Chapter 127 - Slow Dance With You

"Why must I be tormented with them?" Persephone muttered as soon as she entered the fancy restaurant.

Today her new brother-in-law informed them that he would be taking all of them out for dinner. Yesterday, when she was recovering from a day of almost killing morning sickness, Santiago and Sophia were on a date. And surprisingly, her papa gave them the permission too. Not that she cared but still…. 

Wait a moment, why was it irking her where he took her sister for a date? 

He could take her with him to hell for all the care….

Whatever! 

Yes, whatever! 

But why was he taking all of them (Persephone, Sophia, Nico, Salvatore and Isabelle out)? He even invited Papa and mom but they politely declined. 

After that, he dropped her sister home and didn't bother saying anything to her. Not that she was dying to talk to him. But that man ate her desserts. Wasn't he supposed to compensate her? 

No, she would never admit that she had forgiven his grave mistake after hearing those sweet words that her food reminded him of his mom. No, she wasn't touched at all. And she wasn't lusting at him at all. Yes, she wasn't lusting after him. It was just her pregnancy hormones messing up with one of her vital organs; the brain. 

"Please take your seats and I will be back in a moment," Santiago said with a very gentlemanly smile.

What host left their guests to attend to other things? 

Apparently, Santiago Vitello. 

Wait a minute…

Why on earth did his name sound so comforting to her all of a sudden? 

Whatever… 

Ignore him… 

Thankfully, Nico pulled a chair for her first and then sat on the one next to hers. Quite like a possessive fiance. Sophia sat beside her and the chair adjacent to hers was kept empty for Santiago. Likewise, Salvatore and Isabelle occupied theirs when Santiago was away. 

At times like this, she had this weird feeling as if Santiago was trying to read out her family. It was strange. If she didn't know better, she would have thought that he was an agent in disguise, collecting evidence against her papa but she knew better than to believe her crazy ideas. However, if it was the case, she was sure that she would be the first one out of her family to betray the great Don Marino. 

"What's the purpose of the dinner?" Nico asked without bothering to hide his contempt for the man. He was unusually wary of Santiago even though he had no reason for his growing wariness and hostility for this foreign man. 

"Too bad, he didn't personally call me to state the purpose of arranging the dinner to get to know his fiance's family even better," Isabelle sarcastically said with a straight face. Did this ex-grandson of hers think she didn't recognise the look in his eyes? Well, he had another thing coming. 

"How can you blindly take his side ?"Nico scowled at her and his voice was a little loud. 

"Raise your voice and see what I do to you?" Isabelle narrowed her eyes at him. "Widow or not! I'm still high in rank. And you gotta respect me for that! As for the dinner, you were not forced to attend it. Even if anyone can't see it, I know better than anyone why you are truly here." 

This caused Nico to shut his mouth. 

Fortunately, This exchange wasn't witnessed by the siblings sitting next to them. Even if they had, they wouldn't have bothered to get involved in it. Salvatore was not a big fan of Nico and he has made it several times clear. It would be interesting to see if Nico as a consigliere would be loyal to Salvatore, who he thinks is nothing more than a boss due to Nepotism. 

"What do you mean?" Nico questioned, suddenly self-aware. Even he didn't know these days, why Santiago irked him whenever he would be in proximity to Sophia. 

"You know all too well what I mean," Isabelle replied mysteriously and Nico just huffed before keeping quiet. 

A waiter came to take their orders and Persephone shamelessly ordered the food she was craving for, not bothering to wait for the host. After all, they were there for food in the first place.

When Santiago came back to the table, he started making small talks with Salvatore and Sophia. Persephone was munching on the starters, Nico was sulking quietly like a fool and Isabelle was entertaining them with her unusual sense of humour. Even today she was dressed in 90s fashion. This woman had a peculiar obsession with vintage clothes. But she was looking like a diva as always. 

"What do you think about it?" Santiago asked Persephone with a smile. 

"About what?" She was still chewing. Sophia was getting second-hand embarrassment looking at her but like she said before, pregnant women are scary. 

"About the restaurant?"Santiago said. " Food? Ambience?"

"I didn't know we were here as reviewers. Ask Sophia, that's her department, "Persephone was ruthless. She wasn't going to engage in small talks with him. To be honest, she couldn't talk to him without getting hot and bothered. 

"Of course, "Santiago could only smile at Sophia to save his face. Then looking at Persephone, he said," The restaurant is popular for its delicate and delightful desserts."

"Ah, thank you but I will pass," Persephone said. Her eyes were out of the window. Ellison's cafe was in front of this fancy restaurant. How badly did she wish to fly from here and land there? 

"What are you looking at?" Sophia asked her and Persephone pointed out. 

"Ellison again?" Sophia sighed. "Are you not bored already?"

Nobody noticed how the fork in Salvatore's hand paused as he heard the mention of the new name. His gaze looked up and followed Persephone and paused at the place's door. 

"Who is Ellison?"Santiago asked casually. It can't be another boy? This woman had a hobby of picking up trophies wherever she went. First, it was the King, secondly, it was the captain and lastly, that Romeo guy. Not to mention, there was a guy named the same as him with similar blue eyes. Lord, knew how much she had collected in the last two months. And let's not forget the tool sitting beside her. How he wished to push the bastard in his mouth! Especially when his hands wander too much. 

Sophia sighed again. "Can you see the cafe out of the window? The one with catchy and cute decor? That's Percy's favourite hanging spot. She loved the desert there!"

"I didn't know your sister was a foodie?" Santiago mentioned, not a bit surprised. 

"You don't know anything about her at all," Nico growled. 

"You are right," Santiago said in a calm voice with a taunting smile. " But I will know everything about everyone soon, Mr Scuderi." 

"So we can go to Ellison's after dinner?"Persephone said, cutting off the tension between the two giants. 

"Absolutely not!" Salvatore was the one to respond. Calming his voice, he said," How bad it will sound if we ditch Santiago to go to the cafe you mentioned?! You can go there later. Or you can always order takeaways." 

" Bro--"

" Percy!" His decision was final and she knew it. 

Before Persephone could say anything, she noticed Isabella gesturing to her to keep calm as she would help her out later. 

On the other hand, Santiago was studying Salvatore. His reaction wasn't natural. Why did he feel the need to study Salvatore Marino all over again? Was he really just a pretty prince? Or there was a layer within him that he was purposely hiding? 

They were all making small talks and jokes to lighten the tense atmosphere when the band started the music. 

"Wow," a word left everyone's mouth. 

"They are really good," Someone mentioned. 

"The voice is heavenly," Isabelle was the one to make a comment and even Salvatore seemed to agree. 

Suddenly, the light dimmed and the tune changed. 

Santiago choked on wine when he recognised the melody. How could it be that song? 

Was it a way of destiny to laugh at him? 

????Lights go down wheels go around 

I'm taking you home 

Hoping for a slow song to come on the radio

I'm not ready to shut it down…..????

His eyes turned and met hers. This song meant something to them if not to anyone. But no one had to know. It was their secret to keep. Even when her brain forgot him, her heart still remembered him. 

As the band started playing this particular melody, she had found herself breathless and she didn't know why but something so sharp was pricking her heart and trying to rip it into two. Her head was splitting and the ache was unbearable. But as his beautiful blue gaze met hers, all the ache and the discomfort disappeared. She was drowning in those blue orbs and strangely, she never wanted to come back to the shore. She just wanted to stay there.. Forever.