NEMESIS

there is something behind it all

“Gold digger my ass, I'm rich and can buy whatever I want without Mason Lorelai.” she said harshly, disapproving of Theodore calling her a gold digger because his uncle pampered her back then in Switzerland. “I'm rich though not as rich as Mason and the Lorelai’s.”

She continued to grumble in front of her open book that he hadn't read yet, even though this book was the one she really wanted to read. Theodore Lorelai is the one to blame — because of him, she can’t. He can't concentrate on anything and that includes reading books. Even though books usually always succeed in helping her to distract herself, books have always been her escape from every problem and from that time, she couldn't.

She couldn’t escape her problem with Theodore.

“Tea, Miss Giuliana?”

“Yeah, please pour me some chamomile tea.” she said in a tired voice, and Sebastian, who noticed that, immediately turned to her — staring at her with intense eyes, appraising his miss who hadn't been home for almost a month.

“Are you okay?” he asked worriedly, “You look very healthy but seem to have lost weight. Do you eat there regularly?”

She nodded her head slowly, “ Yes, I slept well but I ate less — I don't like the food served by the chef who works for Mason there, it’s not to my taste.”

“Oh, I thought you'd like it there.” He replied with a small smile, “There is a lot of chocolate and it is certain that it is your heaven on earth.”

“It is almost my heaven on earth.” Yes, almost. .

“Then, I'll go wherever you go — I can't let you skip a meal just because it's not to your taste.” Sebastian, rather than being her confidant, was like a butler — her food, clothes, water she drank and work affairs were always handled by him. There was always one thing or another that didn't go her way if he didn't go with her.

Her red eyes stared at him who was making tea painstakingly, looking agile but still careful — he who was a perfectionist would certainly not allow the slightest mistake in what he was doing. “Ah, you should follow me wherever I go, Sebastian.”

She tells him everything, literally everything, and that is including her new vineyards and its breathtaking view given by Mason unconditionally. How Mason behaved towards her, his strange attitude of being too warm and indulgent all the time, until she felt bad about asking for more than she was served.

“Truly, I’m happy for you.” Sebastian was always the one who understood her the most, “But you also have to be careful.”

Yeah, she knows that too.

In this world, in dark and twisted worlds — nothing comes free.

“I know that perfectly.” She murmured, then lowered her head after she took a cup of tea from Sebastian — staring into it deeply, “Mason says he likes me and I'm afraid every time I think about it, afraid that I will be lulled, because I know that he will, pouring so much love and afraid that I will be so gullible because he always showing it as if it's all sincere.”

He knew that this one concerned her, but he could do nothing to stop it. “I swear you won't be swayed by that kind of love, you won't be that easy — moreover, he didn't do it sincerely. There's something behind it all.”

.

“Na.”

“Don't trust everyone around you, they all use masks to achieve everything they want.”

“Lana.”

“Humans are inferior creatures, they will use any means to get what they want — no matter how good they are, they will change in no time.”

“Giuliana.”

“When that time comes, when you see how evil they are, don't be surprised because of those changes. You must remember that they are their true colors.”

“Giuliana.”

She flinched, surprised that Leonardo called her suddenly. “Yes, Leo?”

“I called you several times but you seem lost in your own thoughts — are you alright?” he was always full of worries when it came to her and it had been since they had known each other at college. “Should we go back now?”

“Not.” She said quickly, immediately feeling guilty because how could she get lost in her own thoughts in the middle of their strolls to shopping. “Before you go back, you should spend some time with me first!”

Leo chuckled, moving his hand to stroke her hair affectionately “You little girl, we're not that far away — you can come to me whenever you want by private jet or vice versa, I'll come to you.”

Oh yes, he was right.

How stupid of her to forget that The West wasn't a part of America — they were still in America, just in a different area and a bit far from New York. The Orphic, which is the center of the four territories, is based in New York, thus making her far from Leo.

“Do not be like that.” She pouts, stopped in her tracks and then, brought them face to face. “Technically, you are my boss, even though I am a Consigliere of The Orphic.”

The double job made her have a double status and job too. It was troublesome and so many people told her that she should stop being the Consigliere of the Darcio family. But in reality, it wasn't that easy to do — she couldn't just throw the family away.

Darcio is her family and none is more valuable than all of them.

“Yes, Yes Miss Consigliere.”

They spend all day having fun, spending money on shopping is their hobby and spending money on food is their habit. There is not the slightest feeling of hesitation about buying whatever they like, even though sometimes afterward they always wince, seeing the nominal amount of money that has been spent.

“I've always missed this habit,” Leo admitted suddenly after they sat down and ordered food at a restaurant on the side of the road. There I was always alone and no, you accompanied me to eat after work.”

Oh poor him.

Her responsibilities at The Orphic were large enough that she would sometimes not be home for long periods of time, and get her job done by video call or phone line — it was rare for her to step down directly as the Darcio family Cosigliere, unless her job was in New York.

She sighed, “Don't you have any desire to find a new Consigliere?”

This wasn't the first time she'd asked, and she would never tire of asking her about it — not once did Leo always look at her with such deep disappointment afterward. “Do you hope so?”

“Of course not.” She answered honestly, “but I can't disappoint Logan either for backing out after he entrusted me with The Orphic — he didn't give me much choice.” Sadly. .

Leo kept his mouth shut, he didn't say a word after that and they enjoyed their meal in silence — she knew full well that she had ruined his mood and, unfortunately, didn't know how to get it back.

Until then he made a sound as he stood up, prepared to leave even though his food wasn't even half finished. “Logan didn't tell me anything to take you to The Orphic and it was disappointing, but you're even more disappointing for not being able to turn it down for me.”

.