Chapter 26 A Brave Front
She looked him in the eye, something she'd never done so directly since she started staying in the mansion.
“My father's debt sir…
How much did my performance take out of it!?”
Quite taken aback by Isabella’s direct approach, Luciano simply glanced at her before going to sit at his private dining table.
Yes, Isabella had thought about the episode in the rain, and yes she had wondered if he was going to blow up her head like the man from the event.
However, she realized that asking him directly was best.
It was better than going through corners.
Luciano who had no idea the amount of pep talk she gave herself simply gave her another look to see she had been staring at him intently.
“Sir!”, Isabella called out, trying to get a reply.
However, ignoring she had asked him a question, Luciano continued with his food, Isabella still staring at him intently.
“I'll take off a hundred thousand euros!”, Luciano finally said after he finished eating.
“Okay sir!”, Isabella acknowledged.
She let out a sigh of relief as she packed the plates onto the tray.
It was merely a scratch of the two hundred million Euros her father was owing, but it went a long way paying it back.
Luciano had wondered at some point if she was okay, however, seeing how quick and direct her question was, he could say she was fine to a certain extent.
Closing the door behind her, Isabella approached the kitchen in deep thought.
“What's going on?!”Mia asked, seeing Isabella looking distracted.
“Nothing. I'm fine!”, Isabella answered.
“Are you sure??”, Mia pressed.
She had taken it upon herself to check in on Isabella constantly ever since the man was shot right in her face.
“Yes I am Mia, I really am!”, Isabella said, a smile on her face as she thought Mia looked cute checking up on her.
“Do you need anything?!”, Mia pressed.
“Nothing Mia, I can handle these dishes!”, Isabella replied.
“Okay! Just call me if you need anything!”, Mia said, walking back out of the kitchen.
Isabella signed again seeing that Mia had left completely.
Her mind now went back to the amount Luciano had slashed from her father's debt.
It could go a long way, but she didn't know the situation back at home.
She wondered if they had any means of raising the money.
She got worried as she thought of the extra work they were going to have to put in to raise such an amount.
Isabella also worried about what would happen to her if her family couldn't raise the money.
‘Would he let me go?!’
‘Am I going to rot here?!’
‘Am I going to have to escape!?’
‘What would he do to my family if I escaped!’
Isabella thought as she washed the dishes slowly.
Sure, she had Madam Paula and Mia. Yes, they watched the shows and they had work to do, but nothing in her routine could beat living her own life and making her choices.
She feared to escape as she wondered if Luciano would shoot her family in the head or make them stand in the rain.
She shivered, goosebumps forming on her skin as she remembered how she desperately prayed for a source of warmth while she stood outside.
She felt sick of the routine! And most of all Isabella felt Isolated.
~
The Morales family on the other hand became first hand farmers in order to procure the amount of money their father had owed The Don.
Having the right motivation, The Morales family had found that farming could provide enough to get their sister back.
Having a suitable amount, Mr and Mrs Morales finally decided to contact the Don.
They had booked an appointment with Andreas, this time going to meet him in the city.
They arrived in his office on the said date, receipt of payment in hand as they waited for their turn.
“Do you think we'll see Isabella?!”, Mrs Morales asked as she clung to her husband in the unknown space.
“This is his office Amore, I don't think we'll see Isabella!”, Mr Morales replied.
“I miss my daughter!”, Mrs Morales said, thinking of the amount of time she has had to stay without her child with no form of contact.
“It's all right! I do too! We just have to work hard, so we can pay the amount he requested in full…!”, Mr Morales drawled as his wife completed.
“... Then he'll release her daughter to us!”
She continued, “Amore! You have to promise me you won't take out a loan from this man again!”
Mrs Morales urged in a whisper.
They were in his office after all.
“I know that myself! You don't have to tell me twice!”, Mr Morales replied.
“Good!
Can you do something for me?!”, Mrs Morales asked.
“What's that?!”, Mr Morales asked.
“When we get in there, Don't try to stop me when I ask about our daughter!” Mrs Morales answered.
“Okay! I respect that!”, Mr Morales acknowledged.
They waited an extra thirty minutes as Luciano's meeting took a little longer.
~
Luciano walked towards his office as he just completed a meeting, however he was rather shocked to see Mr and Mrs Morales standing up as he came out of the meeting room.
Cocking his head to the side, Luciano raised his left eye brows at Andreas, forgetting they had a meeting scheduled.
Mr and Mrs Morales had waited a week to see him, thus, they were rather shocked to see he looked confused.
Not speaking a word to them, Luciano headed into his office, Andreas following behind him.
Mr and Mrs Morales shared a look, Mrs Morales stretching her neck, trying to look inside his office.
“What are you doing?!”, Mr Morales asked as he got her to sit down.
“I want to know what's going on. Can't you see how he walked past us!”, Mrs Morales answered, her tone hushed.
Shaking his head, Mr Morales brought his index fingers to his closed lips, a sign to tell his wife to keep quiet.