me or the doughnuts?

🌸Emilio's POV🌸

.

The vineyard was bustling with activities as I parked my car at the garage and walked to my office, after answering a few greetings from some of the workers.

.

No sooner had I eased myself on the swivel leather chair than my phone beeped.

I peered at the screen.

A message from Cosima.

With a sigh and some sort of curiosity, I clicked to open it.

Good morning baby. Woke up to realize that you left already. Always the diligent.

Anyway, I'm returning home today at papà's request. But I'm thinking of some alone time this weekend, just me and you.

Expecting.

And lots of kisses anywhere you can imagine.

With a scowl of displeasure on my face, I deleted the message from my phone and rubbed my temples.

Cosima was a headache. What part of 'I already have a girl' did she not understand?

I resolved to put an end to her nuisance when I saw her next.

A knock came on the door, and my foreman, Fillipe, came in.

"Hey boss. You look stressed," he commented and dropped a file on my desk. "List of those to get a bonus this weekend. You're one caring boss."

"I do my best," I murmured and shoved it into a drawer.

"It's not good, ya know? This double thing. Kind boss in the day on the plantation, and one mean don in the dark hours. You'll flip somewhere."

I gave him a level stare.

"Don't you have a vineyard to run?" I said in a low voice, which meant I was close to loosing my temper and hitting his face if he lingered.

Fillipe was a friend; also involved in both the wines and the mafia. And he was a helluva annoying guy. Being about a year older than me, he had an inclination to gossip. Until he was on the field, and he was as tough as a nail.

"Whoa, rein in your horses man," he said and made a show of backing off.

Then he said, "I heard about the wife to be. Cosima?"

I almost puked at his suggestion. "Are you crazy? Not even in my dreams."

"Sì. The girl's b****y on the inside. But a," he whistled low and long, "on the outside."

.

I ignored him and moved over the table.

Vittorio had just texted me that the ammo trucks were nearing the boarders, and that customs were keening on them.

"So Emil my man. This wife of yours, is she… you know…" he began making the curvy shape of a woman with his hands, and I found myself picturing Anne's skinny stature, probably because of all those years.

I frowned. "Your crazy Fillipe. Now get your game face on. We have work to do."

"But you'll introduce me later, Sì?"

"In YOUR dreams."

.

.

Anne's POV

.

If I was to stay in this house like this all day, I'll die of boredom, I reasoned as I looked through my windows at the vast green fields and the vines. I knew that like Spain, Italy was another home of wines. I just didn't imagine living right next to one.

With a sigh, I left the window and began to pace.

I didn't want to run into either Portia, Cosima or Sergio. But I wasn't going to stay in here forever.

I squared my shoulder and put on my toughest face, then walked out with my earphones in ear.

That way I wouldn't have to mind them.

.

Sure enough, I saw them in the sitting room, the two women, deep in whatever they were talking about. I eyed them for a brief minute as Portia sent me a 'Have a f****** morning on your way out' look.

For someone as young as herself, she really took extra effort to be mean.

.

Maybe.

.

Whatever.

.

I shook my head.

.

.

Cosima's POV

.

"But aunt, I have to go. Dad wants me. And besides, Emilio had already gotten a wife. What'll I be here for?" I asked Portia that morning as she rebuffed my information to return to Milan.

I was already tired of seeing the countless green grasses of Vernice, and I wanted to return to my eager, bustling life in Milan. Beside, Emilio made it clear he wanted nothing to do with me, especially since Miss Skin and Bones arrived.

"Don't you dare say that," Portia hissed. "I don't want Emilio to marry, because I don't want the Mafia for him. It should all be Sergio's."

I gaped.

"What, aunt. So you'd want me to marry him, be penniless, I don't understand."

"If Emilio marries the American, then his inheritance is assured. And she looks like a snitch. But if you are to marry him, you could delay him, and then the will will expire, thus leaving Sergio in control."

"And then what, I'm broke?"

She scoffed and muttered, "Greedy little witch," but I heard her and frowned.

"Sergio will marry you."

"But I want Emilio!"

She stood up and I could see her calculating.

"OK. You'll get half a share. And Emilio if you like. But Sergio has to be in power. You can focus on shaking up whatever relationship he has with the American, and let me focus on the Mafia."

I thought through for a while. "So, the offer with Sergio, it still stands, right?"

"Hmm."

I nodded and grinned.

"OK. I'll go for now and be back in the weekend."

I quickly texted Emilio, and picked my bag and a small fashionable box, and went out.

.

.

Anne's POV

.

So, my day went well.

Outside was fun. The workers were I. the planting season. Although most of them kept giving me curious stares as I strolled about, watching them and smiling.

The way they tied the grape vines on stakes…wow. It was until later that Prudence came out and introduced me to them as Emilio's fiancée, that they broke into smiles, hugging and congratulating me. I felt awfully shy, but happy. From there it stopped being awkward.

I was walking into the house when I spotted someone tending to the car.

"Festus?" I called unsure.

He turned around, then smiled. "Anne. It's been long."

I smiled too and hugged him, and he seemed a bit surprised.

"Wow, I seriously missed you."

"Me, or the doughnuts? " he asked with mischief.

"Aw come on," I said but laughed.

"So it's true. You and Emilio. I always knew you both were up to something."

"What, no. It just happened I guess."

"Sì," he said thoughtfully. "Come by my place on a free day, I'd like to introduce you to my family," he said.

"That would be lovely! I will. "

"OK. Have to get back to work. Bye."

I waved at him and got inside.

The quiet house.

I found out that Cosima had gone, phew! And Portia was out visiting someone.

.

Peace ahead.

.

.

Emilio's POV

.

Vittorio and Fillipe were crowded directly behind me, while the other men were seated behind as I opened and looked into the box filled with different weapons, mostly illegal.

That's what made the business fun.

"This would be worth a thousand," said Fillipe as I closed it.

"Sì, and it'll be delivered into the 'Market' tonight," I said and walked to the table.

"Great work guys," I said to the inside guys who nodded.

As we walked together outside, Vittorio, Fillipe and I, Vittorio said, "Son, about the marriage?"

"He's already gotten a bride," Fillipe said, "We're just waiting for the intro."

Vittorio raised an eyebrow at me. "So, what's keeping you?"

"Nothing, i–Nothing."

"Look Emilio, I hope you aren't forgetting about the enemies out there?"

.

"I haven't," I replied and drove home.

.

.

When I got home that evening, I dragged my tired self up the stairs to my bedroom and dumped my briefcase on the bed. Then I ran a hot shower and took a very refreshing bath, and dressed in pyjamas. I was feeling a little hungry, so I decided to take a quiet trip to the kitchen. Probably Prudence might have left something by the microwave.

There was a soft glow of light coming from the partly opened door, and I wondered who was in here this night, and doing what?

I pushed the door open with a soft creak, and even I was sure that if I had made a lot of noise she wouldn't hear.

Anne was standing at the counter, stirring something in a pan, and nodding to music from her earphones. Occasionally, she would tap her feet on the ground, or do a crazy jump dance, that was all the more cute for it's craziness.

I leaned at the door to watch her for a while.

She was wearing a blue knicker that stopped at her knees, and a cotton oversized tee-shirt that hung low on one shoulder, revealing the black strap of a bra. And she was barefooted.

I found myself smiling, though I don't know why.

I might stand here for an hour, and she wouldn't notice. She seemed to have a thing for music or earphones.

Maybe it was the hunger speaking, because I was so damned hungry, or maybe I just wanted to gauge her reaction.

I strode over to her and wrapped my arms around her waist, and felt how slim her waist was… how ñíçê her hair smelt…and I felt her stiffen in my grip. I smiled and removed one piece from her ear and whispered,

"What are you up to?"

She swung around immediately.

"Emilio!" she said with a mixture of relief and surprise.

.

Relief for… ?

"I…I didn't hear you come in," she said, her eyes looking everywhere but me as she skillfully stepped out of my field to another part of the kitchen.

I suppressed a chuckle.

"That would be because you had your head full of music."

She smiled a little and ducked. "It's John Legend's PREACH. I like the song," she replied.

.

I nodded. "So what are you doing in here this late?"

She rolled her eyes and resumed whipping pieces of veggies and minced ham onto an open burger. "No offence Emilio, but the lunch over here sucks. I mean, turkey soaked in wine? Ugh?" she shook her head.

"So you haven't had dinner?"

"Nope. I kinda dozed off this evening. I was out all day, the vineyards. I didn't see you there. Care for a sandwich?" she asked motioning to the tray she was setting.

"Yeah, I'm famished," I replied, and she smiled and made another one. "So, you didn't see me there. Were you looking for me?"

"Yeah, I was — no, no, I wasn't," she cut herself off and carried the tray to the breakfast bar. "I was just… no."

.

I laughed and joined her on the table. "Don't be shy, cara. You'll soon be my wife. It's perfectly legal if you missed me."

I took a sip of the tea, and turned to see that she fell quiet, and thoughtful.

.

.

Anne's POV

.

As soon as I laid on my bed, I dozed off because of the countless hours spent under the sun that was totally different from ours at New York.

When I awoke, I felt hungry, but Prudence told me that it was past dinner time, and that there was food for me somewhere in the kitchen.

.

But the sight of pieces of chicken floating about in a bowl of wine just made my appetite vanish with the speed of light, and I made an excuse to Prudence.

Immediately all was clear, I went back in to have tea and something light.

Then I felt arms around my waist, and I stiffened.

First off, I wasn't used to all these 'touching-touching' stuff, and it came as a surprise.

Second off, I thought it was Sergio, because honestly, the way the guy keeps staring at me even though I'm aware gives me the creeps.

Then I felt his soft breath behind my ears, and a tingle where his finger brushed my skin to take out the earphone. I knew already it was Emilio even if he didn't speak.

Don't know where that synch came from. Somehow I was happy to see him, with his long hair brushing his face now that it was wet.

.

I'm really noticing how he looks… maybe because I'm bored and don't have anything doing.

.

I froze midway to taking a bite out of my burger when I heard his remark about 'wife'. OK, so I kinda missed him when he wasn't home, or left two years back, but that was all. I had always dreamed of maybe creating my own family, making it happy and secure, and giving my kids the love that I couldn't receive.

.

But that was when I was younger, and that was going to be with someone that I loved; my Prince Charming who was going to rescue me from the clutches of my foster parents.

I was rescued, just not by a Prince Charming. And the older I got, the stupider the idea became, until it faded all together. Prince Charmings didn't exist.

Not for me anyway.

.

I lifted my gaze slowly to meet his steady one as he tried to decipher the reason for my change in expression.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

I shook my head and put on a bright smile. "No, nothing," I said and picked up my mug.

He gently took it out of my hand and kept it on the table, then took both my hand in his.

"Look, Anne. I know this is difficult for you—-it is for me too. But I don't want you to feel that you're forced to do this."

I looked at him, unsure.

.

.

Emilio's POV

.

What the hell is wrong with me!?

I don't know when those words came tumbling out of my mouth, but I had to take them back before it was too late. I didn't want Anne having the mindset of a fancy happily ever after, because that was something I couldn't give.

I patted her hands for a bit a let it go.

"OK, I'm kind of tied up in work tomorrow, but I'll reschedule. Why don't we go on a tour around Vernice? It'll be fun."

She rubbed her nape. "Um, OK?"

"Great. After breakfast."

I took a sip of the tea, and a bite of the burger, and another sip.

Then I got up. "Thanks for supper. See you tomorrow."

Instinctively, I placed a light kiss on her cheek and walked to my room, not before I saw her reach a hand up to caress the spot.

Girls…

And not any girl.

Anne…

With a slight smile, I threw myself on the bed, and fell asleep immediately.

.

.

Anne's POV

.

I was done Washing the cups and leaving them on the drainer.

Then, as I laid on my bed, I couldn't help thinking.

Emilio… I didn't even know much about him. But I always get mixed feelings when I'm near him. Must be because of his on and off attitude.

No matter what, I knew he could never see, or feel anything for me.

The reason was right under my tee-shirt.

.

With a sigh, I let my eyes flutter close into a sad sleep.

.