ITALY
The Bruni's Residence
"You liar!" Diamond accused frowning hard at her husband who was busy laughing his ass out. "If you don't stop laughing I will have no choice than to shove my breast inside that mouth of yours." She threatened.
Mikhail stopped laughing and gulped hard, that's would be nice.
She was the only one bold enough to talk to him in that manner.
She was the only one he's ready to kill thousands for. Actually, she made him do the opposite instead.
She hates it when he kills so he rarely do that.
He gave his enemies chances to redeem themselves.
And it's all because of her. His one and only Diamond.
"Stand up." She demanded.
"What?"
"I said you should stand up, who knows maybe you've hidden one of your cards there."
"Come on Amore, we both know I'm good in cards game."
"So am I. I remember beating your ass countless times."
"Well actually, I let you beat my ass those times." He shrugged, taking a sip of martini.
"Then why didn't you let me win this time around?"
"Uh... Because I want my beautiful princess to see how great her father is." He winked.
Diamond rolled her eyes, scoffing. "She's still in my stomach, big head. Wait, come to think of it, you didn't only beat me in this game..." She dramatically gasped. "You likewise beat your unborn child." She ran her palm over her big belly, pouting. "She must be very sad now."
"Stop it." Mikhail feigned annoyance.
"You are one heartless husband and father." She sighed, acting to be depressed. "Don't worry pumpkin, mummy won't do something like that to you. Mummy will always let you win in every game."
Mikhail groaned. "Stop making me feel like the bad guy."
She stared at him through her long lashes. "You are the bad guy."
"Argh!" Mikhail glanced down at his wife's belly then slowly averted his gaze to the game on the table. "What am I suppose to do now?"
"Pick up the card you dropped and go to market." She batted her lashes, smirking deviously that her plan is working.
"You are the cheat here, you know." Mikhail collected the card he used to win the game and went to general market.
She fake gasped. "Did you just call your beautiful wife and obviously beautiful daughter a cheat?"
"Of course not. It was definitely a slip of tongue."
"Good boy." She dropped her last card and grinned in victory. "I win."
"Tsk, good for you."
"Hey come on, stop being so jealous. Don't worry I will let you win tomorrow or some other time."
"What an irony!" He chuckled softly, coming up to his feet.
"Where are you going?" Diamond asked, looking up at her husband.
"To see the beach. Wanna come?" He extended his hand for her to take.
"Hmm." She hummed and grabbed hold of his outstretched hand and let him pull her up. "I feel so...heavy."
"Let me help."
Before Diamond could process what's going on, Mikhail rounded the table and lifted her up in his arms in a bridal style
"Oh my God, drop me down, Mikhail." She squealed.
"No." He answered sternly, walking towards the car prepared down for them.
"Am I not too heavy?" She asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Damn, you really are." He joked in attempt to get a reaction from her which he sure did.
She smacked his head upside down.
"You son of a bitch."
Mikhail laughed. "What did I do?" He whined like a child.
"Weren't you taught never to tease a pregnant woman?"
"I'm sorry."
"You keep apologizing whenever you do something wrong." She huffed as he dropped her at the backseat of the car. "But of course I will always keep forgiving you." She placed a soft kiss on his lips. Mikhail was going to kiss her back when she pulled away, smiling. "You are suppose to take this pregnant woman to see the beach not make out with her at the backseat of your car."
"You are so unpredictable." He smirked, shutting the door closed then rounded the car and entered, sitting down beside her.
"You can't blame me." Diamond shrugged. "Ricco?" She called out to the driver.
"Yes, Mrs Bruni?" He turned back to look at her, smiling.
She smiled back. "I just wanted to be sure you are the one taking us to see the beach."
"If it isn't me then who?" He said jokingly.
"I know right? I really love how you drive." She leaned back on the cool expensive leather seat, resting her head on her husband's shoulder. "It makes me feel at ease and safe."
"I'm honoured." Ricco said as he started the car and drove out of the large compound.
"When I give birth, I will like you to be my daughter's personal driver."
"Oh my, thank you so much, ma'am." He excitedly said, grinning from ear to ear. "I will forever be devoted to the cassano's."
"You are a good man, Ricco. Now that I think about it, your name kinda sounds like Ricki. I love it."
Mikhail loudly cleared his throat, interrupting their conversation. "Weren't you taught never to compliment other men in the presence of your husband?"
Diamond laughed, wrapping her arms around his toned body. "I'm sorry, honey pie."
He placed a warm kiss at the top of her head, wrapping his strong arms around her body and pulling her closer to himself.
"I can't stay mad at you for too long and you are using that to your advantage."
"What do you expect from a smart pregnant woman. They say, 'you use their weakness to get what you want.'" They both laughed. "I love you, my Italian Mafia."
"I love you more than life itself, my queen."
"Aww, that's so sweet." Ricco cooed, earning loud laughter from the both of them. "You two will make a wonderful parents."
"We will." They both said in unison, smiling straight into each other's eyes.
*****
LA
BFF's APARTMENT Diamond's bedroom**
A soft knock came on the door.
"Yes, come in." Diamond said from inside.
The door flung open and Zara peeked her head through.
"Hey babe!"
"Hi."
"Busy?"
Diamond nodded her head at her laptop. "As you can see."
"Still on that chapter?"
"Yes."
"You should eat. Come downstairs, Ayden made us breakfast."
"I will eat by the time I'm done with this chapter, okay?"
"Ayden wouldn't want that. Come on." Zara urged.
"I have to get this chapter over with, Zara. My editor have been anticipating on it for over two days now. I can't keep her waiting for too long."
"But you have to eat."
"I will. I promise."
Zara sighed and walked away.
Diamond continued typing away on her laptop when the door burst open and Ayden walked in.
"Really, Ayden?"
"What?"
"Do I need to remind you that you forgot to knock, or what?"
Ayden rolled his eyes. "Why did you turn us down?"
Diamond frowned. "When did I do that?"
"Didn't you tell Zara that you don't want to eat?"
"Is that what she told you?"
"Maybe not, but there's no difference with what I just said."
"There is."
"Whatever. Listen, I know you've been going through writer's block but that doesn't mean you shouldn't eat."
"Ayden, I will eat. Like I said, I just want to get this chapter done with. Can you get out of my room now, so I can concentrate?"
"Never." Ayden grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her up to her feet. "You are going to be eating breakfast with us and that's final."
"Ayden..." Diamond whined.
"You are welcome, honey."
Downstairs**
"You succeeded." Zara said from the dinner table.
"Don't you trust me again?"
They laughed aside from Diamond who was scowling at them.
"I've dished out everyone's food." Zara sat down. "Come on, Diamond."
Diamond rolled her eyes, sitting down beside Zara. She took off her glasses and dropped them on the table.
"If I don't finish that chapter today, I will curse you both."
"You love us so much to do that, baby." Ayden winked. "Just shut up and eat your damn food."
They ate in silent until Zara broke it with a clear of her throat.
"Diamond,"
"Yeah?"
"Um..." Zara nervously scratched the back of her neck.
"Are you okay?" Ayden asked in concern.
"Uh...yeah. Sure. I'm okay."
"Why is your face pale and why are you so nervous? Is something wrong?" Diamond asked.
"Whatever I say, don't be mad at me, okay?"
Diamond furrowed her brows. "Did you read my story behind my back again?"
"Of course not."
"Did you wear my cloth without my permission?"
"Really? And even if I did, why will I be nervous to tell you?"
"So what did you do?" Diamond asked.
They heard a knock on the door.
"Is any one of you expecting a guest?" Ayden questioned.
Zara audibly gulped.
"I...am." She rose, her gaze were fixed on Diamond. "I'm sorry." She mouthed and rushed to the door.
Diamond frowned, exchanging glance with Ayden who likewise had a deep frown on his face.
"Are you sure she's okay?"
Diamond shook her head. "I don't think so."
Few seconds later, Zara returned with a woman and a boy of five years old.
Diamond sprung up to her feet as soon as she saw them.
"What's going on?" She asked Zara.
"I'm sorry for not telling you on time." Zara apologized.
"What's going on here?" Diamond repeated, avoiding gazes with the little kid.
"You didn't tell her?" The woman asked Zara.
"No. I didn't have the chance to."
"Oh. Anyway, I should be on my way now. Uhm, Diamond, right?" The woman asked.
"Uh...yeah?"
"Thanks so much for accepting to look after my son. I really appreciate." She smiled. "I will send your money over to Zara's account if you don't mind. And don't worry, Kyle is a good boy." She reassured.
"Wait." Diamond chimed in. "Who did you say is looking after your son?"
"You?"
"No." Diamond shook her head, backing away. "No way. I don't remember agreeing to look after a child."
"Zara?"
"Don't worry, I will talk to her." Zara said to the woman. "Um Diamond, can we speak in private."
"Yes.I think that's a very good idea. Let's go and speak in private." Diamond stormed in the kitchen alongside Zara.
Ayden shook his head an huffed dramatically, taking a bite of chicken.
"How are you, kid?"
"I'm fine, adult." Kyle scoffed.
"Rude. I see." Ayden remarked. "Diamond hate kids and now she has to take care of a rude one, tsk." He murmured.
Kitchen**
"How could you?"
"I'm sorry."
"Saying sorry won't cut out for anything, Zara. I am not taking care of any kid so you better go out there and look for another person to do the nanny work."
"Diamond, that woman is a colleague of mine. She has been absent from work because of her child. She needs a nanny urgently."
"And do I look like one to you?"
"No, of course not. But can you do me the favor. She's going to pay handsomely for the job, trust me."
"Trust you?" She shook her head. "It's me you shouldn't trust with a kid. I don't care how much she's going to pay because I am not doing it."
"Diamond..." Zara called pleadingly.
"I'm serious, Zara. I am not doing it. Besides I have tons of work to do. The last thing I want is to have a kid around frustrating the living daylight out of me. I can't do it." Diamond said in finality, stepping out of the kitchen.
Zara let out a deep breath and ran her fingers through her hair.
'What was I even expecting? I know well enough that she wouldn't do it. Gosh.' Zara thought to herself.
•••••••••
•ITALY•
Back To Bruni's Residence**
Mikhail tiptoed inside his room and quietly shut the door closed.
The lights were turned off which only means one thing; His queen was already asleep.
She must be very stressed out after the long walk at the beach.
Fuck, he wished he cuddled her to sleep instead. Well it's not too late for that, is it?
He walked into the adjoined bathroom and had a quick shower. As soon as he was done with that, he went back to bed and pulled his wife into his arms for a warm cuddle.
She readjusted, making herself comfortable in his arms.
She was perfect.
Mikhail smiled as he stared down at her beautiful face, looking for any imperfections but he saw none.
How could one be this perfect? He always ask himself that very question whenever he looked at her.
His right hand moved down and rested on her big belly, he ran his palm in circular motion around it, grinning from ear to ear.
His life is perfect with her. She made him complete and he won't ask God for anything else because having Diamond, his wife was like having the whole world. What more can he possibly wish for?
"If you keep looking at me like that, I will start thinking I'm ugly." She said without opening her eyes.
Mikhail chuckled. "You're awake."
"I couldn't sleep without you." She opened her eyes now, staring up at him. "Where have you been?"
He shrugged, playing with her golden hair with his fingers. "Working."
"I thought Marcello was to take care of everything?"
"He was."
She frowned. "So why else did you leave? You know I can't stay a day without you."
"You only stayed for forty minutes without me."
"That doesn't still make a different." She pouted.
"Come on, stop being such a big baby." He laughed.
"Oh really?" She looked down at her stomach. "Baby, daddy said mummy should stop being such a big baby...what should I say to him?"
Mikhail laughed harder, throwing his head back while still holding her against his chest.
"She's mad at you for saying that to me. And will you stop laughing now?" Diamond playful smacked Mikhail on the chest.
"Okay. I will stop laughing." He gulped and cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, my love." He looked down at his wife's stomach. "I'm sorry, my little princess."
"Oh my God, she just kicked." Diamond squealed.
"Really?" Mikhail placed his hand on her stomach to feel the movement. And indeed his little princess kicked again.
"Aww, I think she accepts your apology."
"I love you so much, my little princess." He leaned his face closer to his wife's belly and placed a gentle kiss on it. "Daddy promise to protect you and mummy at all cost, okay?"
The baby kicked again, making both parents laugh.
"You will make a great daddy, Mikhail." Diamond said softly as Mikhail lay back on the bed, drawing her closer into his arms.
"And you will make a great mummy, Amore."
It was silent between the two of them until she spoke again.
"Honey pie?"
"Yes?" He replied, drawing small circles in her arms, sending down goosebumps.
"Can you promise me something?"
"Anything for you."
"If anything ever happens to me..."
"Wait, what?" He tensed up.
"Shhh, listen to what I have to say first." She said pleadingly.
"Okay?" He slowly relaxed.
"If anything ever happens to me during labor...please," She looked up at him. "save our child."
"Nothing will ever happen to you, Diamond. Nothing." He said sternly.
"Hey, calm down big man." She smiled. "I was only saying. Of course nothing will happen to me or our baby." She sighed. "I will love her with all of my heart. Provide her with whatever she wants. She will be my everything...just like you are."
"I promise to love you and our child unconditionally. I will protect you two with my life. I love you so much, my queen."
"I love you too, my Italian king."
They both connected their lips and kissed passionately, sealing their love and promises.