Her eyes rolled in a circular motion signaling that her attitude was now kicking in. She stared at the glass that was placed in front of her and smirked before leaning up slightly from her chain and unfolded her arms before reaching her right hand out and took the glass before bringing it up to her lips and took a sip. She was impressed that Franco could handle a girl like her with such ease and continue to be happy, usually she would have been kicked out of the club by now but maybe this was a new change. She pulled the glass away from her mouth before setting it right back on the table and spoke without making eye contact. "Thank you for your time. . Francis. . " a slight smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she then remained silent and yet again mysterious. "Maybe you will have better luck the next time we meet. . So don't be so down. ." Just as she spoke her hands push her black hair behind her ears. "Its just business."
Lucio excused himself.
Franc could appreciate a good mind game every now and then, but that night was not the time for it, unfortunately.
Time is money, his late step-father would always say, so to indulge Rebecca any further would be to set the family business back. Still, he could see a potentially favorable future between them, even if it were only business. After all, business
was the young Brizio underboss's pleasure. "
I'll make sure to have the receptionist bring you up to the v-i-p next time then." He repaid her sassy nonchalance with an equally composed and suave aloofness, then ambled across the marble floor towards the double swinging doors of the kitchen.
Moments after disappearing, Lucio pushed his way out into the ballroom once more with a set of stapled papers on his tray. His movement was smooth, yet his feet moved with purpose, bringing him quickly to her table. "
Here you are," he smiled genially, setting the tray down in front of Rebecca prior to pulling a pen from the pocket of his vest and extending it forward for her to take.
Andrea laughed when he told her that wild things happen when you're drunk. "So I've heard." She said. "Though I wouldn't know from experience. I've never been drunk before." She wasn't really much of a party girl, she was more of a sit at home with the guys and kick their asses at Black Ops kind of girl. It was unusual for her to even wear a dress, but she'd wanted to get dressed up tonight.
I'm not exactly the dress up kind of guy. I most like to go home and chill, but I come here sometimes to get a fill on cheap liquor. He said, honestly, feeling glad she wasn't like most of these girls who went to the mall and had a heart attack over how cute the dress was on another female or how she wishes she had the same curvy hips as her. Honestly that's the bullshit that makes Jax want to drink. He couldn't find a good enough girl. Maybe he was just picky. He didn't feel like staying for another few hours. Maybe only 30 minutes more. I don't want to stay here much longer. Getting drunk here won't be polite. Want to go out somewhere? Or just chill? I hate crowded bars, especially ones which have dressy people everywhere. I'm more of the jeans and T shirt type of guy.
On his way to the kitchen, Franc could see Jax dancing with a woman. He offered them a courtesy nod before disappearing behind the swinging doors. Somehow he felt that Jax would understand that the nod was more than a mere greeting. Franc did not want to impose, however, and would patiently wait for his colleague at the wine cellar.
"Forgive me, Please, sit." He finally said, pulling a chair for her. Pouring her a glass of white wine from a slightly frosted Far Niente bottle before he sat in the opposite chair. He had impeccable taste in wine, the characteristic golden color of the oaked wine beckoned to her. Taking her seat across from him she pinched the stem of the glass and turned it, admiring the rich color. "Let's start with names, then you can tell me all about it. I'm Felix." Angel's eyes flickered up at him, he had set his drink aside almost in sync with the dimming lights. The lounge singer was taking her place on stage below them, and everyone rustled with the excitement of hearing her voice. Angel herself had never heard her personally, but she had heard the glowing reviews on the soulful voice that belonged to Miss Karma Jenkins.
Taking a sip of the wine, the creamy flavor exploded in her mouth. She could taste slight hints of apple and vanilla, sighing she looked at Felix over the wide rim of her glass. "Anjelica Marcello, most call me Angel." Taking one last sip she set the glass down and began to explain. "If you don't already know, my family the Marcellos are heavily involved in the shadier side of the spectrum. Recently I was betrothed to a man name Roberto Rossi in order to end a feud between our families." She swallowed a dry lump in her throat, looking back down into her glass of wine. "When visiting his family, I overheard Antonio Rossi's plan to hold me ransom." Looking back into the eyes of her host she said quietly, but loud enough to be heard. "They were going to kill me once they got their way, and refresh the war between our families." Her voice was beginning to crack, "I came to you for protection and to offer my services if and when they are needed. I can earn my keep."
The combination of the band's relaxing rhythms, and the soothing vocals of Karma Jenkins had set a mildly seductive atmosphere in the lounge. Felix watched her sip at her wine with an urbane smile spread over his attractive, angular visage. The dim lighting had left an alluring sparkle in Anjelica's eyes. All in all, it was a fairly pleasant and romantic setting, but the revelation of her family name had exposed him to the true, dire nature of her visit. Never one to lose composure too easily, however, Felix expertly reserved any uneasiness about the severity of her predicament. He knew that her being there with him in The Cozy Lounge would undoubtedly provoke her uncle's temper, as the Marcello family was indeed one of the more ruthless mafias. Still, as dangerous as the Marcello family heiress was to the Brizio family business, Felix welcomed her and the opportunity to establish his presence.
Anjelica divulged of her involvement with the Rossi family soon after, another power player in the shady underworld of crime. When Felix was young, his father had told him that the Marcello and Rossi families had been feuding with each other since before he was born. Her arranged marriage with the son of the Rossi head was clearly meant to be a peace offering to her uncle's enemies. A sad but typical truth about mafia politics for women to be traded for peace.
Felix's face twisted slightly with concern for Anjelica when she'd told him of the fact that she was also going to be used by the father of her fiance in a conspiracy to extend the bloody war between their families. "
I see," he started slowly. Turning to face the singer on stage, he withdrew himself into a mental space to contemplate his move. Word traveled too fast in the twenty-first century, what with the internet and cellphones. By that moment, spies from the Rossi's camp would have already informed Antonio of her whereabouts. Those from her uncle's circles were sure to be watching her every move as well.
Sure enough, as the new Brizio boss sat in rumination, a man on the first floor sporting a tacky suit with a hat revealed a cellphone from his pocket and snapped several candids of him and the Marcello family heiress. With the push of a few buttons, the digital photographs traveled the airwaves where their frequency was to be absorbed by the nearest tower and transported throughout the network of cellphone towers that were scattered about the city, until they were finally delivered to the phones of his superiors. The man stood and fixed his tie before spinning on his heels and making his way out of the club. A self-satisfied grin plastered on to his face.
"
My father's death has drastically weakened my family's power. Are you sure you want to seek refuge here?" Felix brought his gaze back to Anjelica. Although he had no intentions of using her like the other family heads had planned to, he did see an advantage to having her on his team. As a woman of the Marcello mafia, she was sure to have connections that he did not. If she still wanted his protection he'd have something to gain from her as well.
