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SIX

zina

I knew it would be a challenge integrating into the Rivas household, but I wasn’t prepared for the level of hostility that Guido and I are having to deal with on a daily basis.

Giovanni has practically been a ghost over this last week. He makes an enormous effort to stay as far away from Guido and me as possible. It’s annoying me.

And his sons are making an effort - to complicate our lives in every way they can.

“Morning, Guido. Do you want to come down for breakfast with me?” I ask, leaning into the open door of his bedroom.

He looks up from his bed where he’s lying reading a book.

Pulling his mouth to the side he sighs softly. “I don’t know, mom. Maybe it’s better if I wait until everyone else has eaten and go get some food later.”

Anger heats my blood. Anger because someone is making my son feel unwelcome in his own home.

Because this is him home now. Where he belongs - with his father.

“No, Guido . We are not going to let them do that to us. Get up. You are coming down to eat breakfast now.” I snap, not meaning to be short with him, but I’m losing patience for this entire situation.

“Mom - “ he tries again to negotiate his way out of it.

“Now.” I say sternly, shooting him a look that makes him put his book down and accept his fate.

This entire week, none of the staff have been in to our rooms to clean up or change the sheets or collect our laundry. I wanted to ask Giovanni about that because I’ve watched them do it for everyone else that lives here - so why not for us? But now, I’m at their point where I’m accepting that it’s deliberate. There was no misunderstanding.

Because on a number of occasions - just walking past them - they have purposefully not moved aside and made a show of bumping into me.

I’ve given it sometime - but at this point I’m ready to take matters into my own hands.

They have been treating us like shit since day one and I think it is because one, or all, of Giovanni’s sons made it clear to the staff that we are unwelcome and if they treat us with kindness, they will be punished in some way. The staff seem to relish having a chance to look down on someone.

They don’t realize they are messing with the wrong woman.

Down stairs the staff are busy setting the breakfast table.

Not one of them greets us. This is normal.

“Good morning.” I say loudly to all of them, not willing to accept this anymore.

One girl glances at me and pulls a sour face. No one replies.

“I said - good morning. ” I say more sternly.

The girl sniggers.

I walk over to her, standing right in her space I grab her chin, forcing her to look at me. “Do you think its brave to act rudely towards the people who live in this house?”

“Pfft.” She snorts, glaring at me. “From what I’ve heard you manipulated your way in here and won’t be here for very long.”

I take a step back from her, tilting my head to the side as I narrow my eyes at her. She looks at me with a satisfied smirk spread across her face.

In one, swift, sharp movement I slap her across the cheek and that smug grin disappears. Her mouth drops open in shock.

“You’re fired.” I snap. “Get out immediately.”

“You can’t fire me?—”

I cut her words off with another slap. Her eyes shoot wide, glittering with tears. “Even if I was nothing more than a guest in this house - how does your mind justify treating another human being with such disdain. Get the fuck out. And if I see you again I assure you, you will regret it.”

She runs from the dining room and I turn slowly to look at the rest of the staff. “If anyone so much as frowns at my son or me again I will have every single one of you fired. It’s time for people to learn their place and learn how to show respect where it’s required.”

The staff are shifting, standing nervously with their eyes glued to me.

“Does anyone have any questions?” I ask.

“No, mam.” Three of them quickly answer.

“Good. We would like two cups of fresh coffee. I take mine with cream.” I say, sitting down to enjoy my breakfast. I gesture to Guido to do the same. He’s not as sure as I am and watches the staff skeptically.

We can’t act like we’re not welcome here - we have to be the ones who change this environment to make sure others follow our lead.

Santino and Romeo walk into the dining room and Romeo sighs loudly.

“Look what the cat dragged in.” He huffs, glaring at me.

A number of staff scuttle from the room, suddenly eager to be elsewhere.

“Good morning, Romeo. Did you sleep well?” I ask, ignoring his rudeness.

He huffs and turns to his brother. “I’m not actually that hungry.”

Santino shakes his head. “Just sit down and eat for fuck’s sake. Don’t let them ruin your breakfast.”

I clench my jaw.

Maybe it is time I had a conversation with Giovanni. Although that might be the easy way out. If I reply on him to fight my battles for me these boys will never learn to respect me.

I need another plan.

Breakfast ends in the same awkward way it started.

When Guido stands up to leave Romeo tries to trip him and laughs like an immature little asshole. I stand up, accidentally knocking over the last half of his coffee and sending it splashing across his lap.

He jumps up from his seat and yelps in horror.

“So sorry.” I mutter, not bothering to hide my smile.

We’re walking up the stairs, towards our side of the house, and I’m lost in thought, trying to figure out the most effective way to stop this bullshit. Guido says, “Mom, they hate us. Why are you bothering to try? My father still doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

It breaks my heart. Every son deserves a father.

I slip my arm around his waist and pull him to my side. “Hey, I promise you, it’s going to get better. I’ll fix this. We aren’t leaving and we aren’t going to let those boys treat us like this either.”

He doesn’t reply and I realize he doesn’t believe me. I’m letting him down. He’s losing faith in me and I will not accept that. The anger inside me triples as the urge to protect my son fires uncontrollably.

Once Guido is settled and busy in his room, I wander through the estate looking for Giovanni. I’ve decided to inform him that I won’t tolerate any of this behavior and while he doesn’t have to do anything about it - he should know that I will be taking control of the situation.

Giovanni is sitting in his office in the West wing. He’s focused on his laptop with his brows knotted as he sifts through spreadsheets and emails.

“We need to talk.” I say, walking inside.

“Not now.” He says, without looking up.

“Yes, now .” I say, sitting down in the chair opposite him.

He huffs and rolls his eyes, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms across his broad chest.

“What is it?” he snaps.

“Why are you avoiding me, Gio?” I ask without hostility, because while everyone else has been rude - he has been absent. I might, for a moment, give him the benefit of the doubt that he’s been busy.

His eyes flare slightly. “I’m not.” He denies the obvious.

“You are. And your staff treat me like shit. And your sons are nothing but rude to Guido and me.”

He swallows hard and presses his lips together tightly. Watching his expression, all I see is discomfort. He hardly looks at me.

“Giovanni. Why can’t you even look at me? I’m sitting right in front of you.” I snap.

When his eyes meet mine, his pupils dilate and his eyes narrow. He clenches his jaw as his gaze drops to my lips. Tension sparks between us and my lips part as desire floods through me. Something in his eyes triggers memories of the past. My cheeks flush and I shift in my seat.

I didn’t come here with the intention of being distracted by him in this way. This feeling came out of nowhere, just from the way he was looking at me.

I stand up quickly, pressing my hands against his desk.

“You know what - I don’t expect you to do anything about it, Gio. But I’m letting you know that I’m not going to tolerate it. I demand respect, no matter what I have to do to get it.”

“Zina, just give them time.” He says softly, his voice a deep hum.

“No, they’ve had enough time. We’ve been here for a week and they treat us worse every day. I’m done being patient. I don’t expect them to gush over us like best friends - but I do expect manners. Basic polite manners.”

Gio sighs and brushes his hand through his shaggy dark hair. He shakes his head and closes his eyes for a second. My eyes trace over his chiseled features, his strong, square jaw.

He can try to shut me out as much he wants, but he also needs to learn that I’m not going anywhere.

“And you need to stop avoiding your son. Give him a chance, Gio. Take the time to get to know him.”

He nods, letting out a slow breath.

I’ve said what I had to say.

Turning away from him I hope that if he does anything, even one thing, it’s spending some time with Guido . He can keep avoiding me. But not Guido .

With satisfaction I turn towards our side of the mansion, but walking back upstairs I’m thinking about his eyes, how they filled with darkness when he looked at me - an intensity I found so familiar. With a fright I stop mid step and my eyes widen in surprise.

I do recognize it.

It was desire .

That’s how he used to look at me just before he told me to do something sexy. His eyes would darken, and he’d demand that I turn around and bend over the chair, or kneel on the bed -

My heart races and I press my hand over my chest to try to calm it. Is he still attracted to me? I won’t deny that I’m still unquestionably attracted to him.

It isn’t why I came to this house though.

But if he is attracted to me, it would explain why he’s been avoiding me. And I might be able to use that to my advantage.

A smile creeps onto my lips as I carry on climbing the stairs towards my bedroom. I feel better already.