New Love

ten

Elena's Point Of View

*the next morning*

"Where do you want this Miss Kingsley?" one of my servants asked as we brought in the trays of food for our breakfast that I helped prepare.

"Just on the table Peggy, thank you." I smiled as I placed a pot full of freshly brewed espresso on the table before removing my apron

"Something smells delicious!" Severino hums as he steps into the dinning room "Is that a fritata?" he mused happily as he looked onto the table filled with Italian and British breakfast classics.

I nodded with a chuckle "I figured that you and Mateo would want something from home on your first day here." I smiled "Is Mateo up yet? It would be rude not to wait for him." I ask and sat on a chair

My mind wandered to the events last night, in the garden where we almost kissed.... It felt so romantic yet so wrong at the same time...

His dark brown eyes, chiseled jawline and kissable lips came into my dreams last night... the only difference was that we shared a passionate kiss...

“Would've he kissed me back if we kissed last night?" I ask myself in my thoughts

No... We're strangers... We don't know each other... This relationship is nothing more than a business merger... I can't let my heart be involved in this!

"He is an early riser, no matter how tired he is." he nodded "Will your father join us for breakfast?" he wondered

"He usually has breakfast at the office with my grandfather every weekdays. He eats with me on the weekends" I answered, pouring myself a shot of espresso and took a small sip

"Buongiorno." Mateo greets, now fully dressed in a white dress shirt underneath his black blazer with matching trousers, socks and seemingly expensive leather shoes.

He looks extremely dashing, a lot more clean and well put together than I expected for an Italian Don to look like. The Italian Dons that I have encountered are slimy, misogynistic and disgusting p-rv-rts .

“Buongiorno!" I smiled kindly at him "Breakfast is served, I hope you slept well." I added

"I slept well and thank you for the hospitality you've given to Severino and I." he says, sitting on the other end of the table "These look delicious, did you make the breakfast yourself?" he wonders as he poured a shot of espresso for himself and took a sip.

"Most of them but I had help from my maids, cooking helps me relax and if I wasn't leading a ma-ia I'd be very hands on with all my restaurants." I answered "Shall we eat?" I smiled as he nodded.

"Buon appetito!"

---

The rest of the breakfast was silent, well until Severino noticed the ring on my left finger

"You didn't tell me that you proposed last night Mateo." he says to his friend teasingly "And you never told me you had a ring with you." he adds with a smirk

"I didn't. Agatha gave it to me, and Elena had proposed during the car ride remember? The engagement ring was just a token of validity to this alliance." Mateo stated firmly and I try to ignore the pang of slight hurt that I feel in my heart.

I nodded in agreement "Our marriage is just a transaction anyway. He gives me validity as a ma-ia boss and protection from any ass-ss-n-tion attempts and I give him as many heirs as he requires, nothing more." I added to his statement, I felt his eyes look at me for a moment but he instantly turns away once I look at him.

"We should get going, I'll give you a tour of all my restaurants in London today. Seeing as we'll be business partners in and out of the ma-ia." I wiped my mouth before standing up "I hope you enjoyed breakfast gentlemen, if you'll exuse me I need to get ready and dressed for the day." I smiled "We leave in thirty minutes." I walk away

"No woman can get ready in thirty minutes principessa." Mateo quips "I know it from experience." he added with a tiny hint of playfulness in his voice

"Lucky for you, your new fiancee isn't like most women signore!" I hollered back as I went to my room to prove him wrong.

Just like I have been doing in the ma-ia, proving most men wrong.

---

Third Person's Point Of View

Severino looked at his best friend and boss who was chuckling in amusement as they both finished breakfast.

"You like her." He concluded

"Don't be absurd Seve-" Mateo protested but he cuts him off

"No, you weren't like this when you were with Lucia!" he explains "And you've been smiling yesterday more than you've smiled for the past four years Mateo." he pointed out.

"I smile because she has impressed me, more than any ma-ia boss did in all my life in this business." The 33 year old Don stated "She would make the perfect ally to us." he wiped his mouth with a napkin

"Then why did Mrs. Kingsley gave you her ring? If it only is a marriage on paper huh?" Severino asked curiously

"It's her family heirloom, she wanted to pass it to her children but they refused. Elena would be the first one in their family to inherit it." he answered truthfully, although he didn't reveal the sentimental value behind it. It was his and Elena's personal conversation last night and he doesn't plan to share it with anybody... even his own best friend and confidant.

Severino hums, seemingly satisfied with his friend's answer "Will you treat her well after the wedding?"

"Of course. Despite being in an arranged marriage, I will treat Elena with the respect she deserves. I won't be against being her friend either." he shrugged, finishing his espresso. "I will never be like my father who treated my mother poorly just because he didn't get to marry the woman he wanted." he spat "I may not like the idea of marrying another woman that is not Lucia but I'm doing this for the future of the Sicilian Ma-ia and for my nonna." he smiled but shook his head as his voice became laced with anger. "And I will hunt Gabriel down first and make him suffer ten times more than Lucia did."

"Yup, this b-st-rdo already likes Elena Kingsley, love at first sight truly does exist! But he's still very much in denial with his feelings and still thirsts for revenge." Severino thought "Alright, no need to be so angry." he changes the subject "Shall we wait for Elena in the foyer?" he stood up.

"My pack of c-g-rettes will most definitely run out while waiting for her to get ready." Mateo scoffed, standing up as well.

"Don't underestimate her, my friend. You should know that by now." Severino smirks as he slung an arm over Mateo's shoulder as they went to the foyer.