Vienna was sitting on the grass next to the lake of the compound studying with Clarisa O'Neil and Vannessa Canavaro. They had come along with their fathers to attend the meetings but were left outside to play because only the boys were allowed to be in the meetings. There were long meetings happening that day. Not only it was time for all top employees of the Rosario empire to report to Francesco Rosario in the morning but allies also held meetings in succession in the afternoon right after the reporting happened. It was now in the middle of afternoon and the girls were revising hard for hours straight. They got along really well together even though some of their siblings didn't.

Clarisa was Emanuelle O'Neil's daughter. Her oldest brother was Tristan and her second oldest brother was Trent. Trent was older by a minute from her. They were twins since their mother had taken medication to increase her chances of her becoming pregnant Sancia had twins. Otherwise twins weren't in their family line like how they were in the Rosario line. They had so much in common with the Rosarios and there was so much competition between the families. That competition had started before their birth and carried on. But Clarisa had no hard feelings towards Vienna at all even though her brothers were rivals to Vincenzo and Viggo.

Vanessa was Georgio Canavaros daughter. She looked like her auntie Georgina alot and had a black belt in karate and the sportiest amongst the trio of her best friends.

Vienna was the academic one with the highest grades in her year and very popular in school. She was in fact trying to shy away from limelight of her high school but it found her no matter how hard she tried to avoid it.

Vienna sighed " I can't believe I am invited to Washington DC to meet the president for my student council achievements. My father won't let me."

Clarisa spoke " You haven't even asked him. How do you know. It's just a dinner with other high achievers from other schools in the White House. It's not like you are applying to work there."

Vanessa laughed " Come on Vienna. Don't worry too much about it. It's months away. Why don't you try to put your mind off it. Why don't you come to self defence lessons with me from now on and do something useful with your time. Your dad may let you go to Washington if you learn to kick."

Clarisa laughed " You mean if she learns to kill...."

Vanessa sighed " I am serious. We need to make our fathers take us more seriously. For crying out loud, your brothers are in meetings and you are not. I want a yes from you now. Are you coming to the evening martial arts club from now on or not? Never mind impressing our fathers. Its good to be part of a club for college applications."

Clarisa spoke " I am student council Vice President and Vienna is president. I don't think we need to join clubs. We have enough studying to do anyways."

Vanessa spoke " Are you scared of a challenge?"

Vienna spoke " But we won't find the time. It's too much commitment and its risky for me. I may not make it to dinner on time if I run late on the way."

Vanessa spoke " The roads don't have traffic in your homes direction. Come on. Just this one week, come along. You may like it."

Clarisa spoke " Fine. But my mother won't like it. She doesn't like it when I stay out late."

Vienna spoke " My mother doesn't either. I guess our parents have boys who are a handful and need us girls at home."

Clarisa looked into distance " Look who is coming this way. Letizia Marciano."

Vienna and Vanessa looked at Clarisa with questioning eyes.

Vienna asked " How do you know her?"

Clarisa shrugged " Her mother is friends with my mum. Her dad is the new ally of the O'Neil business corporation. It seems like her family is here to negotiate to become allies with the Rosario family."

Vanessa spoke " She looks friendly."

Letizia held her head up and walked to the girls and spoke " Do you mind if I join. I am not allowed to go in. They said, I can hang out here."

Vienna smiled " Take a seat. We are studying. I am Vienn and this is Vanessa. I take it you already know Clarisa."

Letizia nodded at them politely "I am Letizia Marciano."

As Letizia sat down, Clarisa spoke " Have you managed to transfer to the same school as me yet?"

Letizia nodded " Yes. It's all done. My first day is Monday. They said its exam week. I am excited to show what I can do."

Vienna laughed " You look forward to exams. Damn you are even worse than us. I am guessing your parents push you to get perfect scores too."

Letizia smiled " Of course. Education is everything or so they say. But I like doing extra curricular stuff too."

Vanessa spoke " Do you? Do you want to do extra martial arts lessons then after school. These guys are going to come along this week. Can you join too?"

Letizia spoke " Sure. I am a kick boxer actually. But I do cheer leading as well. Don't ask. My gymnastics from years back is pushing me to do it."

Clarisa spoke " Fantastic. I am a cheer leader too. It's fun. Right?"

Vienna frowned " Don't take her for yourselves. She is quite tall. I need her to join the basketball team."

Clarisa spoke " I forgot captain Rosario."

Letizia turned to Vienna " You are the captain of the basketball team. Nice. I am not very good in defence but I am good with penalties. It was a long time ago that I played though."

Vienna spoke " Welcome to the team. Don't worry. There is a shortage of girls in basketball. We take anybody. We would have to train with the boys team in our school if we don't get enough recruits. Please do join us.."

Letizia frowned " Why is there a shortage?"

Vienna spoke " Our school is a male dominated one. Only a third of the school are girls or even less actually."

Clarisa nodded " Yes. From this term it's like twenty five percent girls. So you can literally make up any club for girls and join it and even can become club president. Just like me. I am now president of Martial arts club and chess club."

Letizia frowned " It sounds like a strange school."

Clarisa laughed " You noticed. Huh. Well, one of my fathers sub companies owns the school and the admission process is over selective since it delivers good results and high college acceptance statistics. You are half way in Harvard or Yale if you get in to this school."

Letizia was not listening anymore. She was looking up into a distance. She whispered " Who is that?"

Vienna, Vanessa and Clarisa looked in the direction she was looking.

Vienna spoke " Thats my older brother. Vincenzo. He is meant to be in my fathers meeting with his employees. He must be distracted looking this way. But fortunately he can't come harass us anytime soon. He has to be present when my father meets his allies over afternoon tea as well as right after. So it's your lucky day. He is very mean. Ignore him. Lets study."

Letizia noticed how he just continued to stare at them. She felt annoyed. She got up from her position. " I want to bring a some cookies over from the refreshment table if that's ok." She then got up and walked to the table at the porch. She glanced up at the window and noticed the boy was still staring at her. What was he looking at? She was hoping to find out what his problem was with her.

Letizia had no idea how she had caught the attention of Vincenzo that he didn't pay attention in his fathers meeting that was quite important that day. Vincenzo was determined to find out who that girl was. He had never seen her before but couldn't take his eyes off her. He smiled as he saw her acknowledging him by returning his stare even if she did it so coldly.

Francesco noticed his son's sudden low concentration near the end of his meeting. That was rare. Francesco now was dismissing his last men in his first meeting of the morning at his office and was going to confront Vincenzo afterwards.

One by one in a line, his men kissed his hand, paid their last respects and made their way through the door. They had presented their reports to him and had handed a hard copy too. Everything related to his business was going smoothly as usual. Business was booming and the profits from all his businesses were quite high. His security was tight as always and he expected the unexpected. He eliminated all dangers but again every day, new enemies could be made which made his role as head of the Rosarios so vital. He couldn't afford to make mistakes. He couldn't afford to go soft. He had to be firm to protect his loved ones including his wife and his children. But he couldn't do this forever. He needed his obvious heir Vincenzo one day to take over from him one day very soon.

The room was now empty except for Francesco, Vincenzo and Viggo. His younger son seemed to be totally oblivious to his brothers lack of attention at the end of the meeting as he had been sitting silently listening all throughout the meeting. But Vincenzo was leaning against the wall, looking outside the window.

Viggo walked to his father " Am I dismissed to go to the refreshment room father?"

Francesco spoke "Wait." He then turned to Vincenzo. "Come over here Vincenzo."

Vincenzo turned his head and looked at his father with defiant eyes. He didnt move and inch and spoke "Father, I can hear you from this distance." He then kept glancing outside.

Francesco narrowed his eyes "If I have to repeat myself, you will regret it."

Vincenzo was a tough kid but Francesco Rosario brought fear into the heart of anyone he looked at or spoke to. Vincenzo was no exception. His father was not one to be messed with. Against his nature, Vincenzo gave out a defeated sigh and reluctantly walked away from the window towards his father. He stood in front of his father next to Viggo looking into his father's eyes awaiting his father's next instructions.

Francesco as always poured himself and glass of vodka and deliberately kept them waiting.

Francesco started sipping from his glass of vodka and his stare not leaving his son, noticing he was getting restless. Vincenzo reminded him of himself when he was his age. He spoke in a firm tone " Why were you not paying attention at the end of the meeting Vincenzo?"

Vincenzo tried to keep his voice steady "Father, I am sorry for not paying attention at the end of your meeting...... I was distracted with the outside view."

Francesco put his half empty glass on the table and stood up staring at his son with disapproval " You are my first born heir. My successor. I want your full attention at all times. Now, at least make sure you pay attention for the rest of the day. I have important meetings with my allies next after the networking session in the refreshment room. My allies are waiting in the refreshment cabin right now and you can't carry on acting so detached and distracted when you meet them. Don't get distracted again son."

Vincenzo nodded " Yes father. "

Francesco then turned to Viggo " Fill in your brother about what he missed when your uncle Costanzo and uncle Antonio gave the final forecast on our assets in Wall Street which they mentioned near the end. After that, I want to see both of you coming to the refreshment room." He then got up from the sofa and walked away. As he opened the door, he whispered " I need both of you awake today. We have meetings with allies next." He then closed the door behind him as he walked out.

Viggo sat down on the sofa and started talking about the wall street forecast. He went on and on but Vincenzo was immediately at the window looking outside again.

Viggo sighed " What are you looking at?" He then walked to his brother and stood next to him looking outside the window.

Vincenzo spoke " Who is that girl? Have you seen her before?"

Viggo shook his head " No. What about her? Has she offended you?"

Vincenzo spoke " No. But I want to find out who she is. She looks fine."

Viggo spoke " As if. Since when do you fancy a girl. How many times did I try to get you to date and you said no. I tried so many times to get you to go out with one of those three girls who are just walking to Vienna's group."

Vincenzo laughed " The Pirelli sisters? No way. None of them is my type. Daniella, Dona-Marie and Diana are just annoyingly intelligent just like their father. That professor from MIT, Johnny Pirelli is not my favourite employee of father at all. He shows up only to half the meetings since his research work is so important and he can't take time off that much. He is treated differently since he has brains. I can't believe father didn't kill him disrespecting him all those years ago and forced him to work for Rosarios."

Viggo spoke " Come on. There would have been no Pirelli sisters if their father was killed all those years ago. They are distinct. Their IQ is higher than all of us combined in school. They tutored me for physics and French last week. The three of them want to become experts in a field of Father's interest one day so they will end up working for you when you take over. Here you go, you must at least be nicer to them if you don't date any of them. You scare them off when they are hanging out with Vienna most times just because you don't like clever people..... Vincenzo.... Are you listening? ..... Any ways lets go. The refreshment cabin is getting full down there now by the looks of it. Father won't like it if we don't meet and greet his allies. Besides he likes us to network with their kids in front of them even though we see them in school."

Vincenzo sighed. He knew his brother was right. So he stopped looking at the new girl and walked away from the window as his brother followed him.

The brothers arrived at the refreshment room which was a in large cabin near the lake. They networked with the kids and greeted the adults who were their fathers allies for a while. Then it was time to play basketball with other kids. There was a basketball court next to the cabin that the boys normally showed off the ball handling skills to each other in parties. Basketball had become the unofficial sport played amongst the sons of allies of rosarios when their fathers were networking in the refreshment rooms or at the food table on their meeting days. The meetings between allies was normally hosted every month in a different base. This time it was the turn of Rosarios to host. The allies had mostly done this to bring their children together away from watchful and worried eyes of their wives who had tea and cake in the ladies room and meeting fashion designers as the business meetings unfolded.

As Vincenzo walked into the basketball court, Tristan O'Neil wrapped his arm around his shoulder spoke " What do you say we play a game and maybe do a penalty shoot out challenge."

Vincenzo pulled away and pushed Tristan slightly. " All right. I pick Alexander, Viggo and Stefano for my team. You can have Trent, Sebastiano and Cain as always. Is there a problem?"

Tristan raised an eyebrows " Lets spice it up. There is eight of us in total. But there are seven girls there too. For once they are not hiding in the ladies room and they are out in the open. Lets bring them in. I suggest 7 of us play against 7 of them. Stefano can be the referee since he is the neutral one according to the girls.

Vincenzo laughed " I like your way of thinking. Why not?"

Trent picked up the basketball from the corner of the court and threw the ball at Vincenzo " It's your house man. It's your call. Lets do it."

Viggo watched in surprise as Vincenzo accepted Tristan's challenge so easily. Vincenzo normally liked to take any chance to prove some dominance over Tristan in anything even if he acted civil towards him. This was new to pass up the chance to play against O'Neil. Maybe he was in too deep with that girl.

Viggo spoke quickly " Are you sure about this? Lets forget the girls. We play four on four amongst ourselves."

Tristan turned to Viggo " Back off man. We can have some fun beating them . We will play in teams if they said no. We always thrash them. They may say no." He then grabbed the ball from Vincenzo's hand and threw the ball at the circle of girls who were sitting on the grass.

Letizia stood up and caught the basketball in her hand "Who threw this? Cant you watch where you throw?" Looking at the boys with disapproval as the boys started laughing and joking amongst themselves in the basketball court.

Daniella spoke suddenly " Throw the ball back at them. Then sit down and Look at the books and pretend you are busy or they are going to come over if we acknowledge them. We don't have time for their egos."

Vienna sighed " On it. My calculus book looks so interesting." She then threw a Latin book at Letizia'a feet. Get down. "

Dona Marie spoke "Seriously Letizia. Stop giving them the dirty look."

Diana spoke "Sit down and get reading or they would come over here then we won't hear the end of it."

Vanessa whispered " It seems like they are waiting Letizia. Throw the ball back and look busy."

Vienna spoke " Lets get on with studying then even though I have read my books so many times. I have all past exam papers memorised too."

Clarisa looked up " Give it to them..."

Letizia waved the ball as she shouted at the boys " I said, who threw this? Who's rusty aim was this. You are meant to shoot at the basket. You know that. Right? It's called basket-ball for a reason."

The girls froze as they saw the boys walking towards them.

Vienna spoke " Damn it. Why did you challenge them. It has consequences if we take them on. The last time we lost, it was so painful, I don't even want to even recall."

Clarisa spoke in a hushed tone " Just say no to anything they say....."

Letizia looked at the girls with questioning eyes " What are you talking about?"

Vanessa whispered " You should have thrown the ball back at them.... Now it's war."

Letizia was confused as she saw Vanessa, Vienna, Daniella, Dona-Marie, Diana and Clarisa stand up defensively looking at the boys.

The crowed of boys approached them and surrounded them in a circle with no way out for them.

It was Tristan O'Neil who took a step forward first "Of course. Letizia Marciano. You have moved cities now. My father said you are starting in our school tomorrow. I see you need to know some rules beforehand though. But take my advice. Next time a ball is thrown at you, throw it straight back. Don't make us walk to get it."

Letizia walked forward " Well, tell your people to learn to throw."

Vincenzo chuckled and walked to stand next to Tristan "Why don't you come play with us and show us how you throw."

Letizia looked at Vincenzo with defiant eyes " Sure."

Vincenzo smirked as he turned to the other girls " I take it now that she has joined the school, she is on your team now since you are desperate for any newbie to join what's left of the girls basketball team....."

Tristan spoke " I suggest, a game of boys versus girls. Seven on Seven and Stefano will be the referee. Are you in or out, girls?"

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Reminder:
Sebastiano = Sergio Giovanni's son
Stefano = Costanzo's son
Cain = Costanzo's adopted son
Alexander = Antonio's son
Tristan, Trent and Clarisa = O'Neil children
Vanessa = Georgio Canavaro's daughter