Tristan was taking a walk in the gardens with Vienna after dinner. There was a clear sky that night. The couple were walking hand in hand under the moon light.

Vienna was looking around " These gardens are so beautiful. I never noticed how big this hotel is. The place has no bounds or it seems. I haven't been to some parts of it before because it's so massive."

Tristan explained " It's a big piece of land. A lot of people want to buy it off my father but he won't sell. Investors mostly want to build homes here and rent it. It's a good strategic area. Very safe and secure close to prestigious shopping outlets where hollywood people hang out. My father hasn't kept this place for money. He makes much more money elsewhere. He likes to keep the hotel intact because the land reminds him of his youth. He has memories with your father here."

Vienna was on awe of the hotel grounds. The lamp posts were lighting up the place with different colour lights and the place was so beautiful.

Tristan lead them to a bench.

Vienna sat next to him on the bench as Tristan held her hand in his. Tristan looked down at her and slowly leaned close. Vienna wasn't looking at him. She was staring away into a distance. Tristan inhaled the scent of her hair and gently kissed the side of her forehead making her shiver. She glanced up " Tristan ..."

Tristan smiled " You are so beautiful. I like it when you say name and look at me... At last we are there..."

Vienna's heart was beating fast. When his lips touched her skin she felt tingles. She felt excitement but she felt breathless too. She couldn't describe the feeling she had fully.

Now Tristan was looking at Vienna intently making her blush. She looked away " I think we should go back. It's time to retire."

Tristan smiled " No it's not. We have plenty of time. We can watch a movie on the top floor. We have a cinema here... It's nice to end the night with a movie. Most people are going to watch a movie. Italians like to party until late."

Vienna turned to him " We can watch a movie tomorrow."

Tristan replied " No one knows what happens tomorrow Vienna. Half of the people may not be even here. We all may go home tomorrow."

Vienna looked at Tristan with questioning eyes " What do you mean? Is something happening? Is there a problem?"

Tristan stood up as Vienna watched him closely. He started pacing the floor in front of the bench as Vienna was watching his every move worriedly. He looked around as he spoke " She must have told you... Clarisa...She is catching a flight tomorrow morning... She is going to Italy. So I think the party weekend is interrupted because of her departure."

Vienna smiled sadly " I am sorry she has to leave so soon. She told me she is leaving but I didn't think her flight is just in a few hours..."

Tristan stopped pacing the floor and turned to Vienna. He spoke with his hands in his pockets " My father told me she is leaving tomorrow upon her own request. She wants to study in my father's school in Milan where your cousins Andreas, Vitale and Tiziana are studying. She applied today and got approval from my parents..."

Vienna stood up slowly as she was looking up at Tristan " But how can this be arranged so quickly? Such arrangements take time. Your sister needs security guards. So much paper work is needed..."

Tristan shook his head "Your aunt Anna got involved. The Agostini family have friends at the Italian embassy. A phone call is all they need. Besides my sister will be staying at the Agostini house. Your aunt said it would be an insult to her family if Clarisa has to stay in the boarding school dormitories. She is close to Amethyst so your uncle Arturo would love my sister to stay with them and keep Amethyst company.... So I want us to stay up till late because tomorrow wouldnt be the same with my sister gone. It will be a memory for us tonight. What do you say? We stay awake. Stay for an hour at least... We will be sleeping on the floor while watching a movie in the dark with others. It's fun. Your parents are here spending time with my parents on the top floor right now. Vienna... You can't avoid spending time with me..."

Vienna stood up  " I don't think I am avoiding you...I think I have a curfew..." She didnt know why all she came up with was having a curfew. Being close to him was making her lose so much control and restraint. Her cheeks felt so hot and she felt embaressed with how much she fancied him. She did want to avoid him and Tristan saw right through it.

Tristan chuckled " Vienna. Curfews don't apply. Your parents are at the hotel. You are sleeping here tonight in your hotel room. Your parents are staying the night too..." He then leaned closer and whispered " If you go to bed I will come and abduct you. I will take you to watch a movie..." He then winked.

Vienna gasped and blushed as she looked away " Tristan... You must not do that."

Tristan asked " Why not? If you don't come, I might steal you." He was reading her and liked seeing the blush on her cheeks.

Vienna looked up " I will ask my father. If it is ok, I stay."

Tristan sighed " Vienna, I already asked my father to ask yours. Your father said you can stay the night here and do what you wish on the premises. Your own father is staying the night too. Don't be so strict on yourself when your father isn't. But it's really your mother's rules that makes you think twice. Right? She wouldn't like you to have a sleep over in the cinema room with everyone else. But not everyone is staying. Your cousins are mostly joining us...." He then leaned closer and his lips were close to hers as he whispered "Dont deny me Vienna."

Vienna decided not to deny him. She was getting convinced. So she whispered "Fine. Its a yes from me...." She then slowly touched her lips to his since she couldnt resist him any more. She could tell he felt the same. When she teased her by almost brushing his lips close to hers he was just teasing her and it meant he wanted a kiss. He wasnt going to let it go until he got a kiss.

Vienna closed her eyes and gave him a deep kiss. Then she opened her eyes and was about to wrap her arms around him but decided against it quickly as she saw who was approaching them. She quickly pulled away making Tristan frown "Vienna... Why did you stop?"

She looked past Tristan as she whispered " My godfather..."

Tristan turned as he looked at Vienna's uncle Arturo as he was being shown around the premises by O'Neil guards. But he had his own guards too.

Tristan noticed that Arturo Agostini was looking on with a hard expression. But as Vienna walked past Tristan towards him, his expression softened. Arturo was a tough man. He was one of the most well known criminals in Italy and in Europe even. But he was a family man and he loved his god daughter more than anything. Tristan looked on with curiosity how he recieved Vienna as she approached him. It was her instinct to run to her godfather when she saw him. But it might have been a nervous reaction since he had seen her kiss a boy.

Tristan watched them as they exchanged words. Vienna asked " Uncle Arturo, is all well."

Arturo addressed Vienna " Of course Vienna. It's a lovely night. I came here for a walk. I was hoping I could explore the gardens while you can maybe keep your aunt Anna company in the music room with some other ladies. We are leaving in the morning. Your aunt Anna would like to see you before we go."

Vienna nodded quickly " Yes, uncle Arturo. I will do that." Vienna then walked quickly towards the building but quickly glanced at Tristan and waved. Tristan waved back. Here it went his time with her.

Arturo smiled at her as he watched her leave " That's my daughter."

Tristan knew Arturo Agostini wanted to have a word. This was just an excuse. Arturo had seen these premises before and was being shown the newly built areas but for now he wanted to have Tristan alone.

Arturo then started walking towards Tristan while the O'Neil and Agostini guards kept their distance.

Tristan greeted him " Good evening sir. I would be happy to show you around. Sir, would you like to see the front or back of hotel first?"

Arturo turned to him " I would like to see your father's head on a tray but that's not possible I guess. Your father doesn't die so easily. Let's hope you dont die easily either. You have so much to live for, like protecting my god daughter...."

Tristan stated "Sir. My intentions are honourable towards her...."

Arturo put his hand up "Save it, young man. Francesco has told me all about you and how you passed his interrogation. I know enough about your intentions. But I dont know how you are still breathing when you threatened Francesco in broad daylight in the middle of his interrogation of you. This means he must approve of you.... Take a walk with me son." He then walked ahead while Tristan followed. Tristan wasnt sure if Arturo even needed a tour of this place. He knew the place like the back of his hand. But only the newly built places were not familiar to him.

Arturo pointed at a cabin "Whats that cabin over there son?"

Tristan replied "There is hunting equiment stored there. Its for hunting season."

Arturo rolled his eyes as he walked towards the cabin "You Americans are obsessed with hunting."

Tristan replied as he followed Arturo "We dont hunt animals, sir. We hunt enemies when its time to hunt."

Arturo chuckled "Have you hunted your enemies before?"

Tristan nodded "Of course. Plenty of times. I had to. Otherwise they would have hunted me."

Arturo asked "Lets go inside and have a talk..."

Tristan liked his approach. It was straight to the point. Tristan unlocked the door and said "After you sir."

Arturo walked inside while looking at the walls and decorations "This place looks untouched..."

Tristan shrugged"We have other cabins too."

Arturo turned around and looked at Tristan as he closed the door "You remind me of your father... When he fell in love with your mother, it was as though something snapped inside him. He saw nothing and no one except her... But was it enough? Hundreds of divorce lawyers later , I say it wasn't. I am not tricked by whats on the surface son, so dont try it. So lets get to the point. If you hurt my god daughter, I am coming for you."

Tristan looked into Arturo's eyes as he took a few steps towards him in a manner that Arturo could interpret as threatening. He looked offended but held himself back enough and nodded. "I couldnt agree more. If I hurt her, I dont deserve to live. Make my death as slowly and as painful as you can sir, if I hurt her.... But I wont hurt her. I am not capable of that. My father has never hurt my mother either. They just dont get along. When an Irish marries an Italian, the crime world can get hostile.... I have learnt from my parents' life. I won't let any harm come to Vienna. I swear it. You should not doubt me sir."

Arturo tried to ignore the tone he said his last sentence with. It was as though he was warning him not to doubt him. Arturo smiled "Me too. I promise the same. I wont let any harm come to my child. She is as good as my daughter."

Tristan whispered "I am aware of that sir."

Arturo shook his head as he took a step forward "You are not aware of that. You cant possibly know what I see when I look at my child. When she was born, I held her in my arms in the hospital. I have a picture of her from each one of her birthdays in one album right next to my daughter's pictures. I didnt watch her grow so some Irish can come and state they have a claim on her. Watch your step son, because I am watching you..." He then smiled at Tristan "But I accept you because Francesco does. He is a good judge of character.... Now tell me about your career plans... I want to know everything. You need to provide for my child and have a life plan..."

As they were talking inside, Vienna was looking outside at the cabin worriedly while in the music room the ladies were trying the different music intruments.

Anna noticed Vienna was worried "Sweetie, what is the matter?"

Vienna turned to her aunt "I am fine... Its just that, they have been inside for so long."

Anna sighed "Honey. Dont ever worry about men. They have it easy. We, women have it tough always." She then turned to Clarisa "Isnt that right?"

Clarisa smiled "Men have egos and we have to put up with them... For a lifetime..."

Amethyst asked "But Clarisa, you dont even have a man yet."

Clarisa replied "Well, I will one day... And it wont be easy." She then smiled and walked to the piano, playing the first song that came to her mind. She couldnt believe herself. It was his song. She was playing his song. Why was he everywhere? She thought she got rid of him. She decided to go for a walk. She left the building and walked to the back gardens. As she was walking, she found someone holding her hand and pulling her towards themselves. She was about to kick the person but then she found herself face to face with him.

Vincenzo asked "You learnt my song so fast. I am so impressed Terza."

Clarisa looked at his hand on her arm "Let go. I have to go clear my head..."

Vincenzo let go and asked " You are going where to clear your head? Italy? On a 6am flight. Wow Terza. You forgot to mention it."

Clarissa sighed "Who told you about my flight details? Let me guess, you did investigate yourself."

Vincenzo nodded "I cant believe you didnt tell me your flight is tomorrow. I dont like surprises and I certiany dont like hearing what you are planning to do from others. I will not forget this Terza. This is a two way street. You surprise me, then I might surprise you...."

Clarisa crossed her arms over her chest " What are you planning Vincenzo? You cant stop me from leaving."

Vincenzo stared into her eyes " Maybe. Maybe not. We will see... But I can make you think about returning fast. I dont have to stop you, if you return yourself.... If you dont come back, I will come and get you myself."

Clarisa replied "I have nothing to come back to. There is nothing here that would make me come back."

Vincenzo gave her a hard stare "You dont mean that."

Clarisa sighed and put her hands on her hips "But I do. You mean nothing to me when you call another girl, your own."

Vincenzo replied with so much meaning behind each word "You mean everything to me Terza. You always did. You always will. I love you Terza..."

Clarisa gave out a shaky breath and took a step backwards. What was it about Vincenzo that amde his words penetrate her soul like this. His stare was right at her. She couldn't deny the truth in his words. He loved her. She whispered back "I cant do this. You made your choices Vincenzo. You have to sort out this mess or you can lose me forever. Love is not enough Vincenzo. Commitment and fighting hard matters more. If you dont fight for me, then I wont fight for you. Then you are welcome to Letizia."

Clarisa then turned around to walk away but his words stopped her "Walk abit slowly so I can remember it... It can be our last moment and you choose to walk away."

She turned around and retorted " I choose to walk away. But, actually. I should run away."

Vincenzo replied " Terza... You really dont expect me to stand there at the airport and wave you goodbye tomorrow morning when you havent given me a chance to talk to you about everything thats happened.... You havent even given me a chance to hear me... Tomorrow morning, I will try to stop you..."

Clarisa asked "Is that a threat?"

Vincenzo replied "No. This is a warning. Change your ticket.... Or I will not let you leave the country."

Clarisa was looking at him confused. Why did he have to be like this? Who talked like this? She shook her head and took a step towards him. She was in his personal space. She spoke ina low tone "You fight me Vincenzo, I will fight back."

Vincenzo leaned close and his lips were an inch closer to Clarisa's "Let me kiss you or push me away... The choice is yours..." He then gently and slowly attached his lips to hers.

Clarisa balled her hands to fists. This was wrong. They were in the middle of the woods in the gardens and shielded with a tree house that was built inside an old tree trunk. Clarisa got emotional thinking about the tree house. Years ago, life was simpler. She could run around with Vincenzo and have a laugh with him. He hadnt come out with his feelings. Part of her doubted it was possible for Vincenzo to ever claim her because of Letizia. That part of her felt relief. It was not easy being the subject of Vincenzo's affection. She didnt think she was ready for that yet. But part of her was wary and knew Vincenzo wouldnt have told her his secrets unless he had a way to end this mess and claim her openly.

Vincenzo pulled away slightly and whispered "I can hear your heartbeat. Can you hear mine?"