Chapter 5

“You are early today, sir,” Emmanuella told Christian as he had entered the mansion. “Christian...not sir,” Christian spoke while he gave the woman a pitiful look. He knew being a housekeeper was her job, but he still felt awful. Emmanuella had been with the family before he was even born and had no issue with her job.

“Yes, I had something to take care of.” Christian smiled while his mind traveled to Serena. He found her to be strange, but his dad, Lucio, told him to look after her so he did. He remembered the day, Lucio caught her walking out of his office and how angry he had been.

He was livid and told Christian the instructions were to look after her from a distance and not by getting into her pants.

Truth to be told, Christian did not know why he had done it, but he did know that he was drawn to her. He was aware it might’ve been a combination of her dual personality. He had figured out she was not as innocent as everyone made her out to be.

“I made your favorite, spaghetti carbonara!” Emmanuella told Christian and didn’t hesitate to grab his arm, so she could pull him to the kitchen. Christian gave Emmanuella a warm smile and felt better knowing someone genuinely cared for his well-being.

At the age of sixty, Emmanuella never had any children of her own, but working for the Lamberti’s was the job she loved and she had seen all of the children grow up into adults. After Christian left the family mansion a few years back she had made it her goal to take care of him. Emmanuella knew what kind of responsibilities he carried because despite being the youngest it was eventually Christian who got chosen to be the heir.

He became colder day by day and build a wall around himself. He pretended to be heartless, but Emmanuella who had practically raised him knew better than that.

“You’re keeping me company right?” Christian asked as Emmanuella pushed him towards the dining chair. Living alone in his huge mansion made him feel lonely sometimes, and even the company of every woman he could wish for, could not fill that emptiness. Even worse than that were his family and friends who used to side-eye him out of jealousy if they weren’t kissing up his arse to get a taste of his power.

“I don’t want you to leave,” Christian confessed. Even though Emmanuella was a live-in housekeeper, she knew how to keep her distance and usually ate her dinner before he came home.

“Of course I’m keeping you company!” Emmanuella cheerfully told him and hummed a tune while she set up the plates. Having a sincere smile on his face was a difficult thing to do for Christian, but Emmanuella never failed to make it happen.

“I suppose Johnny, Marc, and your remaining entourage are working but isn’t your friend coming tonight?” Emmanuella asked while she placed the plates on the table. “Vincenzo?”

“Yes, Vincenzo.” Emmanuella who knew him all too well confirmed while she grabbed a bottle of liquor and two glasses. Christian thought of his best friend who would often come with different excuses as to why he couldn’t come over, but somehow still had the time to meet up with random women. Even though the two had known each other since they were children, the only time they met up nowadays was to talk about business. “I don’t think his father likes me or any of us for that matter.”

Fabio Garcia was a jealous man who knew the Lamberti’s were a powerful family and made it very clear that he was not interested in being close to any of them, but the families worked together and business remained business so he worked along from a distance. His eldest son Vincenzo on the other hand was like a brother to Christian. To this day not a single Lamberti could understand how Vincenzo and Fabio’s youngest son, Luis, turned out to be angels while their very own father was the devil in disguise.

“Hmm, how about Isobel?” Emmanuella continued. Isobel came from the Sala family and also grew up with Christian. The two had always remained best friends even though anyone could clearly see Isobel had a thing for Christian.

Christian could also see it, but he wasn’t interested. She was neither a sibling nor a lover to him, he could never see her that way. All he could see her as was a best friend he frequently slept with. He knew the girl was aware she was being used, but she did not care one bit. The relationship might’ve been non-exclusive, but she still had the guy she had always wanted so she could not complain.

Christian dug into his spaghetti while Emmanuella looked at him with a proud smile on her face. Christian enjoyed his food and that was all that truly mattered to her. “Is it good?” She asked as she leaned over the table to clean his mouth with a napkin. Christian had an embarrassed look on his face and nodded his head like a little kid before he continued eating his food. The two ate their dinner while they exchanged stories and not soon after they had both emptied their plates.

“Thank you so much for keeping me company, I appreciate it.” Christian gratefully thanked her. “Always, but don’t you think it’s time for you to settle down, to find a partner who is there for you and not just for the night? A soulmate or a wife perhaps?”

Emmanuella quickly grabbed the empty plates and stood up to bring them to the sink, in the hopes of Christian not giving a smart-ass comment, but after technically raising him more than his mother had for twenty-three years she knew that it was not an option.

“I don’t believe in soulmates and I don’t want a wife,” Christian spoke. His parents might have been married for over a decade and he knew that his father would take a bullet for his mother, but he was not so sure about the other way around. The only reason why Francesca Lamberti had no complaints about Lucio’s occupation was because she was able to live the luxurious and comfortable life she desired and she was not afraid to admit it.

Had she not met Lucio it would’ve still been the same because Francesca came from a powerful family and was well educated, but another thing she loved was status and money and Lucio Lamberti had all of it.

“How about children, don’t you want any?” Emmanuella asked, but all she heard was a scoff. “I’m not ready to be a father and I refuse to force a child into this life.”

Emmanuella decided to let it drop and felt sorry because she knew what he meant. Throughout the years she experienced many Lamberti’s who had to grow up without a father.

That was perhaps Christian biggest nightmare. He had always told his father that he was okay with taking over the family business, but that he would not give him an heir. Over his dead body.

Lucio could only laugh about it because it reminded him of himself. You’ll eventually change your mind, Lucio always told him, but Christian could not see that happening. His decision was final.

“I think I’m heading to bed, I came home early so I will spend this time wisely.” Christian yawned. Emmanuella was already happy to know that he was at least getting sleep for once and gave him a nod. “You go and rest, I’ll finish up here!”

Christian stood up from his chair and thanked Emmanuella one more time before he prepared himself to make his way upstairs. “Thanks, Emmanuella, besides my family you are the only woman I need in my life.”