Alessandra turned so that she was facing Luca. She tucked her bare feet under herself and waiting for him to begin talking. Alessandra knew well enough that the Mazzanti family and the Valentina family were completely different. In her family she had the ability to do as she pleased, say as she pleased, whenever that may be. He uncles didn't try to silence her and she held a pretty prominent role within their family. In her family she was respected and treated like a princess. The Mazzanti's on the other hand were notorious for their mistreatment of women. The women in that family didn't speak unless spoken too, and they only said what their husband's, father's, or brothers wanted to hear. Should they step out of line....well there were only whispers about what happened to them.
Alessandra already discovered that she could get away with some back talk with Luca, but she didn't want to push it. Rumor has it, that Mr. Mazzanti killed Luca's mother because she spoke out of turn and he beat her to death. Looking at Luca's body there was no way that Alessandra would be able to defend herself should he get them same inkling.
Luca had yet to start talking, he was studying Alessandra, trying to figure out what she thinking. He prayed she would start this conversation because he had no idea where to start, he never compromised before he always got his way, but he determined that would not be possible with Alessandra.
"Well, aren't you going to list your demands?" Luca asked impatiently.
"Sorry, I just thought...you know...women in your family don't speak unless spoken to. At least that's what everyone around town says." Alessandra added that last part so it didn't seem like she was judging him or assuming anything.
"Oh, yeah, that," Luca began, "You don't have to do that. At least with me, I think it is a stupid rule my father has and I don't follow it, I don't expect you to either. However, my father and most of the men have grown accustomed to it and do expect all women of the family to listen to that rule, just a heads up."
Alessandra relaxed a little before beginning, " I know neither of us wanted this, but we are here, so I feel like we should try to at least be friends, to make it easier on each other." Lucca nodded in agreement and let her continue. " I am also aware of your reputation with women. However, I am not someone who enjoys being the town gossip so I have a few requests." Luca braced himself for whatever rules she was going to ask. "First off, I am not going to try and restrict you from having affairs or whatever you want to call them, as long as this relationship stays as it is, but you can not expect sex from me then. I will not sleep with someone who is sleeping with everyone else. If you want it from me you're going to have to give me time to get comfortable with you and then it will have to be mutually exclusive. Until then, do what you want but no accidental pregnancies or STDs or any of the sort, you always have to be covered. Secondly, I don't want to hear about them from anyone so stay private about it. I will not be made a fool of, so keep your affairs out of the publics view. Thirdly, I always come before them. If I need you, you are there, we are legally bound they are not and if you treat me with that courtesy I will do the same. Lastly, you should he aware that I will not be participating in any extramarital affairs. I personally don't believe in it, but I won't force you to believe the same things." Alessandra prepared for Luca to yell, or laugh at her but he did none of those.
"Okay, seems fair." he agreed, "Is there anything else you want?"
"Uhm, yes, Sundays I would like to continue to go to my family's church. Also, I want to continue to see my family and friends as before. Of course, I won't live at the apartment with them but you should know my friends are family to me and a big part of my life. It was hard enough for them to not the wedding because your father said so." Luca's expression changed. He didn't know that his father had denied her this little pleasure of having her friends by her side. All he did was nod in agreement with her.
"Tuesday mornings are reserved for my mother, and are very important to me, so I ask to keep them and lastly. I would like to continue working. I know your family has a big thing about women not working but I have worked hard to get where I am and I don't want to lose it." Luca thought for a little before continuing.
"Where do you work?" he asked thoughtfully.
"Well, I have two jobs, well had two jobs. The first I was a researcher at my college while I was there. When I came back in the summer I would sometimes help with universities studies here, but since I am no longer going to school I can't continue to do that, only if I finished my degree would I be allowed to stay. My other job, the one I'm talking about keeping, is I'm a chef in my uncles' restaurant. They had me start when I was 15 as a dish washer and I moved up to waitress and two months ago I was able to become the head chef." Luca could see Alessandra's eyes light up when she discussed her job, it was obvious she loved it.
"Then you can keep it. Your allowance will just be considered extra money to spend on whatever."
"Oh I don't need an allowance." Alessandra began.
"The allowance is one thing I will not budge on. Once we get back to New York you will receive a thousand dollars a week into your account, if you need more you will have a card linked to my account that you can use." Alessandra could tell by the tone of his voice she wasn't going to win this argument so she moved on.
"Is there anything you want?"
Luca thought about this for a moment, before stating, "For appearances sake, we should share a room, but nothing will happen, as you said we need to remain friendly. Also, there is a bar I own downtown, do not go there. EVER. If I say I am there then just wait home for me. Also ,Tuesday night is poker night with my friends, we switch between what houses we use so occasionally it will be at ours. And finally, do not, under any circumstances, get involved with the family business. Whatever you hear you keep to yourself. You can ask me questions but I may not answer them, or if I do it may not be what you want to hear. Anything you hear pertaining to business you can only discuss with me, no one else, not even my father, understand?" Alessandra nodded her head slowly and wondered what it was he was hiding from her. Her family was open about the business they didn't try to hide anything, especially from her. After a moment of silence Alessandra asked for one more thing.
"I would also like it if we are honest to each other. If we want to make this friendship work we need to be completely honest with each other on whatever it is so that if someone asks us we know what they are talking about. This life has a lot of backstabbing and lying and the only way we can beat it is if we are honest with each other."
Luca smiled at Alessandra. "I hate liars anyway."
It wasn't long after that, that the pilot came over the loudspeaker to tell them that they were ready to land. Four men in suits came out of the back that Alessandra had not noticed before. They sat down opposite to her and put on their seat belts. the stewardess also sat down at her station and put on her seatbelt. She was still upset about being rejected from Luca and looking at him and Alessandra being friendly with each other made her blood boil. She was determined to get him back, by any means necessary.