Emma's POV

"...Is she fed?"

"Cris!..." Camilla yelled and tried to get up only for Cris to hold her back.

"Ava..." Cristiano gritted.

"Kids?" I heard a feminine voice. Even I didn't notice when Mr and Mrs Lucca appeared there. They were as lovely as they seemed on the press. Mrs Lucca was in a wheelchair and Mr Lucca stood at her back.

"Dad..." Ava exclaimed but walked to her mom and got down to kiss her before she jumped to hug her dad who wrapped his left arm around her daughter and kissed her temple.

"Aren't you too early for your mom?..." And, before Mr Lucca could finish Ava got her hands in the air and bowed a little. "I talked to mom..." But Mrs Lucca already moved her wheelchair to Cristiano who was quick to gesture to Ava. And, Mrs Lucca too looked at her back. "How are you feeling now, Mrs Lucca?" It was the first time for me to see how Camilla behaved in front of someone. She even had the manners to get out of Cristiano's hold. And, it only mirrors how no one could mess with Grace de Lucca.

"I am sorry, Camilla. You know it's not for Ava to decide who will stay in Cristiano's life. And, you are more than welcome to be part of this family."

"Oh don't be quick Julie..." Mr Lucca said and everyone looked at Matteo de Lucca. He walked with his daughter on his side before he continued. "...the doctors have asked you to rest. Your foot might need three other weeks."

"It's fine...nothing can stop me to get ready for my son's wedding." Mrs Lucca replied with utter joy.

"What are you saying, Julie? I am sure they won't even think about it when..." And, Camilla looked at Cristiano who was quick to silence his dad. "The accident you discussed on the phone was mom tripping on the stairs. From the last three stairs. Ava was told about it but I wasn't."

"Oh..." Mrs Lucca looked at her husband as if she was asking him something but then looked at his son.

"I think I will be fine in slippers in a week...you tell me when you two want this to happen. I would attend..."

"Right after seven days...what about it?" Camila chirped and smiled looking at Matteo de Lucca.

I don't know why but the smile that appeared on Mrs Lucca's face couldn't be spotted on Ava and her dad.

"I..." Cristiano looked at Camilla because he indeed wanted the other parties before the wedding but now only nodded, "...mom, do you think granny..."

"She will move the mountains to be here...and,..." Then, Mrs Lucca looked at Matteo while five other maids came into the space following the butler and started setting cookies and tea on the table. "...I know it is short notice...but people who love Cristiano will definitely be here and this is what matters the most, right?"

"Who's gonna miss it?" Ava and her father said in unison and then looked at each other.

Every one of us looked at them before Ava explained. "Mom...the moment word gets out you are going to find it difficult to keep the paparazzi at bay. And,..."

"Then, you can help your brother. Why don't you ask our security agency to stay alert? We don't want anything to go wrong, right?" But before Cris could say Mrs Lucca's cellphone rang. "Excuse me,...hello Jason," Mrs Lucca got her electric chair away while Matteo and Ava took their place as if they were marking their place.

"Ava, I will take care of it. The least you two can do...is to show up." Cristiano said and Camilla snorted.

"Of course, they will be there...you know them...they live for the world." One could tell they had an agenda at Mrs Lucca's back. Because everyone looked at Mrs Lucca after Camilla's comment before Ava smiled, "And, we are best at it, the Larson heiress. Do you really believe you stand a chance at this ship?..." Ava received the tea from the maid and smiled thanking her. "...It's the same way I like it...thank you, Bridget. God, I miss your food."

"Too bad you don't have a say who can board this ship...how does it feel, Ava?" Camilla got her manicured finger on Cristiano's chin as if challenging them.

Bridget smiled and poured the tea for Cristiano all the while telling him. "I am going to sit in the front row. Or else I am not coming to your wedding, Mr Lucca." The family seemed to be enjoying her words but Camilla was quick to stop her from pouring one for her.

"No, you don't...I have an assistant for it." I wonder why she did it. Bridget seemed nice.

"My brother pays for it." Ava coughed.

I got ahead to pour the tea for Camilla but didn't dare to deny it when Camilla snorted. "No, he doesn't...I have enough money for this lifetime..."

Ava raised her brows but then sipped her tea before she replied with utter calm. "No one has the money for a lifetime. People work for it. My brother and your father work their ass off...or else you can finish their existing fortunes in a year. So, get this pill little kitten. You are nothing without my brother and your father. You feed off people who know how to work."

"Ava! Can you stop it?" Cristiano was beyond annoyed and Ava was quick to look at her father before she looked at her brother. "No?"

But Camilla only chuckled. As if she was waiting for the conversation to get to this point. "I am a famous lifestyle influencer if you aren't looking at my Instagram. I have seventy-two million followers. And, it is ten million more followers than you."

"Camilla?...don't!" Cristiano warned.

"I heard you wanted to buy Instagram in your next venture, honey?" Matteo asked Ava and Ava looked at Camilla. "I wonder who I should delete after I do this."

"Maybe delete pretentious people," Her dad suggested.

"No, dad. Then how will they visit my profile..."

"Come on...you two are the most pretentious people I have ever met," Cris said and Ava looked at Mrs Lucca but before she could say something Mrs Lucca beat. "I second that too...you two live for people but all of you are my people...and, Cris...do tell us if there is anything we can do for you,"

"No, we will take care of it. My assistant will tell you all the dress codes. And, do tell me how many people will be there at your side. The more accurate the numbers...the better." Saying that Camilla's remarks were rude wasn't sufficient.

And, everyone got silent for a moment before I noticed Ava standing up as she said, "Ask your assistant to call my manager. I will see if I can manage it in my schedule." I who was about to pass the cup to Camilla felt a bump on my shoulder before the tea spilt all over the floor. "Oh fuck!" Camilla yelled and had a little splash on her skirt. And, for the first time, Cristiano looked at me. "How dare...?"

"No, I didn't..." I cut Cristiano off but before I could say something Matteo de Lucca stood up. "What are you doing?"

"Oh my God, are you fine, honey?" Mrs Lucca asked Camilla while I only looked at Ava, who also looked at me as if daring to say her name.

"I am sorry, Miss Larson..." I whispered,

"Emma, say it," Camilla asked me to speak up while I only shook my head. "I...maybe I wasn't paying attention." I only wanted to avoid the scene but the following words were more like a hammer. "You are fucking fired,"

"Cami?" Mrs Lucca whispered and Benjie who came out with the two guys following him too got slower in his steps before he whispered, "Miss Princeton, You follow me. I will arrange for you a way to go back..." I don't know why but I was only looking at Cristiano who seemed busy telling one of the maids to call a doctor to have an eye on Miss Camilla.

"That won't be required, Benjie. I am hiring her..." I looked at Ava and was about to decline when she raised her brows again. "You...report to me now! In my room,..."

I looked at Benjie to get any orders and he only huffed out. "With Miss Ava, it's a different team. You won't be working under me. It's up to you, now."

"I can't do this family anymore! Unbelievable." We all heard Camilla shouting before she marched to her wing and Cristiano only stopped to say. "You better not do this, Ava." He left after Camilla.

And, though I wanted to reject the offer I walked after Ava. I didn't want to gain any more attention. I was literally fired from the company that was my best chance at a career. And, more than anything I was working for Cristiano. But I didn't want to reject Ava's offer while we were having an audience. It had already been a lot of drama.

I followed her and didn't speak until I believe we were in her living area. "I don't think I can work for you,"

"Excuse me?" She turned around as if I wasn't making sense. "I followed you because I didn't want any drama. And, I know what you want me to do. And, I..."

"What do you think my daughter can want from you," I looked at my back to notice Matteo de Lucca while Ava dropped her bag on the floor and went to the bar.

I wasn't only looking at Matteo de Lucca. I was standing under his roof and had a very unlikely situation presented in front of me. "She wants my presence here to remind Camilla of how she couldn't make me jobless," I replied to Mr Lucca and Ava chuckled.

"Impressive...but it wasn't hard. You had seen our drama."

"This is why I wanted you here. You have seen what they are up to?" Ignoring my presence Mr Lucca told his daughter and she nodded to her father.

"I can see it. But I am not doing anything. He wants to marry her. He can marry her. I have my homework done, dad." Ava poured a little drink for her. And, I was quick to cut. "I better leave," But Mr Lucca and Ava both yelled, "Shut up," And, I literally jumped.

"Look, dad, she is Larson's heir. I know what you think of her. And, you didn't want this for Cristiano. But he wants her. And, it's fine. She has two younger brothers and three cousins. Everyone is still unmarried. And, I tell you. We can get rid of them and who will have all of it? Cristiano?" And, this made me gasp and Mr Lucca looked at me. "What?"

"You aren't supposed to have ears. Or I have one hundred and fifty acres of land here. No one will ever find where the burial happened.

But even the thought of what she said was too wild to cater. "You can't do this...she...look...I can't..."

"I was kidding, my assistant...and, hear me out. Think it through and work for me. I do have two assistants but you can assist me in my..." The slurred pause could mirror her intentions perfectly.

"You certainly don't want any assistant and I can't do anything that would annoy Mr Lucca..." But then I looked at Mr Lucca and added, "...junior, Mr Lucca..."

I was about to leave but her satanic laugh was indeed something. "He didn't even speak for you...I gave you a job on the other hand. Step out of your fantasy, kitten. I have seen how you looked at him..." I narrowed my eyes and hated how she smirked tilting her long neck. "...nice tip? He is never gonna look. You aren't even remotely cut for him." She chuckled and was sure of her damage but I shook my head. "No...it's of no use. I better go. I can't do this Miss. Lucca. I have a lot of respect for your brother. I owe him. I will never trouble him,"

"You owe him? What?" Miss Ava asked and it was only now that I realized what I said, "I am sorry, I better go,"

"Yea, whatever...get lost," I wonder what she thinks of herself. I bit my lip and looked at Miss Ava's back before I nodded a little to Mr Lucca. I was about to turn when Mr Lucca said, "Stop..." And, I looked at him. "Work for me for a week. With all the employees at their full capacity for the coming wedding. I think my wife can enjoy a hand. I will pay you generously...or you can do it for free for what you owe to my son."

Now, I really didn't know how to answer this one. It was his mother we were talking about and she seemed like a great person. And, not the one who would use me to annoy Cristiano.

"Let me make it easy for you. How does fifty thousand dollars sound for a week?" Mr Lucca repeated and I took my moment before accepting. "If I realized you hired me to get back at..."

"I am Cristiano's dad too. Trust Julie?" I shook my head, "You only pay me what you would owe me. I...I would love to do it."

"Dad? What are you thinking?" Ava said and I looked at Mr Lucca too. Wondering if he was doing anything.

"Nothing...my son wants to marry...and, there is a lot going on. I think we need a lot of help and her too."