Chapter 15 Situation in Venice IV
“I'm just fine child! Besides, you practically handled the situation! All I have to do is manage it!”, Luigi said, trying to convince his nephew.
“It's way easier convincing clients!”, Luciano said as he sighed.
Andreas looked at both men as they sat on a seat in the hallway having a light argument.
It was like this with both of them, and Andreas would know because he had been fortunate to watch their interaction over the years.
With his uncle, Luciano wasn't the Italian Mafia Don, he wasn't the ruthless killer, and he wasn't the psychopath, he was but a man who loved his uncle.
His uncle being a pivotal part of his life, Luciano would make sure nothing happens to the man.
Because of this, he helped him to the car that came to pick him up, riding in it alongside his uncle and Andreas until they got to his uncle's house.
\~~~~
Andreas left Luigi’s house hours before Luciano.
Unlike the Mafia Don, Andreas had practical work to do as his assistant, some of which involved setting up meetings, managing his schedule, summarizing reports and doing things that would relieve The Don’s workload.
Luciano walked into the penthouse not surprised to see Andreas still on his laptop.
“I'm afraid we have to fly back to Milan sir!”, Andreas said as soon as Luciano walked in.
“Why? is there an emergency!?”, Luciano asked, wanting to spend time with his uncle.
“In a way!”, Andreas answered.
“Talk to me!”, Luciano requested.
“Mr De Luca wants a meeting. I got an email earlier that stated he wanted to renegotiate!”, Andreas started as he gauged Luciano's reaction.
He continued, “I emailed back and said you would only accept the meeting if he would accept the renegotiation was on your terms!”
“That is very good work!”, Luciano commended.
“How am I supposed to survive if you go on your vacation!?”, Luciano thought out loud as he approached his room.
Mr De Luca was a rather important client as their collaboration would not only strengthen Luciano's operation but it would rake in loads of money.
They had been trying to get him to renegotiate, however he didn't budge till Andreas sent a corrected proposal.
This changed Mr De Luca’s mind and he finally agreed to renegotiate and even on their own terms.
\~~~
“What was that noise?!”, Madam Paula asked, a scorn on her face as she entered the kitchen.
“Madam Paula!”, Isabella gasped as she heard Madam Paula's voice.
“What happened here?!”, Madam Paula asked an obvious question.
“I, I was washing and, and then the plate fell and broke!”, Isabella answered.
“Don't you do dishes in your house?!”,Madam Paula asked rhetorically.
“Ma'am it was an honest mistake, I, I didn't mean to break it!”, Isabella said as she tried to defend herself.
“It's not about making an honest mistake! It's about knowing that the Plates are not your property and you can't treat them whichever way you like!”, Madam Paula said to Isabella as her head remained bowed.
She continued, “Where's Mia?!”
“She's at the back, cleaning the yard!”, Isabella answered.
“You better don't try this again! Acting like you don't know how to do the dishes!” Madam Paula said.
“I'm sorry ma'am!”, Isabella said as tears formed in her eyes.
“Whatever! Clean this up! and don't go around breaking plates!”, Madam Paula said, entering the kitchen to grab a bottle of water and then leaving.
They had just had lunch, and it was time to clean the kitchen.
Mia suddenly remembered they had not cleaned the yard, thus, they split the chores as there were two of them.
Isabella didn't expect that a ceramic plate would slip from her hand and break into multiple pieces, and she certainly didn't expect that Madam Paula would hear the sound of the plates breaking and talk her down about it.
‘It was just a plate!’, Isabella thought as she wiped the single tear that rolled down her cheeks.
She passed the broken plate on the floor, going to get something to pack it with.
She started packing the plates one by one, thinking to herself, ‘mama didn't complain this much when we broke a plate! Why does she have to complain so much?! She…’
Isabella’s train of thoughts was disrupted as she winced. The edge of the broken plate had torn her skin, thus she began bleeding.
Isabella quickly stood up, letting the running water wash away the stain of the blood from her finger.
In the moment she felt isolated as she missed her mother, siblings and her father. She let out a few tears as she wondered if Luciano would have mercy on her and return her back to her family.
Isabella returned to her room quite sad about what had transpired earlier between her and Madam Paula.
She had no clue that Madam Paula's rants were nothing compared to Luciano's toying.
~~
Madam Paula's reaction to Isabella breaking the plate had emerged from the stereotype she attached with Isabella.
Isabella had done nothing but prove she was hardworking and diligent, however in Madam Paula's eyes, Isabella was nothing but a slut who was pretending.
She believed Isabella's true colors would come out upon Luciano's arrival.
Madam Paula would look at Isabella with spite sometimes and wonder what she was still doing in the mansion.
She had no idea that Isabella was going to change a lot of things upon her arrival.
\~~~
Lying in her bed after the day's work, Isabella wondered why the lights still hadn't been switched off since the regular time.
She was unsuspecting as she didn't entertain any other thoughts.
Any other major thought!
She stood up, going towards her curtains to block the light, after all it was late and she was trying to sleep, however, Isabella was rather shocked to find another source of light.
An entourage of Vehicles drove towards the mansion, Isabella's heart dropping as she
realized what was going on.
The lights!
The activity in the house!
The vehicles!
It could only mean one thing!