Clarisa didn't expect to see her father and brothers so soon. She was relieved they were back for a short visit. Her father had returned with her brothers just for one night for a surprise check up. Of course they were leaving the next morning. The return wasn't planned. They had reasons to return for business and on their way had dropped by to check up on family but of course the next day they were going to be flying back to Italy.
The surprise visit had coincided with Clarissa's mother's charity dinner party. A lot of elites in business had attended alongside Hollywood actresses and designers. Clarisa wondered if this was a coincidence that her mother had held a peaceful party on the same day her father and brothers returned. Probably not. It was a front so enemies didn't suspect that her father was back in town so her father could use the element of surprise with his allies.
Clarissa was happy to see her father and brothers for that night before they went back to Italy again. She was making the most of it but of course their allies had come to the party too,... The wild wolf was there too with his family because his mother, Adele Rosario loved charity dinners. Clarisa didn't mind his presence there. She really didn't but she could feel his eyes on her that was starting to get her irritated. What did he want from her? She had tried going to different sections of the room where guests were busy drinking and talking. But of course the alpha wolf didn't take his eyes off her for some reason.
Clarisa tried hard to avoid him. Then it occurred to her that maybe he was going to go away if she kept herself busy. Maybe he wasn't focused on her and it was coincidence he was following her. She walked to the refreshment table and suggested to the lady working there " Hey. Why don't you take a quick ten minute break? I can help. It's ok... I am abit ... bored... I like to stand here for a while..."
The lady didn't dare dispute her. She had no intention of arguing with Sancia Giovanni's daughter so she nodded " Yes maa'm. Thank you. I will be back after ten minutes... But are you sure maa'm?"
Clarisa noticed her hesitation and worried sudden look " Don't worry. My mother won't get mad..."
The lady smiled nervously and spoke " Yes maa'm." She then respectfully bowed and walked away.
Clarisa started looking at the refreshments at the stand. She started making some fruit cocktails. She then looked up hoping that Vincenzo wasn't around and to her relief he was no where in sight. He had gone away thankfully. She took a deep breath as she saw no sign of him when she looked around. So maybe he was not watching her... Maybe she hadn't caught his attention. No one wanted to be the subject of attention of Vincenzo. He was enemy from hell. If you crossed him, he was going to watch you like a hawk and play games with you. Maybe if he felt like it he was going to put you out of your misery at once and was going to come at you directly. Vincenzo was in many ways like Tristan. But despite that fact, Clarisa did not know what to expect and was wary of Vincenzo. Even her own brother who was the master of everything, was wary of Vincenzo which told her a lot.
As Clarisa was making fruit cocktails she heard the beast from behind her " Hey there little red."
Clarisa was shocked. She turned around and found herself face to face with Vincenzo. She put her hand on her heart " I did not expect to see you behind me... You shouldn't sneak up on me like this again."
Vincenzo gave her a confident smile " And what if I sneak up on you? What would happen?"
Clarisa sighed " You boys never get it. Do you?" She then turned around and carried on with making fruit cocktails as she explained " What if you sneak up on me? Let me think.... I might sneak up on you too Vincenzo when you least expect it... You will be sleeping upstairs in a hotel room owned by my mother tonight so watch out. This is a Giovanni hotel... Do you think you have the upper hand tonight?"
Vincenzo chuckled as he was standing behind her " Night time can be interesting when I am around... Don't tempt me to come after you little red... Your attitude can come back to haunt you if I decide to deal with it..."
Clarisa couldn't believe him. He was standing behind her in her mother's hotel daring to threaten her. She turned around "If you decide to deal with it? Did I hear you right? You are crazy. Oh look behind you... What's that over there out of the window? I see a full moon. Shouldn't you be out there howling?"
Vincenzo shook his head " Little red. Don't poke the wolf. He might get angry. Hasn't your mother told you to behave when you talk to the beast as your father calls me?"
Clarisa stated " Sure. Everyone warns me about you... What's the worst you are going to do? You will call the pack around?" She then laughed at her own joke " Well, the pack will be sent packing if they pull any stunts tonight... I assure you..."
Vincenzo asked " Little red you like playing games ... Don't you?"
Clarisa put her hands on her hips " Actually I don't like playing games with you. Can you state your business and leave me be?"
Vincenzo narrowed his eyes " Don't order me around little red."
Clarisa sighed " Come on Vincenzo. You know exactly what you are doing. You are following me in this room and I don't like it... Tell me what you want from me?"
Vincenzo's expression softened slightly " You noticed .... Good.... Right now I can't tell you what I want... But may I ask for some refreshments? You are in charge of the stand as I can see... I am a bit hungry."
Clarisa asked " Sure. If it means you will leave me alone..." She then turned around "What do you want?"
Vincenzo retorted " Surprise me... Anything is fine as long as you are the one fixing it up for me little red..."
Clarisa sighed and got to work. Hopefully he was going to leave her be after he got food.... She didn't want to be the subject of his attention because it kept her guessing why he was after her.
After Clarisa turned around with the snack on her plate, Vincenzo looked at Clarisa with an annoyed look "What in the world is that?"
Clarisa turned around and smiled sweetly at him " It's a bagel with Irish cream... Its an Irish American snack..."
Vincenzo raised an eyebrow " Irish American did you say? Like you?"
Clarisa then thought about what he said " Oh... Well I guess so..."
Vincenzo smiled and took a step forward " I normally go with a slice of pizza and an American pie as snack in such parties .... That's Italian American I believe .... But I will give this a try tonight"
Clarisa sighed " Of course. You don't like anything Irish American..."
Vincenzo chuckled " Its so ironic that you say that little red... That is not true.... Trust me on this..."
The way he said it was making Clarisa feel nervous. Vincenzo sounded sincere... He took a step towards her and Clarisa offered the plate to him.
Vincenzo took the plate from her and then looked into her eyes "Tell me this little red... Have you ever had to endure wanting to touch something that was within your arms reach for years and you couldn't?"
Clarisa shrugged " Not really. Why do you ask?"
Vincenzo stated " Just my curiosity. That's all... Can I have something else too?"
Clarisa asked " Sure. You have an appetite tonight..."
Vincenzo stated " Oh ... You have no idea ... If only you knew .... So can I have something else?"
Clarisa asked " A drink or desert perhaps?"
Vincenzo replied " No. Not quite ..."
Clarisa asked " Then what do you want?"
Vincenzo leaned slightly closer making her wary " I want another dance..."
Clarisa was looking at him with her mouth open " A dance? Are you kidding me Vincenzo? No thanks ...I am not in the mood to dance tonight. My father and brothers are going back on the risky trip again tomorrow. I am not in the mood to celebrate and dance..."
Vincenzo stated " But you will have this your whole life... So when you get married and your criminal future husband goes on business trips then you refuse to dance with him because he is going on a trip the next morning just because you are not in a celebration mood? So what would your husband need to do to get a dance out of you?"
Clarisa put her hand up " What is wrong with you? Woah... Firstly, I am not getting married ... Not anytime soon... Boys are uncivilised creatures... Are you kidding me? Also my criminal husband won't need to worry. He would never need to ask twice... If I choose a man as my man, then I would never refuse him a dance no matter what mood I am in..."
Vincenzo argued " But you are refusing me a dance ..."
Clarisa stated " Why should I give you a dance unconditionally when you are not my man? The only one I would never refuse anything to no matter what mood I am in would be my man..."
Vincenzo stated " Who is your man now?"
Clarisa stated " I don't have one..."
Vincenzo nodded "But you danced with me the last time... Did you only do it because you had to?"
Clarisa shrugged " I never have to do anything. Not for you or anyone else... I did dance with you because you asked nicely ...."
Vincenzo stated " I am asking nicely now..,"
Clarisa stated " I know. That is why I am refusing you politely. I am not happy tonight Vincenzo. My father and brothers are leaving tomorrow again on this trip. I am sad... I am not in the mood to dance..."
Vincenzo argued " But you said in future if your man asked you to dance you won't refuse no matter when he asked you to dance..."
Clarisa was used to his arguments. He was never offensive with her but he never let go of an argument unless he won it " Well... This is not the future ... You are not my man ... This is the present..."
Vincenzo argued "The present can become the future... Imagine I am your future husband... Just for tonight.. Practice ...."
Clarisa gasped " Vincenzo ... You are out of your mind... Why would I practice for that and why would I practice with you?"
The look in Vincenzo's eyes made Clarisa gulp. A dangerous glint in his eyes told her that she shouldn't have said what she did. But she didn't even know what she said wrong. It felt strange. She felt her instinct telling her to take back what she said and she didn't know why.
Vincenzo put down his plate on the table and he took a step closer to Clarisa but she didn't take a step back. She was slightly intimidated by Vincenzo but she held it together. She hadn't said anything wrong.
Vincenzo asked in a low threatening tone " What do you mean by that?"
Clarisa looked at Vincenzo's eyes that held nothing but coldness and fury now. It was crazy how he changed so suddenly. Clarisa breathed " What do I mean by what?"
Vincenzo's tone was harsh " You asked why would you practice with me? Who would you rather practice with?"
Clarisa felt strange. She had a bad feeling. She had no idea how their conversation had taken this bitter turn. She voiced her view " Look. You are confusing me... Why are you so mad? I just said I won't practice with you..,"
Vincenzo asked with a harder tone " Who would you practice with?"
Clarisa felt the urge to back down. She felt the danger from his tone and felt the need to apologise. Something in his tone made her feel as if she had insulted him. But she hadn't. She was baffled why he was sounding so offended. She voiced her confusion " Look... This makes no sense... Why are you offended? You just are unbelievable ... I didn't say anything wrong. Why are you sounding so ... angry?"
Vincenzo emphasised on each word " I am going to ask you one more time. You are going to answer this question truthfully... Who would you rather dance with tonight to practice?"
Clarisa was trying to make sense of why it mattered to Vincenzo what she said... Vincenzo was always protective of her. He was protective and he beat up any boy who even glanced at her. She guessed maybe he wanted to know if she was interested in any boys. It made sense... Of course he wanted to protect her... She was confused at the over reaction of Vincenzo to their light hearted conversation but she had to fix it still.
Clarisa sighed " You are so pushy, arrogant and argumentative ... I refuse to answer your question. I am not in the mood for arguments and your riddles.... Dear lord ... I feel so sorry for your future wife... How is she going to put up with you?"
Vincenzo spoke with meaning behind each word " I don't feel sorry for your future husband... You are worth fighting for... I want an answer Terza. And I will get it..."
Clarisa watched the lady in charge of the stand come back. She sighed in relief " This is my time to go. See you later... I need to go to the ladies room and I refuse to answer your question. It's a personal question. If I have a guy I would rather dance with, you will see him on the dance floor. Won't you?." She then turned around and walked away knowing not many would have dared walk away from Vincenzo.
Vincenzo then whispered in a hushed tone that she couldn't hear "If you see the guy on your way, tell him to write his will."