Nikolai
He didn’t waste a minute, he turned his back to me and left.
Adrian seems to surprise me at every meeting.
A smirk appeared on my face, when I noticed, I frowned instantly.
There was no need in stopping any of their staff, I pleasured myself by giving a tour until I found the garden.
The Moretti’s seemed to have spent millions of dollars on their estate.
And even the decor was not disappointing.
When I caught a glimpse of Gabriel, I walked to his table and sat.
“Isabelle?”
“She is out there with her mother.
I have no pleasure doing such familiarities.”
Gabriel and I were very much alike.
It didn’t take more than a few minutes before Leonardo approached us with two very familiar faces.
His pests.
The ex governor who Moretti had helped during his election, and the current mayor who was a close relative.
They had lost the last election to Gabriel, and even though during the election there were a lot of ill moves they had played against Gabriel, they still pretend to have never been involved.
Becoming a governor wasn’t something Gabriel planned for, none of our families ever came out for politics, but at that moment, Leonardo Moretti had made a wrong move.
I’d never seen Gabriel angrier than he was seven years ago
I’m sure, accepting Adrian as his son in-law, was due to that event.
He haven’t said anything, and he didn’t need to.
“Mr.
Mancini.” The mayor greeted and without approval took his seat.
“It’s an honor to be present in your daughter’s engagement.” The ex governor greeted and took his seat as well.
Seeing this, Leonardo joined.
“Nikolai, I wasn’t expecting you.”
His every word irritated me.
His voice makes my ears tinge.
His character was more like a snake hissing and preparing to attack.
Leonardo wasn’t someone I would ever choose as Isabelle’s father in law.
“It’s my niece’s engagement, even if I wasn’t going to be here, it’s your duty to wait for me and pay a visit, if by chance, I never made it.”
I could see his eyes deepened, and the squeeze of the skin around them.
His hands tightened on his glass, and yes, I enjoyed it.
“It’s a good thing the two most powerful families in the country are merging into one.
Our country is going to become one after this union.” Rico Tavern didn’t waste time in spitting out rubbish.
“I’m certain, Mr.
Before I could utter a word in defense, Gabriel hit his glass on the table and asked in a terrifying tone-
“Shouldn’t it be the Moretti’s that should be delighted?”
His frown was clearly visible.
The mayor instantly mellowed his eyes but the ex governor, Marius seems to love wiping off Leonardo’s shoes.
“Still, the Moretti family made over $200,000,000,000 in revenue for last year.
They even gained the President’s project for the development of a new province.”
I scoffed.
“A turn over of such an amount, when the group made over 70% lost in last year’s projects turned out to be a failure, is quite questionable.
I wonder if Leonardo would tell us how he came up with such a profit.”
I squinted my eyes at him, waiting for his response.
Leonardo emptied his glass before laughing so hard as if trying to hide his anger.
“The other 30% you left out made over 200% ROI in each project.
Of course, I could cover my loss.”
“These are only your words.” I looked him dead in his eyes, and then continued, “the investors don’t seem to think so.
Isn’t there a class action suit against your company?”
“Seriously?” The ex governor turned to Leonardo, he didn’t seem to be aware.
But the mayor was very much informed.
“It’s just a rumor.” The mayor responded and then went on to say, “The case has been closed.”
Of course, I didn’t expect less from such a man.
“Are you guys just talking about work?
It’s an engagement.” Liliana interrupted with her pretty smile pretending as though everyone here could enjoy a bottle of wine as though we are close.
“Of course.” Gabriel finally spoke.
He stood up and then said, “I will come with you to meet the guests.”
“And I will get a tour of the estate, I’m presuming it wouldn’t be an issue to you Leonardo?” I raised a brow and good for him, he responded with a smile.
“Of course not Nikolai.”
Without further ado, I walked away from them.
Entering into the mansion, all I could see was that Leonardo spent millions on vintage decor.
I was impressed.
But there was one thing that anyone wouldn’t fail to notice, a picture of Adrian.
There was none.
Leonardo had his late wife and kids’ pictures hung on the wall.
Even Vivian’s pictures were there, but Adrian was missing.
“It’s funny, the young master’s picture isn’t amongst the family pictures.”
Gossips from guests filled the air.
A family showroom?
It caught my interest and I made my way there.
I found it.
A room filled with pictures of the Moretti’s.
Relatives, and ancestors were displayed there.
I looked around trying to confirm if everything they said was true.
Finally, I found one, on a table.
A small frame that is usually used for bedside decor, that’s the kind of frame used for Adrian.
It was displayed, rather kept on a table.
A place where only Leonardo could see it.
Was it pity?
Cause I felt my heart crushed when I saw it.
It had nothing to do with me, yet, the muscles of my chest tightened and the gossips in the room caused my fist to tightened.
Instantly, I walked away.
As I turned to leave, a flash of blond hair caught my eye—a man hurrying down the hallway into a room
It seemed awkward.
But before I could go, I felt someone’s soft hand pull me backwards and when I looked, it was a pretty woman.
“Would you care to have a drink with me?”
“I do not.”
I tried walking away but she pulled me back.
“Oh come on.
A handsome man like yourself certainly should be entangled.”
I scoffed, and then I noticed a figure watching from a corner.
Leonardo.
Did he send her?
A frown appeared on my face, and the gossips from earlier resounding in my ears.
“If you don’t let go of my arm, then I promise to cook your tongue and feed it to you.”
There was a sudden fright in her eyes and instantly her arms around mine loosen.
Before I walked away, I looked back at Leonardo but he was no longer standing there.
Trailing the blonde’s step, I stopped by the room he entered.
The door was slightly ajar, and when I pushed it gently to look, it was Adrian.
His legs crossed over on the blonde.
The blonde’s hands were wrapped around his shoulders and Adrian was leaning closer.
My heart came to a clunking stop as my grip on the doorknob tightened.
Adrian was gay?