Chapter 199 Conference Room 2
Alex’s POV
Than Thomas Sirrano in the flesh! He got the message. I feel my shoulders tense...He is dressed in a pin stripe black suit with a striking cane and two armed guards flanking him.He seems to feel my eyes on him as our eyes clash across the room .I don't even bother acknowledging the Strazza!
There will not be anything civil between me and him, my hand tightens on my gun on reflex ..it will only be history and tension. He stands there by the entrance watching me for a few minutes then walks in as if he is a king ignoring all the snide comments and finds his seat slipping into it quietly.
“You are snug now.” I whisper silently “but at the end of the day we will see who will have the last laugh.” After him the room fills up rather quickly and before I know it we are at full capacity . The low murmur of voices can be heard as words are exchanged between comrades, cronies , enemies , adversaries and so on until it slowly dies down . And the room is quiet. Now is my time to step forward and climb the podium . Every pair of eyes in the room turn to me.
“I appreciate you all for gracing us with your presence on such short notice”I begin
I made sure I practiced my speech more than once so my voice is calm clear and concise . Just as it should be.
“I won't want to waste your time so let's get to it ..”
I wave Padre and his historians to come on the podium ..Padre accepts the microphone from me “Good morning to you all , I have been studying the original information on the stolen relic La Rosa”
Gasps erupt in the room as Padre bangs the gravel once ....
“Last night I and my trusted colleagues were able to finish translating the original scripts I received from la Casa's vault that has been hidden for centuries.”
No one talks again as everyone wants to here what was found ..the room slowly dims as the projector is switched on:
“The Ancient scripts appear side by side with our translations”
“These are the documents” Padre begins “focus on the translated parts, You will see I have written out the details , origin , purpose it was created and the guardianship of La Rosa de la vita.”
A hum of conversation rises in the room upon uttering its name.Everyone in attendance knows of La Rosa and it's significance, we all know what is represented for the Sirrano empire:
Power
Legacy
Control
The slide changes to the second script which contains mostly dates, genealogy and records .The other two historians confirm authenticity ,verifying how old the scripts are . No one utters a single word as they absorb all the information. The next slide has the Ferrini crest on the script which is circled ..the albatross is clear for all to see.
Everyone in the room knows our family crest
It's a clear fact and undeniable!
Voices start to raise in the aisle but Padre continues not breaking a sweat. “Let it be known the record shows that La Rosa was never supposed to be guarded by a single bloodline.” And that's when the room shifts .Their voices start to rise subtly as they argue among themselves. I interrupt, my voice cutting through their noise
“As you can all see and read La Rosa was bound to two guardians from the beginning of time.”
Their noise slowly dies down once more
“Stay focused, there is still more .”
One of them leans forward “two guardians you say.”
Louis Vaccari one of Thomas's allies . I face him squarely “Si , two.” I reply without looking away from him.
“One guardian is of the bloodline.”
I pause taking a quick look around the room my eyes settling on Thomas Sirrano .He seems to gulp as his face pales under my watch.
“The other guardian is of magic.”
Someone scoffs within the aisles, I don't need to search because I know how it is. “Andre” Thomas's right hand man seated behind him.Thomas seems to recover after that a small smile playing on his lips.
“Even if he says it still remained with the Sirrano for generations.”
His eyes hardens as he challenges me “Yes it may have," I reply calmly “but now history is being rewritten ..”
That wipes off the smile that was on his face . I don't stop there. I remove my buttons one after the other . And expose my mark!
La Rosa
It sparkles in the room
A few people gasp including My mother as I didn't tell her about the mark,I watch others exchange uneasy looks. They know this is not just a tattoo , it's obviously a brand .
“I didn't get this tattoo.” I say “it appeared on me and it is symbolic.”
I remove my shirt fully exposing my holster and my entire torso for the room to see.
“This is my proof.”
Then someone speaks “Alexander if what you say is the truth…” his voice trails off
“Alfonso Dio”
He was a friend of my father's
“There must be a second guardian right ?” I finish for him.
Eyes shift around the room as they are wondering if the second guardian is seated among them .
Tension starts building
Another voice speaks up “So who is the second guardian?”
I smirk “Oh you will meet her soon enough.”
I hope you all are ready
Because -
A female voice that is familiar cuts through the silence “Brother if there is a second guardian.” I turn to her with a scowl if anyone should be questioning me it should not be her ,Mother must have told her.
I turn to mother but she turns away unable to meet my gaze. Isabella looks around the room before setting her gaze on me once ..
“Why doesn't the guardian show them self ?”
“Silly girl” I mutter under my breath , “you let jealousy get the better of you I will deal with you later..”
The entire room is quiet as everyone can't believe my own sister challenged me. Every pair of eyes in the room shifts to the doors.
Waiting patiently
Voices start to argue within the aisle once more
I do not say anything, unknown to them she won't be coming in through that door. We made provision for that too. I already feel her in my heart , as my mark pulses…
Alessia
She is nearby
And when she descends into the room?
Nothing will be the same again .