Proverbs 13:4
The appetite of the sluggard craves but gets nothing, but the desire of the diligent will be abundantly satisfied.
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As I stood before the mirror in my spacious bedroom, I couldn't help but admire the way my large frame looked in the sleek and stylish Armani suit that I had chosen for the day. The teal blue fabric hugged my broad shoulders and tapered down to my waist, accentuating my muscular physique and exuding an air of sophistication and confidence.
Beneath the jacket, I wore a simple black sweater that provided a subtle yet effective contrast to the boldness of the suit. And on my feet, I had opted for a pair of classic white sneakers.
As I studied my reflection in the mirror, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in my appearance. I knew that I looked good, and I knew that I had put in the effort to make sure that every detail was just right. But my moment of self-admiration was interrupted by the arrival of my friend and brother, Giovanni.
"What?" I sharply asked.
Despite his innocent and carefree appearance, there was a darkness lurking beneath the surface of his playboy facade. As a member of this mafioso, he was known for his brutality and ruthless tactics in getting what he wanted, no matter the cost.
He had noticed me staring at Destiny in the cafeteria, and it was clear that he knew more than he was letting on.
"Why are you playing with the poor girl again?" he asked, his tone laced with a hint of amusement.
I knew that I couldn't lie to him - he was the only person in the organization, other than Avelina, who could command me to do something without fear of retribution. So I told him the truth, explaining how Destiny had caught my eye and how I had been trying to get closer to her, for the sake of avenging myself and family from my step-mom.
To my surprise, he seemed entertained by the whole plan, his eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and curiosity. It was clear that he saw something in Destiny that I hadn't yet noticed.
But for now, I knew that I had to play along, keep up appearances and do whatever it took to stay in her good graces. It was a dangerous game that I was playing, but it was one that I had no choice but to play if I wanted to survive in this world of shadows and deceit, and of course, get my long-awaited revenge.
I did not reward him with an answer, but rather rounded the room, took my Gucci watch, strapped it on and took my phone.
"Make sure that Ramrod, that traitor gives you all the information about the Russian Mafia before you do the inevitable to him."
"Can I play with him a bit?" he smirked. I knew what he meant by play and I can assure you it would not be fun, at all.
"I don't care what you do, just get me the information."
I didn't wait for his response before leaving my room, feeling agitated. As I walked down the hallway, lost in thought, I suddenly bumped into my adorable four-year-old sister, Avelina. She looked like a miniature version of our mother at her age, with big, sparkling brown eyes that reminded me of someone special, a straight nose, milky-white skin, and soft, mouse-brown hair.
"Hello, cara," I greeted her warmly, scooping her up into my arms. Her tiny frame fit perfectly against my much larger one. She looked absolutely precious in her frilly princess dress and pigtails tied up with two bright bows.
"Fratello!" she exclaimed happily, wrapping her arms around my neck. It was clear that she had missed me, and I suddenly realized how much I had been neglecting my family in my pursuit of other things.
I felt a pang of guilt as I held Avelina close, knowing that I hadn't spent as much time with her as I should have. Whenever I did have a spare moment, she was either too tired or asleep to play with me. But at that moment, I resolved to make more time for my family, to be there for them and cherish the moments we had together.
As I carried Avelina down the hallway, I couldn't help but smile at her infectious joy and excitement. She was a reminder of the very rare innocence and beauty in life, and I was grateful for the unexpected encounter that had brought us together.
"How are you?" I smiled.
"Fine, guess what I did at school today!" she exclaimed with a grin.
"What?"
Avelina wriggled out of my arms, causing me to release her, and ran as fast as her little legs could carry her. She disappeared into her room for a moment before returning with a crumpled piece of paper firmly clutched in her hand.
"Look, look!" she exclaimed excitedly, thrusting the paper into my hand. As I glanced down at the drawing, my smile faded. It was a simple but poignant picture of our family, rendered in stick figures. Avelina stood in the centre, holding our mother's hand, while I stood next to her holding both her hand and our father's. We all looked so happy and content.
The drawing was a stark reminder of how things used to be - a time when our family was whole and happy. It made me ache with a sense of loss and longing for a similar time. As I gazed at the drawing, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret for all the moments I had missed with the only person left to call family, while I was pursuing other things.
But Avelina's beaming face reminded me that there was still hope for us. Despite the challenges we faced, we still had each other, and that was something to be grateful for. As I looked at the simple drawing, I felt a renewed sense of determination to be there for my little sister, to cherish the moments we had together, and to never take her for granted again.
I looked at her as she gave me an expectant grin, I quickly put on a smile, replacing the frown, "It looks so beautiful, honey. One day you will be a great artist." I kissed her cheek.
"Thank you," She muttered as I saw a cute blush colour her cheeks.
"I have to go," I said and watched a sad frown form on her adorable face, as tears welled up in her eyes, making me feel bad for leaving her.
"Why?" Avelina asked as a tear rolled down her cheek, followed by another, and another until a river full of tears started rushing down her face.
"Don't cry, I will buy you doughnuts, chocolate and ice cream," I smiled as I got on my knees and wiped away her tears.
Doughnuts were her favourite food in the whole world and I knew that she would stop crying if I uttered that mere word.
"Really?" she sniffled.
"Pinky promise," I held out my pinky as she did and we interlocked them into a promise.
"Okay," she smiled.
As I stood at the top of the long flight of marble stairs in my mansion, I noticed one of my guards making his way up to the second floor for his five-hour shift. He was dressed in all-black clothing and had a muscular build that made him look imposing and intimidating, as he should be. However, his apparent laziness was starting to irritate me.
Normally, no one was allowed to come upstairs except for Merebeth, the cleaner who took care of Avelina and Giovanni's room, and myself, as I did my own cleaning for safety and health reasons. Additionally, one guard came every five hours to ensure the safety of my little sister, and Nancy, Avelina's nanny, was also allowed up here.
It was important to me that the upper floor of my mansion remained secure and protected at all times, and I took great care in ensuring that only trusted individuals were granted access. The presence of the guard on duty gave me peace of mind regarding the safety of my sister, but I couldn't help but feel frustrated by his apparent lack of diligence and commitment to his job.
"Cara, go play with your dolls and I'll try to return as soon as I can with your snacks, okay?" I smiled as I kissed her cheek and hugged her.
"Okay," she happily agreed as she skipped to her room.
I looked as if the lazy bodyguard, took deep breaths from climbing ninety stairs, which he was expected to be used to after the rigorous training all the members of the mafia had to undergo every single day. He had not noticed me. I startled him as I said, "Non sei solo pigro."
The bodyguard stood up straight out of respect, or so it looked. He was so out of breath, irking me as every one of my staff was required to climb stairs without a hassle.
"Have those stairs suddenly turned into a mountain, or have you just turned into a giant, huffing and puffing?" I asked him, looking him in the eyes.
He seemed embarrassed by his heavy breathing and quickly lowered his gaze.
"Forgive me, boss," he said, his tone contrite.
Although I was frustrated by his apparent laziness, I knew that it was important to maintain a professional and respectful relationship with my subordinates. As the leader of the mafia, it was my responsibility to set a high standard of discipline and conduct, and I was willing to hold everyone to that standard.
"Fortunately, I cannot forgive you. You are bad for my mafia and sister. Remember that proverb from the bible, Some lazy person will end up poor, but a hard worker will become rich. And I can tell you with your laziness you will not go far." How was he going to protect my sister from attacks, if he failed to climb a staircase?
"Now do yourself a favour and leave this mansion, along with the mafia and if word comes out that we are a mafia or you start running your mouth about any member, I mean any, non vivrai per vedere un altro giorno.
"Please boss, I have a family to feed," he got on his knees and bent his hands in a prayer stance. Who said I needed him to beg?
"And I have a sister to protect, now stand up and leave."
"Boss, you have misunderstood the whole situation," he tried to plead.
I walked away from him, easily jogging down the stairs as I went into the lobby, where two guards were stationed near each room of my twenty-five-room house, excluding the living rooms and kitchens.
I called out to Toby, one of my most trusted guards. He was older than most of the other guards, with a tall, muscular build and brown hair. His face had a manipulative look to it, which made him well-suited for his role in the mafia.
"Yes, boss?" he said, appearing before me within minutes.
Toby was one of the few people who I trusted implicitly. He had proven himself to be reliable and resourceful time and time again, and I knew that I could count on him to get things done. As the leader of the mafia, it was important for me to surround myself with people who I could trust completely, and Toby was one such person.
"Watch Avelina, the guard that was supposed to be guarding her has been relieved of his duties. Understood?"
"Understood, boss," he firmly nodded.
As I watched Toby jog up the stairs to my sister's room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at his efficiency and dedication. It was important for all of my guards to be in top physical condition and to be able to move quickly and effectively when needed.
As Toby attended to his duty in my sister's room, I made my way out of the lobby and into the massive garage that housed over one hundred vehicles for the members of the mafia. The garage was filled with cars and trucks of all makes and models, from sleek sports cars to rugged SUVs.
Each vehicle was assigned to a specific member of the mafia, from the guards and soldiers to the capo, consigliere, and underboss. Only a third of the vehicles were currently in use in this city, as many of our members were stationed in other parts of the country or even in other countries.
Being the 'leader' of the mafia meant that it was important for me to ensure that all of our resources were being used effectively and efficiently. The garage was a vital part of our operations, and I took great care in overseeing its management and maintenance.
I walked towards the array of keys arranged in perfect order, after a moment's consideration, I decided to go with something casual and grabbed the keys to a sleek grey Audi RS4.
As I made my way to the car, my chauffeur appeared and politely asked for the keys. I handed them over and got into the backseat. With a flick of a switch, the garage doors opened automatically, and we smoothly made our way onto the driveway.
The time read five-thirty which meant I had thirty minutes to get there as we had texted agreeing that we would meet up at six ó clock on the dot. But where? The girl did not bother asking so I would surprise or probably scare her by showing up at her apartment. But who cares?
After about ten minutes of driving, we found ourselves in a busier part of the city. The chauffeur was driving at a fast speed, which allowed us to make good time despite the heavy traffic.
As we passed by, I could see all kinds of people going about their daily lives. There were men in business attire talking on their cell phones, groups of girls laughing and chatting, and families with young children holding hands.
Seeing the parents with their children tugged at my heartstrings. It was something that I had always wanted but knew that I could never have. My lifestyle and moral code made it impossible for me to have a family and raise a child. Even if I were to somehow end up with Samantha, who envied and despised her own sister, I knew that I could never give a child the love and care they deserved.
As the 'leader' of the mafia, I had to make tough choices and sacrifice certain things for the greater good. It was a lonely life, but one that I had chosen for myself, and I had to accept the consequences of my actions. Despite this, I couldn't help but feel a pang of longing for the simple joys of family life that I would never experience.
As we drove past a modern-looking apartment complex, I couldn't help but notice the stark lack of natural surroundings. The complex was made up of brown industrial flats that all looked similar, with roads crisscrossing between them. In the distance, I could see a clear blue body of water, likely a swimming pool, and to my far right, a tennis court.
It suddenly dawned on me that this was likely the student accommodation complex offered by the university. I realized that if I had taken the time to read through Destiny's information, I would have known this already. But with my busy schedule, I often found myself rushing from one task to the next without stopping to read Destiny's details thoroughly.
My days were filled with important tasks and responsibilities. I had to meticulously review the information of every member who entered the mafia, sign deals, plan ways to generate revenue for the organization without attracting the attention of law enforcement, and oversee the shipment of goods. It was a demanding job that required my full attention, leaving little time for anything else.
The car came to a halt in front of Destiny, whom I hadn't noticed until that moment. She was wearing a light blue dress and coat that reminded me of the characters in the movie Frozen. I was familiar with the movie, having been subjected to watching it multiple times with my sister, who was a huge fan.
Destiny was standing on the sidewalk, likely waiting for a taxi. As the car pulled up, she turned to look at us, and I could see a hint of surprise and perhaps even nervousness in her expression. I wondered what she was thinking, but didn't have time to dwell on it as my chauffeur stepped out of the car to assist her with her bag.
As I stepped out of the car, I finally got a closer look at Destiny. She was truly stunning, with glowing chocolate-coloured skin and sparkling eyes that twinkled like the stars. Whenever she blinked, it was as if the moon had momentarily hidden behind a cloud.
However, despite her physical beauty, I couldn't help but feel a sense of caution around her. Appearances could be deceiving, and people often had hidden intentions and motives. While Destiny seemed friendly enough, I couldn't let my guard down around her.
"Nio? What are you doing here?" she furrowed her brows.
"I thought I would just come to pick you up," I replied with a charming smile.
"But I don't remember telling you where I lived," she raised a brow.
"I asked your best friend Thato and she sent me your address, now are we going to waste time arguing, amore?" I lied as I purposefully furrowed my brows feigning confusion and part anger.
"No, sorry for accusing you falsely. It's just that when someone you do not know knows your address it might be scary and worrisome." Her eyes held sincerity behind them.
"It's okay, I understand," I forced up a smile.
"Come on," I said, extending my hand to help Destiny out of the car. As I took her hand, I felt a jolt of electricity and quickly let go before it became awkward. I opened the door for her and followed her into the car.
"Good evening," she said to the chauffeur who replied by wishing her a good evening. By now I knew that she greeted each and everyone, stranger or not which was something someone with morals and respect did, which she clearly had.
The chauffeur, who I did not bother knowing the name of (I had a new driver every day unless, I drove for myself, for safety reasons) already knew where we were going.
We sat in comfortable silence before I decided to do some ice-breaking.
"So, where are you from?" I asked pretending to be curious.
"South Africa," she smiled looking directly into my eyes as if staring into my soul.
"Wow, the southmost tip of Africa?" I interestingly smiled.
"Yep, that's where I'm from. What about you?"
Why was she asking me such a question? Wasn't it obvious that I was Italian? Now I could see the conversation just going South but remained jubilant.
"Well, I'm from here. Born and bred here, both my parents were Italians and that's why I have this very prominent accent," I forced a smile to cover up my annoyance.
"Oh, what happened to your parents?" she showed genuine concern and I remembered I had slipped up about them.
"What do you mean?" I asked acting oblivious to what I had said.
"You used the word were, as in past tense which only happens when someone has passed on," she explained as if I didn't know already.
"Yeah, they passed on," I told the truth probably for the first time since we had met.
"I'm so sorry," she frowned, not being excessively touchy or taking advantage of the situation like most girls that knew my double life did and I kinda appreciated it.
"It's fine," I said, even if it was not fine, even if I was not fine but had to be fine.
"I'm glad that the Lord helped you rise up after you fell," Destiny smiled.
"How did he help me rise?" Now I was genuinely curious to know how he had helped me.
"He took away your pain, wiped your tears and helped you stand up on your own two feet cause from what I can see you are an independent, smart and kind man."
That description did not match me, I was not kind but I did agree that I was independent and intelligent but only because I was forced to grow up and adjust to this harsh world. I could not see how God had helped me, I fought the battle of life alone and continue fighting it alone.
"I do not see how he helped me," I replied looking as we zoomed through the almost deserted streets.
"Sometimes we do not see the Lord's hand in things, but that doesn't mean he is not working or he has forsaken you. Jeremiah 29:11 says For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' So the Lord will never want you to perish or fail but he wants you to prosper and live according to his will and purpose for you."
"So he did help you," she smiled as she always does.
"Okay, if you say so," I rolled my eyes and we dropped the subject falling into a boring silence as I thought through what she had said, yes it seemed too unrealistic but something told me that she was telling the truth and the Lord was with me, despite being the person I was.
"We have arrived sir, ma'am," the chauffeur said coming to a stop in front of one of the finest restaurants in Rome.
I opened the door, rounded the car and opened the door for Destiny before she could do so herself.
"Thank you," She said blushing.
"No need to thank me."
"There is a need after all you opened the door for me," she said stepping out of the car her boot heels touching the paved cement as she pulled her laptop bag. Something I had forgotten about.
"My mom would have given me a smack or two, if I let a lady open a door for herself," I said taking my hand into hers, still feeling tingles though better than before as I helped her out of the car.
"She seems like she was a nice woman," she smiled sadly as if I wanted anyone's pity, I had enough of people showing me sympathy when they themselves did not understand what it was I was going through.
"She was. Not that you would understand," I slipped out as I watched her delighted eyes morph into sadness. Which weirdly affected me.
But instead of apologising, I instead instructed the chauffeur to go back as another one would be back to pick us up later on before grabbing my laptop bag and gently closing my car.
Sure, here's a possible way to rephrase and clarify the text:
As we walked along the pavement, I admired the historical architecture of the city. The buildings were old but still fashionable, with many similar to the one we were about to enter. It had a vintage style, but the blue lights illuminating it gave it a Mediterranean feel.
Gio had suggested this particular restaurant, saying that "What better way to win a girl's heart than to take her to a fancy restaurant?" I had agreed, hoping to impress Destiny and perhaps even make amends for my earlier mistake of snapping at her.
However, as we approached the restaurant, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was fighting a losing battle. Destiny seemed guarded and distant, and I knew that I had little chance of winning her heart. Despite my disappointment, I resolved to make the best of the situation and enjoy the evening.
No words were shared till we reached the entry, a young woman dressed in a sky-white shirt underneath a sea-blue dress stood with a clipboard in hand.
"Good evening, sir, ma'am," she said looking specifically at me with a seductive look.
I nodded whilst Destiny said, "Good evening." Not that the women cared, I quickly scanned over her name as it read Gianna.
"Gianna, we have a reservation for two," I said as I watched her look at me as though I had not said anything.
"Gianna?" I called.
"Uhm, yes sir?" she stuttered breaking out of her frenzy.
"We have a table reservation for two," I repeated, now annoyed as I did not like repeating myself.
After a brief pause, the receptionist finally acknowledged us and nodded when she saw my name. I had made a reservation earlier, and it seemed that everything was in order. She led us into the restaurant, which had a light-themed decor that was both elegant and understated.
Despite the restaurant's reputation for excellent food and service, it wasn't full due to its expense. Many people in the city couldn't afford to dine at such an exclusive establishment and those who could often preferred to keep a low profile.
Flower pots rounded the whole Restaurant with baby blue vintage French chairs and matching round tables.
"Here are your menus, please do call me when you are ready to place an order," Gianna said still focused on me.
"You are aware that I am not the only person you are serving right?" I finally addressed her.
"Oh...Y-yes, I'm sorry," she stuttered.
"I'm not the one you should be apologising to," I deadpanned folding my arms.
"I'm sorry miss," she turned to Destiny who seemed surprised that she was apologising.
"Oh no, it's okay," Destiny smiled.
As soon as she said that Gianna scurried away and I decided to address the elephant in the room.
"I'm sorry for what I said earlier," I tried to sound as sincere as I could.
She sighed, "It's okay... I-I might not understand but one person does God."
"You are a religious person, aren't you?"
"I am not all religious, I just believe in the Almighty God," she said.
Destiny's eyes widened as she looked over her menu, "Everything is expensive," she looked like she was the one who was going to pay for the food.
"It's on me, remember," I rolled my eyes.
"Where do you get all this money, you have a driver, expensive cars and live a fancy lifestyle," she eyed me suspiciously.
"Inheritance," I said easily, and it wasn't exactly a lie, my sister and I had received an inheritance after our parent's deaths.
"Huh?"
"My parent's inheritance."
"Oh, okay, then. But please do not misuse it, money lasts only for a moment," she advised, surprising me as most girls would have asked me for money or wanted to take it all but she actually gave me great advice. Even if I did not need it.
Maybe I was wrong about Destiny.
As I lay in bed that night, I found myself reflecting on Destiny's words. She had spoken about her faith and how it had helped me get through difficult times, and I couldn't help but wonder if there was some truth to it.
Never had I given much thought to the idea of a higher power or spiritual intervention. But as I thought back on my own experiences and the challenges I had faced, I couldn't help but wonder if there was some divine force at work.
Could it be true that God, or some other higher power, actually understood what I was going through? As much as I did not want to admit it, it was a comforting thought and one that I tried to hold onto as I drifted off to sleep.
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Cara- dear
Fratello- brother
Che uomo pigro sei- what a lazy man you are.
Non vivrai per vedere un altro giorno- you will not live to see another day.