radicalducati An Open apology
An Open apology
"You can't change the rules of the family," Andrew, Darian’s consigliere argued.
He had always been the quiet one whenever there was a sit-down but this time, he spoke up.
"Andrew, I can change the rules if it's not favourable to the members of the family. The rules were made by some people too, weren't they?"
"Yes, they were. Which of the rules are you changing?" Andrew asked.
"I am reversing rule number ten of the Dawson family Mafia that states that every woman married to the Dawson family must work at the family's casino." Darian read out from the big book of the family's rules. "This rule will be changed to, every woman married into the Dawson family can work wherever they want, they can only work in the casino if they so wish to. We don't have to treat our women like slaves, let us give them the freedom to pursue their dreams." He said, closing the book.
Most of the women present applauded Darian, there were bright smiles on their faces.
Smiles that showed freedom and gratitude. Lena stared at her husband, he finally listened to her and gave the women freedom. She felt so happy and fulfilled to see the smiles on the women's faces. Though their husbands didn't like the idea, scowls were marring their faces as their wives celebrated.
Talia looked at Darian, she nodded her head in defeat. She wasn't cool with the new rule but she couldn't counter the Don, that was what he wanted and she knew that Lena was behind the whole thing.
Darian and Lena locked eyes, she smiled gracefully. He shut his eyes, nodding his head. He loved the smile on his wife's face, that was all he nodded to be satisfied.
When the jubilations had ended. Darian continued again. "Activities at the casino will resume next week and only women who are interested should resume, the ones who don't want to work there don't have to resume back because the rules have been changed."
"Don," Talia said. Standing to her feet, she smiled at Darian. "How do we manage the activities if the women resign?" She questioned him.
"We will sort that out," Darian replied to her. "Job vacancies should be announced to the public after which a thorough examination would be carried out to select eligible candidates."
"I still strongly disagree. We can't trust people out there and that's why we let our women work in the casino. Why should you change the rule?" Judson roared from where he was seated. "They were doing fine before your wife decided to shove her mouth into their businesses and now you are working in her favour?" He scoffed.
"I am working in the favour of all the women of the Dawson family and I don't care what you say to this, Judson," Darian said to him.
"I see," Judson clasped his hand together and dropped them on the table.
His eyes were bloodshot red with anger, his wife stared at him but he didn't acknowledge her at all. He was so angry Darian was having his way and there was nothing he could do to stop him.
"As the Don, I hereby request every member of the Dawson family Mafia to apologise to my wife, Lena for the wrong accusations that were laid on her," Darian said with rigid authority laced in his tone.
There was a tradition that had been among the Dawson family Mafia for a long time. Whenever someone was wrongly accused of a crime, and they got to know the truth, each member of the family was to tender an apology to the accused and that would stand now.
"Don," Andrew bowed his head. "We haven't gotten a head of this,"
"What other proof do you need?" Darian glared at Andrew, "What other proof do you need for you to believe that Lena is innocent?"
"A living proof, not some fabricated lies about a dead someone." Judson disputed again. "Until I see a living witness, I won't apologise to your wife." He got out of his chair. "I'd like to leave the table now, I have important things to attend to."
"We are not done with the meeting, Judson," Darian muttered through gritted teeth. Judson was stepping on his toes and he was trying his best to be lenient.
"There is a punishment attached to anyone who leaves the table while the meeting is still ongoing, isn't it?" Judson snickered, walking towards Darian. "Punish me with suspension according to the mafia rules, I will prefer that to sit in here to listen to the gibberish you are spewing by telling me to apologize to your wife." He spat angrily, the soldiers stopped him from moving closer to Darian. He turned back and gestured to his bodyguards and his wife. "We will leave now." He announced, flouncing out of the hall before Darian could say any word to stop him.
"Judson is so difficult to deal with," Gaius muttered to his wife. She nodded her head in agreement with him.
Every member who was left on the table approached Lena to tender their apologies to her, she received them without malice. After the whole apology section, Darian made some other important announcements and the meeting came to an abrupt end.
Darian didn't let Lena chit-chat with the other women after the meeting. He grabbed her arms and led her out of the hall immediately, the bodyguards followed behind them.
He opened the door to the car for her to enter into the passenger's seat, he took his seat next to her while Jay drove them out of the compound. The other bodyguards followed in the other smaller cars they came with.
Darian didn't initiate a conversation with Lena as Jay drove them. His mind was occupied with different thoughts, some of which were about how difficult being a Mafia boss was sometimes, but all the time he had to lead them reasonably. There were a lot of responsibilities that he had to deal with.
"Boss," Jay jolted him out of his reverie.
Darian narrowed his eyes on him. He felt Lena's hand on his, she was kneading it gently in a comforting manner. He looked at her briefly, turning his gaze back to Jay, he asked. "Is there an update that I should know about?"
"Asher called, he wants you to attend a meeting with the Antionio family," Jay said, guiding the steering wheel with his hands.
"Asher?" Lena's face lit up with smiles when she heard Asher's name. "I met him at the family party, are you meeting with him?" She asked Darian.
Darian stared scornfully at her, he loathed that she was enthusiastic about his meeting with Asher's family.
"Cancel the appointment with them, I can't attend the meeting." He told Jay.
"Boss, I think it's important because—"
"Cancel the meeting," Darian repeated sternly. "And you should stop grinning, Lena." He said, staring outside the window.
"Darian," she caressed his chest. "I was just excited when I heard his name, you don't have to be jealous." She giggled.
Jay secretly smiled as he listened to their conversation.
"I am not jealous, I am just telling you to stop grinning," Darian said with an emotionless face.
"Thanks for today, thank you for thinking about the women." She squeezed his hands. "Thank you very much for standing up for us."
Darian nodded his head, he didn't want to look at her. He was still jealous she got excited when Jay mentioned Asher.
He felt a warmness in his chest as Lena held his hands, that feeling was what and all he needed whenever he had a heated day like that.
He just wanted her to relieve him of his stress whenever he was tired and the squeezing of his hands was doing great magic in soothing him. He clasped his hand tightly over hers and stroked her fingers. Lena smiled satisfactorily, she understood that he needed her to stay with him.
"Are we going home?" She asked him.
"Do you want us to go somewhere?" He finally looked into her eyes.
She pouted, blushing as his gaze burned her skin.
"No, I want us to go home," she whispered shyly, looking away from him. "And you really should fix a meeting with Asher, don't cancel your appointment because of me." She said, wagging her fingers in his chest.
He grabbed her fingers and squeezed, Lena, winced. "Do you want to hurt me?" She reprimanded him.
"No, I just want to make you shut up. Stop calling his name too." He said.
"Are you really jealous?" She taunted him.
"Lena, there is a woman I met and she's asking for—" she clamped her palm over his mouth.
"Don't tell me about her, I don't want to know." She said, rolling her eyes at Darian.
He chuckled lightly, withdrawing her hand from his lips.
"You should stop talking about Asher too." He smirked at her.