ANTONIO
Iget off the phone with Stella, and I’m pretty fucking excited. I’m not really sure what’s so exhilarating about spending more time with her than I care to spend with anyone, but I’ve concluded it's the idea of having my own place. Vince got me a townhouse in this nice area North of Hollywood. It reminds me of summers in Europe, and I’m grateful it's away from the city.
“Hey, you’ve got great neighbors, little brother! Luca is just around the corner!” Luca is Jess’s older brother, recently got promoted to head of the tech and analytics department. I think I met him once at an office party. Christmas, maybe? He was holding Nari, my niece.
I probably won’t be paying him a visit, but I don’t tell Vince that. I’d prefer not to be an asshole to the guy who gave me back a small taste of freedom and convinced Pops to let me live further out. To be honest, I think the only reason he allowed it is because of Luca. But again, not interested in making any new friends.
I walk up to the house, white brick, black shutters, towering trees with a small front yard, and a black picket fence. I walk up the stairs with him, unlock the door for the first time, and look inside. It’s already furnished with touches of Gucci and modern elements laid throughout the home. It’s definitely me.
“Man, you could have a business.”
“I’ve got two already.” He scoffs jokingly, but it feels like a burn.
“Yeah,” I say, looking around the house a bit before heading up the stairs. So far, I’ve counted three bedrooms and an office downstairs. Pretty good size for what looks quite tiny from the outside. I head back downstairs, and Vince is on the phone in the kitchen. When I turn the corner, I see him running his hand through his hair, face red with anger.
“No. Listen.” His tone is cutting and dark. I graze past him, open up my new cherry red retro refrigerator, and pull out a protein shake. He really thought of everything.
“Fuck.” He slams his phone on my countertop, and I furrow my brows. I could comment about him being careful with my stuff, but it seems a little tone-deaf given the circumstance and the fact that he got the whole place for me.
“These people are infuriating.” He groans, forehead to the counter still.
“Who?” I take a sip of my shake.
“Fucking Russians, bro.”
“Oh.” I draw that out a little too long and lean against the counter for him to continue, but instead, he lets out a long sigh and stands up straight.
“I’ve got a meeting to attend soon. Are you gonna be okay?” I’m an adult, so…
“Yes, mom.” I blink, and he snorts a laugh, eyes closed, as she shakes his head and turns on his heels.
“Hey!” He whips around quickly, remembering something. I lift my chin in response. “I’m proud of you. Having Stella come stay with you is a big step. You’re on the way to becoming a better man already!” He turns out the door before I can say something else. I’ll spare you the details, but I can tell you it wasn’t about to be a “thank you.”
The fuck? How am I not a better man on my own terms? Why the fuck do I have to have someone to validate that? I have no interest in settling down at twenty-four. I’m not stupid enough to waste away my prime-time cuffed to someone pregnant with my child and spending all my money. Not a fucking chance.
I spend most of my day going through school assignments that just continue to stack, not to mention the other growing pile of work files that I’ve reserved at the corner of my desk for when I finish my assignments. Before I realize it, I’m half an hour away from leaving, so I hit the shower, and slip into a black silk Versace suit, black button-up underneath, and my black leather Versace combat boots. It’s a clean look, which I’m sure will get me far in my chat with a Malibu-based landscaper willing to sign on to one of Neptune's newest projects.
After Vince found out that I was “officially” dating Stella, he started rattling off things I could do around the office. I guess my family’s trust in me is contingent on how easily I can be controlled, but it doesn’t matter if I can prove myself. This deal will mean that I can take a step that’s much closer to my goal. By the end of Stella and I’s little arrangement, I may just be able to take over Neptune.
There’s a knock on the door as I head downstairs to leave. Through the outline of their frame in the stain-glass portion of the door, I think I recognize who it is. I open it and meet the eyes of whom I believe is Alk, followed by a couple of my boys, carrying pastel suitcases almost as big as them up the sidewalk.
“Mr. San Giovanni. I’m here to deliver and unpack Stella’s things.”
“Oh! Just up the stairs, the guest bedroom to the first left.” He gives me a nod, and I make room for the group to head inside. Five men with a suitcase each. I shake my head in amusement. How long is she planning to stay here?
My car is already waiting for me by the time I step outside. Security follows me to it, making sure I’m in before we head off and on the road by five. On the drive there, I get a text from Vince.
“Don’t fuck it up.”
“The meeting or Stella?”
“Both.”
I roll my eyes at his self-righteousness and turn off my phone for the night as we pull up to the restaurant. I get out right away with one of the boys, and they walk with me to the reservation desk inside.
“Neptune?” The man says before I’ve told him who I am.
“Yes.” I smile, and he ushers me across the restaurant. For some reason, I’m scanning the room, hoping to spot Stella. It is a mystery why it even really matters, but my eyes don’t seem to care. I can’t see her by the time I’m at my table, so I conclude she must be at the outside seating.