Chapter Seven: He's getting obsessed

The rays of sunlight hit Viviana's room and she finally got out of bed. She had been awake for a while but didn't step out of bed. She hadn't seen Raffaele since the night he killed that man and she heard he arrived just early this morning.

“Would you like me to bring your morning cup of coffee, madam?” Her attending maid asked, her head slightly bowed.

Viviana paused the clothes she had got into the dressing room to start sorting, turning to look at the woman, who would be in her early fifties max, standing at the doorway. Since she arrived here, the woman had always been around her.

“Didn't I tell Raffaele I needed an alone time? I don't want you flocking around me, Monica.” Viviana pointed out.

“It's a direct order from the matriarch, madam. It is a rule to always have your attending maid…”

“Then I'll call you when I need you, okay? You can just always stay outside the room. Thank you. I'll get my coffee myself.” Viviana said, giving her a smile as she walked past.

Monica rushed out after her, standing next to the other maids waiting at the doors. “She has a kind scary vibe to her.” The maid standing next to her said.

“What do you expect? She is the wife of Don Raffaele. There's no way she would be soft.” Another maid whispered.

“But I think she is quite gentle despite her fierce attitude.” Monica chipped in, making all of them look in her direction.

Viviana lazily dragged her feet down the stairs, hoping she wouldn't run into Raffaele but she soon paused as she heard some voices coming from below. The soft hum of conversation was interrupted only by clinking of glasses as one of them poured a drink.

“Prices for uncut diamonds and gold have gone up by fifteen percent, Don.” Silvio, Raffaele's consigliere reported, his brows furrowed. “South America claims transportation has hiked, but I think it's bullshit. They must either be getting greedy or someone's in their neck.”

Giovanni, Raffaele's underboss leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “But we need these packs, Don. Sales skyrocketed and we have to double the original plan. We can either renegotiate.”

Raffaele exhaled slowly, his fingers tapping against his armrest as he thought of what to do. His expression was unreadable, analysing the situation. It wouldn't be easy to just kick out a past supplier when they needed the diamonds and gold now.

Soft footsteps from the marble steps pulled his attention away from his thoughts. Viviana descended the stairs, her dark hair up in a messy bun, the silk robe she had on loosely tied around her over her night dress. The two men noticed her but didn't say a word since she asked them not to make a huge fuss unless its demanded.

Raffaele on the other hand had his eyes glued on her, his gaze followed her movement not hiding his appreciation. Maybe for how beautiful she was, she didn't know.

She ignored them all, heading straight to the gourmet kitchen. A moment later, the sound of coffee pouring was heard.

“We need to make it clear.” Giovanni said. “A renegotiation or we can consider changing suppliers.”

“That would take time.” Silvio countered. “If we don't get this week's dough out, who knows what it might attract?”

Viviana let out a quiet scoff as she stirred her coffee. “You'll be making things more complicated than it needs to be.”

Silence fell instantly.

Raffaele's lips twitched slightly in a smile. “You have something to add, regina?” His voice flowed smoothly into her ears like he was trying to seduce her.

Viviana took a slow sip of coffee before setting the cup down. “I can get you a new supplier. Change faces for once and they'll come back begging.”

Giovanni frowned. “And who would that be?”

Viviana’s eyes met with his without hesitation as if showing him she was standing on her suggestion. “One of my contacts. Eastern Europe. They can get it ready for you before you need it.”

The men exchanged glances. If they had something against her word, they couldn't say it with Raffaele seated here. And besides, she was Bellini blood and underboss. She could have a point. But they never expected her to interfere so easily. Especially Giovanni.

Raffaele, however, pushed up from his seat, closing the distance between him and Viviana in a brief second, stopping right behind her.

His hands slid around her waist, fingers tracing the fabric of her robe, his breath fanning against her ear. “And what will that cost me, regina?” his voice was low and teasing, only for her to hear.

Viviana smirked, wanting to pull away but they were married and before others. “How about you put it in the archive? Unless you don't mind me using it as a strip card right now?” She replied with a soft purr in her voice.

Raffaele chuckled softly, placing a slow kiss against the side of her neck. “You want me to strip or strip you ?” he murmured against her skin before straightening, pulling away from her first.

Turning back to his men, his tone turned cold and calm. He was done trying to flirt with his wife. “We go with Viviana's contact. You get me the report by tonight.”

The two men looked at Viviana who was just casually getting herself some pastries, not knowing for the first time, someone had influenced Raffaele's decisions completely.

“Man, you're totally obsessed with her.” Silvio teased Raffaele as he following him towards his office.

“It's only normal to have her come into conversations once in a while. She'll be the dead of the family after Nonna soon anyway.” Raffaele replied, calmly.

He really hope she was up for it.

Viviana was about to head back upstairs when a lady dressed in suit stopped her.

“The Matriarch requests your presence for breakfast, Madam Conte.”

“Me?” Viviana said out loud before mumbling. “What does the woman want from me?”

“I'll be there.”