"Where is he?". Alcina asked anxiously as she trailed behind him.

"In his room"

She gulped.
"Did he say why?". She asked nervously.

"No. You'll find out when you get there". Valentino said. After a while, he spoke again, "Here we are". He stopped at a door. "Should I wait here?"

"No you can go". She waved him off as she prepared herself to enter the room. He mock saluted and sauntered down the hall. She stared down at her dressing. Shorts and a large shirt.
Alcina exhaled slowly and knocked softly. The last thing she wanted was barging into his room.

"It's open". He mumbled from the inside.
She pushed the door open and stepped into the room. The room was manly and there was the distinct scent of Leonardo's cologne in the air.

"I'm over here you know". Alcina whipped around and found Leonardo pacing his balcony. Only one problem, he was wearing sweatpants and was shirtless. He sat on one of the chairs as she approached him. She was nervous and uneasy.

"Have a seat". He gestured to the other chair. When she hesitated, he added, "Come on, I don't bite"

She sat cautiously and stared at her sweaty palms.
"I heard its your birthday today. Happy birthday". He spoke softly. She lifted her eyes to meet his blue eyes.

"Thanks. I wasn't really expecting the party and all". She replied as she struggled to prevent her gaze from wondering to his bare tattoed chest. "Could you wear a shirt?"

"I could but I won't. Does it make you feel uncomfortable?". Leonardo asked her with a small smirk. She rolled her eyes but blushed nonetheless.

"I funded the party and had our maids bake the cake". He continued.

"A cake which has been ruined". Alcina sighed deeply. "I was looking forward to cutting it"

"Who ruined it?". He asked as his eyes flared up. It had taken a lot of coercion for him to allow them plan the party and someone ruined the cake?

"Lucas". Alcina replied a bit unsure.

There was silence for a while. His muscles flexed as he stood from the chair. He walked back into the room fully aware of Alcina's stare at the back of his head. She watched as he rummaged through a drawer and brought out two small wrapped packages. She studied his tattoos. Alcina had never been attracted to guys with tattoos but Leonardo was in a whole new league of his own. They weren't too much, just some symbols here and there.

"I have something for you". As he came back to sit, she studied the one's on his chest. One particular started from a spot on the left side of his chest, spreading out in this lines. Almost like a claw.

He pushed the gift across to her from his side of the table. Her eyes followed it as they slid towards her. She picked the first one and with one last glance at his chiseled features she pried the wrapping off.

"Oh my gosh". She muttered softly as she stared at it. Alcina looked at him in disbelief and then back to it. It was an iPhone. The latest one. She would've never been able to afford the luxuries of such a phone from the pocket money her stepmother gave her.

"Thank you Leo!" She squealed, beaming ear to ear.

He nodded. "Open the next one".

Now eager to see the other gift, she wasted no time in removing the wrapping. This one was in a small box. With curiosity clawing at her, she flipped it open revealing a beautiful pendant. Leonardo watched as her eyes lit up as she stared at it. It was green with gold details around it. Her fingertips grazed it slowly as she marveled at it.

"It was my mother's". Leonardo said.

She pushed it back to him. "I can't have this".

"It was my father's wish to give it to you". He told her with a blank expression regardless of the topic of their conversation.

Taking the necklace once again, she said,"Thank you so much. I was not expecting this much for my birthday. Heck, I forgot my birthday". She dared herself to look up to his face and did the unexpected. She leapt out of her seat and hugged him. Leonardo was startled but felt uneasy, nonetheless.

"Get it into your system". He said patting her back awkwardly. "There's not much of my hugs to go around"

After she pulled away, he continued "I want to treat you to lunch today. So get dressed, I'll let you know when I'm ready"

"Like a date?". Alcina gushed.

"Not really". He chuckled and added. "Considering we'll be paying your friend a visit".

She nodded and with one last thank you, she skipped to her room with her presents. As Alcina fell on the bed, she thought back to her ruined cake. Seeing no reason to go back, she decided to get prepared for her outing with Leo.

Alcina eventually found herself making her way back to the room, eager to see what else the boys had planned.

"We thought you were never coming back!". Bianca exclaimed.

"Its not nice to ditch a party set up for you. Besides, I want to see what else the boys have planned".

Bianca nodded. Valentino, Lucas, Christopher and a few of the girls approached her with a determined look in their eyes. Alcina found herself in a circle. Before she could register what was happening, she was being hoisted up in the air and carried in the air. Lucas held her legs and Valentino held her hands.

"What are you guys doing?" She asked them between laughs.

"It's a birthday ritual here. Wait and see". Valentino replied.

She let herself be carried with everyone present at the party following along. Alcina felt like she was about to be sacrificed.
They carried her through the front door and towards the back of the main building. Her eyes widened in horror as she finally understood what they about to do. She started struggling and kicking, causing the boys to swear as they strengthened their grips on her.

"No! No! Stop! Please!". She begged. Everyone had surrounded the pool eager to witness her humiliation.
"I can't swim!" She cried.

"Nice try but that is getting you nowhere". Lucas stared pointedly at her. "Let's do a countdown!"
Everyone cheered as they started swinging Alcina.

"One! Two! Three!". They let her go. Alcina screamed as she was released and fell into the water with a splash. All lips were silent as she didn't resurface for a few seconds, but the cheering started again as her blonde head popped through the surface.

As she swarm to the edge, Alcina couldn't decide if she should be excited, angry or surprised.

"You should have seen your face". Lucas said between laughs.

"Remind me to do this to you on your birthday. But I'll need to know the date first". She feigned anger but smiled. Something caught her eye from the building. It was Leonardo. Apparently, he had come to investigate the commotion and stuck by once he saw what was happening. Their eyes met for a brief moment. She continued speaking to everyone, fully aware of his eyes on her wet body.

"Oh no". She muttered as she brought out her phone from the pocket of her shorts. She definitely knew the emotion she was feeling now. Anger.

"You've ruined my phone". She accused Valentino and Lucas. Christopher came up behind her and started laughing at her phone. After giving it a thorough shake, she glared at Christopher.

"Well, it's no problem. I'm quite fortunate to have a new one sitting in my room" She said smugly.

After a while, everyone retired inside. In the lobby, Alcina announced to Bianca that she was going to take her bath. The boys overhead and were around her in the blink of an eye.

"Alcina, in celebration of your Eighteenth birthday, we're going clubbing". David announced.

"A club. Not some party by a hormonal teenager with self esteem issues. You're getting wasted tonight. Believe it or not". Lucas added.

"I'm sorry guys, but I can't make it. I have lunch with Leonardo". She said solemnly. Alcina would have been looking forward to going to a club with the guys but she had plans with Leonardo. And turning down a mafia boss who was going on a date-ish outing with you is not polite.

"That's not a problem, we can go whenever. Just be back before 9 pm. Things tend to get a little crazy at the clubs by 11 and I want to be there when it all starts". Lucas said.

Back in her room, Alcina was plagued with the issue of appropriate lunch outfit. There were several factors to consider. They would be stopping at a hospital and she didn't know where Leonardo had in mind for their outing. She had an urge to look pretty for him, though she was constantly telling herself she wasn't developing feelings for him.

* * * * *
I didn't know what to call this chapter so I just wrote iPhones. Hehe😜

Important...
Dear readers, I just want to express how happy I am. Seeking Vengeance got to 582 in action. It might not be much, but I'm happy. It's all thanks to you the readers. I keep striving to develop the plot to make things a little interesting.
I will be writing a series of exams these coming months, March, April... These exams will take me to the university. I need to study so I won't be updating as much as before. So, do stay with the story.

Love, Vicki.💟