XIII. Agreement.
. . . . .
"Oh. Is that so? I'm glad we came into an agreement." I muttered as I rested my head on my left hand while holding a wine glass on my right.
Here I am, seated comfortably, engaging in conversation with Zephyr Caspian at Enoteca Pinchiorri, the famed three-Michelin-star restaurant in Florence, Italy.
I'm not certain why we were arranged to meet here, but I have no objections. The cuisine is nothing short of divine, and the wine has not only delighted my palate but also elevated my wine-drinking standards.
As I savored a sip from my glass, I contemplated, 'Perhaps I should purchase some Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Château Pétrus before returning home.'
"Yes, I agree, Lucrezia." Zephyr replied, his wide grin illuminating his face as his eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "Let's sign the contract now. Please tell me if the terms are not suitable for you."
A triumphant smirk crept onto my lips at the realization that my proposal had been accepted. 'I knew we had a lot of things in common.' I grinned. "I have no complains about our contract, Zephyr."
"So, it's a deal then?" He asked, extending his hand for a handshake. I reached out to meet his grasp.
"Yep." I confirmed, sealing our agreement with a firm shake.
I pulled a pen from my purse and signed the document on the dining table. Passing both the pen and the document to him, Zephyr mirrored my actions.
He scribbled his signature with a flourish, lifting the paper for me to see. I nodded in approval. As he handed back the pen and paper, a deep sigh of relief escaped his lips, "I honestly thought I'd be meeting with a brat." He admitted, reclining back in his chair.
"I can be a brat sometimes." I shot back, a playful challenge in my tone.
He chuckled, the sound warm and genuine. "I think I can handle it, especially if it's you."
"Oh really?" I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his confidence.
There's a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I've been set up with a lot of daughters from the organization. I just know you'll be less of a headache to handle." He told me with a sly wink.
He cannot openly admit to being matched with the daughters of mafia bosses. This restaurant is a public space where people come and go freely.
We, the mafia, are branded as notorious criminals, simply a gang in their eyes. They are unaware that it's more complex than that. Even when attempts were made to clarify our true nature, we were still seen as nothing but a group involved in illegal activities, judged harshly by a society that didn't understand the nuances of our existence.
It's foolish, to say the least. Yet, they are not completely mistaken.
I just smiled. "And what is your impression about them?" I asked, feigning a lack of interest while secretly eager to hear his thoughts.
"Sluts." He bitterly stated. His expression expressing how he dislikes them so much.
I couldn't help but laugh at his bluntness, the unexpectedness of his response catching me off guard. In contrast, he merely pouted in his seat, a look of genuine frustration etched across his features. It was clear he had endured some tough experiences with those women.
"Well, that's unfortunate," I said with a teasing grin, enjoying this playful exchange. "You deserve better than that."
"It was. But thank God! Amongst all of them you're the most decent of them all."
"You should be thankful to be chosen by me then."
"Agreed." He nodded his head with a satisfied smile, ignoring the cocky smirk on my face.
Our attention was abruptly drawn to the beeping sound of my phone.
Beep beep. I glanced down at the screen and saw a message notification pop up.
The message was from my father, and I glanced at Zephyr, who was now gazing at me with curious, innocent eyes.
He simply shrugged, a gesture of nonchalance, and redirected his focus to the exquisite food laid out before him.
'Oh well.' I unlocked my phone and read the message my father had sent.
'Lucrezia, I trust you're enjoying your time with Zephyr. Please, be on your best behavior. A guest has arrived at the manor, and I strongly advise you to stay with Zephyr for the day, or anywhere else you prefer, whether it be a hotel or elsewhere. Do not return yet. I will let you know when it's appropriate to come back.'
His tone was oddly formal, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more beneath the surface. Was he trying to keep me away for my own good, knowing the trouble I tended to stir up whenever I was home? Or was there a more sinister motive behind his words, perhaps urging me to rush back out of some hidden agenda?
With curiosity, I typed on my phone, 'Guest? Who is it?' and hit send.
I waited for a good minute before I received a reply from him. 'Dakari.'
Oh. My mood immediately dropped. "No wonder." I subconsciously muttered.
"No wonder what?" Zephyr inquired, his curiosity piqued as he finished the last bite of his pappardelle and picked up a lemon tart. He took a bite, savoring the tangy sweetness, while waiting for my response.
"A guest has arrived at our manor, and Father requested that I spend the day with you." I clarified.
His eyes widened in surprise, and he nearly choked on his dessert. "E-excuse me? —Cough cough— Stay with me for a day? L-like stay in my house!?"
I nodded in a nonchalant manner, trying to mask the amusement bubbling inside me.
Reaching for the wine bottle, I poured a generous amount into his glass, then passed it to him with a playful flourish. 'Poor fellow, he might perish, and the cause would be choking on a tart.' I thought mockingly. The image made me stifle a laugh.
Such a demise would hardly befit someone of his stature. It would be so humiliating if others were to see the heir of the Caspian's choking to his death.
With a scoff, I responded, "Perhaps, may I?" I set my phone down on the table, the screen dimming as I grasped the cutlery, ready to indulge in my chocolate truffle tart. "So, may I, Zephyr?" I inquired again, arching an eyebrow as he downed the wine in a single gulp.
"Haah. . . O-of course." He breathes heavily and stammered. "D-don't do that again. . ."
I couldn't help but smirk. "That won't even happen to you if you're not one to overreact."
He frowned at my comment. "T-that's not overreacting, Lucrezia. You don't just go ask to stay with a man you met for like— an hour?" He retorted, wiping his mouth with the handkerchief he pulled out from his pockets.
I stuffed the truffle in my mouth and only hummed, "Well, true."
"You're unbelievable."
"Thanks."
He rolled his eyes dramatically, as if the sheer audacity of my response was too much to bear. "Who's the guest anyway, how important are they?" He finally asked after calming down from the shock.
"Dakari Dimitri." I answered.
Once again, he choked, though this time I wasn't sure if it was from surprise or something else entirely. "Ew. Did you just choke on your own saliva?" My face scrunched in disgust.
"Cough cough— D-Dimitri?? T-that Dakari Dimitri??" He gasped between fits of coughing.
"Yes, I didn't stutter, did I?" I replied sarcastically, crossing my arms as I watched him struggle. "Are you okay? I don't plan to have a dead partner you see." I looked at his face blankly, unamused.
"O-oh come on! I-I'm choking to my d-death here."
"Yes, yes, sad, truly. How unfortunate."
"Can't you at least show some remorse?"
I tilted my head and looked at him pitifully. "No."
He groaned in annoyance. "Why is he even there? It's not typical for him to visit your manor. Many know that his last visit was for a meeting with your father, Silvestre. What was that about?"
"I don't know." I lied. I'm fully aware of why he was there weeks ago, but today's reason for his visit eludes me. Hence, I can't give a proper response.
It's not that I enjoy gatekeeping trivial information, but. . .
Although I'm enjoying Zephyr's company at the moment, there are certain discussions that must remain within the Italian mafia.
Belonging in the Italian-American mafia this guy may be, it's uncertain which side he truly sides with.
One can't be neutral for a long time. Keep that in mind. Who knows if Zephyr is just a conniving fox in disguise. No matter how dreamy and gentlemanly he is.
"Really? Alright then." Zephyr just shrugged. Immediately dropping the topic as he focused on munching.
We ate in silence and peace throughout the whole dinner.
Once we had finished with dessert, Zephyr insisted on settling the bill. He promptly wrote a check and flashed a smile at the waiter presenting us with the total amount.
I stood a short distance from Zephyr, observing him as he conversed with the restaurant staff, offering them gratuities, which some politely refused.
Zephyr Caspian.
He is undeniably attractive, with a striking presence that is hard to ignore. His hair shines with a bright platinum color, catching the light and giving him an almost ethereal look. It falls in soft waves, framing his face perfectly. His eyes are particularly captivating— deep and dark like the night sky, they seem to hold a world of mysteries and emotions. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches, he has a tall and sturdy build.
Yeah. . .
He is flawless in every way.
Perfect for another.
Our contract stated that we are required to stay civil towards one another.
No attachments. No feelings. And absolutely no public displays of affection, only fake it just for appearances.
Holding hands? No problem.
Kissing? Big problem.
Not only is the contract actually beneficial on both sides, but, with this way, the Caspian's and Viviana's will be able to strengthen their bonds through this alliance.
I continued to watch Zephyr as he made his way toward me, a playful grin spreading across his face that seemed almost infectious. "Hey! I hope you didn't have to wait too long," he called out, his voice light and teasing.
"I waited too long. Slowpoke." I shot back, my tone dripping with sarcasm.
He just chuckled at my sarcastic reply. "Yeah yeah, whatever."
"Let's go." I said, wrapping my arm around his. He led the way outside the restaurant, the evening air cool against our skin. The bustling sounds of the city surrounded us.
As we reached the curb, his driver was already waiting for us, ready to whisk us away back to their place. The car's sleek interior felt luxurious as we settled in.
We joked back and forth, the playful banter making the drive feel short and enjoyable.
Once we arrived, he immediately told me to go inside because the air is cold, and I needed to change my dress into something more comfortable.
The servants will deliver me the clothing.
He even pointed out how my feet throbbed because of the high heels I wore. Thus, he will have someone bring me a sandal or a slipper to ease the pain of my foot.
How thoughtful of him. 'I'm now becoming uncertain if this guy is a wolf in sheep's clothing, regardless, I'll just kill him when he starts showing his true colors.'
He arranged for an attendant to escort me to the guest room of their mansion, expressing his regrets for not being able to accompany me himself due to an urgent summons from his mother.
As I lay on the mattress, I took a moment to observe my surroundings. The layout of their home was refreshingly straightforward, a stark contrast to the sprawling complexity of the Viviana manor. While still spacious, their residence felt noticeably smaller, lacking the opulence and grandeur that I was accustomed to.
"I can't let my guard down here," was the first thought that crossed my mind. Pulling my phone from my purse, I glanced at the time: 10:34 PM.
A heavy sigh escaped my lips, a mix of frustration and fatigue, as I let my gaze drift absently to the guest room's green ceiling.
Staying here feels surprisingly rejuvenating. The various shades of green that adorn the walls, pillars, and even the trimmings create a soothing atmosphere, blending harmoniously to evoke a sense of calm. The crisp white paint accents the room, enhancing its charm and making the space feel fresh and inviting.
The simplicity of the room is its essence. It's not cluttered with unnecessary decorations or extravagant furnishings.
A wall clock ticks softly in the background, marking the passage of time with a gentle reminder of reality. Nearby, a dresser stands neatly organized, while a comfortable bed beckons with the promise of rest. A television sits quietly in one corner, and atop the nightstand, a lamp casts a warm glow, ready to illuminate the space when needed.
It all seems so ordinary.
'It was truly nice meeting Zephyr. He's my first ever friend as Lucrezia and not as Lucia.' I softly smiled.
I look forward to having more interactions with him.