A Mafia Daughter 2

Part 6

"What's that?" Charlie said as Viviana dumped a paper bag on his desk.

Everyday that week, they had met in the park at the same time and again had a great time. Charlie was a very serious man who Viviana loved to tease. He was always so severe- it was hard to get him to laugh.

"BBQ- it's from a place near here I used to go to when I was younger." she said, pulling out the pulled pork sandwich she'd brought for him.

"The guards just let you walk through to here?" Charlie said. Viviana laughed.

"You call those guards? Trust me- those guys are keeping anyone out." Viviana said, as he took the food. Charlie cleared the desk, surprised that Viviana had just shown up at his office this way.

"I thought we were meeting in the park as usual?" He asked. Viviana grew serious.

"I hope you don't mind. I had a craving and I decided to surprise my lunch buddy." She said, putting a french fry in her mouth. Charlie shook his head.

"No, not at all." He said, watching her as she began to eat. It was Thursday, they'd, met three times already. Viviana carefully opened her sandwich, placing a napkin on her lap and holding it delicately. To Charlie it was strange. If you had only seen her from far away she seemed like just your average twenty something year old. You would probably think she was a free spirit, careless and playful, but the more he watched her, the more he realized she had so many things she was hiding.

For example, the way she ate was quite cultured, you'd think she had gone to a finishing school. Her nails were always perfectly manicured and they way she sat and moved showed grace. He could almost picture her dressed in an elegant dress and heels, her hair done up and maybe some diamonds in her ears. She didn't quite match the way she dressed.

Viviana was thinking as she ate. She had only seen Charlie a few times since that first time they met and even though they were getting along great, he hadn't asked her out yet.

It's not that she was interested in him romantically, she really only had eyes for Matteo but she needed Charlie to invite her out.

After she'd seen Matteo picking up tickets for the fundraiser, she called the hotel and asked. Seats were very expensive, which was not really an issue but she would have to give her name and address. If Matteo was going to go, she couldn't put her name on the guest list- he would definitely check it for security purposes. She needed someone else to buy tickets.

"I'll buy them and simply fill in 'guest' for the other one." Debbie had said but Viviana shook her head.

"no. You can't- your name is just as bad." Viviana said.

"I can't believe he was right there, inches away from you." Debbie said, laying on Viviana's bed. Viviana lay down next to her.

"Yes. I watched him through the glass- and even thought I know he wasn't looking at me, seeing his eyes stare back at me was the most intense I've felt in a long time." Viviana said. She closed her eyes to picture the moment again.

"How in the world are we going to get you to that fundraiser?" Debbie asked.

"I don't know but I have to go. I have to see him. Even if it's just from across the room." Viviana said.

"What if he doesn't go?" Debbie asked. Viviana shrugged.

"I at least have to try- Even if it's just to see that he isn't there." Viviana asked.

"I don't know if you'll be able to go anywhere near him. Won't his escorts be everywhere?" Debbie asked, turning over to her side.

"No. They'll be outside but not inside. They would need tickets." Viviana replied.

"What will you say if you do get to speak with him?" Debbie asked.

"I don't know. But I need to see him." She replied.

Viviana had hardly slept that night, wondering how she was going to get to the fundraiser undetected. She had only been next to him for a few seconds, but she felt the familiar heat, she could almost picture him touching her...

It was the next day, while talking to Charlie that she'd found her opportunity. Charlie told her father was going to be honored at a charity event- when Viviana went home to look it up, she realized Charlie's father was going to be at the same event. It was all falling into place and now she needed to get him to invite her to the fundraiser.

Sure, they'd just met but she had to get him to see she was the right girl to go with.

"Oh, is that the invitation for the event you were telling me about?" Viviana said casually as she noted the invitation on the side of his desk. Charlie reached over and picked it up.

"Yes. I'm really not looking forward to it." Charlie said, tossing it aside.

"Why?" She asked.

"It's this thing with my father, who'll want me to take a date and I'm not in the mood to call my cousin." Charlie said. Viviana chuckled.

"Why your cousin?" She asked.

"I don't know a lot of girls, I've never really had time for dating." He said, looking at Viviana. Every time he saw her she was more beautiful. For a second he wondered if this is what dating was like? Spending time with her was certainly one of the highlights of his day.

"That seems silly. Charlie, you are one of my favorite people in the city." Viviana said. Charlie smiled.

"You just moved back to the city and don't know anyone- that doesn't say much." He said. Viviana chuckled again, such an attractive sound.

"Charlie- What I mean is you're such a great guy and a lawyer..." She said with a wink, " finding a girl won't be too hard." She was being honest- he was handsome, smart, pleasant. Charlie looked at Viviana, wondering...

"Viviana, I hope this won't sound too forward but maybe you'd like to go with me to the event?" He asked, his voice dead serious.

"Me? Are you sure you'd like me to go?" She asked, pretending to be surprised.

"Yes. I would." Charlie said. He could almost imagine the look on his father's face when he walked in with the most beautiful girl at the party. Viviana smiled gently.

"Yes, Charlie. I would definitely like to go with you." Viviana said, giving herself a pat on the back mentally. A part of her felt a bit bad for using Charlie but she couldn't tell him what she was doing, she hardly knew him... plus he was a lawyer, his father a police officer. Besides, she was really starting to like Charlie and she'd promised herself she wouldn't involve any of her friends with unnecessary details.

----

Matteo entered a shop on fifth street and headed towards the back counter. He was having a hard time concentrating at work-the family attorney had notified him that Viviana had signed and turned in the divorce papers.

It was a blow that caught him off guard. Of course he knew she would sign them, they had given her no choice but a part of him had hoped she wouldn't. He was tired.

Tired of missing her, tired of looking for her in places she didn't exist. He thought about Amy for a second- she was still a child in a lot of ways. He should have never gotten involved with her. She was a very emotional person, always throwing tantrums, getting angry and although she was a passionate person, he couldn't find his passion with her. Every second they spent together felt like he was counting down for her to leave. He realistically couldn't stand her and she seemed to get more attached everyday.

He'd decided to end that affair immediately and so here he was, looking for a small gift, something that would show how much he appreciated her. He'd learned a long time ago that he needed to be careful with women like her- otherwise things could get messy.

As he stood looking over bracelets, he notice the attendant holding a bracelet and showing to a woman at the opposite end of the counter.

Viviana had noticed when Matteo walked in immediately and she was very still. He was no alone, there were three men outside by the SUV and one man at the door. She looked down at the glass case, unable to put on her sunglasses as it would be suspicious.

Matteo couldn't see the woman's face clearly but he knew she was the girl he had seen the other day by the hotel. He watched her look down at the bracelet which sat nicely on her wrist, a small delicate hand adjusting it. Her lips were curled in a nervous smile as she appraised it.

Viviana smiled nervously at the attendant in approval, quickly asking her to wrap it up for her. She needed to get out. Slowly she turned in the opposite direction, giving Matteo her back as she pretended to be interested in the rest of the jewelry. She tried to contain herself, wanting to turn back at him and beg him to hold her but this was not the time, nor the place. She knew the escorts would act immediately and she would be discovered.

No- she needed to get him alone and she would make sure they had the chance this Saturday. Matteo watched the woman turn away and looked her over. She was dressed very casually but he noted how beautiful her curves were. She definitely had something about her that caught his attention and he frowned when he found him comparing her to Viviana again. With a sigh, he turned away and picked out a simple bracelet for Amy.

No- he would not search for Viviana in another woman. That's the whole reason he was here to begin with.

Viviana paid for her bracelet and moved towards the door, slipping on her sunglasses as she did so but a hand on her shoulder made her turn.

It was electric- she felt herself shudder and her knees nearly buckle beneath her.

"Excuse me, miss. You dropped this." Matteo said, handing her the keys which had fallen out of her purse. Viviana turned to face him, aware he was only about a foot away.

"Thank you." She said hoarsely as she put out her hand. Matteo dropped the keys into them, watching her, trying to see past the sunglasses. Viviana turned and quickly left the shop, afraid he would see past her, afraid he would become aware of the way he made her feel.

Matteo watched as the woman left quickly, conscious of the way she reacted when he touched her. He could still feel the heat that immediately built up on her but more than anything, he could not shake that scent. It was something so familiar and sweet, a scent he never thought he would get to feel again.