THE MAFIA’S HEIR

MANUEL’S POV

“You hadn’t an idea?”

“Like I said, this batch of employees were selected strictly based on merit. I made sure that only people who were best qualified for the job got it. If Ricardo Fernando was good enough for the job, then I’m impressed.” Alexander smiled. “Rich kids these days, normally have an empty brain.”

“I would agree to that.” I nodded. “But it’s clear Honourable Fernando offered us this contract because he felt we were of help to his son.”

“And…. why are you saying that?” Alex gave me that pointed look of his. “Don’t tell me you feel sorry for taking the contract from Ferrari?” He said in disbelief, and I could only hang my head low. “Atimes, I don’t just get you. Francesca is supposed to be happy for you! If she really cares about you and sees some sort of future with you, then your success is supposed to be her success as well. Or is there something I’m missing?”

“There is nothing you’re missing Alex.” I sighed. “Francesca could be quite difficult to understand atimes, but I know she cares for me.” I nodded affirmatively. “That asides, you should in turn do something for Ricardo.”

“There you go again, Manuel.” He groaned. “Incase you haven’t noticed, I’m trying to grow a company with well deserving employees.”

“Oh please! Make an exemption for him.” I rolled my eyes. “He should be a part of the list for the next promotion. It’s only fair he is. Not only is he actually smart, but his father has deemed himself a friend to us. That’s the least we could do to show appreciation.”

“Fine.” He scowled, and I all but chuckled.

“This phase will definitely pass Alex.”

“What phase?” He glared.

“This phase of you trying to be all good and kind. The phase of wanting corruption far away. A mafia could never be all of those things. Ruggedity and criminality runs through our veins.”

“I knowww…” He sighed loudly, and I couldn’t help but notice how tired he looked. His eye bags had only become more visible. Why hadn’t I noticed how tired he looked when he stepped into my office today?

“Alex, is all well? What’s going on?”

“I didn’t get any sleep last night.” He muttered.

“Clearly. But why?”

“I spent the whole night thinking about how this rugged life of ours has put the one person I love, in harm’s way.”

“Alex.” I called, standing up from my seat and making my way to where he sat opposite me. I walked to the back of his seat and put both my hands on his shoulders.

“I know, I know….” He exhaled softly. “I know I haven’t really been the best example of a big brother to you. I deviated from the path which had already been designated for me, and left the burden on you to bear. I know I was a coward. I shouldn’t have stepped down from my position as Don, but I just couldn’t bear to see the one person I loved being hurt because of me over and over again.”

“Alex, put yourself together.” I said, holding his shoulders more firmly. “I thought we have talked about this before? I’m not complaining in any way. You know better than anything, that this was foreseen by Pa ever since we were nothing but children. And because he had seen that you would leave, he prepared me as well for this same position.”

“Just like you, I led a different life from that of our other cousins, knowing that if anything should go wrong, I would be left to shoulder the burden of this empire on my own. So no regrets now.” I encouraged, giving his back a slap, before walking back to my seat. “But tell me, what’s wrong? You’re suddenly talking like there’s some kind of danger lurking around Bella. You should let me know, so we can strategize and fight it off. Is this about Tawan’s return?”

“No.” He shook his head vigorously, completely shoving the thought aside. “We are already sure he hasn’t returned for Bella, so I could worry less about him.”

“Then what exactly eats you so deeply? What kept you wide awake at night, brother?”

“I made a mistake once. I let my enemies steal our child away from us. That poor child wasn’t even born yet. My poor wife had almost lost her life as well.”

I sighed, knowing that it would sound so insensitive to tell him it was all in the past. Such kinds of wounds never really healed especially for people like us. We were the kind of people that were groomed with iron hands and poisonous words. We had only love and respect for family. So seeing family die on us, wasn’t really something easy to stomach.

“I know you are wondering why I’m suddenly talking about an unborn baby that was lost 2 years ago.” He chuckled dryly.

“Not at…” I was still talking when he cut me off, saying what I had not expected to hear.

“Bella is with child.”

“What?” My voice was barely a whisper.

“My Bella is with child. Another child.”

Now I finally understood where this tension came from. He was having another baby and was scared of losing it the same way he had lost the first one. I really didn’t know how to feel at that point. I was elated, but equally sad. I was elated because there was going to be an addition to the family, through Bella, regardless of the doctor’s fear two years ago. The injury she had sustained that had killed the child in her womb, was also seen to have tampered with some parts of her reproductive system as well. It was on a thin thread that we hoped she would be pregnant again. Now that she finally was, we wouldn’t sit still and watch the child be put to danger. Looking up at him, I flashed a wide grin.

“Oh! Congratulations cousin!” I stood and we shared a manly hug. “This is good news! When did you both find out?” I asked, and the smile that had managed to creep up his face suddenly faltered.

“She had already known for a month now, but she only told me yesterday. Apparently, she had been scared. She had been scared of losing this one. My own wife doesn’t even feel protected with me.” His mood was definitely making a whole lot of sense now.

“And you felt horrible?” I asked, and he nodded. “And you felt like a failure?” I asked, and he nodded again. “Look, Bella would have lost her life as well two years ago, but you got to her in record time. You put your own life on the line to ensure she was safe. While she fought for her life at the hospital, you were on a rampage like a madman, killing everyone who was a part of the pain she had felt. You were brave Alex. And if there’s anything I have to say, then it should be the fact that I feel honoured. Honoured to be the only one that could see you in this broken state. Honoured to be the one that you don’t feel the neccesity to be all perfect and strong, before.”

“You have really tried your best, brother, but you just haven’t realized. And if anything, you are far from being a coward. You feel that stepping down from your position as Don, makes you a coward. On the contrary, it makes you a hero. You were quick to let go of all that power, so you could protect your family. If you haven’t realized, that is what it means to be a mafian and a leader. Up until tomorrow, I’d still learn from you.” I gave tight lipped smile. “Also, you don’t have to stress about ‘big brother’ duties, when you’re just a year older than I.” I rolled my eyes, making him laugh. Did he really think I was going to forget that statement of his? His laughter finally died down and he gazed at me, looking thankful. Knowing we had waddled in the pit of self pity for too long, I quickly pulled us out of it.

“Enough of the pity party now. Bella is pregnant and that calls for an intimate family celebration.” I said, knowing the couple wouldn’t really appreciate anything loud, in the emotional state they both found themselves. I walked up to the mini wine cabinet at the corner of my office, an pulled out a champagne and two flutes. Popping the champagne and pouring it into the flutes, I was about offering it to Alexander when a knock came on the door. “Come in.” I said, and the door opened to revealed Bella, looking all pretty. She had worn a red two piece dress that only brought out the beauty of her pale skin.

“Bella!” I grinned, suprised to see her in my office. “You didn’t say you were coming.” I noticed she looked a bit tensed and her eyes didn’t move away from the other man in the office with us. Well, that man happened to be her husband.

“Sorry, if I’m interrupting anything.” She muttered.

“Not at all.” I waved off the courtesy and she finally chuckled, her eyes still fixed on Alex.

“I…. I stopped by at your office, honey. Bianca told me you were out on a meeting with Manuel.” Alex suddenly looked up at her hopefully, and asked.

“You came looking for me?”

“But of course, yes.” She sighed, making her way closer to him. If not for the fact that I was already used to seeing the undeniable tension that was always between both of them, I would have rolled my eyes. I guess being all lovey~dovey wasn’t really my style. “I came to see you. I came to say that I was sorry. I didn’t mean to keep such important information away from you, and it wasn’t my intention to keep you awake all night, drowning in sadness. You are best thing that has happened to me, and I would be stupid to not let you always know how valuable you are in my life.” She gave a small smile. “In our lives.” She added, taking his hand on putting it on her tummy. I could really puke at that sight right now. Why did they just keep looking at each other as if they didn’t have more important things to do with their time? Before I could tell what was happening next, Alex had pulled his wife to sit on his thighs, before locking their lips in a passionate kiss. Okay! That was the height of it! I could take a lot of things, but definitely not that.

“You both, out of my office.” I yelled in annoyance. They broke off their kiss and stood up from the chair, laughing at who was definitely not me. They couldn’t be laughing at me. “Get out!” I yelled once more, and Alex just couldn’t hold it in again. The laughter just came rolling out of his mouth. I knew it wasn’t going to be long until I joined in the laughter party. I could already feel my lips twitching as Alex gave me that look that says ‘I know you want to laugh’. “Just leave.” I gestured to the door, willing myself to hold back my laughter. They both walked out laughing and the moment they shut the door behind them, I finally realeased a series of laughter. I just couldn’t believe those two. I shook my head, looking at the champagne that was clearly going to be wasted.

“Julia.” I called my personal assistant, and the next second, she opened the door and stepped into my office. That was quick.

“Please I would like for you to take away these…” I had been talking with my eyes fixed on the computer in front of me. But when I heard the voice of the person who was inside my office with me, I looked up immediately.

“Manuel.” She muttered, and it dawned on me. We were about to repeat that silly cycle once more. Guys, we just made up! We even had some champagne to celebrate our ‘progress’.

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1 MONTH LATER

I smiled as I walked into my office that morning. It was Francesca’s birthday in a week, and I had been thinking of a special way to celebrate it. I guess I was more excited because we had stayed for a whole month without having any fights. Well, when I say ‘fights’, I meant ‘major fights’. We did have minor fights, but they weren’t serious enough to lead to a temporal breakup. The moment I got to my desk, I frowned when I saw a wrapped gift box and a card on my desk. Who sent this? I looked more closely to see it was from Alex. Alex? What was the occasion? I opened the card and it read

~

My dearest brother, I never believed you both could do it, but you conquered the month! Many more months to breaking off the ‘cycle’ curse.

~

Bastardo! I couldn’t believe Alex right now. I chuckled as I opened the box to see a small calendar inside it. The first month of the calender was marked out, and beneath it said ‘8 more months to go’

Seriously?! Was this bastard challenging our ability to remain at peace for the rest of the year? I was still laughing was his call came in. I quickly answered it.

“You are a bastard, you know that right?”

“Oh, please tell me something I don’t know.” He laughed. “But really, you both suprised me.”

“I am equally suprised.” I laughed. “You know, it’s her birthday in a week’s time, and I want it to be special.”

“Hmmm. Have you thought of anything to do for her?”

“I have just one thing in mind though.”

“What?”

“Whatever I am going to do, would have that spontaneity you spoke about the other time.”

“Hmmm!” I was so sure he was grinning.

“Are you sure it’s best to be spontaneous on her birthday? What if things don’t turn out the way you imagined? It would only end up being a sad day for you both.”

“Are you discouraging me now?”

“Not at all. I’m just being concerned. Whatever you’re doing, it has to be something she may not be able to turn down.”

“I have already proposed, what’s left to do.” I shrugged.

“Marry her.” He said, making us both burst into laughter.

“Crazy fool!” I muttered. “Leave my phone already.”

“Before you hang up, I already sent Bianca to your office, with the copies a few confidential files. Let me know if you think we should sign them. I’m a bit confused.”

“That’s fine. You’d get a response from me before the day is over.”

“Thank you.” He muttered, before hanging up. I looked at the card and gift box once more, before laughing and putting them into the last drawer in my desk. Just then, another call came in and I smiled when I saw who it was.

“Hey babyyyy.” I drawled, making her giggle.

“We were supposed to spend the night together.” She muttered.

“I know. And I’m sorry. But I had some underground work to deal with last night. I would make it up to you tonight.” I assured.

“But we don’t have to wait until tonight, do we?” She asked, and I didn’t know how to respond to that. “Do you know where I am right now?”

“If you tell me, I would.” I chuckled, not understanding what she was playing at.

“I could show you too.” She giggled. The next minute, the door to my office opened and no one else but Francesca stepped in. Okayyyyy. I managed a smile. She paid me a suprise visit.

“A suprise visit.” I muttered. Was I supposed to feel elated? We were still going to see each other tonight, not so? I guess she noticed I found it hard to react to her presence, so she did the next thing that finally made me grin. There in the middle of my office, she pulled off the long leather jacket that she had been wearing, and let it fall to the floor, leaving her in just a sexy black lingerie. Okayyyy. Now, that was a surprise.

“You like?” She asked sultrily, and I shook my head slowly, making her frown.

“I love.” I corrected, and she flashed a wide grin. I was about getting up and going to meet her, but her next words stopped me on my tracks.

“Remain seated.” She said in a firm voice, and I slowly got the message. She was about to dominate the dominator. “I should teach you a few lessons for being a bad boy and making me wait for you all night.” She gave an evil grin.

The next thing she did was walking up to my seat and straddling me, before letting our lips connect together. We had gone quite far with our makeout session, when the door to my office suddenly opened. I quickly disconnected my lips from Francesca’s, to see who hadn’t the sense of knocking before opening the door. It was that lady! Alexander’s personal assistant. Shit! He had informed me that she was to bring some files to me. Our eyes locked and her eyes widen in shock. Her face suddenly went pale and it seemed like she had lost her balance for a moment. She would have fallen to the ground, if not for the door behind, that waged her.

“I’m sorry!” She rushed out, before regaining her balance and quickly rushing out of my office. I would have laughed. I really wanted to laugh, but had to hold it in. This lady with a pretty hair was funny.