Page 26 of Surprise Baby for the Mafia Boss

I hope the vibrant gift brings a smile to Emelia's face and shows her that I do see how much she helped the family while in Mexico. The card should help to communicate my appreciation for her, something I've struggled to express openly in front of Emelia.

I’ve never been very good at expressing my feelings, and it’s bitten me in the ass many times. I’ve had a few of ex-girlfriends complain because I was “too cold” and “emotionless”.

Not that Emelia was my girlfriend, but I’m smart enough to know that women enjoy being told that they are appreciated and the easiest way for me to do that is through gifts.

As the afternoon approaches, I decide to retreat to my city apartment for the night and get it ready for my date with Emelia—if she accepts the invite. I hope she will, but there’s no guarantee, since we hardly spoke on our way back from Mexico, I’m not really sure how she’s currently feeling.

My little city flat is a hidden sanctuary that offers respite from the watchful eyes of my family. I purchased the apartment a few years ago, and even though I spend much of my time in the mansion, the apartment serves as a haven for moments like these when I need privacy away from the mansion.

It's the perfect place for entertaining guests without the prying curiosity of my siblings.

Chapter Fourteen

Emelia

The doorbell rings and I spy a huge bunch of bright flowers through the peephole. I open the door, a little dazed about why we'd be getting a flower delivery, and so early in the morning.

“Delivery for Miss Emelia.” The delivery man hands me a bouquet of gorgeous pink and yellow flowers.

“Ah wow, thank you!” I take them from him, and immediately look to see if there’s a card inside to tell me who sent them.

“Have a good day, ma’am.” He turns to leave and I close the door, taking the flowers over to the table. I find the card, and giggle when I see that they’re from Luca. Who else would be sending such a sweet gift over to my house, anyway?

The card reads:

Emelia,

I appreciate you coming to Mexico with me.

You were an exquisite example of elegance and grace.

I enjoyed spending time with you and getting to know you better.

Will you meet me at my apartment in the city tomorrow night for dinner?

Luca x

As I finish reading the card, the doorbell rings again. Another delivery? But when I open it up, it’s the exact same delivery man that just dropped off the flowers.

“So sorry, I didn’t realize that this was all for the same house,” he says, holding even more flowers. I let him in to put them down, and he tells me there are more.

He does ten more trips before he’s completely done with the drop off. I look at my house and it is covered in flowers. There’s one of every color, every type, bouquets of every different combination. There must be over a thousand flowers sitting in my home right now.

My father walks into the living room from the back garden and gasps. “Emelia, what on earth?” I’m not even sure what to tell him, I’m also in shock about the number of flowers that Luca has sent me. I do love flowers, but he’s obviously trying to make a grand gesture.

I laugh. “Well, this is a gift from Luca,” I say, smiling proudly. He looks around the room at the flowers.

I’m not sure where we’re going to put them all, but this is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. “He’s asked me on an actual date, now, Daddy. I’m not sure if I should go, though. I worry about Grazia.”

“Emelia, if this is Luca Baldini’s doing, you must go on that date. I have known that family for a long time, and Luca is not one to bare his soul or splurge on romance for just any girl. You have caught his attention. If you decline his offer for a date you might anger him.”

I think about what my father has said, twirling a strand of silky brown hair in between my fingers as I pick a single flower out of a bouquet and smell it.

I pick up my phone, find Luca’s chat, and text him to thank him for the flowers. Then I tell him I would love to join him for dinner tomorrow. My father is right, I don’t really want to anger any of the Baldinis, but if it’s a choice between upsetting Grazia or making Luca angry, and perhaps having him never speak to me again, I choose the first one.

Grazia and I were almost like sisters, we fought all the time as kids, and we always made up. I’m sure she’ll eventually forgive me for making her brother fall in love with me.

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