It was lunch time and the survival camp students were asked to make their way to the lunch room. Since Tristan was still testifying in the meeting room and hadn't returned, Vincenzo had decided to let the boys eat with girls in the cafe... instead of separating them. Of course there was another motive. He was sure his father was going to question him about what he had done about his promise. He needed to see girls. His father's instruction was specific and he got the message. There was no need to date anyone and he didn't need to break up with Letizia as long as he made an effort in talking to some girl on daily basis... His father wanted him to consider other options. He was never going to willingly do that. He hardly spoke to girls ever, unless of course he was taunting them.

Vincenzo wasn't even feeling hungry... He was in the survival camp cafeteria and was taking his time deciding what to get to eat as he was standing at the counter. His mind was with Letizia. He hadn't stated around the meeting room. His father had made it clear he didn't want him to give the impression to the outsiders that he was on worried for a girl who had raised her hand on a Rosario. He had decided it was best to wait at the camp for Tristan to camp. He knew Tristan wasn't going to dare give Letizia a harsh punishment. He knew Tristan was aware of what he was capable of. Vincenzo was not against Letizia getting sanctions. His father had judged her guilty. That meant there was no running away. He preferred if she got a school sanction rather than a sanction on the outside world. This was nothing compared to what she could get if she pulled this stunt off school premises and without the protective cushion of survival camp. This was an excuse that reduced her crimes.

Just then as he was deep in thought, he felt something hit his back. He was not in the best mood. Whoever did it were going to pay. He turned around and looked at the line of boys and girls who were all staring at him with fear. He then saw what had hit him that was lying on the floor. It was just a cola bottle metal cap " Who threw that?" He asked.

He then looked at people who had cola bottles in his hands. He raised an eyebrow. There was a new student who had done that. One of those Edward Blake look a likes. The kid quickly apologised " Sorry sir..."

Vincenzo was about to unleash his wrath on him but saw who was standing right behind him. Her electric blue eyes were staring into his eyes. Not many people could hold his stare but she did. She loved it when she did. She saw right through him. She just did with her angelic blue eyes. He was not going to make her watch some brutalities of his she hadn't seen before on her first day in school so Vincenzo had a change of heart. He instructed the kid "You... Drop and give me 30 push ups... Then you go back to the end of the line and wait your turn... Then you can drink your flat cola bottle. Don't let me catch you insulting me again..."

The kid paled and quickly dropped and gave him push ups.

Vincenzo then picked up his tray and turned to Cristina " After you get your lunch, follow me to my office on this floor. We need to have a talk..."

Cristina was confused what he wanted. She grabbed her tray and drink and followed Vincenzo. Cristina had been watching Vincenzo and had been paying attention to how unhappy he looked. She did adore him a lot. They had a peculiar relationship. She wanted him to be happy and it bothered her that he was too deep in thought and wasn't smiling his cocky smile like how he usually did. She wanted to walk over and speak to him but was surprised he wanted to talk to him. She knew him from years back and Vincenzo was the silent type when it came to his personal matters. He didn't talk much but when he did he made sure he got all the information out of whoever he was addressing.

Just when Cristina got close to the office, she noticed Vincenzo opening the door for her " After you Cristina."

Cristina almost forgot it was lunch time and it was off duty time. So she could ask him about what was bothering him and didn't have to be formal.

As Cristina walked inside, Vincenzo instructed " Why don't you take a seat behind the lunch table..."

She walked to the small table for two and put her tray on the table. she saw him close the door and walk elegantly and handsomely to the table. He sat down and he looked at her " How was your day? Did anyone give you trouble when Tristan captured you?" He seemed quite focused and emphasised on each word. His tone was serious and there was no sign of his thoughtful state in the cafeteria.

Cristina was surprised. He actually sounded concerned " It was fine. No one touched me if that's what you are asking..."

Vincenzo nodded " Good... Lets hope they keep it that way. The boys here are not honourable like the ones you are used to in your old school. Niall calls us feral."

Cristina took a deep breath. It was as easy as breathing to talk to him. She didn't know how he managed it but after all this time he still treated her like how he always did. Like a best friend.

Cristina got curious " Why did you bring me here?"

Vincenzo shrugged " To talk... But have your lunch... Don't let me delay you...." He then put a chips in his mouth and chewed as elegantly as Cristina remembered him always eat.

Cristina asked  " About what? What could we talk about? You hardly talked to me yesterday at your house when we were playing chess."

Vincenzo put his hand under his chin and put his elbow on the table as he replied " You are just being Cris...You question me too much... But you know I will tell you everything I wish to disclose to you without you having to ask for it..." He then picked up another chips and chewed silently and slowly as he stared at her.

Cristina could see some part of Vincenzo's father inside him. He was as elegant and effortless as his father. His eyes shouted authority and his voice uttered nothing but the law. She was lost in his eyes as she always was. She got on with eating silently as she kept glancing up at him. He got busy eating too and not looking at her anymore.

As she became impatient she put her knife and fork down " At least tell me this ....Vincenzo ... What's bothering you?"

Vincenzo looked up and smiled weakly. He leaned back in his chair and put his hands on his head. He stared at Cristina and then sighed " Come on.... Is that a trick question? You know what's bothering me..... "

Cristina whispered " Of course .... Letizia .... I am sorry..."

Vincenzo shook his head "I should be sorry.... I failed to protect my girl... I failed to warn her of dangers because I thought I could protect her. I put her in that damn room on the top floor and I never thought she would dare defy me. She made her way past the guards I put around her room by pepper spraying them and she pepper sprayed her way to Tristan's camp and then beat up my sister.... That's what bothering me.... But to add salt to my wounds, Tristan is now in that court room where I should be. He is the testifying sergeant because it would be a conflict of interest if I went in there... I should be the one in there teaching her that she can't touch my sister and get away.... It's Tristan who will teach her and that bothers me.... it bothers me that she thinks this is the end of the world and I know she is lucky my father doesn't take out a gun and shoot her... I know he would never do that in front of my mother.... Well, Letizia owes a thank you to my mother after this... She is lucky but the next time she won't be so lucky and I need to make sure that ... there is no next time. I need to mentor her. I need to teach her all I should have done so already but I can't hurt her like how anyone else would have been if they hurt my sister. That doesn't sit well with my father. I will make sure Letizia knows the rules and will help her get there but my father is not patient and I am worried she may hurt my family and again ... Then what? I need to help her change but ... I don't want her to change. I love her as she is... I love how she is free spirited and doesn't let anyone walk over her..."

Cristina nodded " I understand... So what are you going to do?"

Vincenzo replied " I will mentor her. I will help her and I will protect her.... But I will have to keep her away from my family until I know she won't do what she did ever again .... She attacked Vienna. She attacked my blood... My family is sacred to me.... She came between my family and I .... But I love her .... I really do.... I would do anything to protect her ... "

Cristina replied " What if you fail to keep her away from trouble? What if she does what she did again? I see it happening if you think the way that you do.... What if the issue is not her obeying or disobeying the rules... I see the issue elsewhere.... I tell you what I think but you may dismiss my view .... But I say it anyway ..... She must know what your sister means to you... Have you ever told her how much you love your family? Maybe that's what she doesn't know.... She wouldn't have hurt your sister if she knew what she means to you... Vincenzo .... You are going about this the wrong way...,Teaching her the rules is the schools job... Whatever decision the court makes would involve teaching her why what she did was wrong but you are the only one who can make her understand why it's not acceptable if she touched your sister.... I know you love your sisters life above your own.. I have seen it happen... I remember once when she was very sick and you overheard doctors saying she could die... You told me  how that was the only time you asked to go to church with your mother and to pray to god to take your life instead of hers.... I remember all the times you told me how much it bothers you when she falls over and hurts her knee when she goes to tennis training. You told me how much trouble you got into for breaking her tennis rackets to stop her from going to her training so she didn't get hurt... She wasn't good in tennis and you didn't want her to keep falling over while playing on the slippery grass courts... It worked... She stopped ... I remember all the times you told me how much it bothers you that your mother is not a businesswoman. It always bothered you that she can't protect herself and if your father dies before you turn 18, she would get hurt... I don't know even where you got that idea ..., But either way you never wanted your mother's fate for your sister ... You always wanted her to not follow your mother's path and wished for her to enter the business like you. You wanted her to follow you and your brother's path so in future she wouldn't be dependent on anyone and she would know enough about how to protect herself. So she would not be too innocent to see everyone as friends... If I was in that room when Vienna was attacked I would have sounded the alarm. We all have alarms attached to our torches that we carry with us... She didn't sound the alarm. The entire team on her side would have swarmed in if she had done that. She is innocent and maybe you should accept that she doesn't want to follow your path or viggo's... Not many women can do this ... This is a man's world...

Vincenzo retorted " Its the 1970s. My sister can do anything... My father sacrificed so much so me and my siblings have choices.... She can be anything she wants to be because she is a Rosario... If Sancia Giovanni and Georgina canavarro managed it so can she... If you and Letizia can manage it so can she..."

Cristina nodded " But it's her choice.... I just want you to think about why Letizia and I have to be involved. I am my father's only child. Letizia is also the only child... We must know the business but we are destined for an alliance .... Vienna has two big brothers and a godfather who owns half of Italy... and a boyfriend who is heir to two families. You don't need to worry about Vienna... Your priority is Letizia now ... Protect her... But tell her about how much you love your family.... Obviously she doesn't know ... Otherwise she wouldn't have touched her.... She needs to make sure there is no next time... Not you... I know you enough... I know if Letizia makes this mistake again . You won't forgive her. So she must get her act together or she would lose you...."

He took a deep breath and remain silent. He then sighed " Never mind... Eat something... Your food is getting cold..."

Cristina nodded and went back to eating leaving Vincenzo to think about his words...  He took his time with eating like he did with everything else... She admired him for his patience and for composing himself while his girlfriend was in trouble. At the thought of Letizia she felt uneasy. Now that he was waiting for her fate to be decided maybe it was best she left him be. She wanted to give him a hug but she never wanted to do that now that she knew he had a girlfriend. She wouldn't like that at all. She thought to herself.

Cristina stood up " May I go?"

Vincenzo looked up " No, I asked you to come here... I need to talk to you more about another matter actually ... I didn't bring you here to talk about Letizia . Sit down Cris."

Cristina sighed and sat down " I feel bad for being here when your girlfriend isn't..."

Vincenzo asked " I don't understand.... Since when do you feel bad? Why? Has someone said something to you. Tell me Cris... I would make them regret being born. Our friendship is nobody's business but ours...."

Cristina quickly shook her head " No one said anything... I think it's wrong that I have lunch when she doesn't know... You have a girlfriend.... It just occurred to me she may not like it that I am alone with you...."

Vincenzo shrugged " So what? Come on... I made it clear to Letizia I don't think of you that way... I spoke to her when we danced... She has to accept it.... As for others, well ... I don't care what they think... As long as they keep their worthless mouths closed in front of you, I don't care..."

Cristina spoke " Fine... At least make it quick ... please..." She did get nervous when he stared at her like he did now. He was just a pleasure to be with at times when he let his guards down but his heart belonged to another. To Letizia.

Vincenzo then sighed " Fine... I make it quick. My father has asked me to see girls and hang out with girls but in no romantic way. He is hoping I forget about letizia... Well so I just thought I give you the heads up... I think I don't like hanging out with any girls but you when Letizia isn't an option... I will try talking to girls but I will need your help at times ... If you don't want to you don't have to help me out.... Would you endure my company more than you should? I will try not to bother you much... But I really can't stand some of the girls in this place ...."

Cristina was surprised to hear about his father's arrangement but shrugged " For you I do anything ... This is what friends do .... help each other...."