Everyone was seated when Zeke entered with a very bruised EJ.
"Are you kidding me. Dude one day. I fucking told you to keep your face bruise-free for one day. Sasha will not allow you to be my groomsmen." said Julius.
"It was an important fight. I could not miss it." Said EJ.
"You are fired from being my groomsman. I will not have a disoriented faced groomsman next to me. Mom, Julia and Sasha will freak out." Said, Julius.
"Ya like I was begging to be your groomsman. I am your fucking uncle. The only reason I said yes was cause Ermanno said no and you fucking needed half a dozen groomsmen." said EJ.
"I did? Wait I don't remember you asking me" said Ermanno.
"You were high when we were discussing the wedding and Sasha didn't want you to be high in the wedding too," said Julius.
"Ouch," said Ermanno and looked at Elisio who was giving him a disappointing look.
"Fine I'll do it and I promise to be at best behaviour." Said Ermanno.
"You better be and I want all you boys to be at your best behaviour which means no banging any of Sasha's six sisters," said Julius.
"Oh ya. It's going to be a buffet of hot models. Damn Sasha is a good catch bro" said Ivanov and fist-bumped Julius.
"Ya. No wait.. she is going to be your sister-in-law. That means she is off limit" said Julius.
Bruce was drinking water and chocked on it and said "ya. That's the rule"
Elisio looked at Bruce and then at Arlo.
Arlo looked at Elisio and looked away.
Arlo had created chaos in Sabrina's life by telling her he loved her and trying to rape her at one point. Sabrina had forgiven Arlo so that the family doesn't split and everyone stayed together.
Though everyone had moved on, some wounds are never forgotten.
After Elisio announced to stop personal talks and start the meeting everyone started discussing the company's progress with Ermanno's supercomputer.
Brad told them about the new features and how it will better the company and make the work more efficient.
Elisio looked back at Joshua who was standing as his bodyguard.
Joshua had a proud smile looking at his son.
Joshua looked at Elisio and smiled at him.
"Now we have an announcement." Said Brad and looked at Ermanno to continue.
"We have one more new feature we are working on which will have a grand launch soon," said Ermanno.
Everyone banged the table as congratulation to their hard work.
"I am proud of you boy." Said Arlo and hugged Ermanno.
"Thanks, uncle. You are the only one who loves me. I wish you were my father" said Ermanno.
"Trust me, he tried" laughed Bruce and Nevio and Isaiah joined him.
Elisio looked at Bruce and asked, "when was the last time I beat you up?"
"It's been a while, why?" Asked Bruce smiling.
"I feel like hitting you now," said Elisio.
"Oh come on you know you love me," said Bruce.
Elisio just shook his head and walked out of the board room with Enrique at his tail.
Everyone left the board room and went to work.
The day went by fast and now was the time for the rehearsal dinner for Julius and Sasha's wedding.
Sasha was a Russian supermodel and was the fourth sister of seven sisters. They both met at one of Julius's mother's and sister's fashion show and fell in love.
And now after dating for only one year, they were getting married.
Sabrina was getting dressed in her room when she saw Elisio looking at her from the mirror.
Elisio came close to her and circled his arms around her waist from behind and looked in the mirror in front and said "you look beautiful Fiore. Look how perfect we look together"
Sabrina smiled and turned around and said: "I love you Elisio."
"You should," said Elisio and kissed her lips.
Sabrina was wearing a beautiful evening dress designed by Julia, Nevio's daughter.
They came down together smiling at eachother.
Ermanno was standing at the bottom of the stairs and looked up to see his parents.
He grew up seeing his parents deeply in love. His mom was the sweetest person in the world and father was the most feared and rude person you would come across.
Seeing them together, he knew that love can happen anywhere and with anyone.
Sabrina saw Ermanno and left Elisio and went close to him.
Sabrina tried to explain Elisio not to be jealous of his own son. But when it came to his fiore Elisio didn't like it when she left him and attended anyone else including his son.
"You look so handsome. Just like your father" said Sabrina.
"And you look beautiful and you have no comparison," said Ermanno and continued "mom can you fix my tie"
"Of course," said Sabrina and looked up at him.
Ermanno sat at the table behind him so that she could reach his neck.
"You both father and son are too tall for me," said Sabrina and laughed.
"Don't you know how to fix your tie?" asked Elisio.
"Mom knots your tie even now, don't you know how to tie your tie?" Asked Ermanno.
"When MY WIFE knots my tie I hold her close to me and it's an intimate time between us," said Elisio.
"You mean like this?" Said Ermanno and hugged Sabrina.
Elisio growled and pulled Sabrina to him and said "keep your hands off my wife"
Ermanno laughed and said "you act like a young possessive child who doesn't like when someone touches his toy"
Elisio looked at Sabrina and said "she is my toy"
"What?" Asked Ermanno and Sabrina said "nothing. Come let's go" and pulled Elisio and Ermanno in both hands and walked out of the mansion.
The rehearsal dinner was a grand celebration and the venue looked way over the top with a huge chandelier and laser lights.
Julius Devonte, the COO of Devonte group was marrying Sasha Ivanov, the Russian supermodel. The press was going crazy to take pictures.
Elisio came out of his limousine and following him was Ermanno.
Then the two men gave their hand to Sabrina to take and she intervened her hands in their arms and walked in the venue.
Everyone was present here tonight. Family and friends. Colleagues and competitors. The rehearsal dinner in the Devonte family was a celebration for outsiders and the actual wedding was only family.
Everyone mingled with eachother and exchanged pleasantries.
But time stood still for Ermanno when he saw the one person he loathed the most in this world.
Rose Brown.