Valentina swiftly moved her gaze away from Luciano's scrutinizing eyes, wondering why her chest suddenly tightened at his stare.
"Did you want something?" She questioned Natalia who had touched her.
"Yeah, we want to know why you bear Italian names but sound American," Daniela said.
Her neck moved forward so she could see Daniela who was talking to her.
"Distant relatives," she replied.
Natalia released the breath she was holding.
She chastised herself for ever doubting Valentina.
Despite never talking about how they'd answer that question if it ever came up, they just happened to say the same thing.
She also patted herself for having the good sense to answer that way.
Vittorio watched Natalia struggle not to smile, and took a mental note of her reaction.
"So your friend says. How come you don't know your relatives then? And your parents are just so conveniently dead, they can't answer your questions?" Daniela pressed in an instigating tone.
Valentina's heart skipped a beat.
"Val," Natalia called in haste as soon as those words left Daniela's lips. "Please, she doesn't mean it that way," she whispered to her in a pleading tone.
Valentina went through the motions. First came the shock of the death of her parents being so brazenly questioned, and then the anger followed.
"Please," Natalia begged again.
Valentina looked at her, and saw the desperation in her face to keep the peace.
"Why do you keep begging her? You two are so strange. Are your parents too dead to tell you the truth about your origins or not?"
"Daniela!"
Luciano's voice was calm, but boomed in a commanding tone.
She whipped her gaze to him, as a shudder ran through her. "Ba-be?" she stuttered.
"I think that's enough now. We should focus on eating, don't you think so?"
She quickly bobbed her head. "You're right. Let's eat."
No one said a word after. Not even Elio, who had been dying to add his input to the discourse. But that was before the boss spoke up.
"I'm sorry," Natalia said with her eyes as she looked up at Valentina who she could tell was still struggling not to project any emotions.
"It's fine," she replied with her eyes before lowering her head to the plate before her.
Chicken soup, bread, lemon juice, and water.
She studied the plate to keep her mind off the fact someone was trying to make an enemy out of her.
Her new goal was to get out of Italy without doing anything stupid enough to reveal her identity.
But as much as she tried, fate made it almost impossible to keep the peace.
Chicken soup, bread, lemon juice, and water.
Breakfast she had never had before. She hated all things soupy.
There was a reason why, but she had forgotten. Or her brain had hidden the reason.
It was one of the two. Sometimes her memories were jumbled up, causing her to conflate fiction and reality.
That was why she loved the camera lens. It captured reality that couldn't be debated.
Internally, Valentina sighed.
I have to get out of here.
The food tasted like dust in Luciano's mouth as he observed Valentina.
There was clearly pain masked in those stubborn eyes.
Her parents were a sore spot for her.
"Capitalize on that, and her identity will be revealed," the leader in him said.
However, something held him back from that line of thought.
Something that worried him.
****
"Babe, are you mad at me?" Daniela pouted, whilst resting her head on Luciano's chest.
Breakfast had ended, and Vittorio was about to lead the girls back to their rooms. But first he had excused himself to respond to an emergency.
Valentina observed the walls from the other side of the divide.
At first she had thought someone was making a mockery of heaven, hence all of the white paintings.
But now she was looking closely at the wall, whilst waiting to be returned to her prison, her artistic eyes noticed a pattern.
"White," she muttered under her breath.
Her thoughts brought a historical piece to mind, which was applicable to the walls.
She dismissed it because she just didn't see anyone in what she considered her personal hellhole, being smart enough to come up with that idea.
"Perhaps, just a coincidence," she thought and turned around.
As she turned, her eyes fell on Daniela clinging on to Luciano.
She didn't mean to, but ended up watching the couple.
"I'm not mad at you, but I do have work to do. We'll have to talk later, okay?"
"Okay. I'm going shopping with Ro. Want something?"
"You're going to be using my card anyway. There's no point wanting something," he said.
And as those words left his lips, he looked past Daniela to Valentina who was watching them.
She quickly turned her gaze away, but the damage was done. He had caught her staring.
Daniela's giggles filled the air. "That's why no one will ever steal you from me. You're a man that takes care of your woman. I love you so much, amoremio!" She stood on her toes, and kissed him fully on the lips.
"Gross! That's enough, Danny. Stop kissing my brother in my presence. Let's go!" Aurora dragged her by the hand, and pulled her along with her.
"Bye babe!" Daniela blew kisses at him through her neck turned behind, as she was being dragged away.
Her gaze fell on Valentina before she disappeared out of sight, and she gave her a smug smile.
Valentina shook her head, whilst silently cursing whatever fate brought her over to this place.
She felt Luciano's eyes on her again, and shifted uncomfortably.
He was always staring. She didn't know why he was always staring.
"Natalia, I promise you will become a millionaire if you bet on my team in the horserace. If everything Daniela says is true, then you need money. Allow me to turn you into a rich woman." Elio tried to convince Natalia at the dining table.
"I don't know Elio. You know technically I'm a prisoner, right?"
"Nonsense!" He waved a dismissive finger. "I have LuceNera's heart. He listens to me. Bet on my team, and I'll do everything in my power to set you free."
"Making promises you can't keep again, Elio?" Vittorio said, as he returned to the room.
Elio hissed internally. "Here comes the fun police," he thought.
"Whatever you've said in your mind, I'll suggest you take it with you, and get to work. Before I'm tempted to probe."
Elio frowned, and turned his head behind in search of Luciano.
"Luce–"
"Listen to him, agnello. He's your superior. Come on, go ahead." He nudged his head towards the door.
"This isn't over," Elio declared as he rose to his feet, and walked to the door. "Think about everything I've said, okay?" He directed at Natalia.
She forced a smile. "I will."
His gaze moved to Valentina, and it softened. "See you later, belle." He blew her a kiss.
Valentina chuckled, despite finding him very strange. She couldn't help but also find him funny.
"Bye." She waved at him.
Lastly, he glared at Vittorio, before walking out of the room.
The four remaining were left alone in the dining room.
"Take the girl back to their room. I'll talk to the other one alone," Luciano ordered Vittorio.
He already knew it was coming, and nodded immediately.
"Let's go," he said to Natalia.
Luciano half expected Valentina to make a huge scene against talking to him alone, but to his surprise, she remained quiet.
"Val, you good?" Natalia asked as she followed behind Vittorio's retreating figure.
Valentina smiled sweetly at her. Although she hated how backed into a corner she had been at breakfast because Natalia wanted to have a relationship with her possible sister, she loved her to death.
She was the only person she would give her life for.
"I'm fine. I'll be right with you. I found a radio in case you get bored before I return. Occupy yourself with it, okay?"
Natalia's eyes watered. She was older than Valentina, but always felt like the younger sister because of how caring Valentina was towards her emotions.
"I will." She walked out of the room, leaving Valentina alone with Luciano.
Valentina breathed out, before looking up to face Luciano.
"We're finally alone, Mr Luciano. What do you want?"