I'm sorry for the late update, was struggling with writer's block.😑
Please vote and lemme have your thoughts on this chapter❤️❤️.

Giveon ~ let me go✨✨

Max left the room, I stayed at the balcony enjoying the view and cold breeze. Andrei comes to meet me with a glass full of cognac. I nod at him as I take it from him. The substance burns deep in my throat, the moment it hits. It has been my only friend since she left. Just a few shots and I enter my world of oblivion but I can't afford to do that here. I might be getting married to the Italian mafia queen but till we tie the knots and the rings are resting on our fingers.... I'm still a stranger and I don't want to get too comfortable.

I'm reminded of my unfinished work as Andrei walks back in with a laptop in his hand. I took off my suit and tie, handed them over to him, and collected the laptop. I sit on the sofa chair positioned at the corner of the balcony. Turned on the laptop and continued with my previous work. Yesterday's shipments from India have successfully landed and have been taken to the warehouse but something is not right. My eyebrow furrows at the screen at the two red dots moving in opposite directions on the map. Why are there two dots?
Another shipment was ordered to drop at the base shore but why is there another shipment moving towards the opposite?

My left hand came to rub my chin. "Who is in charge of the shipment dispatch and arrival?" I asked Andrei.

He answers immediately. "Sir. Donovan" I nodded slowly. A daunting smile crept up my lips. The audacity to steal from me. I zoomed in on the opposing shipment heading towards north. I tap on it and the information displays. "Trail them. Don't stop them, let's see where he's taking it to" He bows and leaves. I continued with the rest of my business, and went over the meeting Nikolai had with the shareholders of the oil and engine company we recently bought from the Americans. It went more smoothly than I expected. Knowing Nikolai's nature, I was pretty sure he'd stir up a little drama but it looks like my little brother is starting to grow up. A huge breath left my mouth as I shut close the laptop and stalked over to the railing. Beneath me is Lucchesse's large garden, the man really did a lot of work for his home. Beside the garden is a paved ground to a clear lake. My throat itches to consume more of my cognac but I can't afford to do that. I need some sort of distraction to get my mind busy and full and since I can't drown in the solace of cognac tonight, I grab my coat from the coat rack and walk out of the room.

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The lake looks breathtaking real close. I walked into the garden with my coat hanging on my right shoulder when I caught a glimpse of a figure. I stalk slowly towards it, the closer I get, I realize it's a female.

Davinia.

She stands in the middle of the garden and the lake. Her back towards me. She's in a night robe that slips over her right shoulder which glistened in the moonlight. Her hair drapes down to her back, swinging a little as the breeze sweeps past. My feet walk further, her arms folded over her chest drops to her sides. She knows someone is here, I smile to myself.

I reached out to touch her shoulder but her arm rushed out to hit me first. I dodged swiftly and reached out again, I missed and was not able to register my shock as her hands dig repeatedly at my arm, rendering it limbless. Shocked, I watch my right arm fall lifeless down to my side, time paused, she turns to move but my left-hand grabs her by the neck, pulling her dainty body to mine. It matched perfectly. Her body, like it's made for mine. Her heart beats erratically against my arm over her neck which I loosened a bit, She struggles to get herself loose. I brought my lips to her ear and whispered. "Relax, Darling." Her body tensed immediately, she scrambles out of my hold and bowed a little to me, her hair falling over her face. She puts strands of it behind her ears when she rises back up, her neck turns to a deep shade of pink. Such a beautiful sight.

I watch her ramble out her apologies especially after she eyes my lifeless hand. The whole thing amuses me. She's a very amusing female.
"I didn't mean to sneak up on you. One has to be alert always"

She shook her head in disagreement and opened her mouth to protest.

"Don't" I cut her off.

Staring down at my lifeless arm, I'm unable to move it. "Where did you learn this?"
She smiles bitterly, her lashes fluttering. "My mother taught me"
I nodded.
Her mother, there's little I know of her. The lucchese are very good at keeping things very private. From what I know, her mother is battling a brain disease and a series of drug addictions. It must have been tough to see her mother in such light.

The wind whistles softly as it breezes past. She looks beautiful under the gaze of the moonlight. I bent down on one knee to feel the water. It ripples softly. The whole place is magnificent. I look over my shoulder to see Davinia stare at the view, her eyes glazed.

My eyebrows furrow. One of the best attributes I possess is being able to read one's expression and interpret but Davinia Luchesse is one hard nut to crack. Even as a child, she was hard to read, and thus the reason why I stayed clear of her path. An enigma, she is. Despite her bubbly attitude then, she was still hard to read. She'd show hundreds of expressions in a span of an hour and my teenage self thought it was the coolest and scariest thing. She grew up beautiful in the midst of thorns.

I stood back up. My right hand is starting to get warm, I folded and unfolded it till it started to hold its own weight. My eyes remained on Davinia, watching her with calculating eyes.

"Are you really going to leave this behind?" I coax.

She clears her throat. "I would leave it behind someday. I am a woman after all"

I had expected such a response from her. So I tried again.

"Do you want to get married to me, Davinia?"