by Serena Light
Claudia got on her tiptoes and grabbed the door handle, about to push it down before a voice halted her.
"Here you two are." A deep velvety voice called from down the hall as they all watched Arcangelo approach with a fond smile. "I've been looking everywhere for you two."
The children had broad grins on their faces as they released Rosalie's hand, running towards their uncle as he scooped them up in his arms, tickling them as they laughed and peppered them with kisses.
"Are you two hungry?" He asked as his eyes shone with mirth and joy.
"Yes, we are!" The two cried together as Rosalie stifled a chuckle behind her hand.
"Great! Because I feel like I could eat a horse!" Arcangelo spoke as he made a funny face, causing her to smile at their interaction.
Deciding to leave them alone, she started to walk down the hall before little Arsenio called out to her.
"Rosie, wait!" He exclaimed as she stopped, turning around to regard him with a smile.
He turned back towards his uncle who was looking at his nephew curiously. He spoke up with Claudia nodding along to his words.
"Dad, can Rosie please join us? We like her very much! And she likes us! And Isaac likes her too!"
"Huh, Isaac likes her? Are you sure about that?" Arcangelo questioned teasingly.
"He didn't bite her and make her bleed, so he likes her!" Claudia exclaimed.
"Please!" The two pouted pleadingly as they looked at him with wide eyes and jutted lips.
Arcangelo sighed before looking up at her, seeing Rosalie look away shyly at how much the children wanted her to join them after having known her for a few hours.
"What do you say, Rosalie?" He called out form his place as her gaze shot up, her cheeks flushing a deep pink as her name rolled off his tongue effortlessly. "Would you do us the honor of joining us for dinner?"
Without thinking and without looking at the ecstatic looks of the children, she responded to his formal request.
"I would love to."
Chapter VIII: Breakfast
It was rather early in the morning with Rosalie sound asleep, a book placed beside her pillow. She had been in so engrossed in the novel--a book she had borrowed from one of the numerous bookshelves in the house--and feel asleep while reading.
The door to her bedroom suddenly creaked open as the light from outside shone in. Little feet pattered across the floor before Arsenio and Claudia got on top of the bed, both on either side of Rosalie as they watched her sleep quietly.
"Rosie..." Claudia whispered as she stirred, turning away from the voice.
"Rosalie," Arsenio called as she blinked her eyes, rubbing away at the blurriness before looking at the children on either side of her.
"Well, good morning you two." She spoke while stretching. "What can I do for you so early in the morning?"
"Can you help us make breakfast?" Claudia asked eagerly.
"We want to make breakfast for uncle Arcangelo, but the maids won't allow us inside the kitchen."
"Oh." Rosalie realized as she sat up in bed, the covers pooling to her waist. "Well then, let me freshen up and we'll make breakfast."
"Yay!" The two children exclaimed as they allowed her to get out of bed, standing on the cold wooden floor as she fixed her floral blouse with the matching shorts. Going to freshen up, she returned after a few minutes with her hair in a messy bun and a robe over her clothes.
"Let's go?" She asked with a smile as the children jumped off her bed and ran outside. Rosalie followed behind slowly, smiling at them whenever they urged her to hurry up.
She just couldn't run after them.
Finally, they reached the kitchen as the children stared at her in exasperation.
Shaking their heads, they pushed open the kitchen doors seeing the maids bustling about and trying to make up their mind on breakfast. Arsenio and Claudia struggled to grab everyone's attention as Rosalie could see that no one was paying attention to them. Letting out a whistle, the maids all stopped and looked at her.
"Get out." She laughed as they all looked at her in aghast. "I just want Teresa here."
"You can't!" One of the maids spoke haughtily.
"I know. But they can." Rosalie grinned as she gestured to the Mafia Boss's niece and nephew who were grinning widely, nodding to her words.
"We want to make uncle breakfast today. So please let us do it."
Everyone stared at the two in disbelief, clearly not understanding what to do next.
"Well, you heard the boy!" Teresa exclaimed loud and clear, everyone jolting with a startled jump. "Get out."
Everyone did as told and didn't ask another question as they all shuffled out and either went to their quarters or busied themselves with something else. Once it was just the four of them left, Rosalie couldn't help but giggle at how much power two little kids actually had and didn't realize.
"Alright, then!" Teresa spoke with a clap of her hands. "What shall we make your uncle today?"
The two children grinned and instantly the two women knew that they had something planned.
They spent about an hour in the kitchen. They made pancakes and a casserole along with cinnamon rolls and muffins. Since the food was in a hefty amount, they needed two treys to fit everything in, including Arcangelo's coffee and the children's juice and milk.
With a happy squeal, the two ran ahead while Rosalie and Teresa followed behind with the food-laden trey. They went into the east wing and made it all the way up to the second floor before walking down the never-ending hallway, finally arriving at his bedroom door.
"Okay, so how about Teresa and I stand here with the treys and you two bring in the food one by one? How does that sound?" Rosalie whispered quietly to them and they nodded eagerly.
Opening the door, they heard the interaction between Arcangelo and the two children before they told him they had a surprise for him. The amusement was tangible in his voice as he inquired about the surprise.
Giggling, the children ran out of the room and each took a plate of something before going back inside. They made at least four rounds each before finally coming to take the drinks.
"Good?" Rosalie whispered as she handed the glass of orange juice to Arsenio. The boy grinned and vigorously nodded his head. Smiling at him, she placed a kiss on the top of his head before walking away with the trey in hand, knowing the children could handle themselves.
Arsenio blushed a deep red as he held the orange juice in hand, momentarily watching Rosalie walk away from them before he went into the room. Once he entered, he couldn't help but smile at his uncle's shocked expression. His blue eyes were wide as he sat on his sofa in nothing but a pair of basketball shorts and his hair all standing in odd angles, his mouth was even hanging open as he stared at the assortment of foods laid out before him.
"How?" Is all he asked once he regained his senses, looking at his niece and nephew seated before him.
"Rosie and Teresa helped us," Claudia informed.
"We woke Rosie to help us and she got everyone to go out and let us make breakfast for you!" Arsenio exclaimed. "It was a lot of fun."
"Wow. Okay." Arcangelo proclaimed as he ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "Then let's dig in!"
Instantly they all scarfed up the food, everyone getting an equal share of everything before leaning back on their sofas with stuffed stomachs and a content sigh.
"This was amazing." Their uncle spoke as he sat up to look at the two with a smile. "Thank you, you two are my favorite niece and nephew." He told them as he hugged the two close, placing a kiss on the top of their heads.
"Dad, we are your only niece and nephew." Arsenio pointed out as Claudia giggled.
"And that, too."
The three of them laughed for a moment before the children snuggled into their uncle's warmth, lying cuddled in his arm as momentary silence washed over them.
"Uncle," Claudia called out, looking up at him as he hummed in response. "When will mama be back?"
"I don'
t know, sweetie." Arcangelo sighed in defeat. "Your mom and dad need some time to be with each other, so that is why you two are staying with me."
"Why do you ask? Are you not having fun?" He added in retrospect to her question.
"I am." She assured. "I just wanted to know."
"Do you miss mama?"
"Not yet." Claudia grinned cheekily as Arcangelo chuckled at her.
"Will you not miss me when I go away to some faraway place?"
"But mama is not in a faraway place, she is back at home."
"And you wouldn't leave us alone." Arsenio piped up haughtily at how much they knew their uncle.
"What if I were to leave you with Salv or Teresa and then go, huh? What then?"
"Eh..." The two pondered. "Can you leave us with Rosalie instead? That would be more fun."
"Rosalie, huh?" Arcangelo echoed. "You two seem to like her a lot."
"Yes." They responded together.
"Have you seen how pretty she is?" Claudia exclaimed in exasperation.
"And she is very nice to us too," Arsenio added. "Doesn't think we are just annoying her and she plays with us too!"
"Okay. Alright," Arcangelo chuckled as he put the kids on the ground. "Now I have to get dressed, so why don't you two get changed as well."
"Okay!" The two exclaimed as they ran out the door and towards their own bedrooms in the estate.
Arcangelo chuckled as he watched them run out. Leaning forward in his seat, he ran a hand through his hair before sighing rather loudly.
"Rosalie, huh?"
***
Arcangelo walked down the hallway and knocked before entering the bedroom because he was told he could find her in there.
Her room was simple and elegant. It had light wood flooring with white walls and French doors leading out to the courtyard. There was a dark wood bed against the wall in front of him with a white rug beneath it. To his right, there was one door that led into the walk-in-closet that had been stocked with clothes for her before leading into an en-suite bath.
He looked around the room, seeing it vacant of her presence before he made his way into the closet and washroom, realizing that she wasn't in there.
Silently musing to himself, he started to walk back towards the door before the curtains fluttered. Curious, he made his way towards the French window, and pulled aside the curtains, looking out at the courtyard and seeing her sitting on one of the benches, enjoying the sunlight.
Opening the door, Arcangelo made his way across the path before approaching the bench she was seated on.
"May I join you?" He asked as she gave a startled jump which made him realize that she had been reading a book.
"Um...yeah sure." She stammered before moving to the side to give him space to sit.
Settling down, he crossed his left leg over his right knee before seeing the book in her lap.
"I see that you found the library."
"There is a library?" Rosalie inquired with fascination. "Where?"
"In the east wing,"
"Oh. I haven't been there yet."
"I see." Arcangelo nodded before they fell into an uncomfortable--almost unbearably awkward--silence. Without thinking, he leaned forward as Rosalie's attention shifted to him at the sudden movement. Silently, he cupped her chin in his hands and inspected her face as she flushed a deep pink, her heart hammering in her chest at the contact.
"You look better." He stated before pulling back his hand and settling down.
"I feel much better now, too," Rosalie spoke as her voice was an octave higher. Clearing her throat, she spoke again. "It's just that the rib is a bother sometime."
"Ugh. Tell me about it." Arcangelo groaned as he knew exactly what she was talking about. She started him for a moment at the way he had responded before bursting into a fit of giggles that had Arcangelo almost crack a smile at the sound. However, soon that crack turned into an actual smile that graced his lips before a short burst of chuckles escaped him.
Once they settled down, they both sat in an easy silence before he decided to break it again once more.
"I wanted to thank you." He informed earnestly as he ran a hand through his hair, starting at the porcelain fountain before him.
"What for?" Rosalie inquired in confusion
"For treating Arsenio and Claudia like actual children," Arcangelo stated. "Being born in a Mafia household, they are treated differently so they aren't your normal everyday children. They have never actually felt what it's like to live a normal life with normal problems and normal mundane matters; it has always ranged from one extreme to the next for them. And with me being Arsenio's guardian, he's like a son to me, so he suffers a lot too."
Leaning forward, Rosalie noticed the look of paternal concern across his features as his forehead creased and his eyes crinkled at the edges, a frown edged across his lips.
"And I obviously try to keep them away from it as much as possible, but sometimes even I forget that they are nothing more than children and deserve to be treated as such." He resumed, inhaling deeply as he realized he was rambling. "So, I just wanted to thank you for treating them like children rather than heirs to the mafia or whatever people treat them as."
"A child, no matter from what family background, deserves a loving and memorable childhood." Rosalie smiled in response. "And Arsenio and Claudia are no different. If I can help them have a relatively normal life while surrounded by armed men, then I'd love to do so because childhood is the most important part of your life and it slips like sand through your fingers. It's short, yet blissful. And honestly, those two are such wonderful kids, they deserve every ounce of love you have for them."
Arcangelo stared at her in silent disbelief, he had expected--actually hoped--for a simple 'you're welcome' which would end their awkward little confrontation, but he had never thought she would respond like this.
And now as he was looking at her in shock, he finally understood what people meant when they called her beautiful.
He stared at how her plump pink lips were pulled into a smile, the action causing her eyes to crinkle at the sides. Her eyes were a vibrant sapphire blue that glinted in the sunlight, holding nothing more than care and gentleness in them. Her skin was rather clear and almost porcelain, her cheeks, on the other hand, were a baby pink. Rosalie's hair was chestnut brown which shone as the sunlight fell on them and overall her whole aura was one of sophistication and grace.
One of beauty, and elegance.
And one of charm and entrapment.
Arcangelo could have stared at her all day. The way she smiled or the way her eyes light up or the way she soaked in everything around her. It was all so different and new from what he had been surrounded by for all these years, that now...
He realized...
She was absolutely enthralling.
Chapter IX: Office Meeting
It all started off as a very general day for Arcangelo, with his general routine, followed by some time with the kids before he finally entered his office for the day--automatically becoming unavailable to everyone and everything unnecessary.
While he did not have his second-in-command, he had him replaced by his other friend, Lorenzo, and this was his first day on the field.
When Arcangelo entered his office, he instantly knew something was wrong with him.
"What's up?" He asked Lorenzo as the other man fidgeted in his spot, having a rather uncomfortable expression on his face.
"Well...I-I...I really have no idea what I'm meant to be doing." He confessed as Arcangelo settled behind his desk. "What if I mess things up?"
"You won't," Arcangelo assured. "It's not too hard, just do what I tell you and get it done the moment I tell you and we'll be perfectly okay."
"So...like a secretary?"
"Yeah...just with a lot more contribution."
Instantly Lorenzo paled as he swallowed thickly, making his way over to be beside Arcangelo as he stood for a moment, watching his boss seated with a poised stature an
d his fingers staple onto the table. Glancing over his shoulder, he watched Lorenzo stand beside him silently; both of them quiet for a moment.
"Lorenzo," Arcangelo called out with a forced smile. "The files I am meant to review?"
"What files?" Lorenzo inquired curiously as his boss chuckled humorlessly.
"The files. That must have come in for me? Those files?"
"You mean the ones Major brings up every morning?"
"Yes!"
"Okay, and?"
"And?" Arcangelo asked almost flabbergasted. "And go get them?"
"Oh! Right!" The other man realized as he made his way out of the office and went to retrieve those files.
As he left, Arcangelo found himself lighting a cigarette before he leaned back in his seat, taking a drag from it and already feeling that this was going to be a long day.
And boy was he right.
Within the first few hours, everything was in chaos.
The first few times Lorenzo brought the wrong files, constantly going back and forth with them before Arcangelo went and got them himself. And when he was finally reviewing them, Lorenzo decided to be of a little more help, attending the phone and telling every single person to call later, including the ones Arcangelo had told him to inform if they called.
All business went terribly slow that day, people were becoming increasingly dissatisfied and worst of all, the shipments got diverted.
Arcangelo had given Lorenzo the simple task of calling the shipment docks and have them deliver all crates and cartons and whatever containers he had ordered, to be delivered to Tuscany. Somehow, Lorenzo heard Tuscany as something entirely different and had them deliver all the containers there.
"Did you call the shipping docks?" Arcangelo sighed as he had just gotten off the phone with them, finding out that the ships hadn't arrived yet.
"Yes. Just as you asked," Lorenzo spoke with a proud smile that he got it right.
"Alright, great," Arcangelo spoke with a grim smile, already fearing that he had messed things up. "Can you repeat what I told you to do?"