CAPO

17. Fundraiser.

Giovanni was sat in his bright red Honda S2000, cigarette dangling between his two fingers outside his car. He was waiting for Enzo, his foot impatiently tapping on the floor of his car.

Then, two solid knocks sounded on his window. His head snapped up and he looked at Enzo, a deep scowl on his face. He flicked the cigarette onto the road, twisting his expensive leather dress shoes on it, killing it.

"You're late," He said. Giovanni despised when someone was late to a meeting, but he had let it slip with Arabella. He could never be mad at her.

The brothers walked into the boutique. "Sorry, mama was holding me back," He mumbled. Giovanni decided to drop it then. He nodded at the owner of the boutique, and the woman turned and made her way to the back where she grabbed two rails full of suits, pulling it out in display for the two men.

They were in the process of looking for suits for the fundraiser ball tonight. Giovanni swallowed down his nervousness at the thought of seeing Arabella again.

He had left her apartment a few hours yesterday, sparing her a few kisses and smiles and words before he left, leaving her to deal with the array of hickeys he left on her neck and thighs.

"Blue or red?" Enzo asked, holding two designer suits in front of him. Giovanni hummed, shrugging, "Blue makes you look pretentious but red doesn't match your skin."

"Jesus, all right fashion expert," Enzo joked, putting the suits back on the rails. Giovanni spared him a few curse words in Italian before he turned his back towards him, skipping through the suits.

Giovanni then pulled out a light grey suit, holding it out to Enzo. He nodded, "This," He said. Enzo took it and nodded, "You do really fix everything, don't you?" He laughed, giving Giovanni a pat on his bulky bicep.

The man skipping through a few more suits before he landed on a black one, making sure the label said a designers name before he took it out, observing it.

"Wear a different coloured suit for a change," Enzo muttered, now sitting on one of the big, round chairs behind Giovanni. "Black is what bosses wear, Enzo,"

"Then why isn't mine black?" He smirked.

Giovanni tsked, "Your lack of intelligence is the reason you're not the boss,"

"Oy, fuck you," Enzo flipped him off, making Giovanni chuckle gently. He dropped the suit on the chair next to Enzo, paging through more of the options before he decided on a Gucci suit.

He nodded at the owner once more, telling her he was done. She approached him and then he said: "I'd like to see the dresses,"

"Certainly, Mr Armani," She said, scurrying off with the racks full of suits.

"You're gonna wear a dress?" Enzo asked, his brow lifted. "No, Enzo. I have a date," Giovanni mumbled, pulling his phone out. "Oh?" Enzo said, standing. "Who is this mystery person?"

"You'll meet her in due time," Giovanni replied. Enzo snorted, "She's not another Catherine, I hope,"

Giovanni's eyes snapped up to his brother, "You do not speak her name, Enzo." He snapped, holding the phone to his ear. His brother lifted his hands in defense.

"Arabella speaking,"

"Is this a bad time?" Giovanni asked, his chest burning brightly at the sound of her voice. "No, it's not. It's going to be lunch in five,"

"Good. I have a question regarding your dress,"

"Mhm?"

"How do you feel about red?" He asked, watching as the owner brought out a rack full of expensive, shimmering dresses.