ALFONSO

I couldn't help the grin on my face while remembering the events of yesterday. Claudia was glued to my side throughout the day despite her obvious protest and her insistence that she wanted to go home. Thank goodness, the old man was there to assist me in persuading her to say a little bit more at the party.

If I didn't know better I would assume that Salvatore had taken a liking to this enchanting creature just like me and did everything to push the lady to me.

How can I exactly chide my father with his sly moves when that's also what I wanted in the first place? For the first time, I let Salvatore do his annoying matchmaking and let him think that Claudia might be the suitable bride for men. Right now, I am very much open to the idea now unlike before.

"That's a quiet smile you got there, son." My father remarked when I realized that he was staring at me now for quite some time.

I immediately removed the smile playing on my lips at his remark. I stared straight into his eyes with a scowl on my face. "I don't know what you mean."

Salvatore opened the newspaper he'd been reading again and buried his face in the broadsheets. "You've been grinning like an idiot for the past half an hour while we're in complete silence. It makes me worried about the state of your mental health and wondered if you're going to deny it, figlio."

"Don't be so overdramatic," I informed him with slight irritation in my voice. "I do not do such a thing. I just remember something that's why I crack into a small smile, that's all."

"Oh, yeah?" My father lowered the morning paper he'd been reading slightly until his eyes met mine slightly. There was a knowing smile playing on his lips right now which I don't like. "Don't tell me the reason for that strange smile had something to do with the beautiful Claudia Romano, son?"

I frowned in his direction darkly. The last thing I wanted was for him to fish out information about the current status of my relationship with Claudia when I don't know for sure if I am making progress here. "I will not tell you anything."

It was my father's turn to scowl in my direction. "Oh, come one, is that the proper way to treat your father, Alfonso? Have you forgotten the ultimatum I have given you not so long ago? I want you to get married within a year or I will disinherit you."

I groaned remembering that idiot idea of his of me being leg shackled. I threw a dark glare at him. "Why are you so obsessed with me getting married? How many times do I have to tell you that I'm still young to settle down?"

"You are not getting any younger," Salvatore contradicted, his dark eyes were hard on me. "How long do you think I have left on this earth watching my only son pinning for a woman who was so busy with her career and probably doesn't have plans of having a family."

"Dad," there was an unmistakable warning in my voice, closing my eyes I pinch the bridge of my nose as I could feel the growing headache. "Let's not go there, per favore."

My father shrugged nonchalantly as he focused his attention back on the papers in his hand. "Why? Can't handle the truth? Not that I blame you. They say that truth is hard to swallow." He paused for a moment before dropping another subtle insult at me. "I sympathize with you, son. Believe me. If I were in your position I would also feel miserable just like you are now."

I exhaled a deep breath. This conversation is going nowhere. I need to have the facts straight here to avoid another confusion. I stared at my father annoyingly. "To be honest with you, Dad. Violet is the last thing on my mind right now. With her busy schedule with the movie she's currently filming abroad, I haven't talked to her in ages."

From the look on the old man's face, one would think that it's Christmas morning and he received his gift from Santa Claus. His ruthless eyes brightened. "Is that so? Does that mean that you're pursuing my trusted attorney's daughter?"

I was about to lie but then I decided to come clean with this. Enough of these lies when the truths and lies were starting to mix. Sometimes it makes me wonder if we're still pretending or what. I looked straight into my father's eyes. "As of now, yes."

"Bravo!" My father clapped his hand excitedly. "Eccelente. That's the best news I've heard from you in a while. You make me so proud, Alfonso. Now about your wedding to this pretty Claudia..."

I let out my frustration. Sometimes my father could be hard-headed without even trying. "Haven't you heard what I just say? I am just starting to court this woman for real why are you spouting nonsense about marriage? Do you want to scare her?"

The happiness on my father's face vanished for a moment. "You were right. Knowing you, you can easily scare off a potential wife for you with that awful attitude of yours."

I glared darkly at him. "I am your son, right?" I asked him, making sure. "Why do you keep on insulting me like this?"

He gave me an unapologetic look, as he sat back on his leather chair. "Well, I am just being honest here, figlio."

"It doesn't matter," I informed him pointedly. "I am on the first step of making Claudia fall in love with me. I am warning you, Dad. Don't do something stupid that might harm my chance with her. Stay out of it if you want me to get married as soon as possible.

Salvatore nodded in my direction like a toddler receiving instruction from his parent. "You have my word, figlio. I won't do anything. I will just be back right here in the library and wait for your good news about the date of your wedding. But be sure to give me some time to prepare for a new tuxedo I want to be at my best at your wedding."

I shook my head in resignation. He's not listening to me. Now he would just pressure me to have my wedding as soon as possible. If that's only that easy. If there's no Dante in the picture. I stood from my chair and was about to leave the library. "Is there any chance that you could hire a brilliant attorney for me when Claudia's father decides to sue me for pursuing his daughter?"

There was a strange smile on my father's face while he was looking at me with serious eyes. "We could just hire the man himself to defend you in court."

It took me a moment to get the old man's joke. I couldn't help but burst out laughing at the idea. "That's not a bad idea."

"Don't worry about that man," Salvatore cheerfully stated. "Focus your attention on the daughter and I will take good care of the father. I know more ways than one to keep him busy at work."

There was an evil grin slipped on my face. Sometimes I wonder if I got my evilness from this man. "I will count on that, Dad."

"You have my word, Alfonso."

My heart feels so light after my conversation with my father. Now I am excited about my date with Claudia tomorrow. We agreed to meet at the vineyard tomorrow and help the workers with grapes picking for the production of the Orsini wines. I couldn't shake off the smile playing on my lips thinking about tomorrow's event.

I saw a maid coming in my direction in the hallways. "Excuse me, sir. You have a phone call."

My smile widened thinking that it was probably Claudia who wanted to demand something for our activity tomorrow. "I will answer it in my room." I immediately went to my room to answer the telephone. I picked up the receiver on the bedside table. "Hello?"

"Ciao, Alfonso."

My heart dropped to my stomach when I heard the familiar voice of a woman and it was not the woman I was expecting to hear. I swallowed hard before I could summon my voice to speak on the other line. "V-Violet."

"Miss me?" She purred on the other line. I could also hear her seductive laugh.

"Huh?"

"I miss you, Alfonso." She said longingly. "Guess what?"

"What?" I parroted while sitting on the side of my bed because it felt like my legs lost their strength to carry my weight.

"Surprise!" She said brightly on the other line. "I'm already back here in Italy. The director finally gave us two weeks break from the shooting."

"Really?"

There was a long silence on Violet. For a moment I thought that the line disconnected until she spoke again this time the excitement in her voice was noticeably missing. "Aren't you excited to see me?"

I cleared my throat when I sound off. "Not really. I am just surprised to hear that you're back in the country after not hearing anything from you, that's all."

She chuckled. "That's exactly the point! I want to surprise you with my vacation that's why I kept it a secret from you until I arrived home. You don't know how many times I've been tempted to call you and inform you about this."

"Oh," I was lost for words. I rubbed my forehead because it felt like I was having headaches. What a wrong time for her to have her vacation. "Listen to me, Violet—"

"Let's go to Lake Como tomorrow." She cajoled, completely cutting me off. "I miss you so much, caro. I want to spend some time together with you without the paparazzi following us like the hounds from hell. We can have privacy in Lake Como."

"I can't go to Lake Como with you," I told her truthfully.

"Why not?" The change in her voice was noticeable. I could already hear the annoyance in her voice.

I took a deep breath. "Because I already have an appointment tomorrow. I can't go with you."

"Cancel it," she said stubbornly. "What's more important than spending time alone with me? Don't you know how long did I persuade the director just to give me a break from the movie so I can spend some time with you?"

I shook my head. Now she used guilt-tripping to have her way. "I don't know..."

"Oh, come on, Alfonso..." she beguiled in that sexy voice of hers that does not affect me at the moment. "Can't you cancel it for me? A small request from the woman you love."

"Maybe next time, Violet."

"Is it about your father?" She asked suddenly. "He still doesn't like me now, does he? He doesn't like my work as an actress because he believes that it might tarnish your good family name."

I exhaled a heavy breath. "It's not like that." I reasoned out on the other line. "Don't be ridiculous, Violet."

"I can feel it, Alfonso." She said bitterly. I gripped the phone receiver like it was my only lifeline. I want to end this phone conversation as soon as possible. "I am not dense not to feel that he doesn't like me for you."

"Violet—"

I heard her sniff. Was she crying now? "I thought that if I prove myself to him. He would accept me as your future wife."

"Future wife?" I echoed in disbelief. Did I mull my brain if we ever discuss that in the future? I don't remember discussing this with her in the past.

"Yes," she answered without a heartbeat. "Dating will lead to marriage, right? That's why I am proving myself in your father's eyes because I know you want his blessing when it's time for us to marry."

This conversation was getting ridiculous. I want to end it now. "Look, Violet, I am happy that you're on vacation but I can't go with you tomorrow because I already have other plans. Can we schedule it for another day?"

"What's more important that you have to do than spend some quality time with me?" Violet demanded.

Was she always like this? Demanding? Why haven't I realized this before on how difficult she deals with like a true diva? "I will help the vineyard workers to harvest the grapes for the production of wines. Do you want to help us?"

"Oh," her tone subdued at that. "I am quite tired from my trip. I think I will just rest in my hotel room and yes, let's just schedule our trip some other time."

"I thought so." If she heard the mocking in my voice she just let it go. Because she's the woman who enjoys her wine but not the process of making it. I knew she would turn down the offer before I even asked her. As an actress, she prefers her surroundings to be gilded with luxury than spending her time under the sun and picking some grapes.

"I got to go, Alfonso," she said on the other line. "Bye."

Finally. I sighed with relief. "Yes, goodbye, Violet."

"I love you." She breathed over the phone.

"Rest well," I only managed to reply before disconnecting the phone call. I placed the receiver back on the phone while sighing deeply. I need to find a way to sort this mess pronto.