Vienna was sitting on the grass next to the lake of the compound studying with Clarisa O'Neil and Vannessa Canavaro. They had come along with their fathers to attend the meetings but were left outside to play because only the boys were allowed to be in the meetings. There were long meetings happening that day. Not only it was time for all top employees of the Rosario empire to report to Francesco Rosario in the morning but allies also held meetings in succession in the afternoon right after the reporting happened. It was now in the middle of afternoon and the girls were revising hard for hours straight. They got along really well together even though some of their siblings didn't.

Clarisa was Emanuelle O'Neil's daughter. Her oldest brother was Tristan and her second oldest brother was Trent. Trent was older by a minute from her. They were twins since their mother had taken medication to increase her chances of her becoming pregnant Sancia had twins. Otherwise twins weren't in their family line like how they were in the Rosario line. They had so much in common with the Rosarios and there was so much competition between the families. That competition had started before their birth and carried on. But Clarisa had no hard feelings towards Vienna at all even though her brothers were rivals to Vincenzo and Viggo.

Vanessa was Georgio Canavaros daughter. She looked like her auntie Georgina alot and had a black belt in karate and the sportiest amongst the trio of her best friends.

Vienna was the academic one with the highest grades in her year and very popular in school. She was in fact trying to shy away from limelight of her high school but it found her no matter how hard she tried to avoid it.

Vienna sighed " I can't believe I am invited to Washington DC to meet the president for my student council achievements. My father won't let me."

Clarisa spoke " You haven't even asked him. How do you know. It's just a dinner with other high achievers from other schools in the White House. It's not like you are applying to work there."

Vanessa laughed " Come on Vienna. Don't worry too much about it. It's months away. Why don't you try to put your mind off it. Why don't you come to self defence lessons with me from now on and do something useful with your time. Your dad may let you go to Washington if you learn to kick."

Clarisa laughed " You mean if she learns to kill...."

Vanessa sighed " I am serious. We need to make our fathers take us more seriously. For crying out loud, your brothers are in meetings and you are not. I want a yes from you now. Are you coming to the evening martial arts club from now on or not? Never mind impressing our fathers. Its good to be part of a club for college applications."

Clarisa spoke " I am student council Vice President and Vienna is president. I don't think we need to join clubs. We have enough studying to do anyways."

Vanessa spoke " Are you scared of a challenge?"

Vienna spoke " But we won't find the time. It's too much commitment and its risky for me. I may not make it to dinner on time if I run late on the way."

Vanessa spoke " The roads don't have traffic in your homes direction. Come on. Just this one week, come along. You may like it."

Clarisa spoke " Fine. But my mother won't like it. She doesn't like it when I stay out late."

Vienna spoke " My mother doesn't either. I guess our parents have boys who are a handful and need us girls at home."

Clarisa looked into distance " Look who is coming this way. Letizia Marciano."

Vienna and Vanessa looked at Clarisa with questioning eyes.

Vienna asked " How do you know her?"

Clarisa shrugged " Her mother is friends with my mum. Her dad is the new ally of the O'Neil business corporation. It seems like her family is here to negotiate to become allies with the Rosario family."

Vanessa spoke " She looks friendly."

Letizia held her head up and walked to the girls and spoke " Do you mind if I join. I am not allowed to go in. They said, I can hang out here."

Vienna smiled " Take a seat. We are studying. I am Vienn and this is Vanessa. I take it you already know Clarisa."

Letizia nodded at them politely "I am Letizia Marciano."

As Letizia sat down, Clarisa spoke " Have you managed to transfer to the same school as me yet?"

Letizia nodded " Yes. It's all done. My first day is Monday. They said its exam week. I am excited to show what I can do."

Vienna laughed " You look forward to exams. Damn you are even worse than us. I am guessing your parents push you to get perfect scores too."

Letizia smiled " Of course. Education is everything or so they say. But I like doing extra curricular stuff too."

Vanessa spoke " Do you? Do you want to do extra martial arts lessons then after school. These guys are going to come along this week. Can you join too?"

Letizia spoke " Sure. I am a kick boxer actually. But I do cheer leading as well. Don't ask. My gymnastics from years back is pushing me to do it."

Clarisa spoke " Fantastic. I am a cheer leader too. It's fun. Right?"

Vienna frowned " Don't take her for yourselves. She is quite tall. I need her to join the basketball team."

Clarisa spoke " I forgot captain Rosario."

Letizia turned to Vienna " You are the captain of the basketball team. Nice. I am not very good in defence but I am good with penalties. It was a long time ago that I played though."

Vienna spoke " Welcome to the team. Don't worry. There is a shortage of girls in basketball. We take anybody. We would have to train with the boys team in our school if we don't get enough recruits. Please do join us.."

Letizia frowned " Why is there a shortage?"

Vienna spoke " Our school is a male dominated one. Only a third of the school are girls or even less actually."

Clarisa nodded " Yes. From this term it's like twenty five percent girls. So you can literally make up any club for girls and join it and even can become club president. Just like me. I am now president of Martial arts club and chess club."

Letizia frowned " It sounds like a strange school."

Clarisa laughed " You noticed. Huh. Well, one of my fathers sub companies owns the school and the admission process is over selective since it delivers good results and high college acceptance statistics. You are half way in Harvard or Yale if you get in to this school."

Letizia was not listening anymore. She was looking up into a distance. She whispered " Who is that?"

Vienna, Vanessa and Clarisa looked in the direction she was looking.

Vienna spoke " Thats my older brother. Vincenzo. He is meant to be in my fathers meeting with his employees. He must be distracted looking this way. But fortunately he can't come harass us anytime soon. He has to be present when my father meets his allies over afternoon tea as well as right after. So it's your lucky day. He is very mean. Ignore him. Lets study."

Letizia noticed how he just continued to stare at them. She felt annoyed. She got up from her position. " I want to bring a some cookies over from the refreshment table if that's ok." She then got up and walked to the table at the porch. She glanced up at the window and noticed the boy was still staring at her. What was he looking at? She was hoping to find out what his problem was with her.

Letizia had no idea how she had caught the attention of Vincenzo that he didn't pay attention in his fathers meeting that was quite important that day. Vincenzo was determined to find out who that girl was. He had never seen her before but couldn't take his eyes off her. He smiled as he saw her acknowledging him by returning his stare even if she did it so coldly.

Francesco noticed his son's sudden low concentration near the end of his meeting. That was rare. Francesco now was dismissing his last men in his first meeting of the morning at his office and was going to confront Vincenzo afterwards.

One by one in a line, his men kissed his hand, paid their last respects and made their way through the door. They had presented their reports to him and had handed a hard copy too. Everything related to his business was going smoothly as usual. Business was booming and the profits from all his businesses were quite high. His security was tight as always and he expected the unexpected. He eliminated all dangers but again every day, new enemies could be made which made his role as head of the Rosarios so vital. He couldn't afford to make mistakes. He couldn't afford to go soft. He had to be firm to protect his loved ones including his wife and his children. But he couldn't do this forever. He needed his obvious heir Vincenzo one day to take over from him one day very soon.

The room was now empty except for Francesco, Vincenzo and Viggo. His younger son seemed to be totally oblivious to his brothers lack of attention at the end of the meeting as he had been sitting silently listening all throughout the meeting. But Vincenzo was leaning against the wall, looking outside the window.

Viggo walked to his father " Am I dismissed to go to the refreshment room father?"

Francesco spoke "Wait." He then turned to Vincenzo. "Come over here Vincenzo."

Vincenzo turned his head and looked at his father with defiant eyes. He didnt move and inch and spoke "Father, I can hear you from this distance." He then kept glancing outside.

Francesco narrowed his eyes "If I have to repeat myself, you will regret it."