Adele couldn't believe Francesco's words. She was frozen in her spot for seconds after Francesco had bluntly disregarded her feelings. Francesco was taking her silence as a sign that she was content and this was the end of their conversation. He smiled and kissed Adele's cheek and pulled away "I have to get back to work. I would be done in fifteen minutes tops and then we can go back to the mansion and have lunch. Bye sweetheart." He then pulled away and took a few steps towards the door but Adele's voice stopped him "Wait."

Francesco turned around and walked to Adele. As he reached her, Adele raised her hand to slap Francesco. Her hand was within inches of Francesco's face when Francesco stopped her by gripping her wrist in his iron fist tightly. Francesco was looking at Adele with surprise and then his expression turned firm as he let go of her wrist. He spoke in a hard tone "Adele. Why didn't you tell me, you were going to hit me? Do you have any idea how close I was to crushing your wrist? I have very fast reflexes and react quick. You are lucky I stopped myself before breaking your wrist. I could have accidently hurt you. Don't do this again. Whenever you want to hit me, warn me first so I don't hurt you because of my fast reflexes. Now go on. I am ready for you. Hit me. I wont stop you this time since I know you may strike me. But Adele I really want to know why you want to slap me so badly? What have I done to upset you? Tell me sweetheart. What's wrong?"

Adele shook her head and started taking steps backwards from Francesco shaking with rage. She spoke with venom "How can you ask me what is wrong after you said all that nonsense. You broke my heart with your words. What are you doing? Don't come near me."

Francesco was walking slowly towards to Adele "Darling. Lets talk about this. What did I say that upset you?"

Adele's back hit the wall and she spoke "Don't. Please don't come closer. I don't want you near me. You said some hurtful things. You totally disregarded me from this relationship. How can you say that it doesn't matter how I feel? .... Stay away from me."

Francesco was in front of Adele now. He spoke "Sweetheart. Firstly. I didn't mean to upset you. You need to Calm down. Secondly, I said it doesn't matter how you feel about us but I also said I care about how you feel. I would do anything that I can to make you love me back but if you don't return my affections when I do my best to make you love me then do you blame me if I say it wont matter if you hate me? I know that you are not as ready for our relationship as I am. You are innocent. The thoughts about relationships and marriage that come across my mind doesn't even cross yours. For crying out loud, you haven't even noticed couples in cinemas who just make out from the beginning to the end of the movies. It happens all the time everywhere but you don't know about it because you can't even imagine such intimate contacts between two people. You are as innocent as the day I met you. You still blush and look away when you see me shirtless. You still bite your lip when I say something about marriage and having children that makes you nervous. I know everything. I know this is too much for you and I assure you sweetheart that I am willing to wait and give you some time. I am not ever going to be unreasonable with you in this relationship. I am giving you time to get closer to me and love me. I will give you as much space as I can within the time we have left until the day your time to get to know me would be up. If you don't even try to use the time I am giving you well then who's fault is that if you feel pressurised at any point when I decide to take this relationship one step further. It would be out of my hands how you don't respond to my love if you refuse to let me in. One day, you have to let go of being innocent. One day, I have to have you and have to marry you."

Adele spoke "Do you hear yourself? You see things the way no one else does. But before we discuss anything else you must clarify for me, what do you mean exactly when you say you have to marry me? No one has to marry anyone. You marry someone you love and if they don't love you back, they don't have to marry you. Why do you imply that you are obliged to marry me when you are clearly not. You don't have to do anything."

Francesco spoke "Sweetheart.... Don't you know how much you mean to me? Don't you? I have to marry you. Remember our first kiss? What did I whisper to you after we kissed?"

Adele whispered "You said that "You are my first love and my last"."

Francesco sighed "Because sweetheart, I meant it. I say it again. You are my first love and my last. I wont ever love another woman if you don't love me back. I have everything in my life right now. I have money. I have power. I have everything money and force can get me. But the only thing I don't have right now is family and the only woman in this world who can give me a family is you. I need you in my life. I need you to be my wife. I need you give me children. I can't have that with any other woman. Don't ask me to explain why. I don't know why but I know that I only want you. There is something about you that makes you different to other women. I don't know what it is. I just know I love everything about you and all I want to do is to love you and protect you. I will do anything for you sweetheart to make you happy but of course that has boundries. I can't grant you anything that relates to my business. That's where I have to draw the line. Now, I would like to leave you to think over everything I said. But don't over-think it. Darling, we are only at the start of our relationship after ten years of separation. You have only been in my presence for one day and a half. So don't worry too much. You will get used to our relationship soon. See you later sweetheart." He then leaned over and kissed Adele's lips and smiled at her and walked to the door.

Adele felt numb. She couldn't move. The reminder of that simple statement Francesco had said to her years ago still made her tremble in fear just like ten years ago when she had first heard those chilling words from him. He had said that she was his first love with so much meaning and emotion that had made her shake to the core. Now ten years later when he had spoken those words, this simple sentence had the same effect on her. Even Francesco's eyes held the same possessiveness after all these years when he had uttered that sentence. It was petrifying for her to get a glimpse of how much she really meant to Francesco through hearing his emotional and possessive words.

Adele sat down on the floor and leaned to the wall thinking about her life. The day before yesterday she had a life she was truly happy with. She was free to work at her hospital. She had a loving boyfriend who loved her and never hurt her or threatened her family. She may not have loved Michael enough to marry him instantly but at least he was safe. Michael was not a dangerous criminal like how Francesco was. If she had never met Francesco it was likely for her to accept his marriage proposal one day. She may not have loved him completely but she cared for him. She wished she had never met Francesco. Then she wouldn't have been sitting here feeling confused and torn. The worst part was that part of her loved Francesco but not this Francesco.

She still remembered clearly the love she felt for the Francesco who had cried when he had seen a car carrying his mother to the safety of his uncle's headquarters and out of his father's mansion. She remembered the love she felt all those years ago for the Francesco who saved her parents life and didn't ask for anything in return from Adele. Even then the thank you kiss she had given him back then for his good deed was her idea. She loved and admired the Francesco who had confronted his father for making him commit murder by pressing his finger against the trigger when he was nine years old killing the guard who had failed to guard him properly and had resulted in his no so successful attempt in running away from the hell hole his father called home for him. She remembered how he had accused his father of ripping away his humanity when he had made him kill against his will.

She was also in love with the Francesco who took beatings from his father to protect his younger brother. She cringed at the last thought. She still remembered how badly his father had beaten Francesco when he had hit him back just to defend his brother one time. That Francesco now seemed to be gone.

Now Francesco used his power and influence not to save anyone. He was not kind to his brother any more. His eyes were no longer mischievous. They looked deadly and terrifying at times and were so cold it brought chills down her spine when she stared in those pair of icy cold blue eyes. Only when Francesco truly laughed or smiled, only then part of the old Francesco could be recognised. And only when his mother was mentioned he had shown some glimpses of emotion that was close to sympathy.

Francesco's voice brought her out of her thoughts " Adele. Get up sweetheart. It's time to go back."

She was so busy thinking that she hadn't noticed Francesco entering the room. He was now standing in front of her and offering his hand for her to take.

Adele sighed and looked up at his towering figure. She swallowed hard " What happened to the other man? Did you ..... kill him too?"

Francesco shook his head "No. I didn't kill him. My men killed that not so talkative assassin. Now he can't talk for real. I just watched while drinking wine. Sometimes I like to take a step back and watch what my men can do. Now get up darling. Take my hand."

Adele took Francesco's hand. As Francesco was leading her to the door he spoke " Sweetheart. Why are you shaking?"

Adele sighed. She couldn't believe how Francesco could ask her such obvious question. She wanted to tell the truth. She wanted to shout at him that she had just witnessed one murder and had heard about another. How could he not know that she was shaken up?" But then she thought against blowing up and spoke softly " I am a bit cold. I guess I am not used to the weather in New York yet."

Francesco closed the door behind them and lead Adele to a car with tinted windows and as he opened the door for Adele to get inside he spoke firmly "We need to go shopping for a better coat then. I am going to pay that shop a visit that sold us this useless garment. What kind of coat is this that it doesn't protect you against the cold?"

Adele got inside the car and whispered " Francesco. The coat is fine. It's me who ..... gets cold easily. I don't need another coat."

As Francesco got into the car and closed the door, he signaled to the driver to move. He then sat right next to Adele and spoke playfully " Do you want me to warm you up sweetheart?"

Adele raised an eyebrow " Do you have a radiator in the car?"

Francesco spoke in an amused tone " You really are innocent. What I meant was for me to warm you up by you know something similar to what I did to you after we watched our movie yesterday."

Adele blushed and looked away.

Francesco smiled " You are my innocent angel." He then kissed Adele on her cheek and slowly wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tightly. He then whispered " Where do you feel cold the most? Where should I warn up first."

Adele shivered and sighed " Stop it Francesco. There is no way we are going to have a repeat of what happened after that movie in this car. I don't like making out in public Francesco. Also I don't need warming up. "

Francesco sighed "What's the problem with making out in public? But of course. You are shy sweetheart. Fine. I will just hold you then to keep you warm. Lean over to me." He then kissed the side of her head and held her tighter.

Adele kept staring outside the window. She asked "What time of the day is it?"

Francesco chuckled and reached his hand into his pocket and handed a small box to Adele. He spoke "Open this first and I will tell you. I was supposed to give you this when we were skating but I totally forgot."

Adele gasped as she opened the box "You have bought me a watch ....... hold on .... It looks exactly the same as the watch I lost years ago."

Francesco nodded "In every city I have visited, I have been looking through shops until I found this watch that looked exactly like the one you lost ten years ago. I got this from a very small shop in Miami.

Adele wore the watch and turned to Francesco "Thank you for this. I was very upset when I lost my old watch. As you know it was a birthday present to me from my grand parents. They gave a similar watch to Angelo too since we are twins and shared the same birthday. I really love this present."

Francesco spoke "I am glad you like it. I hope you forget how our date got interrupted. I know I ruined our date by going to work in the middle of it but I had to. You can blame Antonio for finding us. I am so sorry sweetheart. I will try to not let my work interrupt our time together like this again. But sometimes I have to respond to some situations instantly as they arise. I mostly blame Costanzo for not helping me out as much he should. I am planning to slowly bring him back into the core of my business like old times. It all started when he went to college and he met that witch of a woman, Elize in law school. She turned him into this reluctant softie who tries to shy away from real responsibilities and prefers to hide behind paper work. I blame my uncle Piero for taking his side when he was making a case to leave the action part of the business. Back then I still wasn't head of business and my leadership was at transition point so what my uncle and father said was more valuable. My uncle believed it was necessary for a Rosario to be in the legal side of things rather than hiring a stranger. When I became boss I was going to remove him of course but he was too good at convincing me to keep him away from action. But overall if he wasn't so good at what he does I would have forced him to give up the paper work. But he is one of the best in his job in this country. Did you know that he had thousands of job offers from firms around the world once he graduated?"

Adele raised an eyebrow " Really? He never mentioned it."

Francesco laughed " Of course. That's Costanzo. He doesn't say much about his successes. I think he got some kind of award too when he was in college. He is very smart. However when it comes to women he is not so smart in detecting the wrong type of women. Of all the women in college he had to pick a senators daughter. Can you believe it? I hate law makers. I really do. They just restrict the human kind to their stupid laws and expect the world to live by their rules with no questions asked. And of all the people my own brother had to fall for a woman belonging to a family of one of those worst scum of the earth."

Adele sighed in frustration and looked away. She really didn't want to argue with Francesco when the conversation involved Costanzo. She felt guilty already for his broken arm. She didn't want to cause him any more possible trouble by defending him so she decided to go completely silent.

Francesco noticed the change in Adele and whispered " Why have you gone awfully quiet sweetheart? What's the matter? Did I say something that is bothering you?"

Adele shook her head " No. You didn't."

Francesco spoke " Sweetheart you can tell me if you are upset about something."

Adele turned to Francesco and tried to word her sentences carefully " I am not upset about anything. But something is bothering me because I am just curious about a situation. That is all."

Francesco spoke " What's that situation? What are you curious about? Tell me darling."

Adele spoke carefully " I don't know anything about this woman Costanzo loved so I am not in the position to judge why you are not allowing him to see her. But just to help me understand this situation can you explain to me why he can't date Elize?"

Francesco narrowed his eyes " Because her father is a senator. I already said it."

Adele whispered " But she is not a senator. Her father is."

Francesco spoke firmly " She is his daughter. I don't trust her kind."

Adele asked the question she dreaded would send Francesco over the edge " How would you have felt if my father was a senator? Would you have not asked me out?"

Francesco spoke with venom " What kind of question is that Adele. I love you sweetheart. Nothing could ever stop me from loving you."

Adele spoke " Imagine. Just for arguments sake that Costsnzo feels the same way about that woman. What if he loves her as much as you love me. Don't you think it would hurt him that you don't approve of him being with her?"

Francesco spoke impatiently " He doesn't love her like I love you."

Adele spoke " But .... how do you know?"

Francesco sighed " Because sweetheart. You are my true love. My affections for you are out of this world. But Elize is not Costanzo's true love. She is just a girl he just happens to get along with. He would want her to be a partner to him and not as his true love."

Adele spoke " But how can you be so sure?"

Francesco spoke "I am Costanzo's brother. I know things about him no one else does. I know about things that only he has ever confessed to me. For your information his true love is gone out of his life. Elize was his second just for the purpose of filling the void a woman he loved left in his life with her departure. Costanzo admits it himself. You can ask him and he would tell you the same thing I did."

Adele spoke " Bur who was his real love and why is she gone?"

Francesco spoke " It's a long story. All you need to know is that Elize doesn't mean as much to him as you do to me. Not even close. Have I answered your questions well or you need to know more to help your curiosity be satisfied."

Adele whispered " What happened to his first love."

Francesco spoke "Ask him if you want but he may not tell you about it if he is not up to it. I even don't want to mention it. I don't have fond memories of how it happened and why. Lets say when she was gone from his life, it crushed Costanzo."

Adele felt so bad for Costanzo as she heard what had happened to his love life. No wonder Costanzo tried to help Adele and Francesco's relationship time and time again insisting for Adele not to give up on Francesco. Adele just then realised one of the key reasons why Costanzo kept insisting that she should try to love Francesco. His own true love was gone so he wanted Francesco not to lose Adele like how Costanzo had lost his true love."