovanni twins was so troubling. Not only was my job usually satisfying, but school was my haven. Not anymore it seems, I will have to deal with Father and daughters both at home and school. I could already envision myself loosing my sanity within a few weeks.

This weekend, I'd head to the library. I wonder if there were some specialty books that might have classroom management and Parent management books to help with this sort of thing.

The door opened and in shuffled the sources of my seemingly constant concentration.

“Hi,” I said, wiping damp palms on my navy corduroy skirt. “Everything all right?”

“Daddy brought Green Bean’s jar,” Aurora said with enough venom to take down a pit viper.

“He’s got Green Bean and said we need to get our stuff and go home.” Abriana looked less certain about their mission.

“Sure that’s what you want to do?” I asked, squatting infront of the pair. “We’re learning about the letter F.”

“Let’s stay,” Abriana said in a loud whisper. “I love to color new letters.”

Aurora shook her head.

At the door, their father walked in, Dressed in a black shirt, with a few button lose and ripped jeans, he exudes magnificence. He looks so handsome, it hurts to look at him. I couldn't stop myself from taking a sneak peak at his bare chest.

“Get a move on, ladies. I’ve still got work to do. Grandpa is waiting for me" He said in his rich baritone voice.

Despite adressing the old man in the most innocent and harmless way possible, I still felt shiver down my spine.

“Okay, Daddy.” Hand in hand, the girls dashed to their cubbies.

"Mrs Dawson" He called

I rose, approaching him slowly in hope of attracting as few little onlookers as possible. My heart was thumping so hard it hurts. Today, the stern set of his features made him imposing. Miles taller than he usually seemed. Yet something about the way he cradled Aurora's pet in the crook of his arm gave him away as a closet teddy bear when it came to his girls. Trouble was, as a parent—or even a teacher—you couldn’t be nice all the time. “While the twins gather their things, could we talk?” He asked

"Yeah sure, I would love that" I said, wondering what he had to say.

He gestured for me to lead the way to the town hall.

With the classroom door open, allowing me a full view of my diligently working students. I stared at my students to stop my eyes that kept straying to his lips. I started,

"I’m sorry this incident inconvenienced you. Pets are only allowed on certain days of the year.”

“So I’ve heard.” Cold didn’t come close to describing the chill of his demeanor.

“Yes, you see, the snake itself is the least of our problems.” He added

“Our problems?” I asked

He c****d his right eyebrow. "Your problem won't go away just because you close your eyes, if you planned to pretend that day didn't happen."

That was exactly what I had planned to do. My heart was thumping loudly and violently I was anxious if he heard it.

"I was hoping you'd convinced your father and call it off"

"I'd love nothing more, I would cancel it in an heartbeat if I had a choice. I'd love nothing more than to be far away from your accusing eyes as possible. But no one dares disobeys fathers not even his own son"

I shifted my gaze to him and saw how dead serious he was. That was my last glimpse of hope out of the window - I was getting married.

"So you just bundle someone innocent and force them to marry into your family" I said bitterly

"Let she who sin not cast the first stone of accusations. Self pity set me up viscerally in a way not the most gruesome murder does." He replied coldly "You waited for American justice but you were denied. You came to father to seek justice for a price and you were fore warned about the impending price which you agreed to. Didn't you get the justice you asked for, weren't the body of your fiends found at the bottom of the sea. So, why are you squeamish when asked to pay the price."

I looked around to see no one was looking nor listening, I heaved a sigh of relief when the coast was clear.

"Stop painting yourself like some kind of saint, judging others from an high horse. It's irritating"

Hurt by his cold words, I crossed my hands over my chest - an habit of mine when I'm hurt

"I never did nor insinuated that" I managed to say.

"Yeah, right" he replied dismissively.

"I'm rather here to talk about my daughters, You understand I'd have to tell them sooner rather than later we are getting married. Don't you think it would be relatively easier they are happy about their new mother than it be their one eye hating teacher. It would make not only make your new life easier, theirs too, if you manage to bond"

'Addressing me as their one eyed teacher was about just rude, but I'd let it slide'

"So what do you want me to do, should I look the other way whenever they pull their usual shenanigans and allow them to disrupt my class just because I want them to accept me"

"Hold it right there.” he replied “I’m sick and tired of accusations being made against my kids when their class is no doubt full of hooligans.”

"Hooligans?” Maybe it was the old-fashioned word itself, or the sight of harmless Thomas Quinn wiping his perpetually runny nose on his sleeve—whatever had brought on a grin, I couldn’t seem to stop. It was almost absurd given my current situation.

"Think this is funny" He snapped

"Watch your tone Mr. Giovanni" I said

I've about had it with him trying to intimidate me.

He took a step closer. "What did you say" He said

He was so close to me, I could perceive his essence of mixture of Citrus and Cinnamon. He realizes how close he was to me and any passerby would have the wrong idea. He took a step back

“Why do you keep doing that? Implying my girls are difficult?

"Because they are, Mr. Giovanni. I’m sorry. Really I am. I’m not sure how we’ve launched such a contentious relationship, but you have to know I only have the twins’ best interests in mind. Kindergarten is the time for social adjustments. Nipping problem behaviors before they interfere with the real nuts and bolts of crucial reading and math skills.”

“My job is to make sure Aurora and Abriana are prepared to do their best in first grade, right?”

He snorted. “Only correct thing you’ve said since I’ve been standing here.”

“All right, then—” I propped my hands on my hips and glared “—what do I have to gain by making up outrageous stories about your girls?

"I don't know, You tell me"

"A big, fat nothing. No one wants the twins to be perfect more than me. Their future behavior is a reflection of not only your bad parenting, but my teaching.”

"Well it will be a reflection of both in the next few weeks, We will both be a witness to your parenting skills"

Yes - I was getting married to him.

"Are you rooting me to fail"

"You are predestined to fail with your horrible attitude"

I gasped at his bluntness. This man manages to bring out the worst in me.

I bit my tongue not to say what I'd regret and sighed heavily.

"Why do you hate me so much" I asked

"Hardly, don't flatter yourself"

"I have no idea how this marriage will work out"

"That makes two of us. Beside I have no interest in it working out"

"Then why agree to it"

"I don't have to pitch you answer nor ideas, come to the mansion and ask father any question you have" He replied rudely

This was going horribly wrong, I wanted us to get on the same page but the tension is building every minute.

"You've already laid bare we are getting married and there's no way out, I doubt your family will be comfortable with us having a spat everytime and it would be toxic environment for the twins growth"

For the first time,he look really intrested what I had to say. He really is overtly concerned about anything that has to do with the twins.

"What are you getting at"

"It's obvious we are both from different world and your skewed perception of people is totally none of my business, but shouldn't we learn to tolerate each other"

"What do you suggest" He asked

"I doubt this is the best place to talk about it, we are already attracting gossiping eyes of my colleagues. How about somewhere private, where we can talk freely"

"What are your plans this evening?"

"I am free on monday nights" I replied "why"

"Do you Iliac Restaurant" He asked

Who doesn't, it was an exquisite restaurant at heart of the city. It was more renowned for it's regal outlook and Privacy.

"Yes, I do"

"Meet me there tonight, we will talk more over a drink" He said "It's hardly a date" he quickly added

"I never called it one" I replied

"Do you have anything decent to wear"

"I'm a teacher not a peasant"

"You said it not me" He said

"You all but did"

"Where is your Phone?" He asked

"Right here with me?"

"Let me have it"

"Why?"

"You ask too many questions,let me have your phone"

Confused what he needed my phone for I reach for it in my back pocket, he took it off my hands. He showed to me the required security lock displayed on it's screen.

"Sorry" I muttered. I took it off his hand and unlocked it, before giving him back to him.

Like I presumed, he entered his phone number and dialled it, his phone rang once.

He handed my phone back to me. I wanted to save his contact, but to my surprise he already did. He saved it with LEONARDO, I couldn't suppress the smirk that found it's way to my mouth. He was quick to notice it

"Are you taking a piss" He asked sternly

"Hardly" I replied

"Text me your address, so I can come pick you up"

"I have my own car, I can find my way"

"Good for you"

I kept looking sideways to make sure no one was looking at us, the last thing I wanted was to be the subject of gossip. He caught on to what I was doing.

"You know you have to tell them at some point. They y are bound to find out sooner or later"

"That's my problem, I'd deal with it however I see fit" I snapped

It was stuck to my throat like a summat. How was I to explain I was getting married to a man I spat with every weekday.

"Trust me the last thing I'd do is get involved in your business" He said as he turned to leave "Be there by 8pm, I hate later comers and don't you dare stand me up"

I would do anything to see the reaction on his face when I stood him up. I would reminisce it for a long time, it would be a thought that would brighten any day. Someday but not today, I need to get this right as much as he does.

"Yeah, right" I said

I watched his big figure dissapear around the corner, only then did I dare to breath conveniently. The smell of his essence still hung sweetly in the air.

I was startled, Cami Vette was right behind me when I turned.

"You scared me, I told you to stop walking like a ghost"

She has a wierd ability of walking without making a sound. I was mostly at the receiving end of the shock.

"Sorry" She replied absentmindedly "What were you both on about for so long"

"What else, he was trying to make a case and defended his daughter"

"What was his excuse this time"

"Some mumbo jumbo I couldn't quite put my grasp on"

"I saw him take your Phone"

"Gosh Cami, for how long were you watching? Did you over hear any of the conversation"

"Just a bit"

"How much is a bit" I asked my heart pounding

"Just the part about dinner"

I dared to breathe a little.

"From arguing to dinner, I've seen how this is going to play out"

Everyone knows how overtly excited Cami was with anything that has to do with romance, both her obnoxiousnes with Celebrity romance life and her colleagues romance life. It was quite ironical she had nothing going on herself.

"It is a hardly date, he made sure he clarified that. It is just talking about his daughter and coming to an understanding about the best way to handle them, over a drink"

"That is how they start in movies too, I sense something brewing and I will be rooting you on"

I conceded defeat, I knew arguing was pointless. There was no need putting her off my trail when I was bound to announce a shocker to them in the coming weeks. In the long run, it would be to my advantage, the impromptu marriage won't be too suspicious once Cami boastfully claims she always knew.

"Yeah, Cami" I finally said "I'd love to chit chat but I have to attend to my kiddos"

"Ok" She replied, dissapointed we couldn't gossip longer, she turned to leave.

I was glad to watch.

●●♤●♤♡¡♡¡♡◇♧

For the third time I undressed and clothed myself in another attire. I was having a hard time selecting the perfect cloth. I was a woman on a mission, not a mission to impress Leo, but to spite him and prove a point. I was offended by his utterances of wearing something decent, was he insinuating I had nothing decent to wear. It wasn't like me to be this petty, but that man always manages to infuriate me. I would show him I can dress well too, there was no way I would look like a peasant compared to him in that restaurant.

My eyes finally settled on a dress, it was a milky white dress Hugh had gifted me on my birthday. I stared at it for such a long time, I could feel the melancholy exuding from the cloth. It was one of the most beautiful dress I have ever had. I had worn it to a movie date on the evening of my birthday, Hugh kept admitting he couldn't take his eyes off me.

I haven't worn it in a long time, I had no one to impress with it again, I wasn't intrested in impressing anybody in it apart from my Hugh.

I suppose I could spite someone with it. I threw it on, it fitted perfectly, I guess I haven't put on any weight in such a long time, but it showed a bit more of my thigh skin. I guess I've grown taller. It was perfect that way.

I wore a light make up and threw on a few jewelry. I stared at the mirror and it was another woman in the mirror, a woman I haven't let out in such a long time.

I made my way to the restaurant.