Well hello there dear reader. I hope you have had an amazing day, if you still didn't, i wish you would have one. Thanks for stopping by. Let me know what you think of today's chapter. Don't forget to vote and comment what you think. Love ya all ♥️

With Nonnina as the lead cook and hostess, Mama, Sofia and Cassy all gathered in the kitchen. Nonnina in her frilly pink apron, asked for everybody's opinions on the menu for the feast.

Nonnina had always been quite the cook and known to host great parties. Not only did she cook for the feast herself, she also was the Queen of entertainment in De Angelis Parties. It had supposedly been Nonno's and Nonnina's thing back in the day. Holding the grandest parties in all of Tuscany. They were good people who shared joy with everybody. So there has always been large crowds at their parties.

Since Nonno passed, papa didn't want to take that away from Nonnina, no matter how hard she had refused to host any without Nonno. In the end she had given in, since then they've had the greatest parties even if they weren't as grand as Nonno's ones.

Now she enjoys them fully. Which is also why Cassy didn't object to the feast in evening even though she preferred a quiet wind down. Because she didnt really want to hurt nonnina. As these thoughts played in her mind, she glanced at Nonnina, whose eyes danced in sheer joy, her experienced hands working effortlessly in the kitchen. Cassy watched Nonnia work her magic in satisfaction, until Sofia nudged her in the ribs reminding her for the eggs she was supposed to be whisking.

Four hours later, they had finished cooking and the dishes were sent to the garden where the party would be held. Cassy along with the rest of the family cooks hurried off to get dressed.

Cassy chose to wear a casual sundress, that she had bought back in Altadena a few months ago. She had been too busy to wear it for a casual outing since.

As she looked in the mirror, she saw that the simple floral linen sundress fit her perfectly, accentuating her slender body, showing off her waist. The thin straps showed off her exposed collarbones in a very feminine way.
A sash tied in a bow at the back creating a tailored fit showed off her natural curves. The dress hung slightly above her knees, exposing her olive skin. It had been years since she last dressed this way and so it was quite fresh on her own eyes.

Cassy opted for rosy lips and contour to sharpen her facial features, making sure not to overdo anything. She felt good, looking at her reflection, that she even felt a little alive. Lastly she decided to pair the look with a pair of woven wedge sandals, a pair of hoop earrings and a simple bracelet. Arranging her long hair into a messy bun at the top of her head, Cassy stole a final look at the mirror, where the young woman there, looked simply beautiful.

Pleased with herself, Cassy sought out Sofia who was already dressed and in the garden arranging the decorations of the party. The garden in the dusk was filled with tiny lights that looked like a million fireflies flying.

Crisp white linen carefully laid over the long wooden table which stood by the side of the garden was a remarkable display. The rustic Italian pottery serving a variety of dishes was a welcoming sight.

The delightful centerpiece of the table was a large wooden board filled with an exquisite selection of antipasti delights. Slices of prosciutto arranged as delicate roses next to thin slices of salami, offering different textures and  tastes. Fresh mozzarella balls and aged chunky Pecorino cheese were methodically arranged, which were complemented by lush green olives and vibrant marinated vegetables. The platter was garnished by sprigs of fresh basil, adding colour and aroma to the spread.

On a separate platter, golden brown slices of toasted bread generously topped with a vibrant mix of diced tomatoes, fresh basil leave and a drizzle of aromatic virgin olive oil gleamed in the afternoon sun, showcasing the fresh goodness of Italian ingredients.

In a large salad bowl, al dente pasta shells were tossed with bright red cherry tomatoes, briny olives, and a collection of fresh green herbs like parsley and oregano. The colours
created a striking contrast against the ivory pasta.

Sizzling hot on the grill, juicy Italian sausages were arranged on a platter, garnished with sprigs of rosemary and thyme. The grilling sausages emitted a mouth watering aroma.

Furthermore Cassy's eyes feasted on plates full of Chicken Skewers with Lemon and Rosemary, bowls of Grilled Vegetables, platters with Focaccia Bread with Rosemary and Sea Salt,  along with Fresh fruit platters.

In elegant dessert bowls, creamy layers of mascarpone cheese and espresso-soaked ladyfingers were alternatively laid to create a dreamy beige-brown delicacy dusted with a generous layer of cocoa powder and garnished with delicate chocolate shavings.

Ofcourse, no De Angelis family feast would be complete without the beverages. Bottles of Chianti and Prosecco were elegantly displayed in an ice bucket, with sparkling glasses nearby. There was Limoncello, served in small chilled glasses, offering a tangy and refreshing digestif.

Cassy then looked for Sofia to offer last minute help, but Sofia had the fort completely under her control.

As the guests arrived, one by one, the De Angelis Villa became filled with lively chatter, joyous laughter and cheerful music — Sofia had made sure of that.

Soon Cassy was joined by mama, who looped her hand around hers, gesturing her towards various family friends and guests who had arrived. She was introduced as the youngest of De Angelis, who had a successful career in Journalism. (No, Cassy hadn't had the time to talk about anything yet)

Occationally Cassy stole glances at her mama's face. Mama whose face was almost like her own, but prettier, with high cheekbones, big hazel eyes and wavy black luscious hair that still reached upto her waist, was glowing in the evening lights set up in the garden.
Cassy saw her mama beaming with pride as she spoke of cassy. She couldnt help but feel proud and alittle bit guilty of herself.

From the corner of her eyes, Cassy caught sight of Nonnina gesturing to her from her little group.  As they went closer, Cassy recognised the people there. It was almost coincidental, that nonnina was talking to the gentleman at the airport whom she oddly felt familiar. Standing beside him was his wife, and his son too.

When Nonnina saw Cassy and Mama approaching, she extended her hand towards them smiling while talking to her guests.

Nonnina smiled as they came to her, and leaned in for a quick little hug and stood them next to her. Nonnina then faced the gentleman and his family. Her face held a proud expression, introducing Mama as her daughter-in-law, Elena De Angelis and Cassy as Cassia, her youngest grand child. Cassy and Mama smiled at their guests shaking hands in turns.

Nonnina's mischievous smile returned and she turned to Cassy, "Cara Cassy, ricordi quando ti ho detto che volevo presentarti qualcuno? Ecco, eccolo qui."

(Cassy my dear, remember when i told you that i wanted to introduce you to someone? Here he is.)

The gentleman smiled, his face forming tiny lines around his eyes and mouth showing his years of maturity. Up close he looked smart despite his age. He extended his hand towards Cassy,

"Ciao, cara, devi essere Cassia. Io sono Giovanni Ri-"

("Hello, dear you must be Cassia. I'm Giovanni Ri-")

"Giovanni Ricci" Cassy completed after him while taking his extended hand and shaking it firmly. She finally realised where she had seen him before and why he looked so familiar. She had once edited an article about him in "Renowned Chefs of Europe" which was published in the Regal.

"Sì, ti riconosco. Ho modificato un articolo su di te nella rivista in cui lavoravo, 'Regal'?"

When Cassy explained how she had recognised him, Giovanni's smile broadened.

His eyes lit up as he reminisced the memory.

"Oh sì sì, sarà sempre un tesoro"

Nonnina also joined the conversation, "Signor Giovanni è un rinomato chef, un tempo era un bambino."

("Mr. Giovanni here is a renowned chef, he used to be a little boy back in the day.")

Giovanni's cheeks turned pink,"Zia, per favore chiamami Gianni, come facevi prima, non sono nulla rispetto a te in cucina."

(Zia, please call me Gianni, like you did before, I'm no chef compared to you.")

He then turned to the rest of the little group to add,

"Tua nonnina è stata la mia prima insegnante di cucina. È per lei che sono qui adesso."

("Your nonnina was my first cooking teacher. She's why I am here right now")

Nonnina waved her hand as if dismissing it. Giovanni then proceeded to introduce his wife, Irina and son, Alessio to the De Angelis, gesturing towards his own family.

"Permettimi di presentarti mia moglie e mio figlio. Lei è Irina e lui è Alessio," he said proudly.

The elegant woman from the airport stepped forward, she extended her hand to Mama, Cassy and Nonnina, smiling broadly.

"Ciao, sono Irina Ricci. Ho sentito parlare così tanto di tua nonna da lui, siamo così grati."

(Hello Im Irina Ricci, I've heard so much about your grandmother from him, we are so thankful.)

At this, nonnina chuckled, murmering "Non c'è di che."

("It's nothing.")

Giovanni continued, gesturing to his son who stepped forward next to his mother. 

"E questo è mio figlio Alessio, è arrivato da Toronto questa mattina."

("And this is my son Alessio, he just flew in from Toronto this morning.")

As Alessio came forward,  Cassy suddenly felt as if she had a million little butterflies who flapped their wings inside her stomach. Her cheeks started to feel hot and she suddenly felt very self conscious.

Alessio was a tall handsome man in his early thirties. His features are well defined, some reminiscent of his father. His jawline looked strong and sculpted,   exuding power and confidence. His nose was straight and sharp, complimenting his face with subtle appreciation. The most attractive feature were his deep shade of stricking blue eyes what draws immediate attention to him.

His rich brown hair was styled in a modern way, slightly longer in the front, neatly trimmed short in the sides elevating his entire outlook.

Alessio's natural full lips curled into a charming smile revealing a set of even pearly white teeth. He greeted the gathering,

"Oh ciao, piacere di conoscerti."

("Oh hello, nice to meet you.")

As Alessio stepped forward, Cassy's breathe caught in her throat. She felt fluttering excitement in her stomach, as if a thousand butterfly wings were nervously flapping inside her. Her heart skipped a beat at his stricking presence — his chiseled features that told a story of strength and confidence, his mesmerising blue eyes speaking to her a language she couldnt fathom to understand, yet she was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. Time seemed to slow down as she took in every tiny detail of him.

Unconsciously, Cassy found herself smiling, her cheeks flushing slightly as she exchanged Alessio's greeting.

She was still dazed by Alessio that she didnt realise Luca had come there. Nonnina had introduced Luca to Senor. Giovanni and his wife. Luca was already shaking hands with Alessio.

Cassy felt her cheeks burning as she realised that her mind had been elsewhere. She did a quick glance at the others to see if they have caught on but fortunately nobody had. She let out an inaudible sigh. Alessio smiled at her while the others conversed and Cassy's heart did an involuntary flip.

Abruptly Cassy's phone pinged and vibrated. She didnt even recall that she had taken it along with her. Cassy decided to ignore it, it was rude to look at her phone infront of company.

But her phone suddenly pinged again  and again and again. It wasn't just something she figured. Excusing herself from the company she was with, who looked a little confused at the repeating notifications, Cassy walked towards a less populated corner of the garden. He phone still vibrating uncontrollably in her hand indicated something big.

It took some time to adjust her eyes to the sudden brightness of her phone screen contrary to the darkness of the evening. When she did she noticed that the notificafions were all coming from the office group at Regal. One after other rhey came before she could try to focus on finding what was going on.

Cassy's eyes caught some words in large capitals,

SEX SCANDAL... ACCIDENT... DEATH..

Panic began to rise within her, her breath came hard and loud as she clicked on the messages and posts shared in the group right then. One such post read,

Heyyy you guysss...!!

Bet you didnt expect me to kill him did you?

Well... it happened. Anywayyy...

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XO Ama