SWEETEST OBLIVION

STAKING HIS CLAIM

Leonardo's Pov

I was aggravated. which wasn't anything new. Since I had returned to Italy, I had started to grow accustomed to this particular feeling. which was just over a month ago.

Nearly all of the powerful men in the room avoided my stare as I roved the room, trying to contain my rage from making them tremble.

At twenty-seven, I was younger than most tycoons, but that didn't matter because of how easily I used my authority to benefit not only my own billion-dollar fortune but also the prosperity of my family.

Everyone in this group could agree that the legacy and influence of Mancini in Italy were not ones to be taken lightly. After all, it was my father who had placed each and every one of them in their current position.

"This is your chance to speak."

Hearing the thick accent that highlighted every word I said, the men began to perspire. The fact that I attended the top international schools in New York when I was a young child was well known. I was fluent in all the major languages of the continent, including English, and the only time my Italian accent got a bit stronger than usual was when my irritation was of an undesirable degree.

"Come on! You must have reasons for your so-called actions." They all flinched as the words grated out in a tone laden with rage.

When no one responded, I bit out, "I suggest whatever excuse you have is plausible, or I won’t hesitate to put a bullet in your skull."

Everyone broke into conversation, quickly defending their lack of discretion with a barrage of justifications and apologies.

"It wasn’t our intention," said one of the men with a gulp, "we had no idea we were being watched. We had only hope to...."

"You know better than to get the public involved in our affairs." I said , causing the other man to cease speaking. "Such a mistake won’t be tolerated ever again." I said, lowering my sight as I fixed my attention on each individual person. " The only reason I am showing you leniency is because of my father. But know very carefully that I am not my father, and such a heedless act won’t be left unpunished next time."

"You’re all dismissed." I didn't need to say anything else; the men rose to their feet and began to scurry toward the door, bumping into each other as they did so. They were desperate to leave the study's stuffy, tense atmosphere.

As the room fell silent, I turned my chair around to face the windows, which offered a good view of the city. I rolled a new cigarette. Now that I had quit, I couldn't care less. Nothing about my decisions in Italy makes a difference now. I was beginning to feel suffocated and couldn’t wait to get away from here—far from Italy. Away from the past.

Getting to my feet, I placed the button of the cigarette on the ash tray as I picked up my suit jacket and made my way out of the hotel room.

I checked the time on my phone. I had an hour and thirty minutes before my next appointment. Taking an elevator to the first floor of the hotel, I decided to walk around the block to kill time.

As soon as I turned the left corner of the hotel, I spotted the cafe. Deciding a cup of coffee would no doubt work a bit of wonders to ease my irritation, I walked in, taking my seat two seats away from a couple.

I wasn’t really paying much attention to them and was instead focused on my phone as my order was being taken by the waiter. As I sipped my bland black coffee, I was typing furiously on my phone when an angelic laugh filled the cafe, causing my attention to drift from my phone as I tried to find the source of such a captivating laugh.

My eyes wandered around the small cafe, settling on her fiery red hair. She was sitting two seats ahead of me, her back to me, giving me a perfect view of her face.

Her beautiful green eyes sparkled beneath the light as she laughed. Yet beneath her laugh, I couldn’t help but detect a bit of fakery in them, which made me curious as to who the man she was sited with was.

For some weird reason unknown, I couldn’t stop looking at her. I can have my pick of stunning women, sleek and sophisticated, with lips as red as cherries. Inside, though, those women are dull. They didn’t light up any form of curiosity in me.

Yet, there she was. A complete stranger had managed to pique my interest. And I found myself leaning a bit closer to them, trying to listen in on their conversations.

"I’m sorry, but there is nothing you can do that would change my mind."

"Not even the tiniest bit."

She sighs, "Not even the tiniest bit, Derek."

Was this man so dim as to miss her lack of interest, or was he feigning ignorance? I had no doubt that the latter was the case.

Before I could second-guess myself, I got to my feet, walked over to where she was seated, and took a seat next to her with my arm around her voluptuous waist.

"Sorry, I’m late, Bambina."

She gasped in disbelief as she turned to look at me after being startled by this. She was staring at me, and I could tell she was surprised by my appearance. I was tempted to smirk at that.

I say with a smile, "I hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long."

This caused her to jump in fright, and she turned to look at me, gasping in shock. I could tell she was taken aback by my looks from the way she stared at me, and I was very tempted to smirk at that.

"I hope I didn’t keep you waiting for long," I say with a smile on my face.

She shakes her head slightly, coming out of whatever trance she had been in, and is quick to act, placing a hand on her chest.

"Not at all, love," she responds. "Derek here was kind enough to keep me company."

I turned to the man she had been with, who had a look of shock and recognition in his face. By letting me know, he knew exactly who I was.

"If you don’t mind, we will take you out on leave." I said, getting to my feet and grabbing her hand in the process before making our way out of the cafe, my coffee long forgotten.

We managed to put a couple of distances between us and the man, and she turned back to look behind us to be certain he wasn’t following. Her eyes found mine, and her lips parted slightly. Her eyes trailed down my face to our still-locked hands, and she gasped, pulling her hand back, much to my disappointment.

"I'm... sorry... and thank you." I know how intimidating I look, and I could tell she was trying her best not to appear fazed.

"You don’t have to apologize; I saw that you needed saving from him and are probably too kind to tell him off." her head tilted to the side and green eyes wide as she blushes.

Since I got back, the only things I've learned from going inside the city proper are that it has excellent cuisine and beautiful vistas. At least not until her diminutive but distractingly voluptuous appearance. There hadn't been any surprises.

I was drawn to her figure and noticed every detail of her. Her smile drew me in like a moth to a flame, and I couldn't help but notice how her t**s jiggled beneath her white shirt when she laughed. I'm far too cynical to deserve her, but she was vast, cheerful, and innocent, that much I could tell, and i planned on claiming her as mine one way or another.