Meeting The Manzini's

She stood by the window staring out at the street that just started to bustle with early morning traffic and people walking about. Her golden locks shined in the sunlight, her fingers ran through the right side as her mind flashed to a photo, she had seen moments ago of Nigel with Emily and Amy. I did it for your own good, at least now, you can find happiness, she thought.

She felt strong hands on her bare shoulders, “Why do you worry, my love,” asked Sean as his naked body pressed against hers as they looked out the window of their hotel room, “Akin and I will take great care of you.”

She nodded as she turned to him. They looked over at Akin who was still asleep. She touched his shoulder, “There are things that money can’t resolve.”

He scoffed, “Such as?”

She gave a gentle smile, “Money can at times get you a seat at certain tables.”

He gave her a blank stare but she was no longer interested in continuing the dialogue. The meeting was in a couple of hours and her parents wanted to see her before the meeting with the Manzini's. “Well, my love, I wish you a successful talk with your people today but…before you leave and while the giant is sleeping—” he lifted her and pressed his way inside.

“Ahhhh,” she moaned, he was the younger of her two lovers. She held on tight as he worked her middle rapidly. They both grunted like wild animals in heat. It was a wonder Akin stayed asleep through it but he had drunk himself into oblivion and couldn’t even get his cock to wake up that night when she returned from her meeting with Gio.

*****

Miriam never missed an opportunity to look her best even when she wasn’t feeling it, she made a point to look like a star. She sat in front of her mother and father on the lanai of their summer home in Florida wearing a black floral applique mesh overlay halter dress.

Her skin had this bronze glow and seemed to sparkle. Her mother had more to say than her tight-lipped father. “Why do you do these things?” her mother asked seemingly annoyed.

She shrugged, “I don’t understand why you’re so upset. Dad is content with me asking Mr. Manzini to keep the costs the same so the company won’t incur increased costs. The Manzini’s are good about honoring their agreements.”

Her mother huffed. “It’s not about money,” she rolled her eyes.

Miriam in turn rolled her eyes before she looked over at her father, “Here we go—”

“Yes, here we go. You live to embarrass us and make us look like fools. First that, wild thing in London and then—”

Miriam looked frightened as her mother almost divulged the secret that her father was never made aware of. Her mother sipped from her cocktail glass as she gathered her next few thoughts.

Miriam stood to her feet, “I know Akin isn’t your ideal match for me but these days, more people are accepting of interracial marriages. You shouldn’t be that way.” Miriam said to her in a manner that caused her to go on defense.

“What way?”

“I mean…if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you hated black people or something.”

Her face nearly fell off as she gasped and clutched her invisible pearls. Her father interjected, “Now. Miriam, calm down, you know your mother and I don’t have anything, against Black people.”

Miriam smirked, “I know you don’t father,” she replied as she kissed his cheek, “It’s time for us to go meet with Vincenzo.”

Her mother looked at her father, “I told you that Julietta would have been better for this type of thing.”

Miriam smirked, “There. You love to throw my good precious pious sister into my face. But I assure you that Giovanni would have become bored with her after an hour.”

Julietta was her younger sister. One year younger, she wasn’t as pretty as Miriam but a delicate beauty in her own right. Yet she kept herself covered and was a devout Catholic almost to the point where it was deemed excessive.

Julietta did have a small crush on Gio but her conversations often revolved around religion and nothing more. He couldn’t believe that she and Miriam were biological sisters because they were so different.

As her mother and father stood to their feet, her mother rebutted, “Julietta has kept her husband happy for the last three years.”

Miriam scoffed, “Has she?”

Her mother decided not to get into it with Miriam. It often was a match that she lost. She was never successful at making Miriam feel less than her sister. “Can we just go and get this over with,” she snapped as she marched away.

*****

Natalie was in the kitchen preparing a cup of coffee when Gio entered wearing a nice suit. Whenever he met with his father, he made sure to arrive in business attire. Natalie was dressed sharply in a skirt and blazer. She nodded to her brother, “Morning. Coffee?” she asked as she began pouring him a cup.

He nodded, “Sure.”

She handed him a small saucer with the cup on top, “Where is Nyla?”.”

“I decided not to bring her just yet. I want to wait until after we speak with baba.”

Natalie agreed, “You’re right. Let’s go slowly. We don’t want to expose too much at once might give the old man a heart attack.”

“Don’t joke like that.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. So, are we ready?”

He took one last sip of his drink just as Nyla was entering the kitchen wearing a pretty tropical print dress, “I almost forgot how much I loved the weather here,” she commented smiling.

Natalie looked at the dress she wore which made her huge breasts sit up even higher as they were individually housed in a strip of cloth, “You look amazing Nyla.”

“Thank you.”

Gio pulled her close for a kiss, “I’ll see you in a few. Call me if you need anything.”

She nodded, “I will. Love you.”

She watched as the two exited the house. Her cell phone sounded. She looked at her message from Jake which read, “Can’t stop thinking about yesterday. I know you missed that stroke game. I felt how you were tightening up on my dick.”

“Jake, stop.”

“You weren’t saying that yesterday.”

She shook her head and placed the phone down. Her mind flashed to that moment and her body shuddered. She shook her head and screamed in aggravation, “Damn you, Jake!”

*****

Dressed sharply in a navy blue suit as he sat behind the wheel of one of his shiny new cars, Jake smiled as he closed out the text message from Nyla. He licked his butter pecan lips and grinned. It was almost time for a meeting with La Patrona.

He adjusted his red tie and looked himself over in the rearview mirror. It was time. He exited his car in the high-rise parking deck. His footsteps sounded against the concrete as he made his way to the elevators.

“Bing,” it sounded, the doors opened, and there, a stone-faced man glared at him as he stepped into the car. The man hit the 22nd floor and nodded at him, “Senor Jake?”

“Uh yeah,” he replied. It was quiet but luckily the ride was quick as the elevator zipped up to the 22nd floor, the doors opened and soon, he was greeted by another man who walked alongside him until he reached the door.

The man’s ashy hand reached for the door, turned the knob, and opened it for Jake. They stepped into the foyer, and the door shut, “This way,” the man said to him in Spanish and Jake followed close on his heels until they ended up in a room where a beautiful older woman sat at a large desk. Fernando was on her right-hand side, “This must be Jake,” she said with certainty.

Jake smiled, “Good morning.” He looked around and saw a line of handsome men standing by a window in the position of parade rest. “Uh, okay,” he said uneasily.

She chuckled, “He’s cute, relax, Jake,” she said as she stood to her feet. “These are your men…well, my men but they will report to you, and you to Fernando.”

The men ranged in Hughes from olive with dark hair and blue eyes to caramel brown with deep brown eyes. She strutted over to the first man, “Oscar,” she touched his chiseled chin for a moment before stepping to the next, “Brandon, Marvin, Easton, and Isaac.”

Jake waved. She looked at them, “Say hello to your new boss.”

They spoke. And then she dismissed them. She walked over to Jake and touched his chin with her three fingers, “I’m counting on you to keep these guys in line and on target. It’s imperative.”

Jake’s forehead scrunched, “Imperative?”

She nodded, “Yes. Your success is my success and I want nothing but the best for us.” She stepped away. Her toned calves bulged with every step and her ass was nice and from in the skirt she wore. He watched as she whispered to Fernando.

Moments later, Fernando walked over to him, “I’ll walk you out.”

They headed down the hall. As they walked, they saw a tall figure walking toward them. He was young yet he had this demeanor as he walked that made him seem superior to others. The man didn’t even acknowledge their presence as he strutted by. Jake looked at Fernando, “Who was that?”

They were outside of the apartment, “The less you know about La Patrona’s associates the better off you are.”

Jake scoffed, “A’ight man. I’m cool.”

“That’s right, be cool,” replied Fernando as he patted Jake’s shoulders in front of the elevator, “we have to make this money until—” he paused.

Jake’s eyebrow lifted, “Until what?”

“Don’t worry. I have confidence in you,” he said as he handed him a card, “this is the address where you will meet with the guys daily. Or…as needed.”

Jake eyed the card, “Look man, this ain’t no crack house or nothing like that. I’m not trying to get caught up.”

Fernando chuckled, “This is a house. One that La Patrona owns. It’s a safe spot. The guys are never to have their, um, well, you know, dates, at the house.”

Jake nodded.

“Make sure you lay down the rules. Have your first meeting with them in an hour to establish your position.”

Jake felt uneasy at first but Fernando placed one hand on his right shoulder, “You were made to do this, and remember…this is just a means to what you really want.”

Jake gave a little smile, “You’re right. Thanks.”

The elevator opened and Jake stepped on. The doors closed and he rode it down to the deck where his car was parked.

*****

Vincenzo Mancini had come a long way from his humble beginnings in Italy. He was once caught up in a different kind of life but was wise enough to switch to something legitimate. He owned an office building downtown where he rented out spaces to other firms. He had one floor all to himself. His office had a panoramic view where he could look out and see the water, the city, and many other pleasing things. What pleased him most as he sat at his desk with the sun shining on his handsome yet slightly worn face, was seeing his two children walk into his office.

He stood to greet them kissing them both on their cheeks, “My beautiful children are here. Sad we aren’t meeting under different circumstances,” he sighed as he looked at Gio, “so what do you make of this stunt Miriam has pulled? I had no idea that you all were having marital issues.”

Gio sighed deeply before they walked over to a long table and each sat, “Things have been different for a long time,” he said as he rubbed his chin.

His father lifted his brows briefly, “And this can’t be sorted out? I mean, neither of you is getting any younger. I thought you wanted children.”

“Miriam can’t have children.”

“I had no idea. Have you gotten another opinion? Have you gotten yourself checked out?”

“Miriam isn’t interested in having children but Gio knows that he’s not the issue,” Natalie said with a smile.

His father smiled, “Are you saying?”

Gio nodded, “There is another woman.”

“She’s pregnant. This is great news,” he said as he stood and walked over to a little bar and poured three glasses of wine, “when can I meet this woman.”

Gio was shocked at how well his father was taking the news, “Um, sure, Baba, I wasn’t sure—”

“Who’s her family?”

“Her mother died when she was a teenager. She was raised by her grandmother. Her father…she hasn’t heard from in years.”

He nodded, “I see. How do you know this woman isn’t just having your child to have access to what we’ve built?”

“Because. She’s just not like that.”

Natalie saw her father’s face drop, “Baba, I’ve met Nyla. She’s sweet. You can trust she’s not here for our money.”

“And what does she do?”

“She’s a new artist. A singer. She was just signed to a label in London.”

“London? Jesus Christ Gio? How on earth will you help run this business from London and raise my grandchild so far away from the rest of the family?” He saw the look on Gio’s face, “or what? Do intend to give up our legacy for some woman that any of us barely know?”

Natalie placed her hands on her father’s shoulders, “I’m here. I’ve always been here. I’m more than capable to run the company.”

“It would take months for me to teach you everything—”

“I already know it. The suppliers, the warehouses, and how we ship and negotiate. Of course, there will be times when I’d need Gio to step in for the customers who prefer to make their deals with men only but—”

He smiled, “I see you two have been planning this for some time.”

“I hope you don’t hate me,” said Gio.

“You’re my son, I’ve only ever wanted to create something that would take care of our family for generations.”

“And you’ve done that,” Gio assured him, “I’ll be here just more of a silent participant. I’m an artist. You know business has never been my heart.”

“And my grandchild? How often would I get to see him or even her?”

“I’d make sure you’d see the child as often as you’d like.”

They made their way back to the table. Vincenzo looked at the time, “It won’t be long before your…wife arrives with her parents, how much will this divorce cost us?”

“Miriam isn’t asking for alimony. She only asks that we do this quietly and that her father’s company gets to continue the partnership without any additional costs.”

The door opened, and his secretary spoke, “Your guests have arrived.”

He nodded, “show them in.”

They walked in. Vincenzo smiled, “Harold, Angus, Miriam, come sit with us.”

*****

The negotiations didn’t take long. In the end, Harold was content with not having his business incur extra costs. Vincenzo stated he saw Harold as family and a friend. Agnus was not completely happy. Her mother scowled at her, “I hope you are content with this foolish decision that will never serve you any purpose.”

Miriam stared at her mother with a slight smile, “I’m perfectly content. I’m finally doing what I want to do. Perhaps had you not objected so vehemently to a man that loved me, perhaps you could have grandchildren by now. But I get it…you didn’t want me with Nigel because he was Black.”

“Will you stop saying that,” she whispered under her breath, “I wanted you to be properly cared for?”

“No. you wanted to use me to secure a better future for yourself. Let’s face it, if it were just about money, why not embrace my new engagement? Akin has money.”

Agnus shrugged, “Harold it’s late,” she waited for him to walk over to where she stood.

“All right, dear, I’ll call you later,” he said before kissing her cheeks.

“I’ll walk out with you,” Vincenzo said as he walked toward them.

Natalie kissed her brother who looked as if he wanted to stay behind to talk with Miriam. They watched as everyone left the office. She stood in front of him and looked up into his eyes. He gave a subtle smile, “So, that’s it.”

She nodded, “Come by tomorrow. Have drinks with us before we head back to Los Angeles.”

Gio scratched his head, “Maybe—”

“Come on, I don’t know when I’ll see you both again.”

He huffed, “This doesn’t mean that Nyla and I are interested in—”

She laughed, “Who said anything about that? It’s just drinks and maybe some hor d’oeuvres.”

Gio agreed to meet up with her and her new fiancé before heading back to London. He liked being in Florida but was ready to head back. Nigel had informed him that Nyla was in high demand and not only that, Erick informed him that he was ready for both of them to return.

*****

Relived that the meeting with his father and soon-to-be former in-laws was done, Gio and Natalie were back at her house. As soon as they stepped into the foyer, their noses were delighted with a pleasant aroma.

“Wow, something smells amazing,” Natalie mentioned to Gio.

“Nyla is probably cooking,” he replied as he followed her into the kitchen where they saw Nyla sipping on a glass of orange drink.

“I hope you don’t mind, I cooked. It’s something I do to calm my nerves,” said Nyla. She had been at the house waiting anxiously to hear about the meeting.

Gio kissed her mouth, “Everything smells amazing. Our dad is on his way to meet you.”

Nyla appeared nervous. Natalie rubbed her shoulder, “I wouldn’t worry.” She surveyed the kitchen and made notice of the food. There was a pot of minestrone and fresh bread, and for dessert, she made tiramisù. “You’ve made some of our father’s favorites. He’s going to love this.”

Nyla smiled and hugged Gio. He touched her belly, “How are you and our baby?”

“We’re fine.”

“In a couple of days, we’ll be back in London. I know you want to get back to work.”

Nyla nodded, “Can’t wait.”

The doorbell sounded. They heard Natalie’s voice, “I’ll get it.”

They entered the kitchen. Nyla looked into the piercing blue eyes of Vincenzo. A handsome older man. He smiled at Nyla, the singer and now the mother of my future grandchild.” He kissed both of her cheeks.

Pleased and nervous she did a curtsey and a bow. He was tickled, “Relax Nyla, my daughter and son spoke very highly of you today.

They sat at the table and ate, music played softly. Vincenzo chuckled, “Luce, this is one of my granddaughter’s favorite songs.”

Natalie smiled, “It is. She loves all kinds of music. Maybe we’ll have another little singer in our family.”

Nyla smiled, “Who else sings?”

“Our mother sang. She was also an actress.”

Vincenzo nodded, “Yes, I still remember when I met her all those years ago back in Italy. She was in a play. I stayed behind to compliment her. And the rest as they say—” his face glowed.

“When I first met Nyla, it was in a coffee shop. I heard her voice as she sang from another room. I had to meet her,” admitted Gio.

Natalie clasped her hands together, “Like father like son.”

****

Vanilla-fragrant tea light candles burned in the dimly light bathroom. They were in a garden tub with water more than waist deep with bubbles. The aroma was of lavender. His fingers strummed through her luscious wet curls as she rested with her back to his chest. His left hand cupped her left breast as she sang sweetly, Every Kind of Way.

His hand explored her soft brown skin. Her head turned. She tasted the wine on his tongue. Her left hand reached back and gripped a few strands at the top of his head. “Ah, um, oh.” She moaned continuously as his two fingers rubbed vigorously across her clit. “Ah, ah, Gi---oooo,” she gasped as she grabbed his hand. It was time to move things to the bedroom.

The sound of the water drained from the large tub as he stepped out first and reached for her hand and before long, he was nestled between her thighs stoking to his heart’s content as they lie in bed. Their rhythms matched perfectly. He paused to look into her eyes. Her smile captured him and her words feed his essence, “I want to have all your babies, Gio.”

“How many should we have?” he asked as his hips moved slightly.

“As many as we want but,” she chuckled, “no more than five.”

“Five is a good number,” he said as he released his essence into her.