An hour ago, I stared at my message typed for a few more seconds before I clicked send.
Adriano: Good morning novalie
I had originally said amore but I felt if I kept rushing things with her it might scare her. I guess I'm scaring her already cause she still hasn't replied.
She probably feels I'm a creep, yes I did tell her I'd been staring at her picture daily for five months, but I was just being honest.
I hadn't realized when it became a habit until I couldn't bring myself to stop anymore.
Something about her had me curious, she was in all the pictures but never really there. It astonishes me how she maintains the spotlight position in every group photo without even trying.
In all photos I'd seen, she looked stoic. Slightly pouted lips, her body language screaming self confinement and mental torture. Her eyes. No matter how brightly she smiled, feigning happiness, her eyes looked emotionless, they were effortlessly dead. She definitely didn't want to be there.
All that had me curious, most mafia princesses were spoilt girls who wasted money, had a shitty attitude and got away with everything cause they were daddy's brat. She on the other hand, seemed different.
My inquisitiveness was driving me to unconventional heights, even for me, this was unorthodox. I feel bad forcing her into a marriage she doesn't want but I know I'll feel guilty if I didn't try. Every second of the day I think of those sad eyes and I feel them screaming for help, for comfort, not familial comfort though. Something moree.
I want to give her my best, the best. I want to cure her hurt and reinvent her state, erase whatever hurt her and refill her with joy but what if I'm wrong?
I wouldn't want to harm her.
I never would've killed her dad anyway, I just wanted an opportunity and I knew that was the only way I could get it.
I wanted to make Novalie Escarra mine. Hell, she's been mine for a while and she didn't even know it. Proud? No, confident? Definitely.
"Big brotherrrr" I heard my sister's high pitched voice yell as she walked into my room and my ears internally bled as she cut off my trail of thoughts.
I love my sister, Mia, alot. We were really close and she was like my little princess. I was soft only with her and could be soft to anyone only for her.
She was one of those spoilt mafia princesses from earlier but she was really sweet so I didn't mind.
You're part of those who spoil her though
Shutup consy
Sigh
"What are you doing here princess" I asked surprised she was in Mexico.
"You really didn't think I'll miss your wedding, did you, fratello? Mum told me you were getting married to that beautiful girl on your wallpaper" she says hugging my waist.
"Ofcourse she did" I chuckled not at all surprised my mum had already told her, they were gossip partners.
"So when do I get to meet her?" She asks.
"Soon, Bambi" I say kissing her on the forehead as she nods and runs off to go do something else.
Speaking of, how's the soon to be wife?
True, I think as I dail her number, wondering why she still hasn't answered my text. The phone rings for a while before she finally picks up.
"Ugh" she says groaning.
"Good morning to you too novalie"
"What the fuck do you want?"
"Someone is definitely not a morning person. I was just checking up on you, just waking up?" I ask holding back a chuckle.
"Duh, good morning. I have to start my day then water my plants so can you leave me alone. It's already enough I'm forced into this, give me space." she says sounding so grumpy.
"Okay then" I say trying to hide the hurt in my voice.
She hangs up.
Ouch
••
I just got ready to head out cause I have a meeting with Miguel today and I was already minutes late.
We talked briefly yesterday and from that, I could already deduce that his soft and nice demeanor was only on the surface, he was clearly capable of brutality.
I got into the passenger seat of my car as my driver started reversing out of the parked position. Normally, I'll drive but I wasn't very familiar with the places in Mexico and I'm gradually adjusting.
We arrived fifteen minutes later making me twenty five minutes late for the meeting.
Not a very good look, brother-in-law
Shut the fuck up.
"Adriano Milano, I'm here to see Miguel." I said to the receptionist
"Welcome, sir. Mr Miguel's office is on the fourth floor, you'll be greeted by his secretary just as you exit the elevator" she says pointing towards the elevator, purposely bending over a bit so I could see her cleavage.
"Okay, oh and keep your shoulders up that's very unprofessional" I said giving her a disgusted look as I walk away, entering the elevator. I was greeted by his secretary once I got to the fourth floor and she directed me to his office, led me in and then walked out.
Miguel's chair was turned over, backing his door and me as he looked at the view infront of him. His office was grey, minimalist and seemed cozy.
"Your tardiness says a lot about you already, Adriano" he said turning over his chair to face me, visibly upset.
"My apologies. I don't think that bothered you much, this place smells like sex." I said bluntly, not hiding my analysis.
"The fact you're familiar with the scent is a cause to suspect. You have a lot of sex, Adriano? You going to be doing that with other women when married to my sister?" He said coldly, unamused by my observation.
"I definitely won't cheat on your sister, I'm not that type of person. Even if she doesn't like me, I'm going to stay committed" I replied honestly.
"I assume you know why I called for this meeting, Mr Milano" he asks
"You want to know whether you can trust me with your sister?"
He chuckled and said, "I would never trust you with her. What I do want to know is, if she'll be safe with you and what you want from her. My sister has been through a lot and she certainly doesn't need anymore" his voice got lower as he muttered the last part.
"I can tell she's been through a lot and I don't intend to harm her. I know you might not understand this, but I feel connected with her in a way that even I don't understand. I'm doing all these only cause I want to protect her too, just like you do. I just want to be her peace" I replied.
"My sister doesn't fucking need you and don't think I'm in anyway in support of all these. I might only pretend infront of her to help her anxiety and protect our family. We have been there for her in dark times and don't you think you can keep us from being there for her over and over. I'm going to fucking keep in contact with my sister and don't you fucking ruin that." He says obviously pained by all these.
"I would never try to keep you apart from her. You guys will be welcome to visit anytime and can call whenever you like but what I do ask is you respect the marriage and give us time with each other still. Believe me, I have good intentions with your sister and I intend to be with her till she grows on me, support her, be there for whatever she needs, comfort her whenever she's down and be the best fucking husband to her" I say truthfully, a little hurt that they think the worse of me.
"You better do that and be warned, if you dare hurt my sister or make even just a tear fall from her eyes, I will torture you, slowly and fucking incinerate you alive." He says his voice hitting me like flakes of ice
I remain speechless, unsure of what to say to reassure him. The underlying threat sinking in. I wasn't weak and normally wouldn't take shit like this but I didn't want to give Novalie's family any reason to doubt me so I'm trying to be respectful. I do understand her brother though, I will do anything to protect my sister.
"I want us to be cool though, just don't forget this conversation." he says again, chuckling, regaining his usual playful tone.
He stands up and walks to me and stretches his hand out to shake me and I accept it, pulling him into a quick bro hug, tapping his shoulders.
"Wanna get dinner together?" I ask ignoring the tone minutes ago as we loosen up to each other
"Sure" he smiles.
I like him, he's like me
An icy-softy combination
Exactly.