03| New place

Navigating power dynamics is like playing with fire

•~•

A formal introduction was made and a handshake was exchanged between Daniel and Nacho, the second in command of the Romanos. "I'll drive ourselves," with stakes being higher than ever, Daniel's trust lies in no one. Nacho quietly handed him the keys while passing a thin smile. It would surely be considered as an ulterior way of disrespecting the conservative Dons.

Three other cars travelled alongside Daniel's as they arrived at Lorenzo Romano's mansion, the heart of the Romano estate and home to the eldest Don. Bodyguards swiftly approached, opening the car door for Daniel and Miliani with practised precision. Miliani felt a surge of discomfort and hesitation as the large crowd around them bowed in respect to Daniel and her. Daniel reached for Miliani's hand and held it firmly.

Lorenzo Romano, the capo (caporegime) with his entire family stood alongside Antonio Romano, famously named as the padrino, and his family before the main entrance, shining in their virtue. The air around was screaming danger, authority, power and dominion which did not fail to exhilarate Daniel's mind. He had been waiting for this day since forever, to finally stand more than equal to this sickly rotted Romanos.

Other family members stood quietly behind the heads while Lorenzo and Antonio exchanged handshakes with Daniel in a formal manner. As it was already past evening, they were instructed directly to the dining hall to have the welcome dinner together. As Miliani stepped inside the hall, she couldn't help but gasp at its sight. The whole mansion was extremely vintage like she had stepped inside a different universe, like some Royal Palace she had read about in those historical fictions. Whereas the Knight's mansion was decorated with a modern touch, Romano's estate was proudly bearing the essence of its old traditions.

The opulent dining table featured four grand chairs at each end. Family members sat along the sides, while Antonio and Lorenzo occupied the head chairs at one end. The other end was reserved for Daniel and Miliani, a gesture to honour the newlyweds and welcome them - otherwise a wife was not allowed at that place.

Antonio Romano's family is a family of four - his wife Giulia Romano, his elder daughter Jessica and his younger son Jovanno. They were seated on the same side, and the other side of the table had Enzo, Lorenzo's only heir and Enzo's wife, Tulip, both of whom appeared to be in their early thirties. Events in the Romano family were quite conservative and everyone was obliged to welcome the would-be Don and his wife according to tradition. Everyone here moves by the rules, no matter what their personal beliefs are - they are bound to act according to the founding rules of the empire, adhering strictly to its conservative customs.

Miliani, with her hesitant eyes, observed the people around her. She had only heard about these high-ranking individuals from her father and the other maids at Tristian Romano's country house. Never in her wildest dreams, had she any idea that she would be having dinner with them at the same table. Daniel's tight grip on her shoulder pulled her back from those thoughts. He carefully pulled out his gun from his waistband and put it on the table at his side before seating himself.

Jovanno, the young man, barely in his twenties audibly gasped at Daniel's audacity. Antonio and Lorenzo shot him curt glares signalling the misstep, he had just committed. It was strictly prohibited to bring weapons to the family dinner at the Romano's mansion. Not like Daniel did not know any of it, he surely did through the few occasional business meetings with his maternal family but at this point, he simply did not care.

Jessica, until now, was fuming with fury at her father, who made her cancel her trip to Hawaii and forced her to sit here at this boring dinner, but she noticed Daniel and his godly features. She admired some rebels like herself, and her vibes would greatly match with this man, she assumed.

"My bad!" Daniel feigned concern, sensing everyone's attention on him, but he did not make any effort to move that thing from its place.

With permission granted, the maids started serving the dishes in an organised flurry. The Romanos spare no effort in serving them and showing their class, presenting an exquisitely fancy and lavish dinner in honour of their welcome. From starters to desserts and drinks, the spread was a treat to the eyes even before it was a delight to the taste buds. No one savoured their meals until the heads took a bite and that honour was typically reserved for Lorenzo, the eldest among the heads.

Daniel was sceptical about whether to blindly eat or not, but just as he glanced to his side, Miliani had already taken a spoonful of salad in her mouth using the dessert fork. A fucking dessert fork Daniel felt outrageous at her ignorance but a hungry girl fears no one. Miliani was too famished to care what was going on around her as the dinner was already served. Everyone's attention again shifted to them at their second audacity to break apart the rules but Daniel quickly cut and grabbed a slice of steak to cover for his endearing but clueless wife. And soon after Lorenzo and Antonio took their bites, everyone followed.

"The official handover and announcement would take place at an intimate event after a week," Lorenzo informed Daniel. How much these people disdained accessing a Knight in a Romano's place was evident in their voice, in their body language. Daniel chuckled to himself thinking how these conservative pricks were shackled by their own rules. They are so damn conservative about their own blood, the Romano's blood as if it's the purest and most aristocratic. Tristian's grandfather was also Daniel's own. Dominic Romano, the capo dei capi was Daniel's maternal grandfather. With no one else in his bloodline left to claim the coveted place, Daniel and his brother were the only remaining heirs through the maternal lineage, which seemed to be a thorn in the other's existence, but Daniel revelled in breathing in their discomfort.

Not many of the talks were discussed between them after Lorenzo informed Daniel about the early morning meeting the next day to discuss the confidential matter.

What bothered Daniel more than the scumbag Romano families' existence at that time, was Miliani's lack of table manners. She was holding a dessert fork to take the salad and again using that same fucking dessert fork to taste the main courses. Awkward glances from the other members were being drawn multiple times at her unconventional choices creating an uncomfortable atmosphere around which Miliani could feel but not understand the reason behind. Being utterly confused when she dared look at her side to Daniel, he shot a deathly glare at her ignorance of dining etiquette.

His glare made Miliani so damn nervous out of nowhere that she instinctively moved a bit away. Her actions were about to be responsible for spilling the glass of wine just when Daniel gripped it with his swift reflex. He was not a man to tolerate such mishaps, he made one firm mental note to fix it later.

The event of dinner wrapped up quite late in the evening. Lorenzo Romano personally requested Daniel to stay there for the night as he would be required to attend the early morning meeting at Lorenzo's place as well.

The most luxurious and posh guest room was arranged for the newlyweds at Lorenzo's place. After the heads, each and every one wished Daniel and his wife good night, following the rules of courtesy. Jessica gave Miliani a naughty smile, noticing the tie marks printed on her wrists, thinking she surely had enjoyed some fun. Miliani could not catch the hint and smiled back at her awkwardly. After everyone had bid them farewell, Tulip wished them both and left with her husband quietly, that lady appeared way too smiley to be needed.

Miliani felt like a poor bird willingly entering a cage as she quietly followed Daniel inside the bedroom as helpless as a toddler.