YN'S POV:-

Apparently papa and Rico both went to desert tasting and had selected almost five varieties of desert for the function and a load of options for snacks.

The main course to be served for dinner however was going to be provided by some extravagant hotel which was infarct fine for me cause pets face it, we have never cooked for too many people at once and I doubt we will be and also we're way to new in this business to be given huge a huge order though I'll admit that the profit would be sky touching.

However mine and Salvatore's ice-cream outing was cancelled since he couldn't make it for a family emergency, at least that's what Rico said.

It was now late. Papa said Rico would be here to pick me up as it was dark and all and stuff.

He's paranoid these days, after he flew back from the states.

He had as far gone to pursue me to take a driver with me, which I planned out refused so he made Rico drop me off at the diner and pick me up.

It was really annoying since the date of the function was now so near.

I still had to buy a nice dress and I had only two days left to prepare myself. It was just about yesterday at breakfast when I asked papa if I really had to attend the function since not everyone among the families knew about me. But papa said it was more than important for me to join them in the gala as his daughter.

Rico asked if he could bring two dates but papa was stern and said no that he couldn't and also it was an act of indecency for a to be done to behave in such a way.

"But...I am not the Don, yet." Rico had said hopefully.

"And you need to stop this childishness and behave." Papa had snapped.

And as usual Rico was late, I was sitting at an empty table while I was waiting. The diner was closed for the day, I had turned on the closed sign as I sat.

Finally what it felt like hours I saw Rico's car park around the gate. Quickly turning off the lights, I locked the doors and slipped into his passenger seat after checking the door was properly locked for the second time.

But as I took my seat, a shriek left my chest. Rico was wearing a mask resembling a reaper face.

He laughed as I gave him the reaction he really wanted. Annoyance boiled inside me as I took deep breaths to calm myself down.

He takes off the mask revealing himself.

"Beccato." Rico laughed. (Gotcha)

"Non essere un idiota." I snapped. (Don't be a part.)

"Oh come on. It was fun." He whined.

"No. It wasn't." I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest. "Now drive. I'm tired."

"Sei ." He mumbled before starting the car and driving off to the dark road.

The soft motion of the car and him of the engine

lulls me to sleep after a long day of work.

My muscles go numb and my head goes loose as I surrender to sleep.

"Yn, wake up." Rico's annoyed voice wakes me up, making me glare at him through my half closed eyes. "We're home.* He declares.

Rolling my eyes I get down from the car and wobble inside. Not bothering to change I fall on my bed face down with a moan of happiness.

I wake up around my usual time, with the feeling of sore muscle and numb head. I take a cold shower that helps to relieve some of my numbness. Getting dressed in a blue loose shirt-dress, I pair it up with ballet flats and walk downstairs to find papa and Rico at the breakfast table while the house keeper serves breakfast bowls for both of them.

"Buongiorno. " I wish for both of them. "Good morning."

"Buongiorno principessa." Papa smiles back as I take a seat. Rico grunts out something from under his breath as he stuffs his face with food, his eyes red around the corner and hair sticking up in all weird directions.

After the quick breakfast, I leave for the diner this time with Papa's driver since Rico was not in the 'condition' to be my driver.

The diner usually opens around eight and now given I was an hour and thirty minutes late one of the workers opened the diner. It's usually who arrives first. Couple of days it would me me,

In a couple of days it will be Sicilia.

The instant smell of strong coffee and freshly baked bread and biscuits engulf my senses as I walk through the door of my small diner. The smile and environment brings a smile to my face instantly.

But it was profoundly short lived as a voice called my name. It was too familiar to be forgotten.

I turned to the direction of the voice and found Ariana, now a little grown up Aless and Audrey, Eunwoo, Sarah and Diego sitting at one of the tables to the very back of the diner.

How they spotted me from there was a real question. And my suspicion that the family would be no matter what attending the function was clear as water.

I smiled at them though the penny dropped in my heart. The family meant Jungkook . And Jungkook meant his wrath and rules and controlling and honestly, I was not ready.

Making my way to the big bunch of people there I saw Aless waiting for me excitedly. He gave me a hug and Audrey was quite shook, I mean she was small when I left. Like ten or so months.

"Hi." I smiled.

"Hey." Eunwoo smiled.

"Are you here for... breakfast?" Diego asks awkwardly.

Sarah and Ariana knew that I owned a small diner, from texts and stuff.

"Uh..no. I own the diner." I smiled.

"Oh." He grinned. "Does that mean food's free?"

Sarah smacked him on the arm while muttering something.

It feels weird conversing with them.

I smiled nodding.

Thankfully our awkward encounter had ended as Sicilia called me across the floor and yelled about a kitchen emergency.

I ran fast to it, one because it was really packed even though it was only breakfast and I don't like late deliveries and two I wanted to get away from them because let's face it. It was awkward.

The emergency was not so of an emergency. There was only trouble with the coffee maker and we had to call a mechanic.

Okay. Maybe it was a bit serious.

I walked out of the kitchen, only to tell the cashier guy that the bill for the table where Ariana and others were sitting will not be paid.

But I couldn't. Especially when my eyes found two exceptionally bright olive eyes staring back at me.

The only thing that got out of my lips was a gasp.

But the moment of recognition and past was short lived as a woman about some inches taller than me in a short dress came strolling inside and put herself around Jungkook .

His hand instantly went to her waist and hers resting on his shoulder.

Cara smiled brightly at me, her lips painted scarlet early in the morning.

And honestly, the dark colour looked weird with her complexion.

"Hello, Yn." Cara grinned with an air of victory and confidence.

"Hello, Cara."

"All well, I suppose?"

"Perfectly fine." Professionally I smiled and called out for one of the waiters.

"Isla! Would you take their orders?" I said to her after pointing them out.

"Sure." Isla chirped as she came back with her small pink notepad.

I slipped into my small office and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

And as fast as a bullet train it hit me, that the reason I left was still wrapped around him like vines and he still was with her.

And now that I think that, he was probably sleeping with her before me and then while I was sleeping with him he was still sleeping with her and then after I left he was sleeping with her.

And to the conclusion he never stopped sleeping with her.

I inhale and exhale. Twice, before pulling the stack of stapled paper to me.

It was just my coping mechanism that I was going to work on, to forget the shitty relationship I eloped from and truth to be told, I am not sure if it was a true relationship.

I mean people are not that opaque when it comes to true relationships, right?

The stack contained some new recipes that I wanted to add to the menu. Especially the breakfast cause I feel like the breakfast menu isn't as developed as the lunch and dinner stuff.

Or maybe you can just open a breakfast house...A small voice murmured inside my head.

The ringing of my phone snapped me out of my blue prints. I glanced at an unknown number.

Getting calls for party services and stuff I thought it might be one of the person's either asking if we could supply dessert to a birthday party or food to a get-together.

"Sissy?" A very wobbly voice said from the other end. Probably drunk.

"Rico?" I asked frowning. "What's wrong?"

"I am so down. Can you come pick me up?" He asked.

"Where are you?"

"In the club. The one next to the estate? Come pick me up." He mumbled.

"You're drunk. Isn't it too early to be drunk? I just saw you at breakfast."

"Whatever." He said before dropping the phone signal.

With an irritated sigh I called the driver.

I got up from my plush chair but someone opened the door from the outside.

It was Ariana, Aless by her side, grinning.

"Hey." She said,

"Hi." I replied putting my purse strap on my shoulder.

"You look good." She blurted.

"Er...thanks." I flushed.

"Listen, Yn...can I talk to you for a bit?" She sounded hopeful.

It was already five minutes since Rico called. But the driver hadn't called me back yet...

And that gave me a good reason to sit. "Oh. Okay." I replied. "Let's sit."

We sat in the plush two seater couch pushed against the right wall of the office. Aless paces the room, looking at some photographs I had hung. There was mine and Papa's and Rico's.

Ariana gripped both my hands into her own as she sighed. "He's miserable." She whispered.

I snorted internally not making a sound on the outside.

Miserable? He was still with that awful woman with whom he cheated on me.

He showed no signs of regret.

He never once called me or tried to contact me after I came to Italy.

He never asked to be forgiven.

I doubt he even grieved once I left.

"He deeply feels the part where he went wrong, Yn." She said as a matter of fact. "I saw it everyday. I saw him grow stone cold with every passing night."

"It didn't seem that way." I mumbled as a whisper.

"Maybe, not..."

"He's still with her, isn't he?" I asked. "With Cara?"

"He needed a partner to attend the gathering."

"Pitiful excuse. Really." I sighed. "He needed a date to the gala and stuff."

"You don't believe he's broken."

"How can I believe what I don't see?" I asked.

"Yn..."

"I don't know, Ariana, how are you even taking his side?" I raise my voice a bit. "Imagine if Eunwoo ever did anything as despicable as cheating on you with some random girl and you saw them live...Would you ever in your life forgive him if a year later he shows up in front of you with the same girl wrapped around him like some cheap towel?"

Ariana sighs. "You're not going to be easy to persuade, are you?" She laughs nervously.

"I'm not sure if I even want to be persuaded?"

She nods. After a moment she sighs loudly.

"Guess, I'll see you at the party?"

"I guess." I smile.

"Well...I'll see you then." She smiles patting my shoulder. "Come along Aless."

"Auntie Yn?" Aless asks me while walking to me instead of his mama.

"Hmm?" I ask him to hug me once again as I stand up.

"Are you going to come to the estate? We live there now." He says.

"I guess, I will come to visit you someday." I smile ruffling his overgrown and already ruffled hair.

"That'b be cool." He shrugs. "I learned to shoot. But my guns are still small and stupid and disgusting." He scrunches up his nose.

After they leave I get out of my office after straightening my dress and looking if I looked like I was about to have a mental breakdown or not.

In the diner hall it was packed with people wanting an early lunch. The usual clatter from the kitchen followed.

What followed me more was a pair of bright olive eyes. They were sitting in a booth at the very back of the diner. Jungkook sat on the other side of Cara, his face parallel to my office.

But I try and succeed to stop the rumbling feeling in my stomach and ignore the state he was giving me.

Keeping my head at respectable height I walk out of the diner and into the car.

As the driver starts to drive off, I sink back to my seat, breathing to calm my heat down.

Surprising what he can do with his eyes.

●●●●●●●●●●●●

I wore a pretty gorgeous dress for the party.

It was plain black and the material was something matte.

The dress hugged my chest and hips with a small train behind me, the long sleeves covered up to my wrist and the back was decorated with strings and strings of diamond chains as the clothes started from my low back and touched the floor in a mermaid style.

I had selected another dress to wear at the party but according to Rico it made me look like I was a mother with twelve kids so he changed it with this one and insisted I be a stylist to do my hair and make up and stuff.

So the whole noon today I spent at the sweet smelling salon, got my hair styled, my nails painted and a light make up for the evening done.

As for my dress , my shoes were equally too much. They came with five inch extra height and metallic golden straps around my ankles.

After all the pampering and annoyance, I was presentable and now was sitting beside Rico who, matching me, wore a complete black suit. The driver drove us to the hotel where the gala was supposed to be. Another car following closely behind was the one by which papa was arriving.

I mean this was a pretty big car and I had no idea why he couldn't join us in here but the tension of the part was too much.

Rico was making rapid phone calls to every single person in charge of the party asking if everything was alright. The food, the decoration, the wine and stuff.

It was a big thing.

The cars came to a halt. Ours and Papa's car was followed by four more cars, two before and two after us. As the string of cars halted, the driver got out and opened the door for Rico.

He looked at me sheepishly and grinned. "Ready?" He asked.

I frowned as he got out, all in his black glory. A second later, Rico extended his hand out for me, the one I grabbed tightly and managed to get out of my dress.

The flashes and lights from the camera blinded me as the guard from the other cars surrounded me and Rico as we walked toward the grand entrance of the hall.

The double doors were closed and two guards, heavily armed with guns stood on either side, their eyes covered with dark shades.

Whew!

"People keep getting nosier every year." Rico rolled his eyes. I put my hand through the loop of his arm.

Papa came back a second later and stood on the other side of me. Grinning, he asked if I was okay.

"It's weird. But I am fine." I smiled.

"Okay, Principessa." He said.

Rico gestured to the guards with his hand. One of them pressed a button and slowly the double doors started to open like someone had given them a push.

"Never leaving a chance to show off." Rico grinned as together as a family we stepped inside the brightly lit hall, filled with people chattering but the sound was now buried with the roaring claps as we walked through the threshold.

"It turned out good, huh?" I heard a voice speak, fanning the base of my neck.

"Good evening." I greeted Salvatore with a smile.

He was wearing a black suit with a white shirt. His top coat had silver details and pants had one single stripe running down the seam. Like the pants that the British soldiers wear.

"Good evening." He offered me a glass of champagne. "You look good."

"You too."

"Glad that you think I look good." He grins boyishly. "You'd have to join the fanclub." He pointed at a bunch of girls who were all dressed in their best and were clustered in a corner whispering stuff and glancing at Salvatore and giggling.

I laughed quietly.

"They've been following me everywhere since I've been here." He rolled his eyes.

"Can't blame them."

Salvatore shook his head with a smile.

Some time later papa gave a speech and raised his wine glass to the family.

"To my family." The whole hall roared up and then clapped as he stepped down from the dais.

Then Rico found me and he spent the next hour introducing me to people who I had never met and didn't know.

"I don't want to meet anymore people." I hissed at him as he dragged me to a group of girls who were calling him, in a quite flirtatious way.

He rolled his eyes as he came to the group of girls. One of them instantly wrapped herself around him, she was wearing an acid green dress with gold details and heavy make up.

She looked good but not in a good way.

After ten minutes of fake smiling and agreeing to whatever the girls said I was finally released from Rico's torment, only to run into papa's one head fast.

He introduced me to another bunch of people and I laughed with some, smiled at some and shook hands with some and finally I felt like crying.

My feet were hurting, my chest felt tight against the confined space, I was hungry.

With a huff I sat down on a couch that was placed along the walls.

Parties were not my thing. I processed the words in my head as after a while I got up.

My phone vibrated as I saw Isla's name pop up on the screen.

"Hello." I answered.

"Yn. Sicilia says they were short on the Tiramisu. We had three hundred servings. We're out numbered by a hundred more." She sounds panicked.

"Okay." I mumble. "Don't panic. Calm down." I say. "I'll call the other pastry chefs. Tell Sicilia to get ready the batter." I say.

"You sure? Will it work?" She asks.

"Of course it will. Don't panic." I mumble before cutting the call and calling up the other chefs from the morning shift.

I wasn't sure where I was looking as I walked toward the kitchen. Maybe I was worrying too much or something else cause, after taking maybe ten steps I got smashed with someone hard.

And from the electricity ran down through my body and the smell of the cologne I could tell the identity of the man.

"We have to talk." He said his voice was deep and commanding.

(TO BE CONTINUED) AFTER 20 COMMENTS