The Dinner

Chapter 15: The Dinner

MARIA'S POV

"You could maybe repaint the walls since you're looking for a total renovation," Ursula said. We were currently drawing plans to renovate my father's home office. I couldn't bring myself to do it all this time, till now. Every time I thought to renovate it, I broke down in tears.

Coming back to Italy was like opening afresh an injury that was in the process of healing. It was a month already, and things were still a bit shaky. I finally gathered enough courage to do it. I was going to make it to my office now. However, I wasn't going to rid it of my parent's presence.

It was only a matter of time before I began to think of ways to revive the legacy that is my father's company. If there's anything I am grateful for the duchess for, it is the way she drilled business sense in me. She managed to maneuver over five companies, and they were all successful.

Not trying to brag, but I think I've managed to preserve her legacy. I was going to do the same for my parents.

"I was thinking black," I said, and Ursula looked at me, clearly irritated. I wonder what I had said to cause that kind of reaction.

"No, you're not going to paint your office with black paint. What is wrong with you?" She asked, raging.

"Why? It's a color" I shrugged.

"Of course it is, and you do a good job reminding me every day since it's the only color you wear."

"Now that's not true. I did wear red to the fundraiser."

"Because I insisted," she scoffed.

"Black is a beautiful color, Ursula," I said, unwilling to concede defeat.

"Whatever. Wait, speaking of the fundraiser, when do you plan on telling me how the night unfolded" Ursula asked. I had won the argument, but at what cost? Now Ursula wanted me to relieve that night.

"It was rather interesting," I replied.

"Hmmm. Then spill," she said impatiently.

"Well, for starters, everyone was stunned when I entered. The hall grew silent," I began.

"Oh, I can imagine. Did you see how gorgeous you looked? I bet it was like a movie scene. You walked in looking like a sexy princess, and every head turned. The men engage in a staredown to see who is more deserving of your attention. The girls are either admiring you or jealous. I can tell it was glorious!" She rambled non-stop. I waited for her to exit her fantasy before I went on.

"Are you done?" I asked.

"Yeah. Carry on," she blushed. Ursula was so dramatic. It used to annoy me before, but now, I find it super amusing.

"I saw Vincenzo," I said and watched Ursula's reaction. She had a blank face which I couldn't read.

"I expected that. Was he also one of the stunned men?" She asked.

"Yeah. He even tried to act like we were some long-lost friends that were supposed to reunite with love and affection," I said, purposely omitting the part where I was affected by his dashing looks. She looked at me, confused.

"So, does this mean he doesn't know you took his prototype?"

"You see, that's the thing. I don't know what he knows. I was more focused on making him highly uncomfortable. If he knew I took his prototype, he had a rather loving way of showing it. I could tell he was smitten," I announced proudly.

I wasn't the type to be modest about my looks. I knew just how pretty I was. I didn't shy away from it; I acknowledged it wholeheartedly.

"So he fell right into your trap."

"Oh, I also had help. There's a new guy in the picture," I said.

"Marie, you need to stop dropping this information one after another. Drop it all at once. Who is this guy, and how does he fit into all this?" She asked, confused, and I laughed. There was absolutely nothing Ursula loved more than a good gist session.

"Does the name Roy Hudson Steel ring any bell?" I asked.

"Vaguely. I'm very familiar with the company Steel if you're referring to that"

"It is exactly what I am referring to. The heir to the company is called Roy."

"How does he fit into all this?" Ursula asked. She pushed the books on the table aside to create space for us to sit and adequately communicate. I appreciated her investment in this story.

"Well, so Simeon, my spy, told me he would be attending the fundraiser. He also told me how his company is the biggest partner of Perin Navir. But Roy isn't a big fan of Vincenzo. Some say it has something to do with the way Mr. Hudson treats Vincenzo with so much love and admiration. Now I wasn't going to throw away the opportunity of using someone's hatred of Vincenzo to further my agenda," I explained.

"Wow. Even when I think surely I shouldn't be surprised at how smart your brain works, you still manage to surprise me, Marie" she looked at me with admiration.

"So, how did it all go down?" She asked, eager to know more.

"Well, let's say I poured all my attention on Roy, who miraculously happened amid Vincenzo and his best friend, Matteo. Vincenzo got frustrated when he kept trying and failing to make me admit I was indeed Maria Caruso. In a bid for Roy to claim hero and savior of the day, an altercation stirred between them. Unfortunately, self-righteous Matteo intervened before it escalated into something bigger. Vincenzo got mad at everything and stormed out with his friend."

"Wow, Maria! Why didn't you tell me this sooner? I'm sure the internet would have been buzzing with various theories" she clapped like she was in a theater and had just watched the best adaptation of her favorite book.

"I wish that was even the end," I laughed.

"Wait, there's more?" Her eyes bulged with an overload of curiosity.

"Ja," I replied in German.

"Then tell me quickly!" She screamed.

"Calm down, Ursula; I'm gathering my thoughts," I said, increasing her thirst.

"Oh please, just spill it," she hurried impatiently.

"Fine. Jesus princess," I adjusted my butt on the table and cleared my throat.

"So after Vincenzo left, I was bored listening to Roy go on and on when the host came to me. By the way, did you know Madame Marcella has a daughter?" I asked, derailing from the conversation for a while.

"She does? But she's not important in this conversation, so skip," Ursula replied nonchalantly. I rolled my eyes at her dismissal of what I felt was a big reveal. What a joy killer, I thought.

"Well, she came around, and I was grateful for the distraction from annoying Roy. We were done exchanging pleasantries when Vincenzo's secretary interrupted us."

"What? What did she want?"

"Well, I wondered too. Until she forced a hug from me and then whispered that she could help me with whatever plan I was cooking."

"And what was your reply?"

"She didn't give me a chance to reply before she walked away," I said.

"Wow, wow, wow!" She went on like an ambulance.

"It must have been overwhelming for you. My poor friend," Ursula pouted dramatically and pulled me into a hug.

"No, it wasn't. I enjoyed each discovery" she pushed me away and rolled her eyes.

"Of course you were. I forgot I was talking to Miss indifference" I laughed at her silliness.

I was going to retort with a clever reply when my phone beeped. I opened it and saw an email notification. I would typically just put it aside until I was free to attend to it, but the heading caught my attention, so I opened it.

"Dear Miss Maria,

It has come to our notice that you've just arrived in Milan and will be here for a while. With profound pleasure and honor, we invite you to dinner with us. This may come as a random request, but it actually isn't. We want to help you enjoy your stay in Milan. We sincerely hope you honor our invitation. Love, Santoro's"

I laughed loud and long. Ursula watched me, wondering if I had lost it. I handed her the phone to read the email herself.

"As if they've not done enough, now they want dinner with you," she said, clearly pissed.

"Well, I've prayed for a day like this," I replied, overjoyed.

"Don't tell me you plan on honoring their request," she said in disbelief.

"With the quickness of light. It's time I have a sit down with the Santoro's," I replied.

"You've lost your mind, Maria. You'll be outnumbered in that dinner. It would be best if you didn't handle something like that"

"I understand your worry, but nothing on earth or even the heavens will stop me from attending that dinner. And don't you worry about me being alone," I said, already cooking up a plan.

"What do you mean by that?" She asked.

"Well, let's just say I would require the services of a hot American who also detest the guts of the Santoro's."

"You've lost your mind Marie" she shook her head as if her distress would suddenly change my mind.

"Maybe, maybe not. I know that it is time to introduce the new and improved Maria to those bastards," I replied, hatred filling my eyes.

Ursula was going to say something but thought better. Instead, she held my hands in hers, offering comfort as we surrender ourselves to our thoughts.