Bernardo walked through the crowded hall towards the East wing of Moretti House.

One of his servant had informed him that he was summoned to his office room immediately.

He knew who would have dared to leave the party hall and get into his office room.

Bernardo checked the hallway before barging into the room.

"What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you, we should not be having private meeting today!" Bernardo spoke with much irritation in his tone.

Gasparo D'Luca was seated in one of the leather seat in front of the huge mahogany desk.

"Obviously to know why you called me to abort my new plan! And who cares about what you tell me to do?" Gasparo growled, lighting his cigar.

Taking a couple of puff from the cigar, Bernardo spoke again. "Why I should not start my plan? It was a prefect one and everything will be ours in no time but you. You want me to stop?"

"I don't think it's the right time. Not today."

"Then when shall we execute it? I'm done waiting, Benny!"

"Listen, you don't have to do anything from now on. There is no need for it, Gasparo"

"What do you mean?"

"I have found the Ara Agosti everyone was looking for" Bernardo now seated on the huge leather seat opposite Gasparo.

"You found her? How?"

"Simple. I used the information Mario collected before. I made a wild guess and approached her. Apparently, she already knew who she is" Bernardo drummed his fingers on the table.

"That means the company will go to her! What are you going to do, Benny?

Or shall I use my men to threaten her to follow our instruction?" Gasparo became impatient. All he wants was destruction.

"Relax, amico. Just watch"

Bernardo chose to stay in the room a little while before joining the rest for the party.

His gazed as far as his vision could go, standing by the window he recalled the day he succeeded in turning Gasparo completely against Demetrio.

An evil smirk works across his face.

After accidentally overhearing Gasparo conversation regarding his Underworld works. Which one of it was illegal unregistered firearm business.

Bernardo used it as his starting point for his plan.

Gasparo and Demetrio's reunion was a genuine reunion, it was never an intentional one.

But Bernardo used it for his purpose by bringing Gasparo forgotten sorrow against Demetrio.

During a casual talk between Bernardo and Gasparo, the former brought in the topic of the latter's father.

Gasparo's father was ill at that time.

"How's father, Gasparo?" Bernardo asked.

"No improvement. Still the same"

Flicking the cigar butt, Bernardo moved slowly in his plan. "His health deteriorated after his went to jail, isn't it?" Faking his sympathy.

Gasparo nodded.

"Had he not gone to jail, he wouldn't be like this. I told Demetrio not to do that" Bernardo shook his head as if he was really feeling for Gasparo's father.

"Demetrio was right, Benny. I realised it was wrong to spoil children with drugs. I understood when I had hard time studying while addicted to drugs.

Thank god, I wasn't that addicted."

Anger crept in Bernardo slowly. Why wasn't Gasparo getting disturbed with the school matter?

"But still, as the leader of The Savano Cartel don't you think you should take revenge for the lost." Bernardo tried once more.

Gasparo stared at Bernardo for long. He understood, Bernardo has a hidden rage in him for Demetrio.

But what?

"I did thought of it but never wanted to go for it. But what about you? What is your reason to take revenge on Demetrio?" Gasparo asked.

"Me?" Bernardo was taken aback.

"I have no reasons for anything trust me. You are my good friend and I want to help you...

For your illegal firearm business"

Bernardo's mobile rang, bringing back to present.

---

"Hey wait." Ella stopped him and gestured Diego to come back with her finger.

"You met Gasparo? What did he say?"

"He said nothing. Gasparo behaved like a gentleman.

Oh he said he misses Uncle D and it would have been great if Uncle D was here too." Diego was ready to leave.

"That's all?" Ella asked in disbelief.

"Okay" the thought of Gasparo's presence in the same space, stressed her .

Will he be planning for another attack? Should she leave the party and out of the house now?

And then she remembered her leg.

If anything were to happen tonight, she figured out she won't have another chance to walk around alive.

Are they really aiming for her or was she only pawn to get to someone else?

She had to stay safe anyway, away from the predators.

Ella pulled Diego closer for her safety.
"Stay here"

"Really? If I'm not wrong, just a few minutes ago someone chased me away.

What happened to the sudden change of mind?" His eyebrows dances as he waited for her to answer.

"Gasparo is here, right. So, you better be with me to protect because I'm in a no condition of doing that for myself, you see." She widened her eyes and pointed herself from top to bottom.

"Also you will be miserable if I'm gone.

This for your own good" she nodded and turned her head away. 

"Oh really? Well, I don't mind staying with you. 

But what about the 'don't be like a guest. Be a host' thing?" his brows shot up. Ella shrugged and looked everywhere but him. 

This guys seriously needs to be banned or better lock him up. 

Throughout the party, they both stayed together and have been the talk of the night. Guests assuming they were couples. Which they had to deny and tell everyone who came to them about Ella's leg that was in a bad state. 

Among the Morettis, Chandra was the one delighted with the whole pairing scene. She was more than happy to see them together though nothing was confirmed from either side. 

Chandra wished to see that happen real soon. Them as a couple as she blew the candles on the cake. 

Soon after the cake cutting session, Ella dragged herself to the kitchen and sat in one of the stool at the kitchen counter. The two and half hours standing exhausted her to maximum in fact her leg swell pretty badly. 

"El? How's your leg?" Thiyagu walked in with a plate full of cake.

"Swollen" she replied. 

"Does it hurt?" Thiyagu asked looking at her swollen feet. 

"No! It feels really good. I wish I could let you feel, how good it is"  she jested. 

"Ops... Sorry. I wish I can help but... nope I can't. I'll be dead if I do" he rolled his eyes, remembering the warning he got earlier. 

"Okay, I'll call someone to help you up to your room." with that he walked out of the kitchen leaving her alone with the servants. 

Half an hour had gone and there were no sign of anyone coming to help her to her room. She wondered if Thiyagu really meant what he said. Ella looked at the tirelessly working servants, they were busy with the dishes, she didn't want to disturb them. 

Crazy man's brother is another crazy man. I'm going up even if it takes an hour for me to reach.

Dragging herself, Ella manage to reach the stairs. 

"Why do they need so many stairs?" She whined taking one step at a time. The pain seemed to be unbearable, Ella leaned to the railing of the stairs for every two steps she climbed. 

"I was looking for in your room. What are you doing here?" Diego ran down the stairs. He had even changed into much casual outfit and here she was struggling to climb the stairs.

"Where were you earlier? I did not see you in here just now"

"I was in the kitchen. Thiyagu told he will send someone to help me to room. 

No one came."

He nodded and squat down as he lifted her skirt a little to check in her sprained leg.

"It's swollen. Told you not to stand that long" Diego scolded and instantly scooped her in his arm.

"What?! 

Don't do this all the time, Diego!" She slapped his hand lightly.

In respond to her comment, Diego purposely tried to drop her to which she held him tighter.

"Good. Be quiet, Ella. Don't make me drop you for real"

The remaining journey to her room was silent but there were so much going on in both of them. Ella avoided eye contact the entire journey to her room.

Little did they know, there were two pairs of eyes admiring the sight of them. 

"They are going to be one of the best pair in Milan. I bet you" Chandra had her hand on her chest and a broad smile plastered on her face, watching them for far.  

"I can't agree with you more, mom" Thiyagu hugged his mom as he too watches them. 

"There you go. Now take good rest. We'll see the doctor tomorrow" Diego carefully dropped her on her feet in the middle of the room and headed to the door. 

"Thank you... And sorry. I have been troubling you since morning. Today seems to be like run-behind-Ella-all-day kind of day.

Literally babysitting me." Ella felt embarrassed for being dependent on him almost the entire day. 

"Sorry? 

You know what. It's me who needs to apologies. Especially after putting your life in danger today, I would happily be around you.

And if you want to call it babysitting then go ahead.

But it's my duty to protect you because I have brought you into this mess. I promise I'll be there for you.

Now, quit thinking and rest" Diego said. 

Ella felt overwhelmed to actually hear someone tell her that, he will be there for her always. 

There was a thick silence filled the room. A sweet silence, probably the cupid had just shoot its love arrows to them. 

Diego tread closer to her. 

He held her face in his palms and kissed her forehead.

"Good night"

With the kiss, he had seal her as his.

******-------******

And there are errors... Lots of them 🤦... Kindly excuse. My brain is totally against me for the past few days 😝

Don't forget to vote and...

Comments NEEDED!!! 

Also I'll be publishing a new short story, DEVIANT tomorrow or maybe today

If interest permits, do join me there. 

-->>> UPDATE:: DEVIANT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED <<<--