The Italian's Fake Fiancée

9.

  The next day.
 
  "My assistant tells me you wanted to meet me here," Leo said as he reached Alberto's table.
 
  "So the one with the sweet voice is your assistant, huh."
 
  Leo smiled.
 
  They were in an elegant hotel where Alberto was lodging.
 
  The two cousins stepped in for a hug and a pat at the back. "Good to see you, Alberto."
 
  "I can say the same to you too, Leo. It's been wonderful."
 
  They sat down and Alberto shook out a napkin while Leo stared at the dishes displayed in front of Alberto and almost laughed. No wasting time there, his cousin had already ordered all his favorite food starting from the ravioli to the beef brasato.
 
  Noticing Leo's interest. Alberto's lips curved into what would have been a smile on another person's face, but on his face was just a twitch of the lips. "Forgive me Leo but I took the liberty to order my food. I was starving."
 
  Leo nodded his head and sent for a bottle of wine since he wasn't hungry. "So what brings you to the United States? How's uncle?"
 
  While Leo waited for his cousin to swallow his food and answer him, he surveyed the hotel room.
 
  There were several round tables covered in white linen, but presently most of them were vacant. The floor was highly polished and shone.
 
  By the side of the room was a floor-length window, framed in gold and dressed in gold curtains which hung from a brass. A chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
 
  The waiters carrying trays in their hand were dressed in a uniform suit of white and black trousers and had been groomed to have the same look. Their hair sleeked back and out of their face. Leo grinned. His cousin sure likes fancy.
 
  Alberto wiped his mouth with a napkin and rested his hand on the table. "Uncle is fine and so is your father."
 
  Leo tried not to react to that news, but did, anyway. His heart somersaulted.
 
  Ever since his disgraceful behavior at the last family gathering, he hadn't shown his face at home. It was nearing a year, and he missed Italy. He wanted to ask how his mother was doing but stopped himself. Though they had communicated on the phone from time to time. It was still not enough for him.
 
  To lighten the mood and the silence which had suddenly descended on the table, Leo said, "So, a hotel heh. You have decided to stay at a hotel instead of my house."
 
  "Well," Alberto murmured.
 
  Leo could feel his cousin's eyes on him as he poured his wine. It lingered before it left his face, and Leo had the distinct feeling Alberto knew he was trying to avoid the subject.
 
  Alberto raised his glass in the air, leaned back and twirled the red liquid and then raised it to his lips. "I have a sort of personal business I came for and during my stay here I did like to stay in a hotel. I hope you don't mind Leo." Leo shook his head, wondering what the personal business was. "And also you are part one of the reasons am here."
 
  "How so?" A barely perceptible frown appeared on Leo's chiselled face.
 
  "What are your thoughts on the family's gathering?"
 
  Typical Alberto. Question for question. Leo scowled. He didn't want to think about the family gathering. Last time he had gotten so drunk he had lost his sense of direction and couldn't even string two coherent words together. And this he did in front of guests. His father had been pissed. Leo sucked in a breath as he felt embarrassment well over him as if it just happened now instead of ten months ago. He was still smarting from the shame.
 
  Putting the memory behind him Leo shrugged and affected a casual pose, pouring himself a drink. "As usual, we go there and do what we always do best," he raised his head, and grinned. "Be one happy family."
 
  "You don't believe that do you." Brown eyes landed on Leo and Alberto studied him. Leo did the same. His eyes resting on the brown hair that was the classic feature of the D'Angelo family. Though they looked alike. Alberto had a rougher chin and look than he did, and those eyes of his could chill a man. But when he smiled which he rarely does. His features soften.
 
  "I think Rosa is trying to steal the company from you."
 
  "Rosa?" Leo said in surprise.
 
  Alberto sighed and leaned back in his seat as if talking was wearing him out.
 
  "Last week I heard them talking. You know, your sister and my father."
 
  "Uncle Stefano is somehow involved in this? What the fuck was going on?" Leo swallowed, trying to digest that.
 
  "Did it come as a surprise to you?"
 
  "Sì."
 
  "Well, you are in for more surprise."
 
  "As you already know. You were not handed over the company as you were promised. Your sister still sits there."
 
  Leo scowled. Did he have to remind him what he was trying to forget?
 
  "Tell me Leo are you coming back with a girlfriend? A fiancée for the family gathering?"
 
  "No," Leo answered. "But what does that have to do with anything."
 
  I suggest you come back with someone, a friend, a past girlfriend. Pretend she is your girlfriend, just do something."
 
  Now, this was getting serious.
 
  "Perché. Why do I have to do that? Why do I have to come back with anyone at all?"
 
  "Your reputation, you oaf. You have a bad reputation." At Leo's brief look of hurt, Alberto said, "Not my words, theirs. The elders. But coming back with a woman in your arms would remedy that for you. You know how our family values relationship and commitment."
 
  Leo shook his head. "We take commitment to marriage as a sign of responsibility."
 
  Alberto smiled. "You are finally catching on. Bringing a woman home would finally prove you are being serious. Besides, I think Rosa would be happy if you didn't bring anyone home because that would cement her position on that seat as the CEO of D'Angelo wine group."
 
  Leo frowned
 
  "Like I said I heard her talking with my father she wants you out, forever, heading only a branch of the company, so she can remain the CEO and the only way to do that is to portray you as irresponsible."
 
  "I see." Leo clenched his hands under the table, his mind reeling to the sale drop. Could it be her? He had always suspected someone was tampering with his business, but to think it could be his sister. Leo's mouth tightened.
 
  He knew Rosa had never liked him but to think she was plotting to trick him out of what was rightly his was downright insane.
 
  "So what are you going to do?"
 
  Leo's eyes returned to Alberto, who was casually sipping his wine and narrowed. "First, am not going to let her do this to me again. Everyone knows she was supposed to step down for me when I clock thirty."
 
  "That she knows that doesn't mean she wants to."
 
  "What do you mean she doesn't want to? She's been sitting there for eighteen years. And why are you telling me this?"
 
  "You are my best cousin and I want what's best for you. Besides, Rosa is a tyrant. You wouldn't understand," Alberto sighed "You haven't been under her for a long time not like I have.
 
  "I perfectly understand," Leo said with a certain conviction that drawled Alberto's eyes to his. And at that moment Alberto read something that wasn't prior knowledge to others.
 

Author's Note
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