GEMMA
Later that evening when Nanny Emilia was finally done making dinner, she called everyone down to eat. She made shrimp fra diavolo for dinner.
I helped her in setting the table. She was surprised when I set the table for just three.
"Why dear? Why for just three?" Emilia asked.
"I don't eat with Boss, I eat upstairs in my room," I replied.
"No dear, eat with us on this table. Don't worry, I'll take care of Antonio" she cajoled.
"No ma'am. Or I would just eat with Sir Luca and the others on the other dining table" I replied.
"No, you're eating with us on this table dear. Set the table for four" she said with authority and walked back to the kitchen.
I hesitantly set the table for four, but then I willingly decided to do it. Suddenly, I felt the urge to dare Antonio, I wanted to see how he would react if he sees me eating on the same table with him.
I also wanted to see if Nanny Emilia really have the ability to calm Antonio down or make decisions in the house too.
"Miss Isabella, dinner is ready" I called out. "you can come to the dining table now"
She didn't reply to what I said but her gentle footsteps approaching the dining table told me she heard me.
She sat gracefully on the table without sparing me a glance. This little girl would be very authoritative when she grows.
I stood beside and helped her dished her meal into her plate. She looked around and noticed that she's the only one on the table.
"Hey, where is my daddy and nanny Emilia?" She asked.
Wait! Really?
Did she just call me hey?
I raised my hand to smack her head but I kept it down back. Antonio would kill me if I dare lay a finger on his precious child.
"Your daddy should be in his room and your Nanny Emilia is in the kitchen" I replied.
"Principessa, daddy is here" Antonio called out as he descended the stairs.
"Vieni papà veloce, vieni con me- Come fast daddy, come and join me" the little girl beckoned her father.
So she not only understands Italian, she speaks Italian too. That's nice.
I moved away from the table and scurried into the kitchen.
Nanny Emilia came out of the kitchen minutes later and I trailed behind her.
We caught Antonio inhaling the aroma of the food and nodding his head in a pleasing way.
"Emilia, oh my! I really missed your cooking" he said when he saw us approaching.
"I know dear" she replied, smiling sweetly at him.
"But why is there four plates instead of three?" Antonio asked.
"Gemma is eating with us," Nanny Emilia replied.
Antonio's eyes flew open immediately in surprise and he looked at me. I shivered behind Emilia's back.
"Did you ask her to eat on this table?" He asked.
"Yes, I did"
"Perché le hai chiesto di sedersi su questo tavolo e mangiare con noi??- Why did you ask her to sit on this table and eat with us?" He said in Italian.
Though I couldn't hear what he was saying, I could sense the anger in his voice.
"Antonio, lasciale mangiare sul tavolo per favore- Antonio, allow her eat on the table please" Emilia replied.
"Non mangio con gli sconosciuti- I don't eat with strangers" Antonio replied.
"Antonio, caro, per amor mio lasciale mangiare sul tavolo con noi- Antonio, dear, for my sake allow her eat on the table" Emilia said.
I could tell she's pleading with him from the expression on her face. The little girl watched with eagerness as she munched her food.
I saw Antonio's expression soften and knew that Emilia's pleas got to him.
"Per il tuo bene, Emilia- For your sake, Emilia" he said.
Emilia smiled sweetly at him.
"Grazie Cara" she said and turned to face me.
"Sit, dear" she told me and I nodded my head.
I waited for her to sit, she sat down in the middle of both Antonio and Isabella. I sat down opposite them, far away from Antonio.
Emilia said a short prayer and we started eating. Antonio's threatening gaze made me realize how much of a mistake I made accepting Emilia's invitation to eat on the table.
He didn't want me to eat on the same table with him but he just agreed to please Emilia. He kept staring at me with a deadly look in his eyes that made me almost choke on my meal.
Why do I feel like I would receive a punishment from him because of this?
I tried my best to avert his gaze but it only made him more angry and so I was very nervous and couldn't eat. I just kept playing with my meal.
"Why dear? You're not eating, you don't like it?" Emilia asked. She had noticed.
"No ma'am, the food is really nice" I replied.
"Eat up then" she said and glanced at Antonio, then gave me a reassuring smile.
I fumbled with my food for a while and when I couldn't bear Antonio's eyes anymore, I stood up nervously.
"I'm sorry but I lost my appetite. Thanks for the food. Let me excuse myself so you all can have a hearty meal" I said and tried to walk away but Antonio's deep voice stopped me.
"Where do you think you're going??
"To my room" I replied foolishly.
"And who did you leave the food on your plate for?" He asked.
I swallowed my spit nervously as I had no reasonable answer.
"We don't waste food here," he said. "Now, sit and finish every piece of food on the plate"
His tone was too commanding for me to refuse, so I sat down immediately and began gulping down my food.
"Easy dear or you'll get choked" Nanny Emilia said.
I gulped down my food at once and stood up immediately when I was done.
"Thank you" I mumbled as unchewed food was still in my mouth.
I didn't even wait to drink water as I ran upstairs to my room. I would come down to drink water later.
How can I stop myself from being so scared of Antonio??
I'm afraid my fear for him would kill me even before my hundred days ends.
God help me!
****
Few minutes later, when I was very sure that Antonio was no longer in the sitting room but in his own room, I creeped out of my bedroom, descended the stairs stealthily and headed straight to the kitchen to drink water. I really needed to drink water.
Isabella was still in the sitting room, back to watching her cartoon.
I met Emilia in the kitchen doing the dishes. I drank water and went closer to her.
"Let me do it ma'am" I said.
"Child, are you okay? Why did you eat your food like that?" She asked.
"Nothing. I'm fine ma'am" I replied, smiling at her.
"Why are you scared of Antonio?" She asked.
"Why wouldn't I be scared of that monster?" I wanted to scream but I held my tongue back.
I shook my head at her.
"I'm sorry dear, for making you eat on that table without considering if you wanted it or not" she apologized.
"It's fine ma'am. I'm fine" I replied. "Let me help with that"
She agreed to let me do the dishes and I had just started washing a plate when Luca suddenly showed up in the kitchen.
"Gemma, the boss wants to see you in your room" he announced, bowed to Nanny Emilia and left the kitchen.
This was it!
This was what I've been waiting for!
This was what I dread so much!
My punishment!