Valentina's feet touched the floor, and led her straight forward to stand beside Natalia.
"Huh? Who are you?" Daniela's heart lurched on seeing the girl.
The first thing she noticed was how pretty she was. So pretty, it unnerved her terribly.
"I'm Valentina," she smiled. "You're the girl from the other night right? The one with the diamond engagement ring."
Daniela's eyes snapped, as Elio exhaled sharply from his seat.
"It's you?! Are you fucking kidding me?! Hello universe, you know I was joking when I mentioned seeing her next, right? What is this?!" She looked around the table, waiting for an explanation.
"Yep, that's her. That's Valentina. She's a doll, isn't she?" A messy smile played around Elio's lips.
From where she stood, Valentina stared at the fuming girl with some amusement in her eyes.
"Doll my foot! This bitch tried to steal my man!"
The smile wiped off Valentina's face in a wink.
Natalia, sensing her friend who usually didn't take being insulted too well was about to snap, spoke ahead.
"Oh, you've got it wrong. We really don't mean any harm to any one of you," she said in the sweetest of voices.
Valentina's eyes darted from her, to Daniela, and then back to her.
It took her all but five seconds to understand what was happening.
Natalia clearly thought she could get the bitch to like her because in her head they were linked by blood.
Fortunately, she wasn't as naive as her. One more insult, and she was going to turn the heaven inspired room into hell.
"What do you know?" Daniela hissed. "I know girls like her. The moment you can't feed yourselves, you come to our country seeking out the finest of our men. Because in your silly mind, being American makes you more appealing than the women who are natives. Well sorry to inform you–" she paused, dragging her disgusted eyes all over Valentina's body, and then up to her face. "My man is not going to be a poverty alleviation scheme for you. Find someone else!" She snorted.
Luciano sought out Vittorio with his gaze but in the journey there, he saw Valentina's first.
He assumed she would be more upset by the words just hurled on her, but she looked rather amused.
"Poor?" Valentina played with the words in her head. It was the one that struck her the most.
"It's really not like that. Please don't make any conclusions on us without getting to know us first," Natalia tried to diffuse the situation again, deeply surprised Valentina was still so unreactive.
Vittorio calmly observed the situation, reassuring Luciano from the corner of his eyes that he was taking notes.
"I'd refrain from talking directly to me if I were you. I wasn't even talking to you!" Daniela snapped at Natalia.
Valentina saw Natalia lower her head sadly, and that was the moment she erupted.
"You really think I'm in your man's home because I want to be?"
The question came out so curt and sharp, the room went silent.
"What do you mean?" Daniela hissed.
"Exactly what I said. Your man is the one keeping me here against my own will. If I were you, I'd ask him why he's doing that, instead of barking like a ma–"
Natalia began to cough, pulling Valentina's attention to her. "You okay Natty?" Concern quickly clouded her, and she totally forgot about Daniela.
She leaned in when Natalia didn't stop coughing. "Here, some water," she said, grabbing a bottle from the table.
"No," she whispered. "Please be nice to her. She's probably my sister," she pleaded in hush whispers.
Valentina rolled her eyes. She had guessed just as much.
"Natalia, are you okay?" Elio asked when both girls continued to speak under their breaths.
"Got you," Valentina said, and straightened up.
"Babe, why is she still in your house?" Daniela turned to Luciano.
"Finally asking the right questions to the right person," Valentina thought.
"It's protocol. I don't have to explain myself right here, do I?" His voice was calm, yet very commanding.
Valentina regarded him briefly, but shifted her gaze when Daniela started to respond.
"Still, I don't want her here! She tried to hurt dad. Also, the guests said she kissed you. Why would she kiss you if she's not trying to snatch you. I don't want her here," she whined, and with a stomp of her foot, folded her hands across her chest.
Valentina chuckled, pulling everyone's attention to her.
"What's so funny?" Daniela scowled.
"The fact you think I'm trying to steal your man. I should apologize for the kiss though. It was honestly a harmless mistake. And just to reassure you, I don't want your man. He's not my type."
Luciana's gaze shot towards her, his heart jolting a little.
She returned his gaze with nonchalant ones, but didn't linger as it moved back to Daniela.
"Wow," Elio muttered under his breath.
For too long, he had to deal with so much testosterone in Neravalle. Finally, there were women to give him his much needed dose of entertainment.
Valentina especially was a wild one. Excitement burst in him when she said the boss wasn't her type. It meant he might have a chance.
"What do you mean by that? He's not your type?" Daniela mocked in annoyance. "I don't even believe you. It's not the first time women like you will lie so that the man's significant other will drop their guard."
"Oh lord," Valentina sighed. "I thought you'd be happy I don't find your man attractive? Or do you want me to?"
She scoffed. "My man is very attractive! All the women want him. What isn't attractive about him?"
The men at the table, including Aurora, watched the back and forth, wondering what the heck was actually going on.
"Well for starters, he's a kidnapper. He brought me here, and is keeping me against my will. Secondly, I saw him kill a man that looks exactly like that guy over there, without even flinching, which makes him a bloody murderer. And finally, he's so–" she looked at him, her gaze raking through every bit of him. "Huge. I like my men more–"
"Lanky?" Elio leaned forward, and twitched his brow.
"Less intimidating," she replied.
Vittorio smiled internally, as he watched Luciano who was trying to keep a straight face.
He could already tell that the man saw a challenge the second those words left Valentina's lips.
Too bad, there would be lots of collateral if he decided to indulge.
"Well you're not all of that yourself to have so many opinions on someone else. Especially since your opinion is unpopular. Why would anyone want someone like Elio who looks like your typical American curly hair nerd, when there's a real godlike man in front of her?"
"Wait, why are you coming for me unprovoked. What's wrong with me?" Elio touched his chest, his eyes widened in horrific disbelief.
"That's your loss," Daniela continued without acknowledging Elio. "But it doesn't matter, since you're not his type either," she said in a condescending tone made to provoke.
"Oh I'm not?" Valentina's eyes twinkled.
"Yeah, the boss does like his women with a bit more flesh at the top. But I promise, what you lack in the big breast department, your curves, and your face- my God, your face makes up for it," Elio quickly reassured her.
Valentina shot Luciano a look. He was looking at her too, or rather at her chest. Very openly, with a scrutinizing gaze.
Then he had the nerve to look up into her eyes, and twitch the corner of his lips as if in agreement.
"Well I guess it's settled then. I'm not your man's type, and he's not my type. I hope the two of you live a long happy life together!"
Her blood boiled internally, as she dragged the seat next to Natalia out, and plopped on it.