Giovanni POV:
I had fallen asleep thinking for most of the night that it was a dream, the most pleasant dream I'd ever had. After a day of driving around the city searching all over for her, trying to figure out where she would go. I had run myself ragged trying to find her, killing myself for being so cold towards her and keeping her under lock and key. I just didn't think she'd stay away from the office, and if she went out she might feel scorned enough to seek out her sister. I didn't think she'd go to her father but I did know he was conniving enough to find her quickly.
I had come home and Luca poured me a drink telling me that she would be alright, he felt responsible for not realizing something was wrong sooner. We drowned our concerns and rank away most of my good whiskey, I had stumbled up the stairs to my bed at some point and I could have sworn she had been waiting for me. As I had woken up I remembered the wave of relief, but it was soured by the drunken sleep fog that clouded it. At least until the glass of water descended in front of my eyes and her small hand beside it with some aspirin.
I shot up out of the bed staring in surprise at her, I felt as if this was another dream but I centered in on her and she was there before me an unreadable expression on her face. I realized she either came back on her own or she had been here this whole time.
"Where were you," I grunted my voice hoarse from the night of drinking.
She handed me the glass and the medicine. "I was here," She explained I downed the water and the aspirin my fist clenching around the glass.
I have no doubt she registered the change in my body language, and though I attempted to take a second and compose myself it had no effect. I glared at her fuming that she had played such a stupid prank on me.
"You had me running around the city like a fool while you were safe at home the whole time," I scoffed before slamming the glass down on my bedside table. "Do you have any idea the hell I went through thinking you had run off and gotten captured!"
She scrunched her face crossing her arms. "Do you not remember promising me I would have freedom? Do you not remember saying I wouldn't be kept in a cage yet here I was all the week asking to go anywhere and being told no," She snapped back.
"I didn't trust that you wouldn't run off,"
"Maybe you should be a mature adult then and talk out our issues instead of ignoring me." I went to interrupt her again but she beheld up a finger. "Let's get something clear I wasn't being heard so yes I did something childish to get your attention but I wouldn't have to be this desperate if you were willing to talk to me. If you continue to act like a child so will I. I want to discuss things with you, but if I can't I'll make your life hell," She spun and stomped out of the room Luca was leaning against the door frame hanging his head for me.
I sat down defeated, "Please don't" I begged but my cousin never did listen to me. Apparently, that was a theme with the people I cared about.
"She has a point you know, you're well aware of how much she enjoys her freedom, locking her up away from people and then depriving her of any company besides myself was cruel. I warned you it would have consequences. Did I think she'd be angry enough to pull something like this no, but she is a brilliant woman," He scolded me.
I wanted to roll my eyes at him but instead, I took my lecture, he was right after all. I had cooped her up because I didn't want to risk her running away but I didn't speak to her because I didn't want to risk her kindness either. I had been selfish and hurt her to the point where she lashed out at me. I had been lucky she was smart enough to not go into the city but only made me believe she had.
"Alright, so what do I do now?" I asked him and he held up his hands.
"How you grovel is none of my business,"
I got up dressing myself as best I could, I would be late but I still had work to do perhaps that would give me enough time to figure out a way to apologize. She had put me through hell and I was apologizing, if she didn't realize she had me wrapped around her finger she soon would.
I headed out stopping in the kitchen to see if she was there but to no avail, I told Luca to tell her I would be home later. Hopefully, he would include the fact it would come with an apology, what that apology would be I have no idea.
My day trudged on as it normally did, numbers, money, imports, exports, moving my men here so Domenico wouldn't find this shipment, sending my men there so we could find something of his. Stationing men at this diner to protect the businesses on that street from the Caputo family's greed.
The whole time in the back of my head I went through how to apologize to her, a fancy meal but that didn't work out so well the last time, chocolates but that seemed too cliche and small, jewelry that might make her more mad thinking I could buy her forgiveness.
"These numbers are crazy, Jess can't keep them straight with all these new people on our pile we might need some help, someone professional," I overheard on my way out of the office.
I still stopped and picked up two dozen white roses for her as the cherry on top but I figured my current plan may work. She needed to get out more and she enjoyed putting her skills to the test.
I entered the house and walked into the kitchen she sat there reading a book not looking at me. I tried not to smirk at her obvious statement "You better apologize now". I laid down the roses in front of her and sat across from her at the table.
She peered over at them from behind her book. "Do you honestly think that's enough,"
I wanted to grin but for bodily safety I refrained. "No but they go with an apology I figured better more than less," I explained and she set the book down shaking her hair back and out of her face tilting her head slightly.
"I was a selfish prick treating you like something I could coop up and ignore, I deserved the childish reaction I got because you were only giving me what I gave you. I agree that if I want us both to behave like adults I should try and do the same," I apologized and she nodded thoughtfully.
"That being said, I understand you want more freedom and can't be in the house all the time. This works out perfectly and to be completely honest you would be doing me a great favor if you came to the office and helped with our numbers. We have dozens of new businesses we're protecting. I need someone good with numbers to help us keep it all straight," I saw her swallow a smile and held up one of my hands pleading with her. "I know, I know, I asked for your help after treating you so awfully but I beg you to consider my offer,"
She grinned giving me a benevolent look raising her chin in the air. "I suppose I will have to join you for work next week, at least for the company's sake," Her features turned serious then. "But you're not done making it up to me, I want the whole truth about everything that's happened what you're planning, and where you were the other night,"
I clenched at the thought of revealing so much, reliving all of that. I did trust her I knew she would turn to me and the end of it and tell me I wasn't a bad man. I believe that was what I feared most of all. I didn't have much choice if I didn't tell her she'd hold it against me.