Chapter II: Consigliere

The sun began to recede behind the mountains by the time Salvatore returned back to his estate.

"What do I have left?" He closed the car door behind him, looking down at his watch once more.

"The files and an inspection of the nightclubs, sir," Tazio got in sync with his steps.

"Move the inspection to another day, and bring the files to my personal study,"

"Not the office, sir?"

"No," Salvatore shook his head and he made his way towards the marble staircase, stopping short as a thought occurred to him. "Also, call my Consigliere. Tell him I want to meet as soon as possible."

"Of course,"

With the instructions given, The Mafia Boss made his way up one flight of stairs before going up another. On the second floor, he walked down the immaculate hallway, the white marble glinting in the bright lighting of the interior as various pictures and paintings lined the beige walls, flower vases situated on the tabletops as he took a left, heading in the opposite direction of his bedroom.

Making his way up another flight of marble stairs, Salvatore arrived at the mahogany door of his study, pushing them open.

Unlike his office on the ground floor, this study was restricted to almost everyone other than the people he summoned. And much unlike his office, it looked quite different as well.

Across the room was a wall covered in curved window panes from the roof to floor, the off-white embroidered curtains pulled back to show the sun setting behind the mountain peaks with a cluster of trees at its base. Two dark velvet high backed chairs settled before the windows and a roundtable sat between them. The walls were a pearl gray with white lining to match the raised ceiling; while the floor covered by a beige carpet. White shelves covered the entire right wall, housing books and trophies and decorations, even some family pictures. At the center of the right wall stood a polished office table with various stationery items neatly placed on the surface, a porcelain fireplace adjacent to the table with an off-white fainting sofa placed in the corner, a blue circular rug resting in the center of the floor.

Making his way towards his table, Salvatore took a seat before pulling open one of the drawers, rummaging through the contents before pulling out a file, flipping through the pages; his search was cut short by a knock on his door.

"Come."

Tazio stepped in with a handful of files and papers. Making his way over to his boss, he put down the folders and took a step back.

"Your Consigliere will arrive in 20 minutes, and these are the files of the day."

"Dismissed," Salvatore pulled the stack towards him, grabbing the first folder. Giving him a curt nod, Tazio stepped out.

He was halfway through his third file when a knock sounded on the door once more and swung open as Salvatore permitted entrance. The man in the doorway stood tall and confident in a dark grey suit and black button-up as he made his way across the room.

"You called me?" He settled in one of the high backed chairs, opening the button of his blazer.

"Has Tazio debriefed you?"

"No,"

"I met with Mr. Lombardi today to settle the negotiations."

"How did that go?"

"Not the way I had expected." Salvatore sighed, not looking up from the file. "We had agreed that I will export his produce for 35% of the total earnings, but after having met me, he decided to alter the agreement."

"What did he propose?"

"He proposed that rather than exporting a handful of his products, I export his entire business to my clients at my rates for 10% of the total earnings..." Salvatore dropped the pen, leaning back in his chair as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"And?"

"And his 23-year-old daughter,"

A thick silence settled over the room like a blanket of tension. Neither of the men moved nor spoke for a moment. Salvatore rubbed at his temples as his Consigliere stared at him with a mask of indifference. The older man took a moment to allow the words to settle before he leaned forward, interlacing his fingers and resting his elbows on his knees.

"Mr. Lombardi wants you to export his business with your dealing in return for 10% of the total income and his daughter?"

"A "political merger" is what he called it,"

"A political merger? Like...an arranged marriage?"

"Yes."

"Well, as your Consigliere, it seems rather beneficial. If something were to happen to him then his Mafia would be handed over to his male successor, but given that he doesn't have one, it would be passed on to his son-in-law. Which means you bargained for 35% and instead get 100% with a 10% bonus."

"And as my father?" Salvatore stood from his seat and made his way towards the other chair.

"As your father..." Arcangelo rubbed a hand over his face uncertainly. "I am not sure."

"Because as your father I want what is best for you, and I had always hoped that you would fall in love and marry that woman. However, given that such a beneficial opportunity has presented itself, it is worth contemplation. From a Mafia stand-point, it's advantageous to your expansion, but from a father's point of view, it looks a lot like an arranged marriage in a household that believed in love. And since this is a marriage, this is a life-long commitment, Salvatore, what's to say you two will get along and make it work? Does the girl even know of this arrangement? Was it done by her consent? There are a lot of questions which need to be taken into consideration before you make your decision."

The two lapsed into silence once more as Salvatore scratched his chin in thought.

"I see your point." He stood from his seat, followed by his father. "I understand."

"You do?" Arcangelo looked at him skeptically, sighing when he noticed the devious glint of an idea forming in his eyes. 

"Yes." Salvatore made his way over to the door. "Sorry for the short notice, but we're done."

"Alright," Arcangelo stepped out alongside his son. "So we're good?"

"Yes, give my love to mom."

"Will do,"

The following morning, Salvatore dressed in black slacks with a white button-up under his sky blue blazer. Eating breakfast in the sunroom, he informed Tazio to bring around his car, wanting to get one errand done before he officially started the day.

Finishing his coffee, he settled behind the wheel of his black Maserati. Revving the engine, he was soon leaving dust in his wake as the car flew down the street. It didn't take long for him to arrive at his destination, men patrolling the grounds as Salvatore stepped out of the car, purposefully making his way into the manor. He found the dining room within minutes and marched into the open doorway, the older man sitting alone at the table with a lemon pastry before him and Mr. Lombardi choked on his coffee at the sight of him.

"Mr. Regnante!" He gasped in surprise, standing up from his seat to greet him. "What are you doing here so early in the morning?"

"I agree." The man looking taken aback before him. "Under two conditions,"

"Those being?" Mr. Lombardi stepped back, taken off guard by the suddenness of this all.

"One, it is done with her knowledge and she is not forced into this, two, I will personally draft our deal. Don't worry it's all doable."

"That can be arranged."

"Inform her right now,"

"Oh. She's...asleep."

"Wake her." Salvatore side-stepped the older man and settled down in one of the dining chairs, leaving Mr. Lombardi to stand with an open mouth before coming out of his stupor, sending one of the maids to get her.

They waited in silence as the shorter man paced the room, stopping when the maid returned to inform that his daughter was on her way downstairs. Nodding, Salvatore stood from his seat, making his way behind the swinging door of the kitchen, hiding behind the surface as he heard the shuffling of feet.

"Why are you waking me so early?" Her groggy voice asked her father as Salvatore listened in silence, dismissing the staff with a wave of his hand.

"Come, sit down, sweetheart." Her father pulled back a chair. "I need to talk to you about something."

"That being?"

"Well, you see, pumpkin, yesterday I met with Mr. Regnante for a negotiation,"

"Okay, and?" Her voice sounded clearly irritated to be woken at 6:40 to be informed about yesterday's events.

"And well, in that negotiation, we agreed you'll marry him."

A silence followed those words.

"I...I don't...I don't understand..." Salvatore heard her voice trail behind the door, "You-you want me to marry who?"

"The Boss of the Regnante Mafia," Her father repeated patiently.

"Isn't that guy...Old?" Salvatore heard the uncertainty in her voice. 

"No, bunny, the guy you are thinking of was his predecessors, his father,"

"So you want me, to marry that guy's son?"

"Yes, pumpkin, I want you to marry the current Mafia Boss."

"Why...Why are you asking me? I mean if I'm being given away as some part of a deal, why ask me? You would have never asked." The resentment seeping through. 

"Nicole, I'm asking you because he refused to agree if you were forced into this, he wants you to make an 'informed decision'."

Heaving a heavy breath, Salvatore pushed himself away from the wooden surface, the immediate clause of his conditions being fulfilled leaving him to walk out the side door, making his way to the front of the house, and settling in his car before driving off to his company. Ready to get the day started.

Salvatore stood before the window of his CEO office, staring out at the skyline view provided from his vantage point as he turned the Rubix cube in his hands and a Bluetooth earpiece fitted into his ear.

"Yes, I understand your concerns, Mr. Giovanni." Salvatore turned the cube in his hand, his gaze out the window. "But I cannot help you with your situation."

"Why not? Because Armamentarium develops weaponry, it does not buy it. I cannot accept your offer." With that he pressed a button on the device, ending the call before turning around at the clearing of someone's throat.

"We found the guy, sir." His Capo and COO, Piero, settled into the seat before his Blackwood table. "Marco is dealing with the interrogations as we speak."

Salvatore looked down at the blueprint laid out on his table, marking certain point and writing comments in the corners as he nodded to Piero's words.

"Let me know what you find out." The device in his ear beeped again as he pressed down on the button while Piero walked out the office with a nod.

"Um..." A voice spoke uncertainly at his silence. "Hello?"

"Yes?"

"Is this...uh...Mr. Regnante?"

"This is him." Salvatore continued to make notes in the margins, shuffling the papers on his desk. "Who is this?"

"Well...err...Mr. Regnante, this is Nicole? Nicole Lombardi?"

Instantly his pencil stopped over the page as he straightened, picking up the Rubix cube once more.

"How can I help you, Ms. Lombardi?" He walked back to the window, turning the sides of the cube in his hand.

"I've been told we're to get married?"

"You've been asked for your consent to the arrangement, Ms. Lombardi."

"Was this your idea, mister?"

"It was actually proposed by your father." Salvatore stretched his neck, feeling tired from the day's work, and sighed knowing he had more than half the day to go. "Seeing it as a beneficial proposition, I agreed under the condition that you consent to it of your own free will."

"I see..."

"Have I answered all your questions-?"

"-How old are you?" She spoke at the same time he did. "You're not...like...a 50-year-old graying and balding man, are you?"

"I am not..." He spoke slowly, unable to keep his amusement from seeping through his voice. "I'm 28, with a head full of monotone hair if that's any consolidation," 

"So...you're like 4-years older than me..." Nicole trailed with thoughtfulness. 

"Isn't it 5?" He inquired calmly. "Given that, you're 23,"

"Oh, no, I'm actually turning 24 in a few days," 

"I see." He responded, feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket as he took it out, looking down at the message. "If I have satisfied your curiosity, I am-"

"- I actually have one more question, Mr. Regnante."

"Please, do go ahead." 

"Would it be possible to meet you before I decide?"

A smirk overcame Salvatore's features as a chuckle escaped past his lips. Turning back to his desk he flipped through his planner looking for an opening.

"Is your father invited to the charity luncheon hosted by Ferrari?"

"I...I can find out."

"It's a luncheon on Saturday, we can meet there." He closed his planner. "If your father is not, inform the bouncer that you're invited under my reference."

"So, on Saturday?"

"Yes, Ms. Lombardi, that is if you don't have any plans for the day" Salvatore pulled on his blazer and grabbed his essentials from the table. 

"I can clear my day."

"I'll keep an eye out for you on the occasion then."

"As will I,"