Adreano's POV :

I disconnected the call and stood up. I took out my coat, swirled it a bit in the air and hung on the arms of the chair. I was feeling happy. I made the deal and bought a Casino in Las Vegas.

After trying his best, dad told me to look upom this deal. It was a very old casino with ancient interiors and machines. They said the casino is under the hands of some mafia and it's dangerous to even think of buying the casino.

I visited Las Vegas two times last year. After a long research, Mr Gru told me about some man named Tom was said to be the middle man of the dealings between mafia and businessmen.

Two months before I tried to meet him personally but it was fruitless. This was my third visit and I didn't wanted to make a fourth one. I invited him to my hotel in Las Vegas.

''You already have a plush hotel here. Why you want the Casino?'' He said taking a sip of wine.

''This hotel? Even if I buy Taj Mahal, it doesn't mean that I will stop making deals. Such kind of words coming out from the middle man of Mafia makes me laugh.'' I smirked.

The smile on his face vanished. He cleared his throat, ''I don't think you can pay the price. Others are offering me money huge as pyramids.''

''If that was real you were riding with camels on those money pyramids by now.'' I poured wine and filled half the glass, ''Tell me the price.''

He looked at me for a while. Probably thinking the price. He drank another sip and told me the price. I snapped my fingers, Mr. Gru filled the cheque and took my sign.

''My flight is in two hours and I want the papers ready and all the formalities completed by then.'' I said to Mr. Gru.

''Don't you want to talk to my mafia friends?'' He said. His eyes were almost out from the socket while he was looking at the figures on the cheque.

''Oh really? If the mafia you were talking about till now existed, the cheque would have been in their hands.'' I said and left.

I could imagine his face. How he even thought he will fool me this easily.

                      ********

My father, Mark Stryker came in my cabin. He was delighted too, like me.

''Well done Adreano.'' is all he said and left. But before leaving he said me to meet for dinner in the evening.

Though he didn't mentioned but his eyes said it all. His eyes said he is very much proud of me. I was overjoyed. I suddenly realized what he said before leaving.

Dinner??

I ended up with the work and left for home. Bathing after a long, tiring day relieves stress. I felt relaxed. After many months we are going to dime together. What will we talk about?

I got a call from dad. He said to come to Grandma's favourite restaurant 'Moonlight'. Is this a family dinner? I called Grandma. She said she already reached the resto with my parents.

Family dinner?

On my way to the restaurant, I thought about all the birthdays, anniversary and other special occasions that fall under today's date. But I ended up with nothing. I have made so many big deals. Maybe this is a celebration for that. I don't know.

I reached. My family was already present. My mom, dad, grandma and a girl. A girl? There's no girl in our family. Then who is she? I moved closer and discovered the girl. She was Selene.

"Hello everyone." I greeted and sat on the chair.

"Hey Adreano. How come you are on time today?" Selene chuckled.

"Oh, Hi Selene. I thought it's a family dinner. Who invited you here?" I tried to spoil her joke on me.

"You should not talk to a girl like that Adreano." Dad's voice grabbed my attention towards him. He continued, "She is now a family too and your best friend."

"I am sorry. I was just...." my tongue got numb.

It was a very awkward situation. Not because Dad scolded me but because the eyes who were staring at me from the moment I have arrived. It was my mom. I was very rude to her that night.

"Poor kid!" Selene laughed. "Mr. Stryker please stop scolding him. He will die here with embarrassment.

"Okay. Enough of drama." Dad laughed as well.

What the hell is going on here? Dad is laughing? He hardly ever smiles. How did he got so comfortable with Selene?

"If you will just excuse us." I said and excused me and Serene from the table. I took her to the bar counter enough away from them to hear us.

"What's wrong?" Selene asked with confusing eyes.

"From past many months, I haven't dined with my parents. They are always busy. Today he asked me for dinner."

"So what? Why you are so uneasy about it? You should be happy right?" She sounded normal. As if she doesn't know anything. Oh, yeah, how would she know? She wasn't here since years.

"Selene..you..you don't know..." I was trying to explain but she interrupted.

"Popcorn please. We'll talk later about it. Your parents and Grandmother are staring at us. Let's go."

She moved few steps towards the table. I accompanied her.

"Don't you dare call me popcorn before them." I whispered in her ears.

"I am not dumb like you." She whispered back.

"Any problem?" My mom asked. Smiling, pretending that everything's normal between our family. No issues. No differences. We are good at pretending before others being a 'Perfect Happy Family.'

"Yes of course Mrs. Stryker. Everything is fine."

"So what are you doing in New York after so many years Selene?" Mom asked.

"Actually I have been invited to judge a fashion exam.

"That's good." Mom smiled.

"Yes. At first I wasn't sure about this but they personally met me and told the format of the exam. This exam is going to give chance the young designers to assist the experienced ones."

"She is one of the top designer in Greece." Dad said and took a sip from his glass.

"Impressive." Mom raised her one of her eyebrows.

"Really glad to hear that dear. I am proud of you." Grandma said and smiled at me.

I knew what she's thinking. I gave grandma 'Selene is my best friend not more than that' look. She nodded in distaste.

Selene was like a boy more than a girl. We used to be together all the time. She was fat and cute. Football ran in her arteries and veins. She was different. Different from other girls in our school. But, after a financial crisis, she moved to Greece and never came back, not even in holidays.

And she's here, totally changed from head to toe. Her fat body and chubby cheeks reduced into lean, toned body and enticing cheek bones. From her injured hands and legs caused due to playing on the football ground and messing with the bullies, were now well manicured and pedicured.

She was strong then and is strong now. Her journey from a middle class girl to a world famous designer proves it all. I was happy having her back. Thankful that despite drastic change in her outer appearance she is still the same from the inside.

My best friend - Selene.

**************

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