Nick stifled a yawn as he sat across from his boss Stewart in his office as he read over a document. Nick cleared his throat causing Stewart to look up at him.
"Sorry, Nick I forgot you were sitting there for a moment." He said as he put away the document.
"Well, I do get paid for overtime today," Nick said with a shrug, and Stewart smiled.
"How would you like to get paid more than a week's worth of overtime plus triple your regular salary?"
"What do you mean?"
"Right now the firm is in the final stages of taking over the Donald and Cruz Engineering firm in Chicago. As of April we will be operating in two major cities, and I'm looking to send someone to head the firm, and I want that person to be you." Stewart said as he leaned back in his chair and shot a paper ball into his basketball hoop trash bin.
"You want me to manage a whole firm?" Nick asked the surprise evident in his voice. He had remembered when Madeline had told him that Stewart was looking at him for the position but he didn't think she was serious.
"Yes I do, of course, Madeline will be there by your side, she's the one that helped broker this deal."
"This is a great opportunity for me Stewart, but Gaby and I are expecting our twins in early May, I don't think a big move like that would be a good idea."
"So commute with the money you will be getting you could afford it," Stewart said with a shrug as if it was so simple. Stewart could see that Nick was struggling with the bit of news.
"I know this is a lot to chew on at once, so take some time to talk it out with Gaby and let me know what you decide," Stewart said dismissing Nick.
After Nick left his office Stewart returned to reading the contract to the merger when Madeline sauntered in; he smirked when he heard the click of the door locking. Stewart looked up at her; his blue eyes darkened with desire as she sat in his lap.
"What did he say?"
"You just couldn't wait until dinner could you?"
"No I couldn't, what did he say?" Madeline asked as she loosened Stewarts tie and planted a kiss at the base of his neck leaving behind a red lip print.
"I will never understand how you suckered me into doing this for you."
"Easy I made you fifty million richer by single-handedly destroying one of Chicago's top engineering firms from the inside and made you their savior." She said as Stewart's hand worked its way up her skirt as he left a trail of kisses down her neck.
"God I love how devious you are." Stewart said before he claimed her lip with a hard and controlling kiss as he lifted her as he stood and placed her on top of his desk as he pinned her hands down against the desk. Madeline bit his bottom lip send a shock through his system as he pulled back.
"Shit Madeline," Stewart said as he sucked on his bottom lip trying to stop the bleeding.
"You know I don't like to be man-handled." Madeline said as she crossed her legs and glared at him. Stewart could never keep track of the woman's moods one minute she would be hot for him and the next moment she was colder than ice.
"What did he say?" she asked again as she flipped her long brunette hair behind her. Stewart let out a sigh as he sat back in his chair knowing that their moment was over.
"He said he would think about it,"
"Think about it? What's to think about?"
"Are you forgetting he's engaged and has children on the way."
"I don't give a flying rats ass. You promised me you would get him to Chicago." she snapped
"It's not that easy I can't just make him go, I'm not going to pressure him into anything he doesn't want to do. I won't lose my right-hand man just because you want him back." Madeline's nose flared as she stared Stewart down, she knew that being angry with him wasn't going to get her what she wanted, her rage subsided with a short sigh before she pouted.
"Stewie you promised me you would get him to move to Chicago in exchange for me getting you the firm. I held up my end its time for you to hold up yours." Madeline said as she stroked the side of Stewart's face.
"Maybe if you sweetened the deal a little bit more, I'd try a little harder," Stewart said as he ran his large hands up her calves. Madeline slid off of the desk and bent over, so they were face to face.
"Get him to say yes, and you can do whatever you want to me." She said as she ran her finger along the seam of his pants zipper. Stewart's eyes fluttered closed hoping she would touch him only to hear the office lock turn over and the door open before closing softly.
Damn that woman.
*****
Gaby sighed as she sat on the front porch with David as she dusted off flour from her pants. While preparing to go to morning mass with her family, Gaby was hit with a wave of nausea leaving her bedridden. Isabelle tried to stay home with her but Gaby refused to be babysat, after much arguing it was decided that David would stay home with Gaby. After sipping on ginger tea and eating the green apples, her grandmother told her to eat she was feeling better and decided to finish preparing the meal her grandmother had started.
"Buongiorno." A deep silky smooth voice called out to her. Gaby looked from the newspaper she was reading to find a tall man with full black hair that was slightly salted smiling up at her.
"Buongiorno Signore Rossi," David said as he got out of his seat and shook Martian's hand.
"E la tua casa madre?" he asked, and David shook his head no.
"Mama went to mass, this is my cousin Gabrielle, she's American," David said beaming up at Martian.
"It's nice to meet you, Angelica talks about you all the time."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, my zia has told me a lot about you too," Gaby said shaking his hand.
"All good things I hope?"
"Of course," Gaby noticed the bottle of wine in his hands.
"This is for Angelica, it's a new wine I would like for her to try." He said holding up the bottle.
"I'll come back later."
"How about you come back for pranzo and you can use my parents to give you their unbiased opinion?"
"I wouldn't want to impose."
"Piu gente c e, piu ci divertiamo," Gaby said which meant, the more the merrier. Martian promised to return with his father for lunch. Gaby smiled to herself as she watched him walk away.
"Mama is going to kill you," David said with a laugh.
"Trust me I know what I'm doing," Gaby said as they walked back into the house.
Once the family arrived back home, all of the women took to the kitchen and helped Nonna finish the meal. Once the table was filled with the food, nonna noticed the extra place settings.
"Gaby you put down too many."
"Oh I forgot to tell you, I invited the Rossi's for lunch." Nonna stopped in her tracks, and Angelica stared at Gaby.
"What? Was that not a good idea?"
"Why didn't you tell us sooner, mama your hair is a mess," Angelica said as she rushed Nonna out of the kitchen and to her bedroom. Isabelle shook her head at her meddling daughter.
"What?"
"Nothing Gabrielle."
A few minutes later the doorbell rang, and Angelica rushed to open the door with nonna and Isabelle on her heels. After everyone was introduced, everyone sat down at the table to eat. Gaby couldn't believe how handsome Bernado was he was tall like Martian and had intense brown eyes. For a man who was almost eighty, he didn't look frail and didn't look like he was going to be eighty. Halfway through her spinach and tomato tortellini soup, Gaby was hit with a wave of nausea. She couldn't believe how she was feeling fine one moment and then the next she was ready to have a meet and greet with the toilet. For the rest of the lunch, Gaby nibbled on breadsticks.
"Martian I love this wine, it's wonderful," Angelica said as she took a sip from her glass and Isabelle and James agreed. Gaby loved the way Martian looked at Angelica like she was an angel sent from heaven. After lunch, Gaby helped Angelica clear the table and smiled at her aunt.
"What?"
"I always knew you had it in you zia, Martian is one hot tamale." She said making Angelica laugh.
"I'm serious if I wasn't half married, with twins on the way and you weren't my aunt I'd take a crack at him." Angelica shook her head.
"He is very handsome."
"Has he asked you out yet?"
"He has, but I keep putting it off I have a lot to do around here, I don't have any free time."
"That's a tall fib, and you know it. It's the dead of winter and touring season isn't for another three months you have nothing but time, you're just scared." Angelica raised her eyebrows at her niece. Gaby knew she had overstepped her boundaries a little bit, but she had to say it.
"I just want to see you happy zia especially, and Martian can make you happy, very happy if you catch my drift," Gaby said as she wiggled her eyebrows up and down.
"I swear if I didn't watch Isabelle give birth to you I would think you were my child," Angelica said hugging Gaby.
"Bernado and Nonna are adorable, do you hear the way he says her name Giannnaaaa," Gaby said imitating him.
"He is devoted to her, she says he keeps her young."
"I agree, she blushes like a little school girl," Gaby said with a giggle.
"You have to bring them to my wedding."
"Just as long as you're getting married for real this time,"
"You bet its happening, if not Nick has a lot of pain coming his way, and it all will be coming from me," Gaby said with a laugh.
"Help me with the espresso," Angelica said handing Gaby the serving tray with the espresso cups.