My eyes opened and I found Enzo sitting on the corner of bed, still not dressed.
"What the hell!"
I screamed, seeing his figure suddenly.
"What... It's my house."
He stated and yes it was his property but it didn't mean, he would intrude anywhere,anytime he wished to. Especially when there was a girl in the room, he couldn't barge in like that.
"Don't you know some basic manners. Can you just knock before you come in?"
I asked, it was more of a suggestion from my side.
"I am not used to knocking, I have always lived alone."
He admitted and I couldn't comment anything on that.
"Why are you here?"
I asked.
"I have a habit of going to work early. I have businesses to handle and as you are part of it now, don't you wanna get your responsibilities given to you?"
He asked and I wasn't sure what kind of responsibilities was he talking about.
"What job are you gonna assign to me?"
I asked nervous and excited. Mob businesses weren't some nine to five jobs which could be handled easily. They needed much more than time, they weren't suitable for a woman to work on. But I was determined to complete the duties I was assigned. Could to face anything in order to get revenge from my husband and father.
"Whorehouses, fight clubs and bars aren't something you can handle, now. Let's start with something basic and uncomplicated."
He was stating the fact, I wasn't ready to face this hard side businesses and need more practice in illegal businesses to handle those.
"OK.. "
I said as I waited for him continue.
"How about you handle one of my five star hotels, Rexivo Oriental?"
He asked and for a second I thought was he being serious.why would he let me handle such a big business of him and that wasn't illegal, I assumed.
"Why would you trust me with such a big entity?"
I asked.
"Because I think you can do well and you won't be alone doing it our partners will help you and I know you won't betray as there wouldn't be a chance to do so."
He implied. Of course he would keep an active eye on me so that I wouldn't escape with his money.
"Where is the hotel situated?"
I questioned as I wanted to start working on it.
"Milan."
He said and what the fuck! That was the western coast where Alantino ruled, how did he managed to build his own hotel there. Alantino would have protested for sure.
"How could you have a hotel there?"
I asked and Enzo's expressions became serious.
"Our families once had a truce and my elder sister was offered to the Bernardo Russo, father of your husband, as you know. I was a seven year old kid back then. I hated how my sister used to cry whole day and night, when she was to be given to a man of our fathers age. But for our father the only thing that mattered was truce as he wanted to establish his hotel there. I couldn't help her even if I wanted to back then I felt emotions and feeling but now they are nothing to me. My father made his hotel there but one day my sister ran from Russo and she did it with plan, I was happy for that but father and Russo weren't. After the failed attempts of finding her the truce finally broke but they couldn't cease our hotel as we were much powerful."
I could sense how much Enzo loved his sister. But his expressions gave nothing. Maybe he wore a mask to hide his expressions from the world.
"Where is your sister now?"
I thought of ignoring the question but was curious. At least someone succeeded in escaping this life. If Enzo was happy about it maybe his sister told him about her whereabouts.
"They killed her. "
He said with a blank face, looking straight into my eyes and I got goosebumps. How could he say something like that, so easily.
"They found her a month after she escaped, in Hawaii. She was brought back here and was killed by Bernardo. My mother died when I was thirteen and I was inducted in the mafia business at the age of fifteen. I left my father after that and live alone since then."
He told and I felt pretty bad for him. Bernardo Russo was already married to Alantino's mother Rosalie, she was a sweet natured woman and a submissive to his husband for what I knew but Bernardo still wanted to marry Enzo's sister. How disgusting.
"I feel sorry for your sister."
I admitted. He didn't say anything just kept his emotionless mask on.
"I asked the servants to buy products and dresses for your use. She arranged them in the closet. Get ready fast. We will be leaving for Rexivo in thirty minutes."
He told and left the room.
I got up from the bad and tied my tangled hairs from yesterday's incident, into a bun. A bathrobe was laid on the couch, I quickly undressed myself to find the bruises around my waist and thighs they were stitched and treated . But the thing that I completely forgot about was, who changed my clothes and did the treatment of my injuries in the sensitive areas of my body? Could it be Enzo? I felt embarrassed at thought and decided to neglect it but it came in my again and again as I took a hot water shower. I went into the walk-in closet, which was now filled with dresses, from casual to formal and cocktail dresses. There were dresses for every event and I wondered when did Enzo arranged it all. And what the ducking time it was now? It felt so irritating not having a clock to check timing. It felt like time had stopped and I wasn't aware of it. Foolish thought, I know.
I chose a pastel green blazer along with matching trousers and a plain white tank top,as it was formal and sober and was perfect for my first day at work. After blow drying my dark brown hair, I pulled them up into a ponytail with middle partition and they reached a few inches above my butt. My hazel brown eyes were sparkly today, making me more confident. I applied mascara on my already thick lashes and a red lipstick to give a statement to my formal look. When I checked my reflection for the one last time, I couldn't believe it was me, the same Valerie, who was being chased just a day prior. So much had changed in a soft make day. I was a shy and boring girl but now I could feel the boldness in my look and would try to be bold with my work as well.
I was on my way to the door when there was a knock. Enzo was accurate of his time, I had been assuming the passing time in my mind as there was no clock in the room. I needed some gadgets for myself, I even left my cellphone in Alantino's car. He wouldn't find anything in that. It wasn't as if my father shared some secrets about business with me. I opened the door and he scanned me from head to toe in amusement. The thought came back to my mind, he had changed my clothes yesterday and I flushed at it but soon neglected it, not wanting to give Enzo any signal about what I was thinking. He straighten and said,
"You don't look like a nineteen year old girl. You have the traits of a lady now. So much changed in a single night."
He stated and was correct. I was glad that the change was observable.
"Can we leave for Rexivo now?"
I asked and he nodded towards the steps. I took the indication and walked towards the stair, Enzo followed. There were few luxurious cars parked outside the apartment and Enzo went towards a black Porsche cayenne and I realized it was the same car that hit me last night. I settled on the passenger seat, the engine came to life and we headed towards his hotel.
"Why do you live in Milan when you are actually supposed to control the southern Italy?"
I wanted to ask him about this from the starting but didn't get an opportunity to.
"I have my under bosses looking after my businesses in the southern coast but dealing here in the west coast is the most troublesome among my businesses. So I decided to handle it myself."
He told.
"So would I work under you in Rexivo?"
I asked him.
"What! No. You would have your policies over there. You will solely control it I mean obviously with the partners but not me."
He said.
"Then what would you do here? Will you go back to Taranto?"
Taranto was the place where he belonged, where his people were. It was his territory.
"No I have a one more hotel set up at Genoa. It is much trouble giving than Rexivo. I go there to maintain things and keep everything in record."
He told and I knew he was not an easy man if he could stand two of his hotels in Russo territory. Alantino would be burning when would see me and Enzo working together. Against him.