Created by the devil

Peak of existence.

Her finger slides over the side of the letter. She holds the piece of paper strongly between her hands, as if she's scared someone is going to take it away from her. Saraya opted to leave a couple of minutes ago, but she made sure to leave an address for Gia to contact her. When Gia's mother was dying, she felt as if she wanted time to go as fast as possible. But now she would give anything to have those long months back. Everything is changing fast, something she never liked.

The door of her office opens to reveal the head of her assistant peeking through the door. "They're here." She announces, even though Gia already knew why Naomi came to disturb her. Gia opens the drawer to her right and leaves the letter behind. She asks, "Did you lead them to the conference room?" Naomi watches Gia stand up and fix her dress. She answers, "I did, Mrs. Shelby." Gia smiles at the young woman as if she didn't hold a weight on her shoulders. "Let's go then."

The assistant nods and opens the door for Gia to pass through. Gia makes one step after another, filled with confidence, towards the conference room. For some reason, people can hear Gia coming towards them by the sound of her stiletto heels. She receives a lot of greetings and nods, but doesn't pay them any mind. She stops her short trip in front of two white doors and nods at the two men in front to open them.

The double doors open to show paradise and hell at the same time, or better said, the part of her family she isn't in regular contact with. They're all sitting around the table acting as if they don't know each other. She walks over to the head of the table as the doors close behind her. 

She clears her throat and looks around before she starts speaking, "Prima di tutto, I want to thank you all for coming on such short notice. My mother was someone I've always looked up to. I've found myself on many occasions trying to think or act like her, which most of the time didn't work out. See, my mother and I don't have many things in common except our looks. The one thing we do seem to have in common is that my mother always hated liars, and so do I. So, I feel no need to stand her in front of you, la mia famiglia, and lie about the reason I asked for you to come over." 

Her uncle is the first one to say something. He stands up and looks at his daughter, who's sitting next to him. "I told you, Roma. It's best to keep them out of our life." Gia's cousin seems to disagree with her father and shuts him down. "Papa, just sit down and listen to what she has to say."

He shakes his head no and goes to say something, but he's cut off by her aunt, Elisabetta, "Just sit down, you old bastard." Antonio looks at her with anger portrait all over his face but decides against his own intuition and sits back down. He looks back at Gia and motions for her to keep on talking.

Gia looks around the table and breaths in and out before she explains, "You may think that I'm a monster for fighting back, but you forget that I'm talking about the devil here, Luca. He's coming for everything and thinks he can do it on his own. I disagree, I think we need to be together, but I can't make that decision for you. Just know, if he gets me and wins, he'll still be hungry for more."

Elisabetta leans back and asks, "What are we exactly talking about?" Gia tries to hide the small grain of hope she sees unraveling in front of her. She sits down and look at her aunt. "We'll have to make a trip to Watery Lane. You'll be safe there, together with my husband and his family will we look out for each other and make a plan."

Antonio cuts her off, "That husband of yours is bad news, Gigi. How you can love him is beyond me." Her eyes trail towards her uncle, "It's easier than you think." Mario leans forward on the table, earning the stares of his family. Gia and Mario have always been close, but that changed these past few months. Even though they lost their closeness, they will never loser their loyalty towards one another.

The next words slowly exit his mouth as if his brain is still thinking about what to say exactly, "I don't think we should underestimate the things Luca will do to get what he wants. I'll be there tonight with my wife and children after your mothers funeral." He stands up and walks towards the door. He doesn't turn around, but makes sure his words are heard "Don't disappoint me."