MILLIE
A sardonic smile graced my lips as I pressed against his chest, attempting to create distance, yet he remained resolute. “You know what’s ironic?” I questioned, my hands maintaining a steadfast push. “You’ve never contemplated my potential response to their advances. It matters not whether a Made Man or an outsider makes an advance, for my reaction would remain constant-I would decline their overtures, reminding them of my marital commitment. Trust, Gio, works both ways. You interact with women constantly, yet I don’t harbor apprehensions of your fidelity, despite my past misgivings regarding Alyssa.”
His posture stiffened at the mention of her name, the memory a burden he carried. “It’s unfair to wield that against me, Millie,” he murmured. “I erred. At that time, our marriage was a mere facade, and my heart never strayed from you afterward. I am devoted. No other woman can alter that.”
Exhaling a sigh, I conceded. Grace was a relic of the past, a specter better left undisturbed. Gio’s faithfulness had been unblemished since that transitory lapse. “Why can’t you trust me around other men?”
“I trust you,” he assured, “but it’s them I distrust. While I can deflect advances, you, a petite woman, would struggle against a male assailant.”
“We’ve been working on my self-defense,” I interjected, a trace of determination in my voice. “I’m improving.”
He scrutinized me intently. “And what would you study, then?”
My thoughts organized, I elaborated, “I’ve contemplated this. It must align with the Famiglia’s interests. A conventional career beyond our realm is implausible. To contribute, I must be part of our enterprise, which narrows my options. I doubt you’d endorse a path that involves becoming a chemist and producing drugs.”
Gio’s grip on me gradually eased, his arms no longer constricting like a cage. A glimmer of intrigue danced in his eyes as he remarked, “That would undoubtedly be quite an interesting path.”
Pondering his words, I ventured, “I’ve been thinking about pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting. It could help me manage our financial records effectively.”
Gio’s nod was deliberate, as if he were weighing the potential outcomes. “Becoming an accountant could be a role that even the more traditional members of our family might come to accept.”
A surge of hope coursed through me, but I sought clarity, asking, “Does that mean you’d be okay with me going to college?”
A sigh escaped his lips, laden with both consideration and concern. “If it brings you happiness and a sense of purpose, you have my approval. However, there are conditions. Dario will need to accompany you at all times, and we can’t afford any word spreading about your attendance. My family’s trust in my capabilities as the Capo is still fragile. My uncle Amadeo and the aunts harbor their own ambitions for the position. I can’t eliminate them without a valid reason, as that wouldn’t earn me the respect I need. So, silence is crucial.”
“We don’t have to disclose my pursuit of a degree. Dario understands discretion, and I won’t even have to tell Harper immediately, in case she accidentally reveals something.”
Gio’s fingers brushed my hair away from my face as he contemplated. “That’s likely the wisest course of action. Your sister is currently unpredictable. Let’s involve only Dario in this.”
“Then you’re truly permitting me to do this? When can I start?”
“Whenever you’re ready.”
“I’ve been looking into NYU’s business program. The application deadline is January 1st. I’m considering applying by then, though gathering everything I need might be a challenge. But I’ll give it a shot…” My voice trailed off.
Gio guided me to straddle his lap, drawing me closer. “If you set your sights on NYU, you’ll secure a spot, Millie.”
I encircled his neck with my arms, finding solace against his shoulder. His acquiescence surprised me; I had anticipated a tougher negotiation. Pursuing a business degree and becoming the family’s accountant weren’t my personal aspirations. In another life, I might have chosen teaching or social work. But I recognized the practicality of a business degree in my role. When I pulled away slightly, I detected a flicker of concern in Gio’s expression before he veiled it. I made a silent vow to prove that my academic pursuits wouldn’t jeopardize our marriage or his leadership.
“Considering your distinct appearance and our visibility in the media, you could be recognized,” Gio remarked.
“Drawing unnecessary attention,” I added. “What if I wear a wig? Harper pulled it off.”
A crease formed on Gio’s forehead. “You and Harper together, that’s a combination fraught with risk.”
Leaning closer, I pressed a gentle kiss to his tense lips. “This time, I promise to keep you fully informed. What do you think? A wig could be a solution. Maybe you’ll prefer me as a brunette.”
“No,” he uttered, twining a strand of my hair around his fingers. “Your hair is perfection itself-like spun gold, incomparable.”
A chuckle escaped me. His fascination with my hair was endearing, a constant thread through our relationship.
“A wig might work. Fortunately, Dario excels at staying inconspicuous, and he hasn’t attracted public attention.”
“It’s still months before you’d begin college. We’ll work out the details as the time comes. If, of course, they accept you.”
“They will,” Gio asserted with unshakable conviction. My academic record was strong, but I sensed he had methods to ensure my acceptance, even if circumstances were less ideal.
GIO
“I can’t shake off this ominous feeling about today,” I confessed, my grip firm on the steering wheel as I guided our car toward the impressive Fontanas’ townhouse. The Fontana family had been closely connected to my father, which incidentally fueled my intense dislike for them. Fontana, once a confidant of my father, was now my Captain not a particularly commendable one at that. His son, Sebastian, didn’t earn any respect either; he was nothing more than a coward in my eyes.
Millie, my companion, furrowed her brows at my words. “Is it because of Harper and Sebastian?” she inquired, concern etching her features. “I understand you’re anxious about him removing her ankle monitor, but I don’t think she’ll make a move today.”
My apprehension didn’t stem from that trivial concern. Ever since Sebastian had apprehended Harper a few weeks back, their relationship had been a turbulent whirlwind of passion and conflict. The atmosphere within our Famiglia had become tense, for the sentiment against incorporating Harper into our ranks was shared not just by my uncles, but by others as well. Although I shared their reservations, voicing them was not an option. To cast doubt on my own decision would be to reveal vulnerability, something I couldn’t afford, especially in front of Sebastian and Millie.
“Fontana believes his son is fit for the role of Consigliere, and due to Sebastian’s ill-advised choice to marry Harper, there are factions within the Famiglia that support him,” I explained with a tinge of frustration. Millie’s concern was genuine, and I appreciated it, yet the complications arising from Harper’s actions were undeniably exasperating.
Her lips pressed together in a mixture of empathy and frustration. “It’s disheartening how many predicaments Harper’s actions have caused you.”
“I’ll eventually quell the skepticism directed my way, but it’s undeniably a headache,” I admitted, resigned to the fact that further confrontations were inevitable.
Millie couldn’t help but chuckle softly as we pulled into the Fontanas’ driveway. “What’s that over there?”
Following her gaze, I observed an imposing angel sculpted from ice, positioned prominently in the front yard. The entire yard was adorned with an opulent display of white and gold, radiating an aura of grandeur. “Fontana certainly knows how to make an impression,” I muttered, not particularly impressed by his ostentatious display.
Millie arched an eyebrow, her porcelain features reflecting mild amusement. I offered her a fleeting smile before the facade transformed into one of determination as I exited the car.
When Sebastian pulled up behind my Aston Martin in his sleek Porsche, I helped Millie out of the vehicle. Her sigh conveyed a mix of emotions as she looked at me.
I caught her gaze and inquired, “What’s troubling you?”
“Sometimes your expression is unsettling. I find solace in the way you reveal yourself when we’re alone,” she confessed, her honesty touching me.
I placed a reassuring hand on her back. “I understand.”
As we entered the Fontanas’ domain, the day’s challenges lay before me, a tangled web of alliances, personal conflicts, and power struggles. In the world we inhabited, vulnerability was a luxury, and appearances often hid more than they revealed.