Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 162 -

Весса.

When the wake was finished for the day, I sat in James's office for a good ten minutes, less interesting to James than a potted plant, as he caught up with Sofia in Italian. With every passing minute, I could feel the little green monster becoming more and more powerful.

Finally, Sofia gave that birdsong laugh of hers again and turned to me. "So, Becca, I hear you graduated from a top-tier university recently. Something to do with statistics or economics, right? And you were working on your masters degree?" I thought of expanding on that a bit, but I simply shrugged. "Yes, something like that."

Sofia's smile slipped a little. "Well, you've been so busy with the children, I'm sure you haven't had a chance to do any internships."

I remembered New York, then, and the internship I'd had at Neal's office for a little while before everything went south. It all seemed like a foreign memory now. My stomach twisted. "Not a complete one."

"Too bad. I'm sure you'll be brilliant when the opportunity to finish presents itself. James says you're very smart," Sofia said.

"Thank you," I replied politely.

James started talking in Italian again, and Sofia laughed. I wondered if it was an inside joke, and if it was aimed at me.

Sofia brought the conversation back to English. I felt grateful to her for trying to include me in the conversation, even if James wasn't. I'd have to have a stern talk with him later about that.

"We were just talking about old times. James helped me get settled in the United States and helped fund my first fashion boutique. Then, of course, he fronted a good deal of capital when we franchised. I am forever grateful to him." James smiled at her, that same easy smile I couldn't remember being aimed at me anytime recently. "I knew a good investment when I saw it."

"Please. James, I know you know NOTHING about handbags," Sofia giggled.

"No, but I know about you. I knew you'd rise to the top, no matter what. And it did turn out to be an excellent investment," James said.

Sofia pouted. "I was most disappointed to see you sold your shares. Was that so you could be dead?"

James nodded. "Yes. I liquidated everything and willed it to Becca. She's taking care of the children, after all. I wanted a bright future for all of them." "You're so thoughtful, James," Sofia replied. "It's good you were thinking ahead about the children's future."

"If not their future, then there was really no point in earning that kind of money in the first place," James said.

Again, I sat like decor, watching the two of them talk back and forth.

"How long do you plan to stay in Florence?" James asked.

Please be a short time. Please be a short time...

"I haven't decided yet. I will certainly be around for the funeral. I wanted to check on a few of my boutiques around the country," Sofia said. "Oh, yes, you had three locations, didn't you?" James mused aloud.

Sofia giggled again. "I have seven now. Aren't you interested in knowing how the company you helped get off its feet is doing?"

"I know you're doing well, being the up-and-coming successful businesswoman you always were. That's all I need to know," James grinned.

A lightbulb suddenly went off in my head. "You own Esposito," I gaped. The bags cost more than a kidney, but they were gorgeous.

"I do," Sofia said proudly. "I stitched the first styles myself by hand. Then I was the designer. Now, I have designers and only sketch every once in a while when I'm feeling inspired." "Your purses are so lovely," I complimented her. Credit where credit was due, after all.

Sofia smiled serenely at me. "Why thank you. I will send you whichever one you please. Just let me know."

My jaw dropped. She was just going to GIVE me an Esposito? "Wow... thank you."

"Anytime. Now, James, to business," Sofia began.

James looked at me suddenly. "Becca, would you mind giving us a while? This is nothing you need to be involved in."

"What don't I need to be involved in?" I pushed back, not feeling comfortable leaving James alone with this successful goddess.

"Please." It wasn't a request. James's tone suggested he might lift me up and toss me out the door if I didn't comply.

"Fine," I grumbled, standing and taking my potted plant self out the door.

Oh, James and I were having words later.

****

James.

"She's jealous, you know," Sofia said once the door closed behind Becca.

I walked behind my desk, my hand freezing as I was about to pick up some papers. "Who, Becca?"

"Yes, Becca. I also noticed you weren't paying that much attention to her. She noticed, too," Sofia continued.

"I was just catching up with you." I frowned, remembering Becca's cool demeanor. I'd thought she was recovering from the wake, but perhaps I was wrong.

"In Italian," Sofia pointed out, "which Becca does not speak. You were excluding her, James."

"She wouldn't have been interested in our history anyway," I scoffed, picking up the papers at last.

Sofia laughed. "She would have been interested to know it wasn't a history she needed to worry about."

I set the papers back down, not seeing the words. "You really think she was jealous?"

"I think she's ready to put your balls in a vice," Sofia said.

I gave that some thought, then grinned. "Well now, my Becca, jealous. That is something."

Sofia waggled a finger at me. "I would not toy with her emotions if I were you, James."

"It's not toying. I'm just feeling..."

"Like the cat who got the cream," Sofia finished for me. "You were worried she might not have feelings for you anymore, and now you have confirmation, is that it?"

I sighed and shrugged. "I'm worried her feelings for me aren't as strong as her feeling that she needs to escape me, this world, and everything in it. And take the children with her."

Sofia's perfect eyebrow arched up. "Has she threatened to do so?"

"In the beginning, when I first came to get her from New Zealand. She hasn't said anything about it recently, though," I said.

"Perhaps she is changing her mind. I would not give her reason to go back to hating you, James," Sofia warned me.

"Hmm." I felt a small smile play at my lips. "She's precious to me. But I want her to realize I'm precious to her."

Sofia groaned. "I will not participate in any little game you are playing."

"You don't have to participate. You showing up seems to be enough," I chuckled. "Come to dinner tonight. You can meet the family, then."

"And needle a certain blue-eyed brunette?" Sofia added.

"Maybe. We'll see. Anyway, I wanted to talk about Ronaldo. I don't suppose you have any idea where he's been lurking?" I asked Sofia.

Sofia shook her head. "If I did, I would tell you so you could exterminate that vermin. I mean, I know your uncle killed my Eugenio, but Eugenio was stealing from him. From the family. It wasn't as though he didn't deserve it." "I still feel bad about that," I said, reaching across the desk and patting Sofia's hand.

"I know. I do, too. If I'd known what Eugenio was doing, I would have told him to stop." Sofia sat down in the chair opposite mine, shaking out her hair. "But then, there was no telling that man anything. I think when he realized, no matter how hard he tried, he wasn't going to climb any higher, he decided he might as well get a taste. Idiota."

"I suppose I should speak with Ronaldo's wife," I murmured.

"His beard? What is she going to know? I don't think they've even spoken in five years," Sofia said.

"It's worth a try, at least. I need to replace the bastard, and soon. I won't have my family in danger. Besides, I promised Becca I would kill him, and I fully intend to follow through on that promise," I replied.

"Did you say he's gotten into bed with the Russians?" Sofia asked.

I nodded. "Ronaldo has made alliances with Mikhail Zaytsev and his allies, including the Michaelson Brothers."

"You're stacking up some powerful enemies, James," Sofia observed.

"Yes, well, what concerns me the most is the schism in the family. Most are behind me, as the official heir to the throne, so to speak. But there are those who support Ronaldo's claim as my uncle's son. I'm just the nephew, after all," I said. "They should back you," Sofia replied. "Your uncle chose you for a reason."

I rubbed the back of my neck. "Honestly, when I first got here, I would have happily handed all this over to Ronaldo and said, you know, go with God. But he's a very bad businessman, and he's already making unfavorable deals for the family. Deals I don't intend to honor. Hell, he ran MY business into the ground right after taking it over, and it was thriving when I left it."

"When you died," Sofia inferred.

"Yes, when I 'died,"" I responded.

"Then your uncle chose wisely. I can see where Ronaldo would be hurt over the decision, but making shady deals behind his uncle's back, assuming the Don didn't know about them... well... that was stupid on a whole new level. The Don knew everything. Eugenio made that same mistake," Sofia said.

I massaged my temples, thinking of the war ahead. "I suppose I can say you'll back me if and when the time comes?"

"Always, mio amico. I will put a few bricks in one of my biggest handbags and swing it at anyone who dares to rise up against you," Sofia smiled.

"I know, I know, it's not as though there's a whole lot you can do for me, but I'm still glad to have you in my corner," I said.

"I swear on my honor as an Esposito. You will always have me in your corner," Sofia responded.

I settled back in my chair and took up the papers on my desk. "All that said, since we're having trouble with the Russians, I've had to come up with new shipping solutions for you. I've made a copy here. It's more expensive, but the Family will pick up the difference."

Sofia took the papers and looked them over, nodding to herself. "Don't trouble yourself, James. I will bear the cost. You've been cutting me a break all these years. It seems only fair. When things have settled down again, it will be good for everyone involved."

"You're a saint, Sofia," I sighed.

"You remember that when your... fiancee? Girlfriend? Comes after me, ready to tear my hair out," Sofia teased.

I chuckled. "You're right. I really should define that."

"A woman likes to know where she stands, James," Sofia said. "Don't leave her waiting too long."