"You can always change you plan, but only if you have one." ― Randy Pausch

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Marco Angelo Massaretti's POV

                 I STARED at my grandmother and she looks lost too just like me. She was still holding the piece of old paper that looks like it was already written it before.

"The sheep maybe was gone, but the ricotta has to be made." I kept recalling the code and not even a single word to explain the words in my head. I always come up with nothing.

"Do you know what it means, nonna?" I asked my grandma who was also staring into space. It's hard to read her sad face and I heaved a loud breath. I knew she's as bewildered as I am.

Shortly, I heard commotions from behind the study door.

"Let me in!" I could hear my father's demanding tone and my blood quickly surges in all my nerve endings, and my temper rose within me. I balled my hands and clench my jaw. Then, nonna spoke.

"Let them in, Rory."

Seconds later, the door open and my arrogant father waltz in like he owns the property with his arrogant aura, his wife and son in tow.

Why is his wife here?

Does she think she'll get something too?

"Sit down, Arcangelo." My grandma said. Oldrich approach me.

"Brother," he gave me a small smile and I just nods. He opens his arms to hug me and I reluctantly duplicate the gesture. He's innocent here, so I have to return his politeness. Chronicles just gave me a side smirk and I ignored it.

My dad just watches us hugging briefly, then Oldrich approach grandma and he kiss her cheeks. I know nonna love him too, but it doesn't bother me anymore.

I'm a grown man now, and I could get that affection with all my mistresses if I wanted to. I don't need love and I'm not capable of it either, so it doesn't matter.

Shortly, George was escorted in with Rory and he sat in the armchair facing us. Nonna was still sitting behind my nonno's old desk looking despondent.

When George was settled, he took a filing folder, then an old piece of paper. Placing it atop the blue filing folder, he looks around him and he settled his eyes to nonna, asking permission to proceed.

Nonna nods lightly and George started to read the last will.

"I, Michael Angelo Massaretti, Hampshire New York, declare that this is my Last Will and Testament. I revoke all prior wills and codicils.

I give and bequest all of my interest in the following property, subject to any encumbrances to the persons or entities as follows;

All my estates here in New York, Italy and in London, and the vineyard in Sicily gave to my loving wife Sophia Fiore Massaretti.

All my luxurious cars to my grandson, Oldrich Massaretti.

My penthouses to my son, Arcangelo Massaretti.

All my business holdings, the Massaretti Realty Corp., the Massaretti bank, the shares in the Right Tech. Corporation and all my shares at every company will be given to my grandson, Marco Angelo Massaretti, provided that he will bear a legitimate Massaretti heir within the span of a year-"

I stiffened. George kept going on and on, as he also gave some to his loyal employees. Oldrich and dad were looking stunned either.

"This is insane. That old man is insane!" My dad stood up not finishing the lawyer, and he stared at nonna.

"You sit, Arcangelo. We raise you better than that! Have a little respect for your father." Nonna grits her teeth as she stood up and face my angry father. Nonna's face is all red with the anger she's been holding, all the while my ass father kept on ranting about how unfair that it was all given to me, while he was the only son and I'm just the grandson, on and on and on.

He has to get married and bear an heir. That's what the last will said, otherwise all his businesses will be given to Oldrich.

I was inwardly mopping in my seat, feeling helpless. I felt like my head just got banged in a rock and now it's all scrambled and it's a blur. I can't believe nonno had used his last resort., and I'm caught.

Dammit, nonno.

He's dead and yet he's still a sly man.

Chronicles stood up. "Why is it everything were given to Marco? Is it Oldrich his grandson too?" Chronicles spat, shooting nonna a distasteful look.

"You shut your mouth, Chronicles. You have no say in this matter.." Nonna spat at her and I felt relieved. For the first time, nonna had found her tongue. She had been the soft, understanding lady. I guess she had enough of Chronicle's bitching.

"I have the right since Arcangelo married me, I belong to this family now. Oldrich is your grandson too?" She cried out with her eyes slowly thinning, staring at my grandmother like she's ready to pounce her. I quickly rose from my seat and walk to my grandma. I face Chronicles coldly.

"It's nonno's will, let's just respect it!" I stated icily, holding my temper at bay. A fear flickered in her eyes for a second but vanish promptly.

"It's easy to say it because everything is given to you." Chronicles spit out and Oldrich stood up and stops his mom.

"Apparently, not. I had to find a bribe for a year to get my inheritance." I snapped back.

My father was still sitting on the couch looking defeated. It's hard to predict his thoughts since he's as good as my grandfather in masking his emotions, most of the time. He can be temperamental and these past few days, he exploded and did something I have never seen he'd done before. Probably because grandpa is gone and he knew he can't touch him. Grandpa is very tough. He maybe old with his age, but not his body.

"If you all have any question, you can see me in my office." George's voice broke the tension that filled the air. He must have been suffocated and decided to leave instead of watching my small family argued over the last will.

Chronicles shot him a deathly glare and I clenched my teeth. She really got a thick face to argued with us. She doesn't really have a limit.

"Are you just going to let it happen? Oldrich is your son too. It's their grandson too!" Chronicles shifted her gaze to my father and yelled at him shamelessly and he just looks at her, lost.

What a bitch!

"Mom, it's fine. I'm fine managing dad's chains of bars. We don't need another company to run." Oldrich calmed his mom and at some point, I felt a tad remorseful, but I kick it off instantly.

"I will be leaving to Italy, and live there for quite some time. I need a different air to recuperate.." Sad voice of nonna resonated in my ears, taking all our attention. Averting my eyes onto her, she looks gloomy and her eyes glisten with the tears brimming under her eyelids. All the time she was ignoring Chronicles. I know she hated her, but they can't do anything. My stupid father already married her, not seeing the other side of his second wife.

A gold-digging bitch.

"I don't think it's safe for you to go by yourself, nonna. Knowing that someone is out there wanting to kill any of us." I stated with disapproval. Worries evidence in my tone. I can't let her go by herself. I need to make sure she's safe and not go through nonno's fate. The killer is still out there, probably watching us and our every move.

"My securities will be with me. I'll be fine." Nonna replied instantly. "Our friends will be here tonight for a little gathering before I leave tomorrow." Nonna continued on and I reluctantly nodded. Chronicles have been ranting to my father about the last will, on and on.

"I want all of you to join and maybe this is the last time we all gathered completely." She added on and she looks at each every one of us before her eyes lingered on me. I felt her brokenness and all I could do is wishing that I could comfort her and take all the pains she's feeling right now.

"Keep in touch then, nonna," I replied hesitantly. As much as my reason goes, I don't want her to be far from me. I can't be so sure about her safety, but she looks determined and I know when she decides on something she'll do it.

After several minutes, Dad and his family left the room leaving me and nonna alone. Again, I remembered the letter. I took it out from my pocket and read it again..

This code, it's either save you or kill you. It has to be given to the right person. "The buck maybe was gone, but the ricotta has to be made."

I read it again and again, trying to come up with an idea, but still my head couldn't grasp the meaning of it. It was hard to decipher.

A code. From who, or what? I don't understand.

Fucking code and how do I know if it's the right person? Now this question got me intrigued and at the same time scary. Is this related to nonno's death?

My eyes absentmindedly skim the kind of paper the letter was written. The white paper before was now yellow, looking very old. So he wrote this long time ago. Then my eyes caught a kind of serial numbers. I quickly pulled the paper closer to my face and scanned the mixed numbers and letters.

MAMUP808.

My forehead pressed tightly together as I tried to put everything together to make sense, but still, my head just got a blank response.

Dammit!

I look up to see my nonna, now sitting on the couch facing me, with a blank face.

"Do you have any idea what is this puzzle, nonna?" I asked hoping she got some clue.

She just stared at me blankly with her eyes held sadness. "I heard some rumors before, that your nonno was involved in a mafia organization. But, I didn't believe it. I know my friends are just too jealous that I'm dating a hotshot billionaire. And the whole time we are married, never once I heard him talking about these things." She sighed and look at me with an apology. "That code could be a key to something, but we have to find out what it is." She added on and I nod my head. She could be right.

I decided to set the puzzles at the back of my head and fold the paper neatly and tuck it into the left pocket of my coat.

But time to time, the puzzles kept resurfacing through my head.

Nonna and I talk more about her plans, and she plans on running the Sophia Vineyard in Sicily. I remember that vineyard story nonno bought it on their first wedding anniversary and named after nonna.

Hours past and the thought of Georgina completely washed out of my mind, and the code settles in my head like a mantra, distracting me every chance it gets.

The dinner nearly comes, and nonna's friends arrived before six early evening. The dinner was set at seven, so the guest chatted in the formal living room while enjoying their fine wines.

Most of them I met, and some I can't remember.

There were only four couples. I remembered the two couples, Liam and Jodi Nedzels, Austin and Gianna Russo, then Martinus Donofrio and his family.

Each family approaches me and exchange pleasantries here and there, until the last family I couldn't seem to remember their names.

"Marco, look at you boy. I remember when you were just a little boy, now you're taller than me." The six-footer guy, with a dark skin, short stubbles, and his dark eyes that look creepy, but I know he's a nice man or he wouldn't be of friends with my grandparents.

"He is, Alfredo. Time flies by so darn quick!" Nonna quipped wittingly as she approached us and gave Alfredo a brief hug and the old man gave her a quick kiss on her cheeks, which reminds me now of the Bertolini Enterprises.

Now I remember him. Bless my grandma for saving me from being embarrass.

Then, she turned his attention back to me. "Alfredo Bertolini," I shook his hand, giving him a small smile and his smile broadened, then I look on his wife, Marzia and gave her a brief kiss on her cheeks as we exchange pleasantries.

After exchanging few talks, I was dragged by Carina away from them. I caught nonna's eyes following us, until we are out of the sunroom, heading to the garden.

"What are you doing?" I tug my hands off her after realizing what was happening.

"Oh come on, Marco. Let's take this opportunity to get laid." She boldly said as she stops and dragged her palm on my chest trailing down.

I grab her wrist in an iron grip and spoke in a calculated tone. "If I want you, Carina, I had done it way before," I stated coldly and then shoved her hands on her side without care and walked away, leaving her stunned.

I decided to leave the mansion. I'm still baffled with that code and I had to find out soon what is it. Google surely can feed me.

When nonna mentioned about the mafia thing, for some reason, I felt like the code was related to it. Now, I'm wondering who's nonno is working with, and what does the code has to do with me?

As I walked back inside the mansion, I scanned my eyes to find nonna, and I saw him and Rory talking in one corner, of the hallway.

I made my way to their direction, but nonna notices me before I even reach their spot. They suddenly move apart and I look at them quizzically.

"Are you alright, figlio?" Nonna asked and I just nod. I look at Rory, and he stared back at me.

I thought I was just being paranoid. All this surprises and puzzles made me feels paranoid.

"I'm just tired, nonna. I just wish you safe on your flight tomorrow." I uttered and she looks at me with worry.

"You look exhausted, figlio. Alright. Have a good rest then. I will call you once our plane landed in Sicily." She agreed and I gave her a hug and a kiss before exiting the room discreetly.

Trivun opened the limo door as soon as he saw me approaching. I just nod and he closes the door as soon as I'm settled. I remember to call Georgina. I almost smack my head after realizing I forgot to call her. I was supposed to like six hours ago.

"Fanculo!" I mumbled as I pulled out my phone out of my pocket.

I tap on my phone on speed dial and her phone soon rang.

"Hello," her nasal voice reach my ears. Suddenly my ears perked up and my body stiffened. Was she crying, or does she have colds or she's sick?

Suddenly my protective side kicked in.

"Cara, are you alright?" I asked sounding anxious and I couldn't hide the worry in my tone. Suddenly, the longings of holding her courses throughout my body like an impatient big wave, with a high intensity.

"Y-yes," her dry and raspy voice was too evident. She's not fine, I could tell, even how much she tried to conceal her voice, it came out either squeaky or nasal or raspy.

"You're not, cara mia. What's wrong? Are you sick?" I asked, now worries is getting the best of me. I need to see her. I don't care if it's a freaking long trip, which I actually did for few times already, but I need to see her.

"I'm fine, NO I'M NOT!" she said in a high-pitched and crack tone.

Did she cry?

"Are you crying, cara?" the words flew out of my mouth before I could stop myself. I could feel her pain for some reason. And it hurt me to hear her crying.

Why?

"No, I'm not crying. I'm laughing you asshole!" she said sounding plugged up like she was holding her nose while talking.

I wanted to laugh after her sarcastic retort, but hearing her crying made my heart clench. I wonder what made her cry? Were my employees treat her badly? I absentmindedly grip my phone tightly as I was thinking what would make her cry.

"Tell me what's wrong, cara." I urged her as I couldn't think of any possibility that made her so upset. I know all my employees loves her. They knew she's my guest and they can't disrespect her and if I found out one of them did, then he or she's dead.

"I waited for your freaking call, you douche. And... and.. URGH. I HATE YOU!!" She choked, then hung up simultaneously.

She cried because I forgot to call her. She's very upset at me.

Dio, what have I done?

"Trivun," I blurted out looking at him in the rear mirror. I don't know what gotten into me to asked him about girls, but I found myself asking him how to melt an upset woman.

"What makes a woman smile?" I asked absentmindedly. Trivun's eyes lingered on me then back to the road.

"I know most women like chocolates, flowers, anything branded.." He enumerated and I knew she's not a branded starved woman. Chocolates and flowers could be.

"And a pet, sir." Trivun looks at me in the rear mirror. His eyes shone after.

"A pet?" I asked confused.

"Yes, sir. I remember my friend. When his girlfriend was very mad at him after he stood her up on their date, he bought her a dog and she was very happy. She can't contain her happiness that she forgot about the incident." Trivun cracks a smile upon recalling it.

I nodded my head and contemplated. Not a bad idea.

"Then find me the cutest dog and get me one in an hour," I demanded and Trivun looks at me in disbelief.

"Sir, it's already six-thirty-"

"There's should be at least one open." I insisted cutting him off and he reluctantly nodded his head. Not long, his Bluetooth turned on and he ordered his companies to raid the whole manhattan to find a dog, the 'cutest dog.'

I was in my penthouse waiting for the dog I ordered and I'm getting impatient. I tried to call Georgina again, but she just ignored my call. I need to leave soon.

I called Tad instead to know what's going on. I've been caught up in my family's situations and that puzzles that I forgot Georgina's existence.

"Hello, sir." Tad's anxious voice rang in my ears, dragging me out of my trance.

"How is she?" I asked shortly.

"She's still inside her room, sir. She locked herself since after lunch time." Tad reported and I sighed.

"Watch her and make sure she doesn't leave her room," I ordered coldly and I ended the call, not bothering to hear his response. I'm so riled up with myself. Why did I ever forget that?

Then my phone rang with Trivun's name blinking on the screen. I connected it briefly and his voice rang in the speaker.

"We found a mixed brown and red pugapoo hybrid dog. She's going to love him. Soft and fluffy, which most women likes."

"Did you say him?" I crunched my forehead after realizing they bought her a boy dog. I should have told them to buy a girl one.

Hell! I said no man ever gets close to her. I don't care if he's a dog. And now this damn dog would get cuddled and even get to touch her chest, most likely.

"Is there any problem, Mr. Massaretti?" Trivun asked and I bit my tongue before I spilled it out. I can't tell him my reason, I would look like a fool.

"Nothing, Trivun. We will leave then soon." I uttered and he just told me, he's waiting in the limo, with the pup in a box.

I quickly left my penthouse after securely locking the door and headed down to my limo.

I can't wait to see her.

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A/N: This is yet another rough draft, so please bear with the typos and errors.

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