"What's the matter, Noel?"
Was it that obvious? The brunette slowly tipped her eyes over towards one of the many maids that kept her father's villa spotless, the older woman smiling, and increasing the amount of wrinkles upon her face. Noel gave a small sigh, "Nothing that can't be fixed with a little R&R, Francine." The maid nodded in her agreement, and already, began leading the prized daughter of her boss, through the lavish entryway, towards the backyard. "Is Mr. Adami giving you problems again," Francine quipped, that all-knowing tone heavy in her question. How did she know? Well, after being in the family for more than thirty years, it was a bit difficult not to hear some things.
Noel Ciaccio couldn't help but fidget, and biting into her bottom lip, pushed up the long, flowing strands of her hair. "Well," she began, beginning the task of tying her hair up into a messy bun. "He claims that I'm not serious about what we have...and, because I don't want to commit myself by accepting his proposal, I obviously don't love him." It was ignorant, in her opinion. She was only twenty-one, and the last thing she wanted to do, was rush into something as important as marriage. Her father enjoyed Stephen's company, and so did everyone else. However, there were times where she questioned just why she fell for that man.
He could be rough...and very, very impatient.
"I say do what your heart tells you to do," Francine finally implored, grabbing a towel from the nearby cabana, and handing it towards the young lady who was already stripping herself free of the sheer robe she had been wearing. Donned in a small, tied-off white bikini, Noel smiled towards the maid with utmost admiration. "That's what I plan on doing...if he doesn't like it, then he can move on," she stated.
She wasn't tethered down, despite popular belief. While Noel hadn't slept with another man, she certainly didn't shut off her options. Stephen was a royal pain in her ass, which was saying a lot, considering what she would have to deal with on a daily basis. While she was blessed with fortune, protection and a loving family, there was plenty of trouble brewing beneath the perfect picture. Her father was a man well-known for his dealings of illegal substances. While he kept his name cleared from the authorities, he had plenty of henchmen to do the dirty work for him. This was his empire, and it was growing every single day. Death threats, attempted assassinations, and everything in between. Noel had to wake up every morning, wondering if someone was dead or not. It was nerve-wracking, to the point, she just didn't care about her crumbling relationship.
Stephen didn't relieve her of stress, he only added it. Thus, why she opted to turn her cellphone off for the day, and spend it poolside. A stretch of her long, tanned limbs and she sauntered towards the cooled water, eager to submerge herself. The lingering gardeners were watching her out of their peripheral vision, finding the sight of the Don's daughter to be exquisite. She truly was a piece of work.