Third Person's POV:
Somewhere else, a man was sitting in his chair and dealing with some traitors.
"You were trying to cross me." He said calmly, way too calmly.
It was so calm that the people there felt a chill run through their spines. They were more than terrified at this time. They knew that they had done something that they shouldn't have. They have provoked the man and he will take his revenge.
"No boss." The man chuckled nervously, although he knew that he couldn't be saved, he still tried in vain.
"You tampered with my shipment route and changed the scheduling. Just so that you can gain some profits." He said adjusting his cufflinks like he was in some important meeting.
The men there were now terrified out of their minds. They didn't know that this terrifying man was going to come here and mess with their business. The man was like a cold statue. There was no warmth to him when he was dealing with his business, like nothing could affect his mood. They were shaking like a leaf.
"Boss, we know that we were wrong. Forgive us this time please. This would not happen again." They all apologised furiously but it was all a waste of time.
"You know what I dislike the most in my life is... betrayal." He spoke while glancing at them from the corner of his eyes. He was sitting there like he was doing the most common thing in the world like he was not threatening someone. His glare was so cold that it could freeze water.
"We know, boss. Can you give us another chance please. Last chance." The men begged him.
The man glanced at them and then he summoned his own men from the corner. He gestured to his men and they dragged them away from there. They were still begging and crying but he showed no mercy. If he kept showing mercy to whoever asked then he would not be able to stand where he was and not take his business to a greater height.
Just then his secretary came and reminded him about some of his meetings. He glanced at his watch and noticed the time.
"Cancel all of the meetings for the day and schedule them for tomorrow. I am going to attend an important banquet tonight." The man, none other than Valente Vintelli, spoke to his secretary.
The man was stunned as he didn't expect him to make this decision suddenly and leave those important meetings but he knew better than to question his boss. So he nodded and went to make adjustments.
Valente also went from there and went home. He knew that she would be there tonight and he just wanted to see her again. He didn't know if she also liked him or even if she noticed him like he would but he still wanted to see her and meet her, even if he could only see her from afar he would still be contended.
What he didn't know was that he was just worrying about nothing and she was also feeling something for him. What it is and how this will unfold will depend on them.
*****
Meanwhile here at the banquet, the guests were starting to arrive. The Romano family were already present there to welcome their guests. Ariana, Sophia and Isabella were also going downstairs at that time. They were all clad in gowns and were looking absolutely beautiful and charming. Isabella and Sophia were with their partners while Ariana was with her father Gabriel.
The genes of the Romano family were not to be taken lightly. They all were very beautiful. So when they arrived downstairs they immediately attracted the attention of all of the people present. First came the main character of the party Leonard and with him was Isabella.
Then came everyone else. Meanwhile the Romano siblings were already present there and were welcoming the guests and overseeing the preparation.
Everyone applauded and cheered when they came downstairs. But when they saw Ariana coming together with Gabriel they all were confused as they were seeing her for the first time. They didn't know who she was. But they couldn't help but lament at how beautiful she looked. She had a calm aura that could make people mistake her for a gentle person but those who knew her knew that she could be as terrifying as a demon if need be.
She was not dressed too extravagantly but still managed to shine in the crowd. They all wondered about her true identity. The crowd murmured among themselves about her.
"Who is she?"
"She is so beautiful."
"I haven't seen her before today."
"I am sure she is someone the Romano family adores as she is with Gabriel himself."
"Maybe she is his daughter." Someone murmured amongst them.
"But don't you know that they lost their only daughter after she was born."
"But I heard that they have found her although no one has seen her."
"Shhh... They are going to tell us. Look."
All of them quietened down after they saw that Leonard was going to speak. After all, this was his birthday banquet and he was the main character today.
"Hello everyone. Thank you for coming today for my birthday. I am very happy that you all can come today. Today is not just my birthday party, today I want to announce something, to be precise, I want to introduce you all to someone. That someone is very dear to our family. Yes, as you may have guessed that person is beside my eldest son Gabriel. Her name is Ariana Romano." Leonard said.
All of the people there were stunned in silence. As they hadn't anticipated that they would meet the daughter and princess of the Romano family today. This was big. This was huge. Everyone knew that the Romano family doted on their daughter when she was born but not much time had passed when she was kidnapped. So everyone was aware how much they have put efforts to search for her. They all knew that nobody can compare to her. She was the apple of their eye.
So many people began to think of ways to make this opportunity benefit them. They thought about the boys in their families and thought if they were suitable for her. In this way if their sons or grandsons can hook up to her they can get so many benefits that they will be smiling all the while.
"Yes, as you may have guessed she is the daughter of Gabriel and our only granddaughter, Ariana Romano, who was kidnapped at the time when she was born. I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you all to her. So everyone I hope that you guys can take care of her if there arises a need in future." Leonard continued with a smile.
They all applauded and Ariana spoke, "Thank you everyone. I am so grateful to have such a lovely family." She then nodded.
After that there were many people who wanted to greet and get to know her so they all swarmed around her. Ariana also kept smiling and talking politely with them as her family introduced her to everyone. Then she saw someone that she was thinking of just a while ago. Her heart skipped a beat and she didn't even notice it.
He was here. It was like there was a magnet fit in her eyes. Wherever he was, her eyes would automatically find him. How he walked, talked or smiled. Everything was perfectly carved in her eyes. She also didn't notice that she was paying so much attention to him.
The way he walked like a boss, like everything was under his control and nothing could go wrong. He always gave her the feeling of protectiveness, like if she was with him nothing wrong could happen to her. He looked like a perfect model that any company or fans will give anything to see him featuring in any magazine. His face was so handsome it was like god had carved his every feature with ample time. His face can put to shame any of the models and actors.
He also noticed her the moment she arrived with her dad. She was dazzling like a beautiful star. The way she would smile, talk or lift her hand to adjust her hair, all of these small details he noticed and captured them in his heart.
He noticed when she looked at him, the way she was momentarily surprised and then smiled slightly at him politely. Her smile was like a beautiful breeze that anyone can get happy just looking at her smile. Her eyes were like a deep ocean that anyone could get lost in their depths. The way her eyes would twinkle like stars when she was happy and laughing like the whole galaxy of stars were there in them.
Her hair looked so soft that he could only imagine how it would be when he touched them. The way she would chew on her lips when she was a little embarrassed or shy. They were just perfect pink so there was no need for lipstick, still she has a little bit of lip balm. He was almost lost in her when a voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Valente, you are also here?" Said Emilio.
"Yes. I had some work here in Italy so I came to attend the banquet." Valente said with a blank face, peeling his eyes away from her. No one can ever guess his inner thoughts that he was having.
"Oh that's great then." Elio said.
Then Valente went and wished Leonard a happy birthday. He also nodded towards Ariana with a somewhat gentle expression.
"Hello Ariana. How are you doing?" Valente said. He tried his very best not to stutter and sound like a complete fool.
"Hello. I am doing great. You are also here in Italy?" She asked, a little blush creeping up on her ear.
"Yes, I had some business to deal with here so I also came to the banquet." Valente said.
He was feeling happy for no reason and he also didn't know that he was showing a gentle expression on his face involuntarily. Anyone who knew him if they saw him right now they would be very shocked.
Actually the Romano brothers that were watching were already shocked but furious also. Because they knew that this man was harbouring evil thoughts for their little sister. They immediately came to them.
"Princess, let's go. I want you to meet someone." They made an excuse and led her from there. Ariana also went with them. Not knowing that her problems to have a happy love life just got started.
Meanwhile Elio and Antonio stayed behind to deal with Valente.
"What are your intentions towards our princess?" Antonio asked with narrowed eyes. Valente was a little startled. After all, he still hasn't truly realised that he has taken a liking to Ariana.
"What do you mean by that?" He asked confusedly.
"Do you like her?" Elio couldn't help but ask this directly with gritted teeth.
"Yes." Valente replied unhesitantly.
"What." Antonio was seething in rage.
"How could you like her?" Elio roared but kept his voice low so that nobody could listen.
"What do you mean? She is a nice person and you guys are practically family to us. So how can I not like her?" Valente said.
"Okay so you don't have any other feelings towards her?" Antonio asked.
"What other feelings?"
Valente was now starting to understand where they were going with this but he also found it funny because he didn't have any romantic feelings for her. Right?
"It's better for you if you don't have any feelings. Otherwise." Antonio warned him and went from there in a huff.
"Why did you come here? We should have beaten him up." Elio said angrily.
"He still hasn't realised that he has some feelings for our princess. So let's not provoke him too much and make him realise. It's better that he doesn't realise his feelings in his whole life." Antonio said.
"You are right. I was rash in this matter. Let's go to our princess. There are still many boys who will try to get close to her." They went to Ariana and realised that she was looking like she had seen someone she didn't expect.
"What happened princess?" Antonio asked, a little tense as to what was making her react this way.
"The... they are also here. But how?" Ariana asked. She was somewhat happy and somewhat nervous. She didn't know how to react.
"Who, princess?" Gabriel asked.
Ariana pointed towards two people and they were standing there in a group and they were also shocked to see Ariana. It was clear from their expression.
"They are my..."
****
Hello guys. Here's another chapter.
Happy reading.
Love, Stella.