Walking into his apartment he removed his jacket and tie. He sat down with a drink in his hand and thought about his father. They never lived in a house, always in a penthouse and when he got older moved from his father's into his own. As a young boy, he was taught how to fight, shoot and was groomed to take over someday. Piero was a man you never messed with, he had his share of female company and treated them with respect. He also taught his son to treat them well and never to hurt them, physically or mentally. He picked up a picture of his mother and father together, they looked so happy and in love. His father once told him to find a wife who was strong, one who would accept his lifestyle and what he does without questioning it. He doubted he would ever find a woman like that.

It was just a little after one in the morning when he was awakened by a knock at the door. Getting off the couch where he had fallen asleep he went to answer it.

"Eddie, I was beginning to think you weren't coming."

"Sorry, I'm so late and it looks like I woke you up. If you want we can do this another time, it's not a problem for me."

"No, no I'm awake, come on in. What can I get you to drink?"

"A shot of whiskey sounds good," he replied, looking around the room. "This is a nice place you have here. You've done well for yourself."

"Thanks, I like it," he said, pouring them both a large glass.

When they sat down Eddie raised his glass to Leone. "Here's to the success of tonight and getting rid of another asshole. Your father would be very proud of you."

"Thanks. The reason I asked you to come is that I want to see if you would like to join me, my family. I could use a good man such as yourself in my organization, one I can trust. So what do you say, would you like to join the Brambills family?"

"Oh, Leone, thanks for the offer but I like going solo. That way I can go and come as I please. I don't like being tied down and I enjoy traveling all over the world. I will however help you out whenever you need me. All you have to do is call me."

Leone figured as much, knowing Eddie and how he too had many men at his beck and call that he could call on a moment's notice. He was a man of great wealth, was worth over thirty billion dollars. He inherited most of it from his father when he passed away, the rest he made doing whatever it was mafia guys do.

"I understand, and if you are going to be around for a while I could use your help on a couple of things."

"Just name it and I'll be there. I still don't know why we hated each other, but I'm glad you and I have buried the hatchet."

"I honestly don't know either, but I have a feeling we are going to be great friends."

Eddie smirked. "Maybe because I was always so much better looking than you and you're jealous." He started laughing when he saw Leone roll his eyes. "Don't get me wrong, you're not bad-looking, I guess."

"I'm certainly not jealous."

"Hey, I know this great nightclub that's open all night. What say we go and have a few drinks? If the ladies see you with me you just might be able to pick up a woman."

Leone laughed. "Trust me, I don't need your help picking up women. I'll pass but you go ahead and enjoy yourself. I'll call you later in the week and let you know what's up. I will need your help and maybe a couple of your men."

Eddie stood up and headed to the door with Leone following behind him. Stopping once he reached the door he placed his hand on Leone's shoulder. "From what I've been hearing about you, you have done a great job filling your father's shoes. But, you are way too serious and you need to have some fun and to get laid."

"Goodbye Eddie," he said, shaking his hand and closing the door.

Over the next two years they became best friends and Leone helped him on many occasions. They became inseparable, doing everything together. In those two years, Leone's reputation grew and soon became known as the one man to be feared.

Eddie even convinced him to go out and have some fun and occasionally he would hook up with a woman. But it was always just a one-night stand that left him unsatisfied.

"Leone, you really have to stop looking for the perfect woman. I really doubt that she exists. And the two years that we've been hanging out women have been flocking to you. Why can't you just give them a chance?"

"I disagree with you, I do believe there is someone out there who is my soulmate. The ones I've been with were all superficial and only after me for my money."

"I hope you find that special woman someday. I just want you to know that I'm going to be out of town for a few weeks."

"When are you leaving?"

"Not until next week sometime."

"So where are you going this time?"

"I'm going to Australia to look at some property down there. You know you should come with me."

"You know I can't do that, I've got too much to take care of here. Make sure you come in to see me before you leave."

"I will but for now I have a date and I'll see you in a couple of days."

As it turned Eddie's date had to cancel and feeling a little bit hungry he decided to stop at the nearest diner and grab a bite to eat. He stopped at a place that he'd never been to before, it wasn't one of his usual eating places. This place was small, like one of those mom-and-pop diners. He sat down and looked up when he saw a waitress walking towards him. His eyes traveled up and down her body, as she got closer to him. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was blonde, had a slender build and was downright beautiful.

When she approached the table and saw the man she was about to wait on she couldn't help but think what a handsome man he was. She hands him the menu, smiling at him. "Would you like something to drink while you're looking at the menu?"

"Coffee please, and what would you recommend?"

"The Chicken special is good unless you're a vegetarian, and in that case, we have a special for that too."

"The Chicken special sounds good to me Miss." He looked at the name tag on her uniform. "Eleonora, that's a pretty name. I'm Eddie, Eddie Salvatore."

"I'll go get you your coffee."

He watched as she walked away, she looked just as good leaving as she did coming. He was drawn to her smile and the sound of her voice.

She brought him his coffee and said that his meal would be out in a few minutes.

"Thank you and I hope you don't mind if I say that you are a very beautiful woman. You could do so much better than working in a place like this."

"I like it here, the people I work for are great and so are the customers that come in here."

"I'm sure they are and I didn't mean to offend you. It's just that you could probably work in a better restaurant and make a lot more money in tips."

He was being so nice and she couldn't be mad at him. "I'm not offended, but like I said I like it here. I'll be right back with your meal."

After he had eaten he ordered more coffee just so that he could spend more time with her. Every time she came to his table he would strike up a conversation. When he was handed the bill he laid the money down on the table with a fifty dollar tip before leaving.

The next day he returned to the restaurant around the same time and luck was on his side when he found out that she was on a coffee break so he asked if he could join her. They talked during her whole break, he even made some jokes that got her laughing.

"You have a beautiful laugh. I was wondering if maybe I could take you to dinner sometime?"

She looked at the man sitting across from her. He was so polite and respectful, and it didn't hurt that he was good-looking. She liked him, she liked him a lot but not in the way that she knew he would want her to. "Eddie, I think you're a really nice man and I've enjoyed talking to you. But I'm really not interested in dating you. I'm so sorry, I hope you understand."

"I never said anything about dating. I just thought that we could go to dinner sometime, just as friends."

"My break is over and I got to get back to work."

"Okay, maybe I'll see you tomorrow and if you change your mind about that dinner you can let me know."

When she went behind the counter the other waitress was standing there and as Eddie walked out of the restaurant she turned to Eleonora. "That man has been here twice and he can't take his eyes off of you. Has he asked you out?"

"Yes Judy, but I turned him down."

"Oh my God, why would you do that? He is so gorgeous and from the clothes, he's wearing and the car he's driving he must be loaded."

"I don't care if he's rich or poor, I'm just not interested."

"How do you know you're not interested if you don't go out with him at least once?"

"I like him and he's really nice. But I need to feel some kind of connection with a man before I can even think of going out with him."

"Girl you are crazy for turning him down. What can it hurt just to go out with him for dinner or to a movie?"

The next evening Eddie showed up again, and this time he was carrying a single red rose. Knowing the rose was for her she couldn't help but smile.

He walked up to her with a big smile on his face, handing her the rose. "I'm afraid I can't stay and have coffee with you tonight. I'm going away for a few weeks and I just wanted to give you this rose. I'm hoping that when I come back you will change your mind about having dinner with me."

She took the rose from him. "This is very sweet of you. When you get back and if I do agree to have dinner with you will you promise not to expect more than just two new friends having a meal together?"

"I give you my word, just dinner and nothing else."

"Then I'll give it some serious thought," she said as she took a sniff of the flower.

"Then I will see you when I get back."

"Would it be too nosy of me to ask where you're going?"

"Not at all. I'm going to Australia to look at some property and visit some people I know there. I'll see you soon," he said, winking at her as he walked out.

The night before he was leaving on his trip he stopped in to see Leone. "I thought I'd drop by and have a drink with you before I left for my trip early in the morning."

"It's not going to be the same around here without you. I've gotten kind of used to seeing that ugly mug of yours."

"Oh Leone, you know you love me."

"Haven't heard from you in a few days. I hope everything's okay."

"Eddie smiled back at him. "Things couldn't be better and the reason you haven't seen me is that I have met a gorgeous woman who works in a small diner in town."

"That's nothing knew Eddie, you're always meeting gorgeous women."

"But this one is special, she's so beautiful and she has this smile that just melts your heart."

"Are you telling me that you're in love with a woman you just met?"

"No, I'm not in love, but I am very intrigued with her and I'd like to get to know her better. I've asked her out a couple of times and she keeps turning me down but I might be able to convince her once I get back from Australia."

"How do you know she's not just playing a game with you to keep you interested in her. She probably knows who you are and how rich you are and is just wanting to hook you. There are a lot of gold diggers out there who know how to trick a man into marrying her."

"She's not like that, she's sweet and innocent. I do get the feeling that she just wants to be friends and has no romantic interest in me."

"Then why bother with her?"

"I don't know, I like her and maybe I can change her mind."

"What if you can't change her mind?"

"Well, then we can be friends. It might be nice to take a woman out to dinner or to a show without her expecting me to buy her expensive jewelry or spend a ton of money on her."

"Want me to refill that glass for you?"

Eddie handed him the glass and winked. "You don't have to twist my arm."

"Be careful when you're in Australia and don't go getting yourself into any trouble. When you get back I have a job that requires your help."

"Are you sure it can wait until I get back? I mean if it's something really serious I can always postpone my trip for a few days."

"No that's okay Eddie, it's something that can wait."

After talking for a couple more hours and having a few drinks Eddie finally left to go back to his hotel suite. Even though he had enough money to buy his own apartment or house in every town he went to he chose to live in hotel suites. He wasn't the type that liked feeling he was tied down to one place or one person for that fact. He always stayed in the most expensive hotels, after all, he could afford it.