Santi's Downfall

Chapter 23: The Question

Dreams are today's answers to tomorrow's questions.

Edgar Cayce

Haven Pierce's POV

I was enjoying my conversation with Ricardo in the kitchen while he was looking when I heard someone clear his throat behind me. I turned my head to see the crime boss standing behind me looking at us with a dark expression on his face.

"Buon Giorno, Signore." Ricardo greeted him with a pleasant smile on his face and the man in question didn't even bother to return the greeting of his employee. His gaze was locked on me.

"Yes?" I inquired dryly at him. Because he would not come personally to the kitchen if he just wanted a bottle of sparkling water—his favored drink over the regular bottled water. "You want something?"

I thought that the expression on his face wouldn't get any worse but I was mistaken. He was staring at me now with a thunderous face like he was witnessing something blasphemous. "I need to have a word with you."

I put down my fork and looked at him pleasantly. "What do you want to talk about, Santi? Is it an urgent matter?"

He threw a warning look at his chef was also looking at him with interest. Ricardo cleared his throat and went back to stirring the pot on the burner. The man in front of me took a deep breath and took me by the wrist. "Let's go somewhere else private."

Before I had the chance to react he already pulled me from my chair and led me out of the kitchen. I noticed that he was getting used to pulling me by the wrist whenever he wanted. I think I need to have a word with him about this. He brought me inside his office and locked the door firmly behind him.

"What do you want to talk about?" I asked crossing my arms in the middle of my chest.

Santi placed his hand on each side of his expensive handmade Italian trousers. "I see that you're spending a lot of time with Ricardo in the kitchen."

I wanted to scoff at him but I kept my expression passive. "Are you forbidding me to spend time in the kitchen with him? Is there a rule in this household that employees are forbidden to bond with me?"

"No..." he said reluctantly. I raised an eyebrow when I noticed that he was looking unsure and lost for words. He was behaving oddly today and I found it fascinating for some reason. "...I mean, it's not good to see you bond most of the time employees. If you're bored you can always go shopping with your bodyguard just put the tab on my name."

"May I ask you a slightly personal question?" I prompted, staring at him deep in his eyes. I've been bothered about this since Greta's birthday. This might be the perfect opportunity to query him about it.

"Of course. Fire away."

I took a deep breath. I don't know what kind of reaction I would get from him. Would he laugh? Or perhaps mock me for it? I guessed I would never find out unless I asked him. "Are you jealous of Ricardo?"

His dark eyes widened in disbelief and then he burst out laughing. It took every ounce of my self-control not to flinch at the answer that I got from him. "Where did you get that absurd idea, Haven?"

I put a brave face in front of him as I shrugged nonchalantly. "That's the only reason I could think of why you hindering me from spending time with them."

He shook his head vehemently while there was a smile playing on his lips. "No way. You are mistaken, little one. I'm not jealous, I assure you."

"Is that so?" I probed pleasantly. I think he might be telling the truth. I shouldn't entertain the ridiculous claims of Ricardo that Santi might be jealous but part of me feels slightly disappointed by his answer.