Xavier almost always had a hard expression on his face which made him look angry at times. But when around family, he was a different person. He had a smile that was a rare sight and was relaxed unlike being alert when around outsiders.

It was a Sunday today which meant it was family time. First Xavier would have breakfast with his parents, grandparents, and brother. And lunch was held at the grand ballroom with all the Devonte's spending time with each other once a month. Today was that day.

Xavier walks into his grandparent's side of the mansion and spots his grandmother, Sabrina arranging breakfast with the maids. He sneaks behind her and hugs her.
"good morning, mama," says Xavier and smells her fresh scent.
"You are early. Is my baby hungry?" asks Sabrina.
"you know I starve myself all week just so I get to eat your delicious breakfast once a week," says Xavier attached to Sabrina.
"Isn't that an exaggeration," says Agnolo walking into the dining room and continuing "and leave mama. Papa is coming".
"my mama," says Xavier and holds her closer.
"leave my fiore. You are crushing my delicate flower. Why can't I keep you all away from my fiore" says Elisio Devonte, Xavier's grandfather.
"I love my mama," says Xavier.
"love her from a distance. Now leave before I stab you" says Elisio.
"I thought you love me," says Xavier and lets go of Sabrina to take a seat on Elisio's right.
"I love you, that's why I would only stab you and not threaten to kill you," says Elisio.
"dad is threatening to kill. Looks like the day has started early" says Ermanno Devonte, Xavier's father walking in with Rose, Xavier's mother.

"Morning mom," says Ermanno and kisses Sabrina on her cheek, and takes a seat beside her with Rose next to him.

"So did you meet anyone last night?" Asks Rose to Agnolo while everyone started eating breakfast.
"I met few people," says Agnolo.
"I meant, did you meet a girl?" Asks Rose.
"It was a fashion show. I met many girls" says Agnolo.
"Mom wants to know if you got laid," says Xavier while chewing on his food.
"I don't like casual dating. I have made that very clear" says Agnolo.
"Our son is going to die a virgin," says Rose to Ermanno.
"Don't worry mom. He will find a suitable man soon" says Xavier.
"I am not gay," says Agnolo.
"You better not be or I'll be losing my Bentley," says Elisio.
"Can't wait to own that badass machine" says Xavier.
"You bet on me being gay? You both are very bad people" says Agnolo.
Elisio and Xavier look at eachother and bust out laughing.
"He finally gets us," says Xavier, and Agnolo shakes his head in the annoyance.

This was a typical Sunday morning for Xavier. He was bought up to respect, protect and love his family. And take the family business to heights. He worshiped his grandfather and wanted to be exactly like him. Feared and respected by everyone.

After breakfast Rose left to look into the lunch arrangement in the ballroom with the rest of the women in the mansion. Elisio and Xavier left to discuss business in his study and Agnolo went to meet his cousins to have a round of tennis before lunch. Sabrina was left with Ermanno who stayed back to speak to Sabrina.
"You were silent all morning. What's wrong mom?" Asks Ermanno.
"Your father and I argued last night. He wants us to shift into the east side of the mansion in which Elisio's grandfather and then his father lived" says Sabrina.
"You don't want to shift?" Asks Ermanno.
"I had a miscarriage before I had you and it happened on that side of the mansion while Elisio's grandfather was alive. That place still reminds me of that incident" says Sabrina.
"Mom, it's completely ok if you don't want to shift there. But you can't cry over what happened a long time ago" says Ermanno.
"That's what your father said," says Sabrina.
"Mom, you don't want to shift. That's enough reason to not shift" says Ermanno and continues "I'll talk to dad"
"He won't listen. It's ok" says Sabrina a little sad.
Xavier stood at the threshold of the room listening to Sabrina.

Elisio Devonte and his four brothers with their kids and grandkids lived in a large estate just outside Manhattan. The mansion was originally built by Elisio's grandfather and more and more land was bought around it to build more villas to accommodate the new members. The main mansion itself had a West wing and an East wing. Elisio and Sabrina lived in the east wing and soon were to shift to the West wing.
"After we shift, the West wing will be for Xavier," says Elisio seated with his brothers.
"You know, I don't mind the east wing. I kind of like the old vibe there" says Xavier and Sabrina who was nearby gets excited.
"No, I will stay in the east wing where my grandfather and dad stayed. No more discussion" says Elisio.
Xavier looks at Sabrina whose face fell listening to Elisio.

"Shall I make a whole new mansion for my mama? I'll make you an even bigger one" says Xavier to Sabrina standing at a distance from everyone.
"Your papa will still insist on staying in the east wing," says Sabrina.
"He is stubborn," says Xavier.
"I know. It's ok" says Sabrina and runs her hand on his cheek.
"You are such a good boy," says Sabrina.
"I am nice 'cause I love you, mama," says Xavier and kisses her cheek, and walks away to hang out with his cousins.
Sabrina turns away from Xavier and sees Elisio standing nearby listening to them. He walks close to her and says "I thought we are done discussing this"
Sabrina looks down and Elisio takes a deep breath and says "don't make me angry fiore. You know I don't like myself when I am angry at you"
Sabrina nods and he lifts her face to look at him.
"Tell me you love me," says Elisio.
"I love you" whispers Sabrina and Elisio kisses her lips and says "you should"
Xavier watches them from a distance and didn't like the tension between his perfect grandparents.

The next day Xavier walks into his office and is welcomed with fresh flowers on his desk. He takes his seat behind his desk and hears a knock on the door. He says come in and walks in is his assistant, Charlotte.
Charlotte has been with Xavier for the past five years and has made peace with her boss's rude behavior.
"Good morning sir," says Charlotte with a smile and hands Xavier his schedule for the day. Xavier never greeted Charlotte back but that didn't stop Charlotte to greet him every day.

"Do you like the flowers?" Asks Charlotte.
"Bring me Sinclair's file," says Xavier going through his schedule in front of him.
Charlotte rolls her eyes and brings him the file he asked for. She goes through his schedule and takes notes to make changes.
Xavier dismisses her and as she was about to leave, she stops and reluctantly says "sir, someone called Regina Smith called and asked for your number. I asked to leave a message"
"What did she want?" Asks Xavier opening Sinclair's file.
"She wants you to accompany her to a party this weekend," says Charlotte.
Xavier smirks and says "send her flowers and write a message in them. Write, I would love to take her for a date a day before the party"
"You are going out with her?" Asks Charlotte.
Xavier looks up at Charlotte and asks "you have a problem with that?"
"No sir. I'll send the flowers with the message right away" says Charlotte and was about to leave when Xavier says "add one more thing to the message"
Charlotte gets ready to take note and Xavier says "no underwear on date night"

Charlotte's cheek heats up to crimson red and without meeting his eyes, she asks "anything else"
"That would be all," says Xavier and watches Charlotte scatter out of the office.

Charlotte wets her lips and smiles. She peeks back at him through the glass door separating their workplace. He was engulfed in the file in front of him and Charlotte couldn't stop adoring the man she was in love with for the past five years.

Charlotte sits on her chair and browses through the different flowers to send to Regina. She wanted to send the ugliest of flowers but went against it. She selected the flowers and starts to write the message Xavier said. But she addresses the flowers "to Charlotte, with love Xavier"
She smiles a shy smile and looks back at Xavier speaking to someone on the phone with his professional persona. She smiles at him and then stops smiling when she sees her reflection. Reality hits her hard and she comes back to reality. She looks back at the message and changes her name and writes Regina Smith. She sends the message with the address to send the flowers. She leans back in her chair and shakes her head at how stupid she was. She was nothing and he was everything. She looks one last time at the love of her life, admiring him from afar. He was the emperor who would never look at the peasant like her.

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Chapter 3 updated only at patreon.