Verona was running aimlessly on campus hoping to lose Crescenzio. He was known for his hot temper and she did not want to be subjected to his rage. He seemed real angry at the idea of her dancing with Ottavio. She looked back and noticed she had lost him. She felt a sigh of relief as she turned around a corner. She almost screamed as she came face to face with Crescenzio.

Crescenzio appraoched her and she walked backwards until her back hit the wall.

Crescenzio was looking at her with the same enraged expression as when she had delivered the news. He snapped "Why did you run from me? I just wanted to talk..."

Verona breathed "I was abit... afraid...."

Crescnezio's expression changed. He said in a defensive but much calmer tone "Afraid of who? Me? Why?"

Verona said honestly "You looked mad..."

Crescenzio narrowed his eyes... "Of course I was angry... But not at you..... How can you be surprised at my reaction?.... He keeps getting closer and close to you... I cant allow that... I cant accept that your choice is that low life, Orsino... You cant be with him.... I wont let him take you away... I will fight to have you...."

Verona could hear sincerity in his voice. She said "Look... We cant be having this conversation... Ottavio is going out with me now... You need to move on...."

Crescenzio said with promise in his tone "No... He needs to move on... I will break up his world... I will end him... I will not stop until I have you..."

Verona trembled. She shook her head "Crescenzio... You need to stop this..."

Crescenzio shook his head 'You dont get to tell me when to stop... I will stop when I have you by my side...."

Verona said "I could never be with you..."

Crescenzio's sharp tone made Verona jump "You will be.... I will make you mine... I vow to fight until you have my ring on your finger..."

Verona closed her eyes as her back was against the wall.

Crescenzio leaned close and whispered in her ear "I am patient... I can wait... And I will fight very hard against the man you have chosen... I will fight until he surrenders or dies... This is what has to happen when two men love a Rosario woman.... There is only one way to settle this... It will come down to an ultimate War..."

Verona shook at the promise in his tone. She opened her eyes and noticed he was walking away. She took a deep breath feeling relief he was leaving her.

Crescenzio said as he was walking away. "I have to go... I am summoned by my grandfather... I cant be late... But we will see each other again soon..."

Verona took a deep breath. What had her life come to? Had she made the right choice by coming to this school in her quest for freedom and independence. She didnt think her other long time admirer was going to show up with full force. Her life was getting more complicated and she had least expected it. She never thought she could be faced with this situation. No one was ever mad enough to take on Ottavio... No one except someone by Constantini blood...

*****

Crescenzio entered his grandfather's night club and walked to the special VIP section up the stairs. He entered the VIP room slowly and closed the door. He looked at where his grandfather was standing overseeing the club. The room had huge glass windows looking over the big night club. His grandfather was alone smoking his cuban cigar as he was standing looking through the windows.

Crescenzio walked slowly to his grandfather and stood behind him. The sound of music was quite muffled in that room as it was almost sound proof. Crescnezio was wondering what had his grandfather's attention that he hadn't even addressed him yet. He was staring into a distance. He cleared his throat.

Cristoforo Constantini breathed out a cloud of smoke as he said "Did anyone bother you on your way here?"

Crescenzio noticed his grandfather was still not looking at him. How attention was at a location in the night club. He said "No grandpa... Why would anyone bother me?"

Cristorforo  turned to his grandson. He leaned close and said earnestly "Why did you leave at this time of night without bodyguards? There is a mob war right now between Irish families...."

Crescenzio sighed. He didnt need guards. He protested "I can take care of myself grandpa..."

Crsitoforo stated as he was smoking and looking away "At night time you should always take guards with you wherever you go..." 

Crescenzio said in an irritated tone "I dont need guards..." 

Cristoforo would have become rageful if anyone else defied him or spoke to him like how Crescenzio did but his grandson was an exception to his rules. In fact, Cristoforo found his exchanges with his grandson amusing at times as he resembled him alot when he was his grandson's age. The boy was the only one who ever dared question him. 

Cristoforo turned and stared into his grandson's eyes. " You are the future of this family... You need to be more responsible with your safety...."

Crescenzio said defiantly "I am responsible... When have I endangered myself? I can handle anything...."

Cristoforo took a puff of his cuban cigar and then breathed out the smoke making Crescenzio cough. Cristoforo leaned close and whispered in his grandson's ear. "Don't ignore my orders....  Defy me next time and see what happens..." He then walked away as he was smoking his cuban cigar. 

Crescenzio had every intention of defying his grandfather. He didnt respond. 

Crescenzio never understood why his grandfather was so protective of him. Why did it matter? Everyone was collateral damage and nothing was above business in his grandfather's list of priorities. But for some reason his safety mattered too much. 

Cristoforo extinguished his cigar on an ash tray on a side table. "We have special guests tonight..."

Crescenzio was used to special guests showing up at the night club. This meant they were going to be going to the underground section of the night club and do business. He asked "What is happening tonight exactly?"

Cristoforo walked to his grandson "The usual... Some information exchange... Or maybe some informant exchange. Who knows? The night is your." He then put his hands on Crescenzio's shoulders. "I just need one excuse to call of the business deal... You will let me know if the guests overstay their welcome here tonight..."

Crescenzio shrugged "Alright..." He then asked "Who are these guests?"

****

Ottavio was sitting in a car with his father driving through heavy traffic.

Orlando Orsino was looking through a file as he was advising his underboss who was driving the the car with his instructions.

Ottavio knew the stakes were high in this business trip. His father had chosen to take him on this business meeting for a reason. It was not easy to talk to Cristoforo Constantini. It was going to be an educational meeting.

When they reached their destination, Orlando got off the car and left Ottavio and his underboss, inside the car. Ottavio was to leave later.

Ottavio watched his father walk towards Cristoforo's night club as his guards who were in cars behind them joined him.

Orlando Orsino's underboss, Lance turned to Ottavio "Can I be truly blunt? I dont wish to offend you....."

Ottavio shrugged and looked at Lance "Of course you can be blunt. I never hold honesty against you...." He had known Lance since childhood but still he was cautious around him.

Lance looked at Ottavio and said respectfully "Please... Do not cause a major incident when you go inside the night club. We have to work with the Constantinis. They have some key connections to Irish businesses who are in the middle of the Irish mob war. In this Irish mob war. Your family needs to remain on talking terms with them..."

Ottavio said "How would I cause a major incident? I act professional always..."

Orlando stated "Cristoforo Constantini loves no one more than than his grandson... Please understand. Cristoforo will take it as a personal insult if you go too far in your clashes with Crescenzio..."

Ottavio said "I deal with him in my own time..."

Lance said carefully "Please.... Your feud with Crescenzio has to be put on hold..."

Ottavio said "It cant... It concerns Verona... He is going after my girl... I am not backing down... Either way, Crecsnezio has it covered and hides our big fights from his grandfather. As far as he is concerned, what happens between Crescenzio and I is outside of his grandfather's business... He insists on that and I agree... He can fight his won battles..."

Lance was so worried. Ottavio could cause so much trouble for the Orsinos. The fact that Cristoforo was willing to talk to the Orsinos was a huge win... The man was too dangerous to be anyone's enemy.

****

It was late at night. Venetziano was seated in a car being driven to his destination. He looked around the unfamiliar neighbourhood as the car stopped in front of his destination. His guards got off from the car behind him and rushed to open the door for him. He walked outside the car and then entered the building. He was to hand over an envelope in person.

Venetziano made his way into the building and his guards stopped at the door. They didnt need to follow him any further and could wait in the lobby. Venetziano entered an elevator and pressed some buttons. He looked at his watch and noticed he was quite early but it didnt matter. He got off the elevator and made his way to an office door through a dimly lit corridor where there were many men in suites waiting around. He knocked and entered on the door of the office he was meant to visit.

No answer. He entered.

Tristan O'Neil was seated behind a desk looking at files in front of him.

Venetziano walked towards the desk and placed the envelope on the table "This is what you asked for..."

Tristan reached for the envelope and picked it up. He opened the envelope and asked "Why did your father send you of all people to deliver this envelope. I would not have harmed any of his messengers..."

Of course, no detail escaped Tristan O'Neil's attention as he had become curious why Venetziano had showed up in person to just deliver an envelope. Tristan O'Neil was looking at him expectantly.

Venetziano said "He didn't send me. I insisted to come. I volunteered..."

Tristan asked "Why? Why did you make this not so interesting trip here? Delivering an envelope is hardly of any value to someone like you... You don't waste time..."

Venetziano could see how Tristan O'Neil had not even read what was inside the envelope. He said "I don't think it matters why I volunteered to come. I don't wish to waste your time by explaining my reasoning. Surely the contents of this envelope must be more of an interest."

Tristan said "Of course the contents of the envelope are important but your reason for being here is more interesting. Do you want to explain why you came?"

Venetziano wondered if Tristan O'Neil knew why he was there and was just asking to test him. He didnt respond.

Tristan said "Alright. Now that you have delivered this sensitive information, I think you should leave unless you wish to stay and discuss why you are really here. In that case, you should remain... " He then pressed a few buttons on a pager device nearby and then he said "I guess you are just choosing to stand there rather than talk... I dont have a problem with that..." He then took out the pieces of paper inside the envelope.

Venetziano just stood there watching Tristan O'Neil.

As Tristan was reading the papers he asked "Are you now ready to tell me why you came or you just want to watch me read through the paper work your father has sent me?"

Venetziano took a deep breath and hesitated. He wasnt sure if this was the right night to talk to Tristan O'Neil. He was dealing with another business relating to his father. Did he want to discuss his matters with him right now? Or was this wise to wait. He acted carefully around Tristan O'Neil. He was the hardest to read.

Suddenly the door opened. "Dad. You asked for me... Oh. Venetziano.... Hey." Nicandro was standing at the door.

Venetziano was surprised to see his cousin there. He gave him a nod "Hey."

Tristan looked up "Yes. I did. I thought you might want to question Venetziano on his intentions for coming... I need to know why he is really here... He understands your language better than mine..."

Venetziano turned to Tristan.

Tristan smiled at Venetziano and said "You can talk to my son... He has been asking to come see you but you were at the house of Orsino in the weekend. Dismissed. I have a meeting here next..."

Venetziano was looking at Tristan unsure what to think of his actions. Did he or did he not know why he was there? He had no idea.

Nicandro walked to Venetziano and grabbed his arm "You heard my dad.... He is busy right now... Let's go..."

Venetziano followed Nicandro's lead and left the office. Outside the office he asked Nicandro "What is going on?"

Nicandro said "You are here at this ridiculous time of night and you are asking me what is going on?" He then walked away.

Venetziano asked "Where are we going?"

Nicandro said "Somewhere abit more private..."

Venetziano followed Nicandro to another office. He entered and Nicandro locked the door.

Venetziano looked around the room and saw this was a games room. "Your dad has given you a games room in his new office building..."

Nicandro shrugged as he walked to a drink dispenser and asked "What drink do you want?"

Venetziano said "I want nothing..."

Nicandro poured himself some orange juice in a glass and said "Too bad... I want one..." He then walked to a sofa and sat down. He started drinking "So, who's the lucky girl?"

Venetziano asked "Excuse me?" 

Nicandro said "Tell me about your girl..." 

Venetziano was frustrated that Nicandro knew about his girl so soon... Nicandro was calculated like his father. And Nicandro  certainly was closer to Leandro than to Venetziano. He wished he spoke about his girl to Leandro first if he could pick any of his cousins to discuss Alexandria first.

Nicandro said "You heard me..." He drank the rest of his drink and then said as he put down the glass at the table "Who is the lucky girl who is meant to become your wife one day?..."

Venetziano said calmly "Nicandro dont play with me... What do you know already about my girl? How much have you heard?" He wanted to really say more colourful words but had to keep it in. His relations with Nicandro wasnt the best. It was no secret that their fathers didnt get along. That had created tension. But Venetziano was related to Nicandro so blood ties kept them close. Or rather as close as the two of them could be considering the differences between them.

Nicandro rolled his eyes "Of course... You are like uncle Vincenzo... You like to keep it in... But your secret is already out... You could have warned me beforehand about your girl you know.... Ottavio had to give me the heads up..."

Venetziano snapped"Wait, Ottavio told you? I will kill him..."

Nicandro stood up and walked to venetziano "Isn't that the purpose of introducing her to people? She is a public figure now. Dont you want people to know he is your girl so they give her special treatment?"

Venetziano asked threateningly as he stepped into Nicandro's personal space "What do you know about her? Out with it..."

Nicandro stated "Erm... I dont know much...  I know her name is Alexandria... And I know what her family do for a living.... I was hoping you would tell me more so I could help you with your case..."

Venetziano asked "My case?"

Nincandro stated matter of factly "Yes... Your case. The one you are bringing up to my father's attention.... Your girl's family are in the movie theatre business and fashion business... No problem there... But there is something else she is getting involved with that is a bit risky..."

Venetziano said "Risky?"

Nicandro said "Yes. Her auditioning. You went to watch her audition... You should know where she auditioned and in front of whom..."

Venetziano looked at his cousin searching his eyes. "Does it matter who she was auditioning to? She is innocent..."

Nicandro said "Irish mob war doesn't take any prisoners..."

Venetziano asked 'Hold up... What is your father going to do about that production company that Alexandria auditioned to?"

Nicadnro stated matter of factly "Bankrupt them... What did you think he was going to do? They are not that important to even eliminate. Financial warfare is sufficient..."

Venetziano took a breath of relief. That was what he wanted to know. So those people his girl was involved with were not too important in the Irish mob war in this side of town. 

Nicandro said "So... Tell me about her... Will you bring her over to our home? My sister wants to meet her..."

Venetziano said "Really? You are going off tangent when you know what's at stake..."

Nicandro said "What's at stake... Oh. Of course. My father ask me to ask you what you want exactly? Why did you show up tonight?"

Venetziano took a deep breath "I wanted to know how badly your father wants to punish the production company that just gave Alexandria a chance for final casting in their new theatre tour... I recognised a few faces among their big bosses in their corporate event room. So I had to find out how bad everything was..."

Nicandro said "Now you know... Its financial warfare... So... Are you happy? Its not full elimination..."

Venetziano asked "Why would I be happy? I need to break the news to my girlfriend that she needs to audition somewhere else now unless I find a way to change your father's mind on financial warfare in the Irish mob war against Alexandria's new employers..."

Nicandro said " Good luck with that.... Those people should thank their lucky stars they dont matter much to my father... So there is no way you can change their verdict..."

Venetziano sighed and said thoughtfully "There has to be a way to solve this problem. Are those people a threat or competition to your father's businesses?"

Nicandro chuckled "Oh please... Get real... They are neither.. ."

Venetziano said slowly "So... Why is your father bankrupting them?"

Nicandro said "You can ask my father that.."

Venetziano said "I will... And .... You must help me..."

Nicandro asked "You want me to help you with what?  This is an Irish mob war... Actions have consequences...

Venetziano said "This affects Alexandria and this matters for her future.... You must help me talk to your father..."

Nicandro said "What? Talk to my father? Let me get this straight..  You want us to ask my father to call off the financial warfare because your girlfriend will lose her big break touring the city theatres after getting through auditions? That is not a good enough reason... You are lucky bankruptcy is the only punishment that company is getting... Your girl has to go job hunting again....  But if you really want to save that company, you can go ask your father to help  them out.... There is a chance that will work..."

Venetziano stated "That is not a good idea..... It will make the Rosarios get caught in the middle of an Irish mob war if my father gets involved..."

Nicandro said "Here you go... So you know what we are dealing with... Is it worth challenging this matter? Or your girl can find another company.... Think before you act... I am willing to help you but if you plan something with risks or dead ends I call it out... I tell you now, its mission impossible to change my father's mind easily when he makes a business decision."

Venetziano was thinking hard about his next move. It was worth fighting for what mattered to Alexandria but Nicandro was right about choosing the right option..."