New Love

nine

Mateo's Point Of View

For the rest of the day, Elena introduced Severino and I to her staff and bodyguards at the Kingsley Estate and had a small conversations with Robert and Benjamin, Elena's mother had left a few minutes after I had arrived here, Robert and Agatha left an hour later.

"What do you know about Elena's mother Seve? Did something happen after Agatha and I went to the garden?" I asked after we had just finished a tense dinner with Benjamin and Elena, with Ben glaring at his own daughter at the dinner table and Elena sighed, shaking her head disappointingly.

"I know Elena resents her mother, one of the reasons being married to someone else before hers and Benjamin's divorce was final. She's an author who still works at the publishing company of her ex husband" he stated "The man is still in love with her and Elena said hurtful words, that's why our dinner was so tense." he adds "I don't blame her though, the woman abandoned her and her father when he was sick with leukemia and married someone else even before the divorce was finalised, who does that?! Her life is as dramatic as your own life!" he joked

I rolled my eyes "At least she still has both of her parents" I sighed

"At least you still have your bro-" I shot him a look, he shot his arms up innocently "Change topic! What did you talk about with Elena's grandmother?" He wondered

"It's nothing" I lied, he doesn't seem to buy it "We just talked about business and her children" I stated

He nods, patting my shoulder "Alright, I'm going to take a shower and sleep, we have a big day tomorrow, Elena will show us her restaurants!" he says, going to his room, leaving me alone.

---

I decided to explore the estate to help ease my mind, heading to the gardens again and sat on the same bench Agatha and I sat on.

I took out the box she had given me and looked at the ring intenly.

Agatha seemed to be so happy talking about her family to me despite being in this business... She had raised her children well and is still madly in love with her husband after all these years, despite being in an arranged marriage.

Why am I suddenly feeling so against with this marriage?

Maybe it's my fear of falling for her and she will have the same fate as Lucia.

Love and the ma-ia business don't mix, I've been around it all my life! But seeing Agatha and Robert together had proved me wrong about it... That maybe one day, I'll find love again... Maybe with Elena...

No. A ma-ia boss like me doesn't have that kind of luxury nor time for love

I shook my head with a sigh, looking at the ring again.

"She gave you her ring..." Elena suddenly appeared, I looked at her, she was wearing a maroon lace nightgown with a matching robe

She looks so exquisite... The nightgown was tight enough to hug her natural curves perfectly... Any man would be a fool to not admire her beauty and any Don in Italia would want her as a trophy wife.

Although I knew that she was more than a trophy wife nor she wants to be one. She has her own ma-ia to rule

"She wants me to do it properly." I chuckled as she sat next to me

"She is a very traditional woman, despite being a ma-ia boss' wife and for being a woman of an arranged marriage." she giggled, admiring the ring "I suppose she's already told you my fixation with it" she stated

"Only that you would often borrow this when you were younger" I say as she faced me "Why do you wear it?" I asked curiously

She sighs and looks up the stars "Ever since my brother died, I have been raised by my grandparents... My father and mother were both busy at work and arguing with each other that ended their marriage." She says softly "I saw how my father got his heart broken by Elaine and how my grandparents celebrated their anniversaries together. I would often borrow my nana's ring as a sign of hope, that one day I can find someone who I can love and can love me like how my grandparents love each other even after 56 years." she chuckled, sighing "But perhaps being born into this kind of life makes me lose hope." she smiled weakly

"Your grandparents are only one of the rare couples that are happy and in love, all the while being in this business for so long." I complimented

"They're not the only ones in my family you know? My aunts are in happy arranged marriages and two of my cousins don't even have arranged marriages." she laughed "Ironically, my father was the first one to marry for love, look how that turned out for him and myself." she giggled, I couldn't help but chuckle with her.

Tonight is the perfect time to propose to her... but I don't want to make promises that I can't keep.

I took her left hand and slid the ring on her ring finger "I can't promise anything Elena... But I will treat you with the respect you deserve, as my friend, business partner and my wife." I stated

"I appreciate it Mateo, expect me to do the same." she smiled sweetly as an unknown force pull me towards her, she leans closer to me as well.

I wonder how soft her lips would feel on mine

"Mateo..." she whispers as our faces were only an inch apart

I gasp softly, coming to my senses. I stood up and cleared my throat, offering my hand to her "Shall we go back inside?" She chuckled and took it as if nothing had hapoened

"Of course, I'll be giving you a tour of my restaurants in London and I have a special surprise for you and Severino tomorrow." she smiled

"I'm looking forward to it Elena." I smiled back cordially

I tried my hardest to remove the thought of ch-king her and crashing her lips on mine and take her right here on the bench as we went back inside the estate.