“I’m glad you could make it.” Esmond smiled and graciously drew out Natalia’s chair. She returned his smile and sat.
Natalia stared around at the classy five-star restaurant and noticed they were the only ones in.
“Don’t tell me you booked the entire restaurant so we could talk about the university?” She mused as soon as the waiters left.
Esmond looked up from the menu and smiled. “Well, you got me. It’s for three reasons you’ll eventually get to know.”
The waiters filled their glasses with wine after they had ordered and left them to themselves. Natalia positioned her napkin well and looked up to catch his handsome gaze on her.
She raised a brow questioningly and he gave that infectious smile again.
“I’m sorry. It’s just… You look really beautiful tonight.” Natalia smiled and casually looked down at her dress.
The red fitted dinner gown had a single strap which went over her shoulder from one side to the other. Her heels matched the delicate golden bracelet she wore and she let her usually straight hair fall in wild curls.
“Thank you. You don’t look bad either.” She said out of courtesy and he formally grinned.
Actually, Esmond always looked spicy! But she obviously couldn’t fawn over it.
“So which do you want to hear first? The school, the main event of the night…” He paused and held her gaze.
“Or your parents murderers?”
Natalia’s wine glass froze midway from coming in contact with her lips. Esmond’s heart softened immeasurably, imagining the emotions surging through her. But the fire in her eyes threw him off balance.
“You know how important finding the culprit behind my family’s murder is to me.” She gritted and he nodded.
“Using the data you’ve gathered so far, the triskeles tattoo the culprit had connects him to a certain Mafia.” He moved a file which Natalia hadn’t noticed earlier towards her.
“And not just any Mafia, the most wanted criminal organization in all of North America.” She picked it up.
“Forget about the major crimes in his criminal database, the accomplice who helped Lady Rosa escape is only a low-ranked wingman. For him to have been involved in such a critical case, means the head of the organisation gave the direct order.
“Your target is the Mafia Don. It has to be because none of his subordinates lifts so much as a finger without his permission. National security hasn’t been able to arrest him because he’s extremely crafty and invincible. He’s like a ghost. No one knows his identity or location, not even his top wing men.” Esmond picked up his glass.
“But he must have a right hand or someone he trusts. Someone who’ve seen his face and knows his real identity. I don’t know, maybe a friend or family. Anyone we can use to get to him.” Natalia looked at his thoughtful face.
“Do you know why they’re called the Kelions?” He asked after a while but she remained speechless.
“Family, friends and lovers…” He paused. “Most are just rumours but these certain group of people believe that the three relationships which are most sacred to a person are setbacks. Weaknesses that need to be eliminated in order to create the perfect henchman.
“So for a new recruit to be fully accepted into the organisation, their first assassination assignment is usually to get rid of family, friends or lovers they might have. Anyone in general that has too much control and attachment to them. In this way, they’ld have no Achilles heel to tie them down when things go wry. So looking for a relation is pointless.”
“What if we have his right hand in our custody?”
“We could try. But it’s been passed across that his men are infamously loyal. Whenever they get cornered, they commit instant suicide to protect their organisation. And if one is eventually captured, they mysteriously end up be dead before any meaningful information is tortured out of them.”
Natalia was speechless. “How…”
“Word will reach the Mafia Don and insiders will be sent to eliminate any threat that poses danger to the organization, significant or not. Especially if it’s his most trusted man. That’s how they remain the best.” Natalia dropped her soup spoon and leaned back on her chair.
“Another setback.” Anger and frustration was evident in her voice. And for the first time, Esmond was tempted to reach out for her rosy cheek and assure her everything would be alright.
But he restrained and fisted his palm under the table. “Let’s look at it from your official secretary’s point of view.”
“Naomi?” She confusedly raised a brow and he nodded.
“I think she’s right to say that whoever is after you holds a grudge against your family from way back. Someone your parents might or might’ve not known about?”
“I don’t know. I mean, what would a bunch of criminals want with my family? And of all times, why now exactly??” She exclaimed. His warm hand touched hers on the table in a comforting manner.
Natalia twitched unconsciously but she tried to remain neutral. Except Arian, she wasn’t used to other males touching her. Esmond noticed it and hid a small smile, hoping she’ld share her story sometime.
He smiled and removed his hand. The waiters came and changed their meals again.
“Enjoy your curry.” He breezed to liven the atmosphere and it did. Natalia smiled.
“How’s it possible you chose the same?” She suspiciously narrowed her eyes. Esmond casually shrugged.
“I’m all for spicy food.”
“Elva’s a fanatic! You both should hold a competition and I’ll be the judge of the winner.”
“I don’t need to. So confident you’ll pick me.” He winked and she rolled her eyes halfway.
“You said…”
“I said…” They spoke simultaneously and chuckled.
“Ladies first.”
“You know what I wanna ask.” She stated. He held his water glass and stared at her through the glossy liquid.
“I know it might be too early to discuss it, but we haven’t thought of a name for the university yet.”
“It hasn’t even crossed my mind.” She confessed.
“The architects are done with the blueprint and are ready to present it. After which the groundbreaking ceremony should be next?”
“Have you got a name yet?” She asked in a slight panic. Esmond casually moistened his lips.
“Not really. But mom have and I’m really considering it… That is, if you agree with it.”
“Tell me.” She urged. Esmond looked intently at her. He loved her softly curious face which made her look more delicate and extremely feminine.
“She’s thinking of naming it after your mother.” He disclosed. “Since the orphanage’s name was already decided by the both of them before the accident, mother wants the name of the university to be in her honor.”
Natalia looked down quietly and stared at her plate. She stayed that way for minutes before looking back up with a bright smile on her face, holding tears at the corner of her eyes.
Esmond let out the breath he didn’t notice he was holding. He’d been prepared to cuss at himself if he’d made her cry.
“I don’t know what to say. It’s… it’s so thoughtful of her.” She whispered. He nodded with a smile.
The waiters came in with dessert. They changed the menu and replaced the wine with champagne.
“So the third?” She smiled and leaned on the table, making her wild curls rest on a side of her beautiful neck.
Esmond leaned back on his chair and gently studied her.
“If you’re comfortable with it… I want to know you better, aside being the famous Empress Alexis….”
***
The next day, Elva parked her Maybach at the garage and walked out with her shoulder purse. Despite Jake’s suggestion of having a personal security team go with her wherever she went, the royal assistant preferred moving alone.
She didn’t want the extra attention to her private life even though recently, she’d started to get it a lot more than the usual. So a bulletproof car with tinted glasses was enough camouflage for her.
She made the short trek up the mansion and into the sitting room where she met Nanny Theresa.
“Elva darling! How nice to see you again. I didn’t know you were coming over else I’ld have baked your favourite pie!” She chatted on. Elva smiled and hugged the sixty year old woman.
“Nanny, thanks but don’t worry. I’m not staying long. I just came by to check up on Ricky on my way somewhere. Where is he? Is he home?” She smiled and looked around.
Nanny Theresa’s smile awkwardly faltered. “That boy! Yes, he is. Though it’ld have been better if he wasn’t.”
Elva shot her a confused face but laughed it off. Managing an extremely cocky, wealthy heir must be more than a hassle. She concluded with pity in her heart.
“Thanks. I’ll go upstairs now. Remember your pie promise!!” She called over her shoulders and ran up the stairs as fast as her heels permitted.
Elva was excited. Christmas was coming soon and she was looking forward to celebrating her first Christmas holiday with Ricky Winterfield. Her phone beeped and she paused long enough to read the text.
It was from Naomi, who was accusing her of being a traitor leaving her home alone with Jake who was also at the manor!
Elva smirked devilishly and moved her fingers, saying she was stuck in traffic halfway to her destination. The next minute, Naomi fired bullets to her phone!
Elva giggled and walked on, replying to her texts on the way. She gingerly pushed Ricky’s door open and smiled at him…. or her.
Dressed in their signature look, it was easy to know Rihanna Jack was an ardent member of the B. R. A. T. S! The only thing missing was her humongous heels.
Elva couldn’t blame them because her toes were currently enjoying themselves under the cozy, romantic duvets she’d bought for Ricky shipped in straight from Paris!
“Elva?” Rihanna awkwardly bit her lip, sitting up. Elva paused at the door still holding the knob. She didn’t know what emotion showed on her face but she felt her heart slowly picking up a furious pace.
Just then, Ricky walked out of his walk-in closet, pulling off an apron. He had paint vaguely stuck to the sides of his hands.
“I’m sorry I took so… Elva?” He glowed. Her eyes momentarily shifted from the chic on the bed to her boyfriend grinning her way.
She accepted his chaste kiss and looked up at him.
“I didn’t know you’ld be co…” The beep on her phone interrupted him.
“Excuse me. But I have to take this.” She waved her phone and walked out.
The moment Elva walked out the door treating the obvious text like a phone call, the Winterfield heir knew he was in trouble!…