The Boss (2P!Italy x Reader)

Chapter 11

Author's note: FINALLY, an update after so many weeks. Only five days left before our sembreak (YIIIIEEEEEEES!) and I just can't wait to leave the condo. Anyway, for you bitter, single readers out there who understand Tagalog, I have a little hugot line from my theology class: Kung kaya ni Lord paghiwalayin ang Red Sea, kayo pa kaya? (It doesn't have the same impact in English but basically it's saying "If the Lord can split the Red Sea, then what else you two [lovers]?"). I just thought I'd share, because damn, talk about burn HAHAHA. Okay, that's enough, Ronnie. ON WITH THE SHOW.

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You

THE VARGAS VILLA was nothing short of magnificent.

Standing in an isolated field far away from most of Florence, its vine-covered brick walls and sun-drowned horizon gave a very romantic Renaissance feel to it. A perfect setting for a potential love story.

If only Suits didn't surround the area like massive, hypercompetent Dobermans. . .

The SUV stopped and a woman in a modern maid uniform resembling scrubs, made to maximize movement as much as possible) welcomed you inside the gigantic Palazzo-styled villa with a traditional interior of autumn-inspired palette: heavy 19th century furniture, floral arroyo red drapes, and brass-framed still life paintings, most of which centered on rich red apples.

You bit your lip, suddenly feeling small and vulnerable as your chauffer, a Suit named Jose, wheeled you into the living room.

A man sat on a chair with the back facing you.

The woman spoke in a language different from the Italian you've grown accustomed to. In the span of a few weeks you've managed to become a passive Italian speaker. Listener. The point was that you could understand most of what the locals said. But here you could barely recognize the words.

"Señor, nandito na po ang bisita ninyo." Spanish, maybe?

Your host stood, around six feet tall with broad shoulders and muscled arms not unlike the Suits. He turned on his feet to reveal a golden-brown tan and more macho, fiftysomething version of Luciano. The tip of his right ear seemed to have been ripped off.

"Salamat, Joyce." His voice was raspy, sounding like he had a hard time speaking. You wondered whether he has always been like that, or if something had happened to his throat. "You may leave us. Oh, and tell Luciano to hurry it up"

The woman nodded her head and left the room without a word, leaving you alone with the gladiator. He tilted his head slightly as he not so discreetly assessed your form, though not in a lecherous manner, rather a health inspector trying to identify any possible flaws. You tried not to squirm under his judging gaze and attempted to make conversation. However, you were embraced and kissed on the cheeks before you could utter a word.

You looked up to find him smiling brightly, displaying an impressively white set of teeth.

"I've waited so long to meet you! The girl to finally anchor my grandson"

"Stop it, nonno, you'll scare her away. Besides I don't think marriage is her main dream at the moment." The gladiator let go as a man in white approached you wearing a flirtatious smile. "Ciao, bella. I hear you're a student at HU. Impressive." He grabbed and kissed your knuckles. You flushed "Thank you. I'm—"

Luciano appeared from behind the second stranger, bumping shoulders and forcing your hands to let go "You're both suffocating her." Luciano glanced down on your bruised but bare leg, he faced you but said nothing. The cast had been removed five days ago, but Luciano had been away on a business trip and this was his first time seeing you since. The doctors were impressed by the speedy recovery as it usually took months for broken bones to heal. They did a few more tests before deciding it was all right to get rid of the cast and start physical therapy.