Francesco entered Emanuelle's office slowly taking him time. His old friend didn't sound very happy over the phone  when he had asked him to show up at the hotel after waking him up and interrupting his morning with his wife. It was typical O'Neil disturbing his peace with his wife on a Saturday. He had refused to come of course. He wanted to spend time with his wife. Whatever was the matter could wait. Spending time with his wife at the weekend was a priority. So he had only agreed to come to see Emanuelle at lunch time in his office at his prestigious hotel in one of the best locations in New York.

He saw Emanuelle drinking his whiskey as he was sitting behind his desk. Francesco knew it was calm before the storm. That was what O'Neil did. He gave you the impression that all was well but then it all can put. Francesco walked towards the desk " I hope you have a good excuse for forcing me to cut short my lunch with my wife to come here. What's the emergency?"

O'Neil looked up from the papers he was reading on his desk. He looked in his eyes and spoke " I am glad you decided to join me.... Pick a weapon."

Francesco raised an eyebrow " You want to spar? Is that why you disturbed me on a Saturday?"

O'Neil gave him a smile " Its about your son."

Francesco sighed " What has he done now?"

O'Neil reached behind his desk. He then put two swords on the desk. They were real swords and not sports ones. He declared " You didn't pick. So I picked for you..."

Francesco knew Vincenzo must have done something quite drastic. O'Neil was after spilling his blood. He nodded " Challenge accepted...."

O'Neil picked up a sword and offered it to Francesco as he took his. He declared " Your son has your honour. I hand it to him... But he is a pain. He really is..." He then started attacking Francesco from across the desk. He then jumped over the desk to the other side and the two men engaged in their fierce battle.

Francesco was well on the defence from the beginning. O'Neil was a master of swordsmanship from a very young age. Francesco cursed his father for not sending him to sword fighting lessons. But of course the way O'Neil fought with the sword was like how a knight fought, not an ordinary swordsman. He didn't know who taught O'Neil to handle the sword but if he did he was going to kill them. O'Neil with a sword looked like the angel of death to Francesco. If he ever felt close to dying, that was when he fought with the sword for his life against O'Neil. Of course his friend wasn't going to kill him but he still felt closest to death. No one had ever come close to killing him except his best friend. Francesco wasn't even sure if this was O'Neils real ability. Maybe he was holding back.

Francesco spoke as he was defending himself over the sound of the swords clanking " Tell me. What is it you wish to discuss about my son?"

O'Neil stepped up his attack making Francesco retreat " He loves my daughter?"

Francesco froze " What?" He then docked as his sword was almost knocked out of his hand " O'Neil. What have you been drinking?"

O'Neil drove Francesco into the corner of the room with no way to escape as he  hit his sword onto Francesco's as the two men fought for dominance keeping up the force on their swords to avoid losing the fight " The question is ... What has he been drinking? He is protecting the Marciano girl and having eyes for my daughter..."

Francesco declared " Impossible. My son is honourable... Has he confessed he loves your daughter? He would not be talking another to the prom if he had eyes for your daughter.... I will speak to him and deal with this..." He then pushed hard and got himself out of that corner as O'Neil had to take a few steps away to avoid losing balance. The swords were again clanking together as the two men were fighting for dominance.

O'Neil shook his head " My daughter is involved. I get a say what happens next. You keep out of it... Your son loves my daughter. I saw it in his eyes. What I say goes Francesco. My daughter's life matters to me. I will deal with this my way. I just told you so you know... This son of yours is after my daughter... Dating the Marciano girl is just a front. A performance. An act... Whatever you want to call it... I met up with your son last night. It became clear to me he loves my daughter...."

Francesco attacked O'Neil making him retreat slightly as O'Neils back hit a wall. The men fought like there was no tomorrow. Francesco narrowed his eyes " Why did you meet up with my son? What brought him to your presence. You summon my son without any heads up?"

O'Neil growled as he attacked Francesco  " My daughter and your son shared a kiss..,"

Francesco froze. He was in shock. O'Neil noticed he didn't defend himself. He stopped while shaking his head " Why did you stop?"

Francesco blinked as he was looking into O'Neils eyes speaking in a lone tone " He has done what? Not a chance? I don't believe it..."

O'Neil pointed his sword towards Francesco's heart "Really Francesco. Does anything about this son of yours surprise you? My daughter kissed him because she was dared to do so. She is her mother's daughter. Of course she boldly accepted the dare. She kissed him but he kissed back my daughter also in front of many other kids. My son witnessed it too and so did your daughter who kissed my son after that incident. But that's irrelevant..."

Francesco cringed as he heard his daughter kissed Tristan but that was expected. Tristan was given blessing to Faye his daughter so he wasn't his concern but it didn't mean it didn't hurt him to hear his baby daughter was growing up so fast to be kissing boys. He replied in a whisper " What you are claiming is outrageous O'Neil even by my standards. My son is with another girl. How can you claim he loves another,"

O'Neil narrowed his eyes as he threw his sword down on the floor soundly. He put his hands on his hips " He doesn't love another... He is like you... believing in abstinence and keeping faithful to one woman. I know what I saw in his eyes... I saw you Francesco... I saw you... I saw your determination. I saw your possessiveness. He was insulted that I had implied he had dishonoured my daughter. I was the one who was facing him, looking right at him seeing blood in his eyes. He was ready to kill me for insulting him."

Francesco laughed in disbelief. It was a bitter laugh. " You are mistaken." He threw his sword to the ground " My son would not be with another, if he loved your daughter..."

O'Neil took a step towards Francesco as he retorted with a firm tone " He loves my daughter. I saw it... He wants her..."

Francesco objected " So who is Letizia to him? I will need to speak to him..."

O'Neil shook his head " Francesco... Don't argue with me. My daughter is involved. I get a say. In matters that Vienna is concerned, I leave it all to you... I even would have let you banish my son to another boarding school if you felt Vienna's best interests were in being away from my son. I wouldn't have liked to see it but I would have agreed to your terms... When it comes to my daughter's life, it's my decision. Your son wanted to kill me Francesco... I know what I saw in his eyes. All because I had implied my daughter was disrespected because of a kiss, he wanted to attack me. He prayed and prayed ... To stop himself from carrying out whatever that was going on in his mind. He is your son. Don't deny you don't know what I am talking about. Your son convinced me without saying much that he is putting up this act and the Marciano girl had to live. I will watch over my daughter. I don't want you involved. Just a heads up that your son loves my daughter."

Francesco couldn't believe this. Never in a million years he had expected to hear O'Neil declare such outrageous claim. He rubbed his forehead with his hand. He was speechless. He wasn't sure if there were any words that could describe what he felt. Vincenzo was a complex character. Even as his father, Francesco didn't know everything about him. He watched O'Neil walk away to his desk. O'Neil poured some whiskey for himself and a glass for Francesco as he turned to the window " To the eyes of the observer your son can't be possibly watching my daughter like a hawk. His eyes must be on something else. But look outside. He hasn't moved from his spot all day. He has been sitting next to the boys on the benches watching my daughter eating her lunch on the grass. He hasn't looked away. His eyes only see her. You didn't see what I saw in his eyes Francesco. He is madly in love with my daughter."

Francesco took the drink and stood next to O'Neil " For arguments sake if he was after your daughter, would you give your blessing to him. I don't believe this but in theory, what are your thoughts on my son? Do you pray that he falls for another because you think heavens would have to help your bloodline if he does join your family? My son would then have three families at his disposal, Rosarios, O'Neils, Giovannis. He could rule New York..."

O'Neil shook his head " I don't think that far ahead Francesco. I would do what you did... If my daughter chooses your son, I don't have no problem. It's not about that. This son of yours gave me the shock of my life last night. I never imagined your son would have feelings for my daughter. I always imagined Andreas in his place. Andreas is readable. Your son isn't. I just know your son is honourable. I saw it in his eyes. He said my daughter's name like he was saying prayers letting her name come out as though each letter is holly. I have never seen anything like it... In theory I don't want your son near my daughter...."

Francesco retorted " You fear him.., You do.... The son I raised won't harm his own. O'Neil whether he is in love with your daughter remains to be seen but the son I raised would never raise a gun on an O'Neil. He won't... You fear he would harm your family. Your fear is baseless...."

Emanuelle downed his drink and looked outside watching his innocent daughter wondering if she had any idea how the beast kept checking her out.

Clarisa was talking and laughing with the girls eating her lunch. She was aware of th beast glancing at her from time to time. She didnt mind him. She tried to ignore him. She just wanted to enjoy her prom day. There was a long day ahead. Dress rehearsals were coming up and she was going to have so much fun trying on her dress and hanging out with the girls till the night time came. She made her way with the girls into the back gardens. They loved playing around the fountain. They were going to have a water fight. They had special guns next to the fountain and looking forward to get each other soaked. But the other girls had other ideas and wanted to get the boys back. She couldnt see it working. She knew it would backfire but she went along with it. They were going to get soaked big time.

The girls got the guns ready with water and went inside the building. They walked back towards the front yard and took aim hiding behind the fences spearting the front yard from the back gardens. They counted and they pointed the guns towards the boys whom were sitting on the benches.

The boys of course narrowed their eyes at the girls and sprinted after them. the girls shouted "Run..."

Clarisa made a run for it, into the woods. She sighed. Why didnt the girls learn. now the boys were going to catch them all and throw them in the pool next to the fountain. It happened at proms. Water fights between girls and boys never ended well. The boys didnt play fair. You soacked them with a gun for every droplet they soaked you big time.

She ran until she thought she was at a safe distance or she wished she was. She heard him behind her "Little red. You take aim well. You hit my face... It was you. I saw you aiming at me. None of your groupies would have.

Clarissa turned around "Shouldnt you be chasing Letizia. She is your girl. It was her idea to soak you boys wet..."

Vincenzo frowned as she got closer to her " She is not my girl. She is Vitale's. How many times do I tell you? Now come with me. I want the pleasure of making you pay up..."

Clarissa put her hand on her heart "Making me pay. For what?"

Vincenzo took a few steps closer to her closing the distance between them. He stated as he looked int her gorgeous eyes that had a pull nothing else had. "For soaking me..."

Clarisa declared "You are not soaked." She then reached behind her and took out a small water gun and shot into his face. She chuckled "Now. You are closer." She then ran for it like her life depended on it. But then seconds later she found herslef caught in the beast's grasp. He grabbed her from behind and her back hit his chest "Not so fast little red." He then turned her around and pushed her gently towards a tree. Her back hit the tree and he held onto her hands firmly but gently.

Clarisa stated with an annoyed tone "Vincenzo... Let go... What do you want? An apology?..." But then she gulped as she saw him looking at her sp intensely. She was losing her breath getting lost in his eyes... She took a deep breath "What are you going to do? Drag me back there and throw me in the fountain?"

Vicnnzo objected "You are my girl. Why would I throw you in the fountain for all to see all soaked." He then leaned closer to her as his breath brushed against her lips "If I ever do that, it would be for my eyes only... No audience allowed... This time, I think I am going to kiss you as punishment... Tell me to stop if you feel I shouldn't kiss you... But let me kiss you first... Let me show you again what you mean to me... I think you have forgotten our kiss. You need a reminder... If you werent my girl, I wouldnt have kissed you the way I do...." He then slowly leaned closer and attached his lips to hers as he let her hands go. She could push her away with her free hands. But she didnt. He counted the seconds in his mind. Those precious seconds that his little red allowed him to touch her.