47. Viennese Cake (Bonus 4)

Vienna woke up early and left her room to go for a run. As she opened her bedroom door, she saw a big basket with Viennese cake decorated with pink ribbons. She read the card. "Would you have tea with me this morning? I am waiting in my car outside." She smiled. It was Tristan probably trying to help her get through the hard times. Her father was occupied and she wasn't being told anything except it was crisis time and she was going to be told about the details later.

She made her way down with her basket and left the building. She looked at her watch. It was dark outside still. What was he thinking coming so early? She walked to his car and the door opened.

Tristan gave her a look of disapproval "Where is your coat?" He took the basket off her and said "Come in. So is this a yes?"

Vienna got into the warm car and sat down opposite him as she closed the car door "Good morning. Tristan. I was going for a run. You are spoiling me with this cake.

Tristan said "It has your name on it."

Vienna blushed " Am I eatable then?"

Tristan took out two flasks "Sure. You are." He said in a serious tone "Wear my spare coat Vienna. Its cold."

Vienna put his coat on. He always was prepared. She said "You know. You dont need to keep taking care of me whenever I am with you. I am going to college in a few months. I can take care of myself and get a taste of loneliness."

Tristan said "Independence doesnt need to be a lonely journey Vienna." He handed her one of the flasks "Its tea with jasmine taste. My sister likes it."

Vienna said "I like it too."

Tristan said with a sad smile "Vienna. Are you okay? Do you want to talk about whats been happening?"

Vienna said "I dont know whats happening Tristan. I just know my father is safe. Your father is with him and Vincenzo. Thats the latest news that Viggo told me. He wont lie to me. He said every one is safe. Thats all that matters. I try not to think about it you know... My father doesnt like our grandpa... It cant make our father happy. I am sad. But there is nothing I can do right now. I just have to pass time until it all ends." She unwrapped the box slowly and cut a slice of the cake and put it on a napkin. She handed it to Tristan "You are so organised. I am a girl and I never could arrange things last minute like you. You have everything planned out."

She then cut out a piece of cake for herself and put it on a napkin.

Tristan said "What makes you think I didnt plan it for long? Vienna you are all I think about right now. My life is unexpected each day but when it comes to you I know exactly what I want to say to you and do with you."

She started eating her cake "This is delicious."

Tristan loved watching her eat. She looked adorable when the smallest things excited her.

Tristan said " Vienna. would you come to my house for lunch?"

Vienna said "My mother is alone here. I cant leave her Tristan."

Tristan said "I just saw Viggo patrolling around this mansion. He told me your mother is being watched by a team of doctors including your uncle Angelo. So I dont see how you can do much more for your mother right now. Its only a few hours away."

Vienna shrugged "I dont know. She doesnt look well. She is quite worried sick. They gave her some sleeping pills. She had a panic attack in the middle of the night. She couldnt stop crying."

Tristan took a sip from his coffee and said "My mother wont cry before something happens. Your mother only gets sick before anything has happened at all. Your father can handle anything. Why does your mother worry for your father is beyond me. Doesnt she grasp who she is married to? I have never met anyone like your mother. She is hysterical."

Vienna looked up "She is my mother Tristan. She is worried for her husband."

Tristan said "I wont ever want you to cry for me or have panic attacks. If I cant handle life and whats thrown at me then I dont deserve to have you Vienna. Your father is able to cope with anything. Your mother needs to just stop and think what she does has impact on others. Right now I have had to cancel theatre tickets I got for us. I dont see you often Vienna. She is part of your life. She doesnt have to take over your life. She is unwell. She has doctors. She must let you come out for a few hours to have fun because lets face it you have to face tougher tests than she ever had to. You are Francesco Rosario's daughter. Everyone wants you to fall down. Does she have any idea how you have to isolate yourself from the world for your own safety and hers?"

Vienna said " I know. But I dont mind..."

Tristan said "I do mind. You have done nothing but study for months. I will be damned if I let you imprison yourself during the time your father gave me full permission to take you out to have some fun. If you dont want to be away for the whole night at the theatre its fine. But having lunch for two hours at my house wont change anything around here. Viggo has it covered. What do you say? I pick you up for lunch?"

Vienna said "Tristan. can we have our tea and cake please. I dont wish to talk about lunch right now..."

Tristan looked away and didnt say anything.

Vienna sighed "Dont be like this." She reached her hand to his. " When he turned to look at her, she smiled and said "Look. An airplane is landing."

Tristan looked away "where?"

She then turned to Vienna and saw Vienna holding up a piece of cake on a fork "Here."

Tristan smiled as he let Vienna feed her a piece. She was everything to him. There was a race against time to make their relationship work. If it didnt work out college was full of boys or so Vienna's mother reminded her of every chance she got. It made his blood boil. No one ever suggested that Vienna could be with anyone else except Adele Rosario. And she got away with it. Everyone had accepted she belonged to him.

Vienna said "Look. Before she wakes up we can do something. How about that? Truce."

Tristan said "I am afraid I need convincing."

Vienna said " Fine." She then leaned close and kissed his lips. He slowly wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up. She ended up sitting on his lap as he kissed her deeply. His windows were tinted luckily. Tristan's parents always made out in public. Vienna's parents didnt. So there was a divide in their family cultures. So he restrained himself when he was at the Rosario mansion but he let it go elsewhere. He couldnt get enough of her. He wanted to just hold her tight and not let her go.

Vienna slowly pulled away "I think we should go. Viggo may open the door and catch us kissing like this..."

Tristan chuckled "He wont mind. I know he wont. He is not Vincenzo." He then said in a serious tone "Viggo believes in freedom of choice for women unlike your big brother..."

Vienna frowned and sat next to Tristan as she leaned to his arm. She took a deep breath "Doesnt he treat your sister right?"

Tristan sighed "Not really. Not by my standards. He keeps her in the dark. He tells her nothing. Its getting to a point that I like to have a word with him. He treats her with respect but... he believes women dont need to know everything. I do involve you Vienna when I can in my business. Vincenzo shuts the door off and thinks my sister only needs to know what he feels she needs to know. She is worried sick about Vincenzo but your big brother has forbidden her to go near him when he is doing business and doesnt tell her even where he is. My father wants my sister to step up. He wont interfere because he feels Clarisa is capable of making her own decisions. if she wants to live like the perfect obedient woman as the Don expects then thats what she will be. If it makes her happy to be the silent observer then thats fine. But I dont think thats what she wants."

Vienna looked at Tristan "Have you talked to Vincenzo?"

Tristan said "I talked to my sister. She wants to give Vincenzo space because he is going through a hard time and wants to be alone. She thinks these are his old Don's teachings that forbid the Don to involve his woman. Well. I can only say once this is over I will have a word with your brother. If he wants a woman who is just a wife and not a partner in life then why has he asked to have my sister? He could have someone else. Fact. I keep myself away by my self restraint Vienna. When I see how your brother ignores my sister it makes me want to go out there and beat the hell out of him in front of his men."

Vienna said "Thank you for your self restraint then." She then leaned close and kissed his cheek "But come on Tristan. Lets face it. You wont let me be involved in your business. So you and Vincenzo are not so different."

Tristan said " Dont be so sure. I will keep you safe. If something upsets you I wont want to tell you. I wont apologise for that. But I will give you choices in life. If you want to be involved I wont stop you unless it endangers you. My sister knows the risks and wants to know your brother better. Your brother wont even tell her where he is. She hears more from others about him."

Vienna bit her lip "Actually I must say I hear about you from others. So I think you are over reacting. My brother is not all bad..."

Tristan gave her a playful look " Is this you trying to tell me something Vienna." He wrapped his arms around her and put her in lying position where her head was resting on his lap. He looked down at her "You want to tell me something Vienna?" He then started tickling her making her roll around.

He then stopped after he felt she had enough "Look Vienna. I dont have anything to hide from you. If you want to know about what I do, all you have to do is drop by. Come by and watch me. I wont stop you. The house of O'Kane always welcomes its queen."

Vienna took a deep breath "I am just saying cut my brother a break."

He said "I will. If he cuts my sister a break."

Vienna said "I never thought Viencenzo have a girlfriend. Ever. When he had Leitiza I thought they looked good together. But then he said he was just her guardian angel."

Tristan said "She wont live very long with her attitude. Good choice she is Vitale's problem."

Vienna frowned and said "Letizia is not so bad. She called me yesterday. She is a good friend."

Tristan said "I worry about the company you are keeping Vienna. You have Reagan O'Reily and Letizia Marciano. Who's next on your bestie list?"

Vienna said "Who do you want me to be friends with then. I have limited choices Tristan. You said it yourself. I am very isolated. I can only talk to a few people knowing they are not spies working for the government or my family's enemies. There is Angelia too."

Tristan said "She is a friend. I must have missed that. She nearly got you killed and you call her a friend."

Vienna said "I thought you are over that Tristan."

Tristan said "I am trying Vienna. Its a bit too soon for me to look at her like I used to before. Its easier said than done. She is meant to be safer than Reagan or Letizia for you as a friend. But she nearly got you killed. I cant just forget that image of you in hospital Vienna. I cant unsee it."

Vienna said "Then I must try to help you unsee it with new images. How about that?"

She then wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. She kissed him deeply.

Tristan pulled away "Alright. I think we need to get a room. Lets watch a film in your house. I dont want to have to come back as soon as we reach our destination if we go to the city. So I compromise."

Vienna said "Ok. We can go see Angelia and we call it truce next. How about that?"

Tristan said "Dont push it."

Vienna sighed "I wish you liked my female friends. Who do you actually approve of if I invite them to afternoon tea for instance?"

Tristan said "My sister... and your cousin Amethyst."

Vienna sat up and said "Good. At least you dont mind my cousin... There is a problem. She lives across the Atlantic in Milan. My aunt Anna is in town though alone without her husband and kids. I forgot to tell you she is coming over today to see my mother after she attends to business I guess. That could free up some time for me to spend it with you... Tristan. Do you mind my aunt Anna? You know how it is... With your uncle..."

Tristan said "I keep seeing her pictures around the mansion. I just cant believe how a man can love a woman for so long after she is married. He should have fought for her when he had the chance. He didnt fight for her and now he has eyes for a married woman. Its not how I would do things. I wont ever have eyes for a married woman. Its beyond my comprehension. She has a husband and children."

Vienna said " You would fight for me. Right. if someone else loved me and I didnt love them back."

Tristan said "I would die for you Vienna. You know I will."

Vienna said "Do you think your uncle Jackson can ever get over my aunt Anna?"

Tristan said "He has to. There is only one man for every woman."

Vienna said " I agree. There is also only one woman for every man. So if a girl loves you, I will fight for you too."

Tristan chuckled "I like to see you jealous Vienna. But it wont happen. I wont ever let any woman get close to me to ever make you jealous. For me one woman in my life is enough."

Vienna said "Well. I shouldn't complain but thats it. isn't it. You wont ever make me be jealous. You are perfect. You have it all planned ahead of time.How can you know the answer to everything."

Tristan looked at Vienna and spoke in his most sincere tone "I could slip up any moment Vienna. No one is perfect. But failure is not an option. Its a fact of life. One I must avoid at all costs because I dont have the luxury of second chances."