11. High Emotions

His piercing eyes were making her shake to the core. He was reprimanding her with his eyes and Adele was haunted by how he was looking at her. She stood up trying to divert his attention. She walked to the kitchen counter " The freshly baked pastries are done now cooled I think. Its nice to have them fresh with tea." She then started placing them on a large tray from the oven tray.

Sancia was was staring at the application form that O'Neil had placed on the breakfast table "I didn't think that Adele had signed this form without asking your approval. I thought maybe you had missed the part where it asks for a second signature or was it without your knowledge? Can you confirm to us why this form is half signed?" She then looked up at Francesco and smiled politely at him as he  was sipping from his mug of tea as he was looking right at O'Neil across the table. Francesco did not reply.

Francesco was staring down O'Neil as he was looking back at him. O'Neil had placed the application form that Adele had filled out for Vienna. Adele had submitted the form without his knolwedge and now the O'Neils were waiting for a reaction. Francesco of course was going to react. Most importantly he wanted to express his dissaporoval of O'Neil for intimidating his wife by focusing his intimidating stare on her while she was seated. He could return the favour instead and intimidate Sancia. He had enough dirt on her to do it. But he played fair.

Adele looked around the table as she put the tray down and sat down "Try some fresh pastries."

Sanica was the first one to help herself to a pastry "Thank you Adele. These Italian pastries are lovely. I am sure you deciding by yourself to send Vienna to Italy cant be for her to taste Italian pastries. Certainly you make some lovely ones here. So can you tell us why you would like to send her away? I need to be convinced this is the right choice for Vienna as one of our top students. Italy doesnt offer anything to Vienna that already is unavailable to her here.

Francesco wanted to hand it to Sancia. She was smooth in talking. She hit the nail on its head. There was no convincing reason for Vienna to travel to Italy. She had what she needed back home.

As Adele was about to put together words to respond, she forgot what she was going to say as Emanuelle's haunting stare zeroed on her once again "I do not think I wish to hear the reasoning. As I mentioned I only would like to know why Francesco has not signed the form. Why was he not informed of this?" Emanuelle then turned to look at Francesco. He got away with it. No one else would have lasted that long at that breakfast table. Emanuelle wanted some confessions from Adele that she had gone behind Francesco's back to ensure Vienna was on a plane to Italy soon and he wanted to see Francesco to admit it.

Francesco put down his mug of tea and turned to his wife "Sweetheart, may I have the tea pot. I would like to pour myself some more tea."

Adele offered "I will do it." She then reached for his cup. He smiled at his wife as he handed her his mug. He then changed his expression as he looked at O'Neil "There must have been a miscommunication between my wife and I. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Leave this form with me and I will get back to you if I decide to sign the form."

O'Neil replied "So, Adele filled in and signed this form without your knowledge. Is that correct?"

Francesco sighed. As if this was not clear already? He nodded "Yes. My wife is quite excited about Vienna having some experience studying abroad before going to college. She is over excited and too passionate about making sure Vienna sees the world. She forgot that more than two adults must consent to an abroad trip for a child at your academy."

O'Neil was taken back at how Francesco was standing by his wife's side. He watched her handing her husband his mug of tea. Adele had betrayed him in some ways but he kept calm. To Francesco, his wife's crimes were always forgivable but not forgettable for sure. O'Neil then declared "I think your wife is quite excited but so were we when Clarisa announced to go abroad. We didnt accept at first of course. But then she had already secured several internships in Milan to work in Journalism and law. So we were convinced she was making an informed choice."

Adele surprised others by replying as she collected her courage to look Emanuelle in the eye "Those opportunities were available in America too. She could easily secure scholarships in any law firm or news paper. So I can sense some contradiction." She put this as politely as she could and suddenly found her mug of tea more intersting to look at. She felt like a coward but she just couldnt hold O'Neil's stare very long. He was just intimidating like his son.

But then came O'Neil's reply as he spoke calmly with a smile "That is correct. I am contradicting myself. I failed to mention that she also said there was a distraction to her studies that occupied her mind at the school so she wanted to focus better. Thank you for reminding me."

Sancia responded as she looked at her husband " That is correct and Clarisa was left no choice but to leave. But Vienna doesnt have to leave." She turned to Adele "You are forcing your daughter to leave. That is how it looks to me."

Francesco didnt appreciate Sancia speaking to Adele in that manner. He wanted her to apologise to his wife but by the guilty look in Adele's eyes as she looked up at Francesco, he could tell that Adele wasnt offended by Sancia's words. She had accepted Sancia's accusaions."

Francesco spoke in a low tone "Sancia. No one is allowed to force my daughter to do anything. My daughter has her choices. I will give Vienna until the end of the christmas holidays to decide if she likes to reconsider studying abroad. The case is closed for now."

The finality in his tone was a warning. Francesco had allowed O'Neil and his wife to say what they wished. But now he had drawn the line. No one dared cross that line. But of course O'Neil was not backing down. He looked at Francesco "Of course. The case is closed for now but we both know it will be opened sooner than you think Francesco. My son will be bringing this up and I will not ask him to back down. So is this your final answer? Your daughter decides by the end of christmas holidays and you will act based on her decision. Can I have this in writing to give my son?"

Francesco leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath. O'Neil was threatening him with his son. He didn't doubt that Tristan was not going to stand by and watch if Adele forced Vienna to do anything. Of course he was not going to allow Adele to influence their daughter's life to this extent either. He was on the same page as O'Neil but he was not going to admit it until he had a word with Adele again. But he didnt think Adele was going to try to influence Vienna on this matter any more. They already had  atalk about this. He stared at O'Neil "You can have it in writing. Yes."

Just then Vienna knocked on the door and entered "Hi. Can I have some pastries to take to my room?"

Adele smiled "Sure sweetie. I will put some on a  plate for you." It was as though Adele needed to stand up and escape O'Neil's stare that was still on her. She opened the oven and took  out the second batch of pastries.

Vienna could feel the tension and silence but didn't comment as she got the plate of pastries from her mother. She smiled and said thank you as she made her way to her bedroom.

When Vienna enetered her room, she watched Tristan who was sitting on his bed looking through her book of drawings. She put the pastries on a table and walked to her suit case on the floor and knelt down getting on with packing "Have some pastry Tristan. They are nicer when they are fresh."

Tristan didnt look up "I like your pastries Vienna. Not your mother's"

Vienna felt alarmed and looked up "Come on Tristan. She is my mother. You can't hold it against her if she wishes for me to go elsewhere. She is allowed to have her views. Don't hate her please."

Tristan looked up at Vienna as he put away the art book" Vienna. Your mother has her views. I have mine. Her cards are on the table out in the open. She thinks I dont know she is trying to separate me from you. She thinks I wouldn't care. But I do. My mother has heard her say it to your aunt Anna. She wants me out of your life and thats why she is orchestrating this trip to Italy so it creates space between us. She thinks I would forget you this way or you will forget me." His tone was quite harsh making Vienna jump.

Vienna jumped up and shook her head "Dont say that. It wont happen." She walked to Tristan and wrapped her hands around his neck as she sat down on Tristan's lap. She kissed his lips gently and whispered as she pulled away slightly "I won't ever forget you no matter where I go or what I do. Well, you shouldn't care if anyone tries to separate us. What are you worried about? Are you worried you will forget me? Then maybe you should try harder to remember me. Tristan do you have problems with your memory?" She was knowingly and boldly teasing him.

Tristan took a deep breath and spoke with a glint in his eyes " Are you teasing me?"

Vienna laughed as she found herself lifted up. he carried her to the desk and sat her down as he stood in front of her while stroking her hair with one hand and holding her waist with another hand. Her heart was racing suddenly. The look he was giving her made her breathless. All she could see was possessiveness in his eyes. His touch was even possessive even though gentle. He spoke his words with meaning behind each word "Vienna. If your mother thinks I will give you up without a fight she is wrong. I am ready to defend myself. I will show your mother my dominance is that is what she wants to see..."

Vienna talked quickly "I am sure she doesn't want to see anything. Dont show her your dominance or anything else. Please Tristan. My mother cant take you on. You have to let it go. Tristan I am asking you not to be harsh to her. She gets hurt easily. She is not strong like your mother. She cant handle it if you confront her. You need to understand she doesnt mean to separate us."

Tristan narrowed his eyes "Vienna. I can sense it that you dont even believe what you say. You didn't sound surprised when I said she has said to your aunt Anna that she is trying to get you away from me by this trip. You already know about this. Dont deny it."

Vienna looked away and gulped.

Tristan kissed her forehead and lightly pulled away as he whispered " Vienna. I cant forgive and forget. I refuse to. Your mother has been trying to sabotage our relationship. I go to war for you if I have to Vienna. There is so much I am willing to take from your mother. She can't try to come between us without expecting any fight back from me."

Vienna looked back at Tristan as her voice trembled "Dont. Please Tristan." She was close to crying. She knew Tristan was on the edge.

Tristan kissed her cheek and rubbed his hands up and down her waist as he smiled " I have to fight back. You are mine Vienna. I wont hurt you. But thats the only promise I can give."

Vienna whispered " I am sorry Tristan for what my mother is trying to do. She hasn't done anything. Nothing has happened. You cant go to war with my family for me."

Tristan nodded "Precisely. Nothing has happened and that is why I wont do anything for now but I am wathcing closely Vienna. Your mother is making me lose my patience. I will take on your family if they oppose us. They are not allowed to. Only our relationship can end if you choose to end it and no one else. Even then I will try to win you back if you broke up with me."

Vienna looked into Tristan's eyes silently. Her heart was beating fast. Her mother was playing with fire. Tristan was an O'Neil. That family was quite extreme in every way. She could imagine Tristan starting a war if her mother stopped them from seeing each other. She swallowed hard and tried to assure Tristan " No one can separate us. You wouldn't have to start a war. Please don't confront my mother."

Tristan smiled weakly as he felt she was getting distressed " Vienna. Relax. I would never hurt you or your family. You must believe me when I say this. But I will not lose you. I refuse to give up the only ray of light in my life right now. Without you, my life would be meaningless. Some men never find their other half and don't fall in love. I am lucky I have you. I refuse to stand by and allow your mother to ruin our lives because she has an unrealistic dream of you marrying Edward Blake or someone like him."

Vienna cringed " Him? You do know I feel nothing for anyone else...."

Tristan nodded " I know. But your mother doesn't. You need to speak to your mother about why you have agreed to go out with me. Maybe that way she can stop her schemes and stop a war from happening. You must tell her how you feel. If your mother can't respect your wishes then it's war. It's natural for me to retaliate against anyone who tries to come between us. It's a law of physics too. Every action has a reaction force acting to retaliate. I am patient Vienna when it comes to you. You can push me away, do anything you want. But my patience wears thin when anyone tries to force you to do anything for their own satisfaction. I have zero tolerance for anyone influencing your life for their own gain."

Vienna shook her head feeling the need to defend her mother " But she is my mother. She just wants me to be happy. She is not doing this to hurt me..."

Tristan retorted "I agree with you. That's why I am silent right now. That's why I didn't tell your parents how I felt when we were greeted at the front of your house. I am aware and that is why I am patient. But your mother is pushing it. Let's be honest. You belong to me. It's not her choice to make but it it is yours to be with me."

Vienna had nothing much to say. She remained silent searching Tristan's eyes. She tried hard to see softness and forgiveness. But she found none. He meant business. She hoped her mother didn't give Tristan any impression that she was trying to control her life. What was she to do if it happened again?

Tristan let go of Vienna and started pacing the floor in front of her " I am sorry Vienna if I come across harsh but you can't expect me to give up on being with you that easily. I don't want you to go to Italy but if it's truly your wish, I won't protest." His eyes then caught the scene outside the window. He watched as his sister and Vincenzo were walking to the house. He didn't like the close proximity of Vincenzo to his sister. She had just got back from Italy and he ambushed her. He didn't know what they had been upto but something didn't add up. He wanted to get to the bottom of this. He whispered " You see my sister out there. There she is happy. She wanted to have some space and went to Italy. I didn't object to her because that was her wish. I also won't object if it is truly your wish." He then turned to Vienna who was off the desk and walking closer to him. He closed the distance between them and embraced her.

Vienna spoke as she was burying her face in his shirt " I wish everything was simple Tristan. But it's complicated. I need a change Tristan. That's all I know. You protect me all the time. You are always there for me. I need to get away to experience life away from New York. I want to learn from other people. It's my last chance before college. We will be in college accommodation next year. We will be almost moving in together."

Tristan scoffed " No. it would be accommodation where your brothers will be housed too. That's not called moving in."

Vienna said " Its as good as..."

Tristan replied " No. only when I marry you, we will be truly moving in. You will be my wife one day. That's the only time I can be satisfied we are truly together."

Vienna's cheeks felt hot. The thought of being Ms O'Neil one day made her nervous. Being Tristan's girlfriend was one thing but being his wife and taking the O'Neil name was another. She gave out a shaky breath and looked up at Tristan " Do you really think that far ahead Tristan? We haven't even gone to college yet."

Tristan replied " It's all I think about Vienna. I can't wait to make you mine officially in a church and say my vows."

Vienna chuckled nervously " If you tell my father that, he won't let you come to see me."

Tristan smiled " I know. My father was trying to convince me to tell your father what I want to name my kids in future. He wants to know if I will name them with Irish names or Italian names. That's my father. If he ever mentions it, don't take it to heart."

Vienna knew one of these days her father was going to have a go at Tristan's father if he carried on with the jokes but Emanuelle O'Neil knew when to start and when to stop. He just did.