Vienna was back in her theory class after she had left her father's presence. Her mind was with what was happening at the meeting room. She had no idea what was happening and the wait was agonising for the meeting to be over. She felt bad for being the reason for Letizia to get into trouble. She blamed herself.

Time for lunchtime came and Vienna left the class. Before going to  the survival Camp's canteen to get food, she decided to go to her locker and get her shorts. She felt hot in her trousers and she didn't know what had possessed her not to wear shorts as part of her uniform instead of her hot trousers. Maybe her ordeal had made her feel hot now. She grabbed her trousers and went to get changed in the changing room. As she walked out she bumped into a rock hard chest that was blocking the exit. She fell backwards but his pair of strong arms held her in place and his arms wrapped around her waist stopped her from falling and making her feel safe.

Vienna looked up into his eyes. "Oh .... sorry..."

Tristan replied "No problem.... I called you when you entered. You didnt hear because it was noisy in the corridors. Sorry. I startled you by standing here at the exit...."  He then let go of her waist but he missed her warmth immediately. He didnt want to let go. He bent down and picked up her trousers from the floor. He stood up "You dropped this.... Put it back into your locker if you need to... I want to have lunch with you now... is that ok? If you want to have lunch with your friends, I understand. Then we can maybe talk after lunch...."

Vienna took a deep breath. Even though he had ordered her to see him at lunch he still asked her politely if she didnt mind spending time with him. He respected her wishes and always tried to give her a choice if he could help it. She didnt mind at all... Also she prefered to have that talk now that he had promised. if it was after lunch then she was a Sergeant and she was a corporal. At least titles didnt matter now as it was off duty time.

Vienna nodded "Sure... I will have lunch with you... Let me put this in my locker."

Tristan smiled.

Vienna felt at ease with him. He sounded content. Considering he was coming from the meeting he looked too composed. Whatever the outcome was it looked like it had pleased him enough to even smile. It was good that now was lunch time and they didnt have to be formal like the rest of the hours at survival camp. She couldnt wait for this week to be over so there was no more survival camp on daily basis and only they had it on fridays from that point like always. But a part of her felt sad. Tristan was leaving after the weekend.

Vienna then tried to side step him. Tristan's muscular chest was in the way. He covered the narrow corridor that lead to the changing room exit. She admired his figure. He was so athletic. She had seen at times hoe hard he worked at the gym to keep fit. It was saddening sometimes to know why he had to be strong. He had inherited so many enemies from two families he was connected to. But for how all she could think of was his intense glare that was on her. She bit her lip "May I pass?"

Tristan narrowed his eyes at how she bit her lip but stepped aside. She was killing him. This was pure torture waiting to kiss her. He was willing to do anything to get a taste of those lips that she easily bit. She teased him so heartlessly as she showed off what she could touch that he couldn't, unless one  she allowed it.

Tristan stood aside and watched her walk past. He watched her walk to her locker and admired how elegant she walked. She was graceful as a princess and destined to be his queen. Could his day get any better now? He watched justice being served and now he had the honour of walking behind his girl and looking at her all he wanted. He walked behind her being glad no one was around. At this moment he didn't want anyone to disturb them.

Vienna opened her locker and placed her trousers inside the locker.

Tristan stood behind her " Is that a picture of you and your bothers I see? That's from years ago... You were five or six. Right?" He found her so adorable smiling standing between the two boys. She seemed happy. Seeing her sweet smile made him smile.

Vienna closed the locker and turned around " Yes. It's from a long time ago. It's best to remember the old times."

Tristan nodded " Indeed. But it's best to think about the present too. Follow me to my office."

Vienna then remembered she was in trouble but Tristan was so calm and didn't look angry with her. She followed him to his office. He opened the door and spoke " After you. Go inside and wait for me please. I need to hand over Letizia's verdict in writing to Vincenzo. I won't be long. Start having lunch. Don't wait for me."

Vienna knew he did it deliberately. He could have given the letter to him earlier but it was his tactic to keep her waiting for her fate. She walked in and then found the door locked behind her. She sighed and entered. The aroma of food filled the office. She walked inside and spotted a nicely laid out table in the balcony. There were plates of food and bottles of drink. Of course. Tristan was prepared. He was so organised and worked around the clock for everything. She sat down on a chair that had her name tag in front. She found it nice of him to scatter sweets with shiny wrappers on the table. She loved those sweets. How did he know she wondered. She unwrapped one sweet and tasted it. It took her to memories of her past. She remembered how she used to go to the sweatshop with the other kids and getting herself sweets. Tristan must have observed what sweets she loved back then because all those sweets were her favourite flavours.

Suddenly the door opened and Tristan walked inside. He raised an eyebrow " You haven't started eating yet?"

Vienna shook her head " No. I waited for you..." she didn't want to eat before he did.

Tristan sighed and walked to the table. He say down opposite Vienna " Next time don't wait for me for lunch. I don't like it. I told you specifically to start eating.

Vienna replied " I am sorry... I just wanted to wait..."

Tristan muttered under his breath as he opened his napkin and put it on his knee " Oh you will be sorry and much more this afternoon."

Vienna gasped " This afternoon?..." His words carried promise. What was happening this afternoon?

Tristan nodded " Of course. I forgot to mention you are under arrest for the rest of the day and will be spending quality time with me. You handed yourself in to your brother's group. Big mistake. I will make sure you don't feel sorry for the enemy next time."

Vienna shook hard from his tone. It wasn't harsh. It wasn't hard. It wasn't mean. But it made her feel nervous. She was in trouble. She knew she was. She whispered " I am sorry... It would be my first offence.... Vincenzo would have be angry with me."

Tristan frowned " What do you mean?It's off records. Don't worry about Vincenzo. I don't think he would dare give you a hard time for awhile. If he does then I will give his girl a hard time."

Vienna was even afraid to ask but she had to " How do you mean?"

Tristan stated matter of factly " Her future is in my hands in the school. Simple as that.,,. Have your food now... I will tell you her verdict..."

Vienna stared at Tristan worriedly. She wasn't sure she was hungry now. She whispered " Please tell me what you mean? I have been worried ... It's my fault she is in trouble."

Tristan sharply looked up " Worried for her? Seriously Vienna? Actions have consequences. She must learn not to pull a stunt like this again. Your father would kill her if she does. I warn you now so if your father kills her next time you won't mourn her. Anyone who hurts you dies. It's a simple rule. I think I would make sure you understand this in the afternoon. Don't ever feel sorry for someone who hurt you."

Vienna couldn't accept that. Letizia didn't mean to hurt her. She knew she didn't meant it. She was about to respond but then the door suddenly opened and Vincenzo came inside. He was waving a piece of paper in his hand. He noticed his sister and Tristan were having lunch so he looked directly at Tristan " I need a word ... now."

Tristan gave him a smile out of satisfaction " Its lunch time Vincenzo.. What has brought you here I wonder? He of course wasn't going to refuse him. Vincenzo was on a war path. He stood up and walked to Vincenzo " Is something the matter?" He then chuckled.

Vincenzo walked to him " You think this is a joke? She is my girl... This is too much... You are going too far. I would appeal to this verdict.

Tristan was now standing in front of Vincenzo towering over him " It will do her some good. Trust me. Appeal will be denied. Your father said so himself. Read the small print that my mother's assistant typed up on her type writer..."

Vienna was now curious. She stood up and walked to the boys as she asked " Vincenzo... What's the verdict?"

Tristan turned to her " Nothing to worry about Vienna."

Vincenzo asked him " You haven't told her? I think you should..."

Tristan gave him a hard look as he was not happy to be ordered around. But he let it pass and looked at Vienna as he put his hands on his hips " Its a light verdict compared to what she needs... I would have asked for a death firing squad but since that wasn't available I had to stick with school sanctions.... Her punishment is isolation. She will be allowed to come to school but she will be on her own in a separate classroom all day. She is internally excluded... on my terms..."

Vincenzo asked sarcastically " And what are your terms? She is in a room with one window over the front of the school so every day she can see everyone having fun? You only let her enter classrooms if she has group project and she still is banned from interactions .... She can't ever speak to anyone and no one is allowed to speak to her on the premises until she turns eighteen and graduates from here.... She has to announce her punishment to the whole school herself in the assembly tomorrow morning. What else? You have gone too far. She has also detention with your mother after school every day. And you will be looking at her reports and adjusting the arrangement meaning you can change it making it worse if you wish it... I can't see you lifting any of this. You will. S enjoying this. This is your revenge. You have full rights to have her exclusion arrangements changed. You set the end date and you choose the severity. You should have put my name on this file too..."

Vienna whispered " Is this true?"

Tristan sighed " Yes.. She needs to see that interacting with others is a privilege. If she breaks the rules she loses her rights.... It's best if she is kept away...." He then turned to Vincenzo " I couldn't put your name. You were not involved. I would have if I could. But your father said no when I asked him after the meeting.... Your father told me you are asked to meet and greet other girls beside her and he will check starting today... Don't you see? You can be involved. Meet girls and make her see what she lost. She lost you..."

Vincenzo spoke " She hasn't lost me...."

Tristan spoke " Well, it would feel like she has lost you during school hours. She can look outside the window and see you with other girls. She can see the consequences. I say make the most of it. I think isolation won't do anything to her but having to watch you spend time with others would bother her and she can't even object to anything on school premises. She can't talk ... remember?"

Vienna felt unease. She could see her brother was not pleased. She watched as Vincenzo took a step towards Tristan "I don't dispute she should be sanctioned but you have gone too far....."

Tristan replied " Fine. I can transfer all the control to my mother instead. Is that what you wish? Because that's the alternative. It's best if I deal with her than my mother. Trust me."

Vincenzo accused " You are trying to humiliate her this way? How dare you make her read her own sanction to the school. You are making this more public than it's needed. You will pay for this. Adjust it or you will pay." He then walked away and left the room soundly as he shut the door.

Vienna gulped. Her brother never made empty threats. He carried them out. She had to do something.

Tristan shrugged " I will be waiting."

As Vincenzo left, Vienna looked at Tristan. What was she to do?