Anaya came downstairs after a maid had called her. She went to the dining room and met Don, Michael, and Isabella already sitting.
Don was seated at the head of the table, Michael was seated two seats to his left and Isabella was seated two seats to his right.
"Hi, Anaya" Isabella greeted, causing all their attention to turn to her.
"Come sit here" She patted the seat in between her and Don. Anaya gave her a small smile and sat where Isa had requested.
Some minutes later, Maddison appeared too. "Hello everyone" she greeted in her sophisticated accent. Her eyes scanned everyone on the table before landing on Anaya in irritation.
She quietly took her seat in between Don and Michael and ordered the maids to serve the food.
The food was eventually served and they all began eating under a cloud of awkward silence.
"Isa I've been hearing a few things about you" Don began. Isa froze at turned to him, fear and guilt written boldly on her round face.
"L-Like what, Don?" she stuttered, "Andrew and some of my men went to get something for me at New York Harbour. They came back and told me that they saw you in a cafe with a guy"
She began choking on her food while Michael burst into laughter.
"I told you he would find out eventually," Michael said in between laughter. She frowned and kicked his foot underneath the table. He let out a groan but still continued laughing softly.
"So Isabella, you already have a boyfriend," Maddison asked not hesitating to hide the tiniest trace of uninterest in her voice.
"I-It... It's not like that, we are just friends" she defended. "We met at Bree's birthday party some months back and we connected. Since then, he asks me out for lunch from time to time" she explained.
"In other words, you are unofficially dating," Don said, "No. He goes out with other girls too" "Yeah! Once in a thousand years. You've been going on 'lunch' with him about twice a week for close to a month now" Michael teased.
"How dare you snitch on me?!" she kicked his foot again and he yelped.
"Enough Isa!" Don said with authority and she obeyed with a pout.
"This lunch partner of yours, what's his name?" "Jason" she answered quickly.
"How could you Isa? Don't you know that guys named Jason are players?" Michael said dramatically, "He certainly can't be like you" she retorted, "Nope. They are much worse" She kicked his foot again.
"I swear Don. He is nice and sweet and means no harm. He just wants to be friends and there is nothing wrong about..."
"Enough about Isabella's love life, friendship, or whatever. She can be with whoever she wants as far as he is rich. Let's talk about you dear" Maddison said referring to Don.
Isa lowered her head hurt to hide the tears that were at the brink of her eyes. Anaya noticed this and took her hand in hers. Anaya squeezed her hand and gave her a comforting smile.
"I was gone for a few months. Now I'm back and I'm suddenly hearing that you are married" Anaya rolled her eyes. Whatever this woman was going to do, she wasn't in the mood to witness her drama.
"When did all of 'this' happen?" she knitted her eyebrows together.
With a sigh, Don explained their story to her, leaving out some details. Her eyes flickered between the both of them in annoyance.
"I honestly expected better from you, Don. Even Michael wouldn't make a mistake as stupid as this" she said. "She attempted stealing from you yet you still married her?" "What did I say about disagreeing with this decision?" he snapped and looked at her with icy cold eyes.
She became silent and began picking on her food. "I'm just caring for you, Don. It's something every mother does. I might have been absent for a while, but that doesn't mean I don't care about your well-being"
"That's the only thing you seem to care about... 'His' wellbeing" Michael blurted grudgingly and Isabella immediately flashed him a reprimanding look. Maddison ignored it.
"I just don't want you stuck with someone like her for the rest of your life. She isn't good for you"
"You're wrong! In fact, she is in every way better than Camilla" Isabella argued. "Don't interrupt when adults are speaking" Maddison snapped.
"If she is better than Camilla, tell me. Who exactly is she? Where is her family from? What is her status in the society? What is her or her family's net worth?" Isabella attempted to answer, but Anaya squeezed her hand, signaling for her not to answer.
"See? No answer. The dress she is wearing is not even a real designer. She is plain and simple and someone like her neither stands a chance to be in this family nor does she deserves the title of being Maddison Smith's daughter-in-law" she said proudly.
"You carry yourself so highly Mrs. Smith" "Why won't I? I mean I'm not like you who has nothing to show" Anaya chuckled humorlessly.
"You see Mrs. Smith, it's not good to judge a book by its cover"
"Your cover tells me everything there is to know about you; I know that you are a cheat, a deceiver, and a thief who is hungry for wealth, power, and recognition"
"You and Brownie Kinsley are very alike. Rich and proud. Failing to recognize people with a higher status than you" Anaya said neutrally.
"Oh well! Since you asked me who I am, Anaya Gambino aka The Bloody Angel, daughter to the Head of the Italian mafia, and one of the richest men in New York City" she said, maintaining a piercing gaze to Maddison.
"Brownie Kinsley and her family can't even dream of attaining the status I and my family have. Not flaunting my wealth doesn't give you or her the right to try and step over me" she added and stood up crossed.
"Anaya?" Isa called but Anaya ignored it.
"Also Mrs. Smith, in order for you to truly insult me, I must first value your opinion. Nice try though, but you'll have to try harder next time" she said and left the dining table.
"When you thought you've taught an arrogant bitch a lesson, you come to find out that his mother is an arrogant queen bitch herself" she muttered to herself as she stepped into the elevator.
She fumed and closed her eyes to allow the anger boiling in her cool.
"Relax, Naya! We can't let them get under our skin. It will only give them satisfaction to see me pissed off" she said to herself as she walked towards her room.
"I wonder how they deal with her. I would have probably pushed her off the stairs by now" she thought to herself as she picked her phone up.
Having dinner with them reminded her of the nights she had dinner with her dad. Her heart ached as she missed him very much.
She dialed his number and it rang. She knew he was a busy man, yet, she prayed earnestly within her that he would pick.
And as though her prayers were answered, he answered. "Salve, Dad!" she greeted.
"Mio Naya?" "Sí! Come stai {How are you}?" "Bene, e tu{Fine and you}?" "Bene" she replied.
"How is everything there? Ti sta trattando correttamente e con rispetto?{Is he treating you properly and with respect}?"
"Sí, solo che suo... "
"Who are you talking to?"