21. Unbelievable Changes

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Adele was slowly eating her breakfast reluctantly. She wasn't even hungry but Francesco's threatening glare every time she stopped made her keep on having her forced breakfast.

Francesco sighed "Adele stop playing with your pastry. There is no way I am letting you get away with skipping breakfast. You must try everything on this table or you wont be leaving this room. Sweetheart, don't make me angry and do as I ask. I don't like it when you ignore me like right now. Also look at me when I am talking to you."

Adele looked up and spoke "I can't eat anymore. I am sorry. I am not used to having a big breakfast."

Francesco spoke "Of course. They made you work so hard in that hospital. I have made all the managers at the hospital you worked at redundant when I was given the list of shifts you were doing for the past weeks. Don't worry. They would never find work again. Unless it's illegal work. Their names are on a blacklist now."

Adele was shocked "Francesco. How can you do this to them. They must have families. Mortgages to pay. You have to give them their jobs back."

Francesco flatly said "No. Not a chance. Do you want some coffee?"

Adele spoke "No. I don't drink coffee. I like tea more. But Francesco. Don't change the subject. I loved my job at that hospital. I wanted to do my job. No one forced me."

Francesco spoke "I will get you some tea then. Just wait a few minutes." He then got up from his chair and unlocked the balcony door.

Adele spoke quickly "I don't want any tea. Come sit down. Where are you going?"

Francesco spoke " If you like tea, then I am going to ban coffee in this mansion completely. It is going to be just tea made every morning from now on. I would be back soon after I get you some tea from the kitchens." He then walked away quickly across his room to the door before Adele could protest.

Adele covered her face and rested her elbows on the table wondering what fate had against her. It was crazy how Francesco was ignoring her wishes about letting her brother and her boyfriend go but he was quick to make such a great deal out of a cup of tea.

Minutes later, she heard the door and she didn't react. She was covering her face taking deep breaths making herself ready for a next round with Francesco. It was really exhausting to be present in his company. His penetrating cold gaze was the most hurtful and most draining for her to endure. Whenever she looked into his eyes, she realised more and more how she had lost the old Francesco.

Then she heard a familiar gentle voice. "Adele. Is that you? Are you alright?"

Adele slowly brought her hands down and gasped. It was Costanzo standing right in front of her looking much taller and stronger. His facial expression had changed too. He looked colder. His voice was even was void of emotion when he had spoken as though he was reading from a text. That scared Adele alot also to see his eyes had lost their spark. But there was some emotion in those eyes. That made Adele hopeful. She whispered "Costanzo...." She then got up and looked at him up and down.

Costanzo smiled weakly "Wow. You look beautiful."

"She does. Doesn't she? Now tell me. What time do you call this? I expected you earlier this morning. " Francesco spoke firmly as he was holding a tea pot and two cups on a tray in his hand, standing behind Costanzo on the balcony.

Francesco then turned to Adele "Sit down sweetheart. I have your tea for you. Don't let it get cold."

As Francesco put down the tray on the table he turned to Costanzo and held his hand up as though he was offering to shake his brother's hand.

Adele was frozen in spot as she witnessed how sharp Francesco's tone was towards his brother that he used to be so protective of all those years ago. She was about to protest but then she witnessed the most unexpected gesture from Costanzo. He bent down and kissed Francesco's hand and whispered "Greetings." He then straightened up "Forgive me for the delay. The flight was delayed due to weather conditions."

Francesco nodded "Don't be late again. I told you I wanted you here a week in advance before Thanksgiving. Then you pushed it 2 days. This tells me you are still not very good at managing your time well. Don't ever keep me waiting again." He then noticed Adele was still standing "Sweetheart. Why are you still standing?"

Adele spoke with a shaky voice "How? Why? Did he just kiss your hand?"

Francesco shrugged "Well yes. Everyone must show me respect this way. I am the head of the Rosario Business family. Obviously my personnel who work for me are not expected to do this every time they see me. They do this in meetings to show their respect and loyalty. Of course anyone who visits me must address me this way too when they arrive. This is how I rule. Now sit down. Your tea is getting cold. I told you if you don't finish your breakfast, I won't let you leave this room. Don't test my patience."

The threat in his voice was not to be ignored. Adele sighed and sat down and Francesco nodded "Good girl." He then sat down opposite Adele pouring himself and Adele tea in two cups.

Adele looked at Costanzo "Aren't you having any breakfast? Why don't you grab a chair?"

Francesco looked up "Because I haven't asked him to sit. He can't do anything in my presence unless I wish it. No one can actually. Right now, I don't want him to be even standing here. He is disturbing our breakfast. But he is just here for whatever reason he has let himself into our bedroom." He turned to Costanzo and spoke in a bitter tone "State why you decided to disturb me in my bedroom? Why couldn't you wait in my office for me to see you? Unless ..... its a private matter you wanted to discuss with me that you couldn't discuss in front of my men. Is that it?"

Costanzo took a few steps backwards and leaned to the glass walls of the balcony. He spoke "I came to see Adele. Antonio told me when I arrived here about what's been happening. I couldn't believe it that you had agreed to go back for her. I had to see her. But where is Angelo? Antonio refused to tell me much about him except he is here for obvious reasons we both know due to what was promised years ago. He didn't tell me which room he was in. He didn't know."

Francesco spoke "You actually saw Antonio? Really? I didn't think he would be staying inside for long. As you know, whenever he arrives here on vacation he spends all his free time in bars and clubs watching plays and dating actresses. How come you saw him? This is his favourite holiday, thanksgiving week. This is when so many bars open over time. So he would be spoilt for choice. so I though he would try to get it out of his system."

Costanzo spoke "He was about to leave actually. I saw him literally at the door. But you didn't tell me what's going on with Angelo? Antonio told me, he was brought here since you want him to honour the agreement that he must join this organisation now that he is legal and a doctor."

Francesco spoke "Before he can join our organisation, he has to pay for his crimes. He failed to watch over her properly. Now, he has to go through the same period of punishments that anyone else in our organation goes through when they fail. Then he can join."

Adele spoke "Francesco. About that..."

Francesco spoke "I just forgot to mention. Adele would be choosing his faith. She would choose amongst the choices I would give her what sanctions to give her brother. I would give him his verdict after this breakfast actually."

Adele gasped and was about to speak but stopped as she saw the expression on Costanzo's face as he was looking at her pleadingly shaking his head. Francesco was busy placing butter on his bread, he missed that.

Costanzo walked to the table slowly and started refilling Francesco's empty cup with tea from the tea pot. At the same time he gestured to Adele to be quiet as he put his finger on his lips. He then cleared his throat "I see. But, may I give you my opinion?"

Francesco spoke "You may."

Costanzo spoke carefully "Do with him what uncle Piero did to his father. Make him promise one of his sons to work for us. This makes him in depth to you even more and adds another loyal man to your organisation." he then walked backwards and leaned against the wall looking at his brother with a blank expression but Adele could tell he was nervous.

Francesco spoke "When uncle did that, the son to be promised existed. Angelo is not married and has no sons. He may even have no sons in future. I can't let him get away with no punishment."

Costanzo spoke "He can marry as soon as you give him this verdict. That is if you decide to do that of course. Then when he marries, a son maybe born or not. If not then .... then... he can adopt a son. Can't he?"

Francesco looked at Costanzo suspiciously "Why are you pushing this? Why do you want to be involved in influencing the verdict I give him?"

Costanzo spoke "I am not pushing anything. Its just my opinion that if you do to him what you do to any other personnel working for you who make mistakes then there is a possibility Angelo may become crippled or damaged badly physically. He is a doctor. He can't be much use after your men are done with him. Your punishments for failure are not easy to bear. No one can survive those different tortures without suffering permanent damage even if Adele chooses the least painful ones Angelo would still suffer badly.....". He then looked at Adele worriedly as he said this. He noticed how Adele looked pale and horrified. He mouthed "It's okay". Again Francesco was busy eating he didn't notice that exchange. But that didn't help Adele at all as she choked on her sobs. That made Costanzo close his eyes and banged his head against the glass door. "Only a miracle could save Angelo, now." He thought to himself.

Francesco stood up and walked to Adele "Sweetheart. Why are you crying? Tell me."

Adele was covering her mouth sobbing as Costanzo's words were sinking in. What Francesco had planned for her brother was pure torture. How could he intend to hurt her brother? How could he be so cruel to her? Didn't Francesco know how much he was hurting her. She looked up at Francesco's eyes who was expecting a response and she then saw from the corner of her eye how Costanzo was making gestures to his stomach mouthing words that resembled "Feeling sick."

Adele tried to keep her voice steady to make her words believable " I am feeling unwell. it maybe the side effects of the sleeping drugs I was given in that bottle of wine last night. I think stomach pain and feeling nausea are side effects of most strong pills that knock you out for a whole night."

Francesco frowned "I am sorry Adele. You should rest then. You don't have to leave this room until you feel better. Go inside and lie down while I will go next door and give Angelo his verdict. I think Costanzo might be right. I wont be satisfied by torturing him. I need him to pay for his crimes for a life time by serving this family loyally and of course giving up a son to serve the Rosarios after he retires. That's my decision for now." he then turned to Costanzo "Would you watch over her for me while I am gone. if she gets worse get one of the men standing guard outside this door to get the doctor who is based in this compound. His cabin is just there by the lake. That pharmacist who sold those drugs to Antonio's men would have hell to pay if Adele doesn't recover when I come back."

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