Chapter 35 - Italian warmth

Troy's POV

"Who?" I asked in curiosity.

He shrugged his shoulders and took a sip from his drink. "I don't know yet, but I plan to get it out of him tonight." He gave me a devilish look as he looked at Nathan who finally came downstairs from his office, but he was still talking on the phone. He looked like he was arguing with someone. "This time I will find out who she is. It would not be the same situation like with his other girl; he did everything that we didn't know about her. When I asked, he always denied that he didn't have a girlfriend, and I was imagining things. But I know him very well; he was hiding the truth. Maybe it is the same girl."

I cleared my throat and sipped my drink without saying anything.

If only you knew...

You would probably kill him.

"Do you know anything about her? About his super secret girlfriend?" Romeo asked, giving me a questioning look.

"No, of course not." I mumbled, giving him a nervous smile.

"Whatever! As long as he stays away from my sister, I am fine with it." Romeo commented and sighed.

I choked on my drink and mumbled. "If you say so." He gave me a confused look. I forced a smile.

"You are weird tonight." He declared, rolling his eyes. He turned his gaze from me to Nathan and resumed. "It seems he is busy today."

"I am worried about him." I commented honestly as I looked at Nathan.

"Because of the accident?" He gave me an intrigued look.

"Yes, but I don't think it is just an accident. I told him, but he denied telling me it was an accident. However, he has been acting strangely since that day." I informed and sighed, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Maybe, his new girl is related to it. Maybe she has a crazy mafia guy after her." Romeo commented nonchalantly.

"Romeo! Be serious for a few minutes." I sighed, annoyed and shook my head.

"Fine, dude. But I think he will handle it. If he wanted our help, he would tell us. Don't worry. He has an army of securities at his disposal." He winked at me. "Maybe, they have an enemy. It isn't easy to be a Carter heir." He resumed firmly.

"Yes." I sighed, nodding.

"I hope nothing happens to him again, because I like this dude." He added playfully, pointing to Nathan.

"But you didn't say it when we were in high school." I reminded, smirking.

"Yes. Because he put paws on my sister when we were in high school." Romeo stated, frowning, and sipped his drink.

I rolled my eyes and commented playfully. "So then I shouldn't like you too."

He grinned devilishly. "No, bro. I am your best friend. How can you hate a man like me?Funny, smart, handsome. I am all in one." He winked at me, giving me an arrogant look.

"You are hopeless! What did I think when I became friends with you?" I commented, shaking my head.

"Dude, it was one of your best decisions you made in your life." He winked at me. I burst out laughing. "And thank you for stopping me from beating the shit out of this Carter." He smirked arrogantly.

"I dare you to try to beat Charlotte's hulk co-partner." I gave him a smug smirk.

"I am not that crazy to try to do anything stupid like this. I love my life, my wife, and I am going to be a father. But if he does something bad and hurts my sister or make moves on her, I know people who will handle this problem." He gave me a devilish grin.

"Do you have mafia friends? Since when?" I smirked, amused.

"Don't underestimate your friend." He winked at me playfully and smirked. I smiled, shaking my head.

***

I looked at my son in the rear-view mirror, smiling as he showed the photo in his book while I was driving to Rose's fashion house. Alec and I were spending time together today, but after having fun at the park, he suggested that we asked his mother to join us for lunch. I instantly accepted, delighted with the idea. We were going to make a surprise for Rose; she didn't know we were visiting her.

Alec released my hand quickly and rushed towards Rose's office, excited. He opened the door without knocking and walked in, calling his mother. I smiled and followed him.

My expression changed as I saw the prick from the gala in her office. I clenched my fist, gritting my teeth as I looked at the bastard who was staring at Rose and Alec warmly while sitting on the seat beside her desk. Then he gave me a puzzled look when he finally noticed me.

"Hey, Superman. How are you?" He said cheerfully as he stood up and approached my son after Alec pulled back from his mother.

"Fine. You?" My son gave him a cheeky grin. Then the prick hugged him and stroked his hair playfully.

From their attitudes, I could guess they knew each other for a while. But who was this prick?!

As Rose noticed my gaze, she cleared her throat and said. "Let me introduce you to Troy Anderson. And Troy, this is Eduardo Colombo, my coworker from Rome."

The Italian brat gave me a warm smile, extending his hand towards me. I gritted my teeth and shook his hand, trying to hide my annoyance.

"Mommy, will you have lunch with us? Please." Alec asked, looking at her with puppy eyes.

"Umm... honey, I have a meeting with Ed." Rose gave Alec an apologetic look and stroked his hair gently.

Ed? I gritted my teeth in annoyance.

"We can postpone the meeting. I am here for a while." The bastard intervened, giving Alec a wink.

"Yay!" Alec exclaimed happily.

"I am sorry, Ed. I will call you later." Rose said, giving him a grateful smile. He nodded, smiling at her brightly and left after saying a goodbye.

I approached Rose while Alec was doing something on her computer.

"Ed? How professional? Since when do we call our workmates by nicknames?!" I mocked and gritted my teeth.

She gave me a dirty look and sighed. "He isn't just my workmate, he is also my friend." She replied bitterly.

"Friend?" I raised my eyebrow and gave her a mocking smirk. "A friend who wants to get into your pants." I added sarcastically.

"Troy!" She exclaimed between gritted teeth. "He is my friend, that is all, and if it would be otherwise, it is none of your business." She stated angrily.

I clenched my fist, trying to control my anger. "I..."

"Aren't we going? I am hungry." Alec interrupted me as he ran towards us.

"Yes, let's go." Rose said and went to grab her back after giving me a dirty look.

We were having lunch at a restaurant when my phone rang. I pulled it out of my pocket and looked at the screen. It was Romeo. I declined the call, not wanting to disturb our family time, but it rang again. I frowned as I grabbed it.

"Excuse me." I said and picked up the phone to tell him I would call him later. "Romeo, I will..."

"I am a father. Sienna gave birth." Romeo informed, excited, interrupting me. "My girl was born."

"Oh my... Congratulations! How is she and the baby?" I asked happily. "Isn't it early?" I added, concerned.

"They are fine. Yes, my girl got impatient." He chuckled.

I grinned. "So she took after you."

"Yes." He chuckled in amusement. "Troy, she is so beautiful. My little girl is adorable." He commented, full of happiness in his voice.

"Are my parents there?" I asked. "Which hospital are you?"

"There are on the way. Oh, my mother and father arrived." He informed hurriedly and said something to them. "I will send the location." He added before hanging up the phone.

A few seconds later, my phone buzzed; Romeo sent me the location.

"What happened?" Rose asked, giving me a questioning look.

"My sister, Sienna gave birth. I am an uncle now." I replied happily.

"Congratulations! Give my congratulations to them and your parents, please." Rose gave me a bright smile.

"Thank you. I will. If you want, you can come with me; I am visiting them today."

"Not today, maybe later. It will be better if the family shares this moment together alone." She gave me a warm smile.

"You are the member of the family too." I reminded. She nodded, unconvinced.

"Do I have a cousin now?" Alec asked innocently. "When may I play with her? I want to show her my cars."

"Yes, you do. When she gets a little older, you will play together." I replied softly and smiled at him tenderly.

"I want to see her." Alec stated firmly.

"Later, we will visit your cousin, my boy. Sienna and she needs to rest for a while." Rose said softly and stroked Alec's hair gently. Alec nodded. Then she turned her gaze from our son to me. "Let's ask for the bill. So you can go to visit them." Rose suggested. I nodded and gestured to the waiter.

***

When I walked towards the hospital room, I saw Romeo in the hall.

"Congratulations!" I exclaimed happily as I approached him and gave him a hug.

"Thank you." He beamed at me happily.

"You look so happy." I commented as I pulled back.

"I feel ecstatic." He confirmed and grinned ear-to-ear.

"Where is my niece?"

"Let me show you my little Amber." He suggested as he wrapped his arm around my neck and led me towards the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.