Dancing In The Dark

Chapter Seven

The household staff shuffled around the room bringing in refreshments and snacks. It was Afternoon Tea, ans Vica brought Max home to Florence after the Monaco Grand Prix to introduce him to her grandmother. Her grandfather was supposed to be out of town but he quickly canceled the business trip to come home when Maria Tatiana de' Medici called to tell him that their grandchild was bringing someone home.

Her Nonna disapprovingly stared them down for the past two minutes as her Nonno made a call to his secretary to prepare a wedding announcement. Their reactions were contrastingly different which made Max feel nervous.

"Are you doing this to spite me, Vittoria?" The old lady's expression hardened.

"Nonna, I'm not doing anything to spite you. This is about Max and I," Vica calmly replied. She was at ease in spite of the disapproval evident on her grandmother's face. That was when she knew she made the correct choice.

"Did you knock her up?" Horror grew on Maria Tatiana's face as she looked at Max. She had discussed safe sex to Vica several times (despite her feelings of awkwardness) so her granddaughter would avoid the fate of her daughter Beatrice, Vica's mother.

"Nonna! No! I'm not pregnant." Vica quickly said to avert a heart attack from happening.

"Then, why do you have to get married right away? You could do a long engagement! After all, you weren't in a relationship until he proposed."

"Nonna... I... it's difficult to explain."

"Never mind," Nonna waved her hand dismissively. "It's quite easy to explain, Vica, isn't it?"

It was the first time her grandmother called her with her nickname. Vica was fazed slightly but then, Nonna intertwined her hands and rested them on the table. The warm air blew as the old lady said, "Very well. I know I could not stop you even if I tried. Just look at how your brother still married Andie."

"But you do know how this will look like to people who don't know you personally, don't you?" Her Nonna asked them sternly. They nodded in unison. The old lady sighed. "Ça va. It is what it is. We can't change how they think. However, are you sure you are not pregnant, Vittoria Catalina?"

"Yes, I'm sure I'm not, Nonna," Vica said calmly, looking at Max with reassurance. He held her hand, squeezing it lightly, and smiled.

"Tell me what are your plans aside from the date of the wedding."

Max let Vica take the lead. It was her family after all. He already called his mother to tell her the news and that he would visit Vica after their meeting with her grandparents. His father disapproved and started to throw a fit at the garage but Horner warned the older Verstappen that he would be kicked out of the paddock if he said another word against Vica. It was going to be either get on board or get on the fucking board for Jos Verstappen because Max was going to marry Vittoria Catalina de' Medici one way or another.

"I'm relieved you want to do a Catholic wedding but it will be a tough event to plan since the date is near, Vittoria," Nonna said.

"I know, Nonna."

"But you still want to get married by the first week of June."

"Yes." Vica and Max answered.

"Alright. Pio, call your secretary and ask him to find the best wedding coordinator who could make le mariage du siècle happen in three weeks discreetly!" Nonna ordered Nonno who nodded and told his secretary without any questions. "I don't care if we pay more. I'll contact the Archbishop."

Her Nonno left with a phone already in one hand, dialing the Archbishop of Florence's number.

Once Nonno finished his call with his secretary, he faced them with a tight smile. "Congratulations, you two. To think we just had dinner two days ago." Pio de' Medici held his hands in front of him, one hand clutching a white folder. "Max, I have a favor to ask you. This is not in any way meant to offend you."

"Sure, what is it, sir?" Max asked, readily waiting for whatever favor the old man would ask.

"Vica is my only living grandchild. Everything will be left to her mother when I die, which will enable Vica to inherit what I will leave. I want to make sure-"

"Nonno." Vica intercepted, scoldingly. She knew what her grandfather was asking.

"If you're asking me for a prenup, I will sign it, Sir. It's not a problem with me. I just want to marry your granddaughter, and I'm quite secure with my current job."

"You didn't need to panic, Vica. Max's a reasonable man. You chose to elope with a worthy man." Her Nonno smiled teasingly.

"Technically we aren't eloping, Nonno. If we were, you'd never know until after."

"Tomayto, tomahto," the old man shrugged, handing Max the file. "Max, you don't have to sign it right away. Contact a lawyer and see if there are any clauses you'd want to change."

Max stood up as Vica's grandfather stood up. They shook hands and the old man smiled. He was in, Vica knew from her Nonno's smile.

Everything moved smoothly from then. Max went away to compete in the next GP but kept in touch with Vica to make decisions about their wedding. The engagement announcement wouldn't be put out until a week before the wedding which earned lots of protest from their PR representatives. But there was nothing to be done, both families agreed that it was Max and Vica's call.

There was one day left before the world knew of the upcoming wedding when an F1 gossip site posted photos of Vica coming out of an atelier in Paris with her mother, Sophie Kumpen, Victoria, and Blue Jay Verstappen, insinuating that Vica was Max's new girlfriend. Max was worried that Vica would be angry at the invasion of her privacy but she only laughed.

"Don't let it distract you from the race, Max. It's just a gossip site. Giu has it covered," Vica reassured Max over the phone. He was in Baku, preparing for race day.

"Okay, fine but stay safe always? I'm going to marry you on Saturday."

"Yes, we'll stay safe," she chuckled. "We'll see you in Florence?"

"I'll be there before lunch your time," Max said.

"Please don't fly as soon as the race is over. Rest, Max. I can handle waiting for a few more hours."

"I can't."

A silence followed, and then it was broken by both their laughs.

"That sounded corny, Max," Vica laughed.

"I know. This is all your fault. I miss you. I'll see you soon, babe."

"That's what you're calling me now, Caro?"

"I've got about twenty more nicknames I would like to call you but wife is really up there."

"You are crazy, Max."

"I love you."

"I love you too. Come back home. I miss you."