After being attacked by flashes and clicks Euphoria nearly crumbled and kissed the ground. The paparazzi were quiet savages and almost gave her whip lash at some of the absurd questions they had asked. Demetrius chuckled at her flustered state before he continued to guide her further into the Manor.

"Isn't it dangerous for the paparazzi to know where the Manor is located?" Euphoria asked with a slight frown.

"Each reporter is hand picked by our team that handles our image. Once they've been picked they sign a contract to not disclosure certain information. Then they are transported here in a heavily tinted bus that is escorted by our guards. If being tailed the guards stop the vehicles and whoever that person is working for will have their report sent back." He explained the process.

"Has it happened before?"

"Only twice and no other company dared to try it afterwards. They get what is handed to them." He shrugged.

"Is anyone allowed inside?" Her brow arched.

"Not in the ballroom. They can stay in the hall and they have a lounge to stay in for a break. Once the event is over and everyone has gone home they are escorted home."

"Aren't you afraid that someone will go snooping?"

"All they'll ever find on the main floor are guest rooms, other entertainment rooms, kitchen, bathroom and living room. But, even so after every event the house is gone under lockdown to do a full on sweep of the place. To ensure no camera, tracking or listening devices have been left behind. Each and every guest is to be scanned once they leave ensured they have not been exposed to such devices."

"Well damn. Talk about holding down the fort." Euphoria couldn't help but let her eyes wonder around.

Once they had reached a set of double doors Demetrius turned to her. "Are you ready mi cioccolatino?" He asked.

Euphoria took a deep breath before nodding at him with a small smile. He kissed the palm of her hand before turning and placing it in the crook of his arm. Demetrius nodded towards the two doormen who stood and watched on with curious eyes. They opened the doors and bowed as they walked through.

The announcer gazed at them with large frightful eyes before clearing his throat and announcing their arrival. "Accogliere il padrino Demetrius D'Agostino accompagnato dal suo amore e dalla futura regina Euphoria Kreek." The chatter died down as everyone looked towards the couple as they descended the stairs.

[Welcoming the Godfather Demetrius D'Agostino accompanied by his love and future queen Euphoria Kreek]

Penelope met them at the base of the stairs with a wide smile on her face. "Awe look at you both." She gushed. "You look beautiful cara." She grasped Euphoria's hands. "And you did an amazing job on Demetrius and Salvatore's attire." She grinned.

"Thank you mama Penny." Euphoria gave her a hug.

"You protect my girl alright." Penelope stated in a threatening manner to Demetrius.

"With my life." He gave his mother a light kiss on the cheek. "You look breath taking mama." Penelope wore a valvet green dress that brought out her eyes and her hair in a sleek ponytail to bring out her face.

"Oh Demetrius, you were always such a charm." She said with a light blush.

"Well we now know who's the favourite." Benedetto stated with a smirk.

"I thought you always knew." Penelope shrugged before she began to make her way towards Emilio and Parlo who were with Salvatore.

"What? Mama you don't mean that, do You?" Benedetto hurried after her.

"I don't know do I?" Penelope countered over her shoulder.

Euphoria giggled as she watched Benedetto follow his mother like a lost wounded puppy. She couldn't hear his reply but she was sure it had something to convince his mother as to why he should be her favourite.

"I'm guess he's the mama's boy?"

"We all are. It's just some are better at hiding it than others." He replied with amusement dancing his eyes. Euphoria giggled yet again with a shake of her head. "Are you ready for the herd of people."

"Define ready." She pouted at him.

~¤~

By the time Euphoria sat down she had met all business associates, family friends, aunties, uncle's, cousins and grandparents. Some could not speak English at all, some tried to speak English only to make her inwardly cringe at some of the things they said and while others spoke fluently. While others spoke with curiosity and intrigue some spoke to her with disgust and in a degrading manner. No matter how much she wanted to let Demetrius pounce on allies, enemies and or family members for disrespecting her she held onto him.

"Salvatore, my little man, you look so darn cute." Euphoria kissed his cheek before wiping away the lipstick she left.

"Mama." He whined. "I'm not cute. I'm handsome." Salvatore puffed his chest.

Euphoria couldn't help but giggle at the small boy.

"He calls you his mother." A woman spoke from behind.

Euphoria rotated in her seat and looked at the woman. "Yes he does-"

"Because she is my mama." Salvatore exclaimed as he reached out for her. The main family members smiled at him besides Imelda who only rolled her eyes with a scoff. Bitčh, Euphoria scoffed herself.

Euphoria brought Salvatore onto her lap. As he bugged her. "I'm sorry I don't think we've met. Who are you?"

"Oh no one special. I came with one of the family friends. You might know her." The woman stated staring at Salvatore who now played on the tablet. He sat comfortably nestled in her arms.

"I doubt it. I barely know anybody here." Euphoria sighed. "Maybe Demetrius knows her." She shrugged as she glanced at Demetrius who sat with his father, Emilio, and one of his uncle's - Fredrik.

"You know what, I'll just bring her over after dinner and she can meet you guys. We arrived late so we didn't get to meet you and your family." The woman said.

"Oh it's alright and sure we can meet after dinner." She smiled at her.

The woman shot her a smile before she disappeared into the crowd. Euphoria turned in her seat and placed Salvatore back in his seat. "Tablet." She held out her hand for it. "We're about to have dinner."

"Wait mama I'm about to finish." He stare at the tablet in concentration.

Everyone at the table stared on to see how she was going to handle the situation. "Salvatore Nathaniel D'Agostino, don't make me ask you again little boy." Euphoria narrowed her eyes at him.

Salvatore quickly paused the game and turned off the tablet. He handed it to her followed by an apology. He remembered the last time he didn't listen to her. Salvatore was put on time out. He didn't understand what it was at the time until he was made to sit in the living room alone without any sort of entertainment or human contact and think about what he has done. What felt like a lifetime to him was only an hour. After that hour Salvatore didn't want to be on time out again. Especially since Euphoria gave him the silent treatment afterwards until the next day.

"How did you do that? My son's never listen to a word I say, mainly because of their father." Gabriela, their cousin, huffed in annoyance. Accord to what Euphoria knows: Gabriela demanded to be seated at the main table in order to get to know her more. Penelope agreed without any objection because she likes the girl.

"Hey I'm right here." Evan, her husband grumbled before continuing his conversation with Benedetto.

"Oh hush." Gabriela waved him off before turning to Euphoria in expectation.

"Well I put him on a time out. And by time out I mean time out. No sort of entertainment or human contact. He sat in the living room that doesn't have a t.v. in it for an hour. When I came to get him he was so upset. Since he was upset for his own wrong doing and didn't apologies I gave him the silent treatment for the rest of the day until Demetrius told him what to do of course." Euphoria explained. "Ever since then he has never misbehaved. Especially when I call out his full name."

"Huh... I never really tried that before. Next time I will do that and see where it goes. Do you think it works on husbands too?" Gabriel pretended to whispered but said as loud as possible.

Euphoria laughed. "I don't think so. Demetrius hasn't done anything to me that would make me think of a punishment."

"Like I would allow you to dish out one." Demetrius whispered in her ear.

"Demetrius, honey - my white chocolate. I know damn well I have you wrapped around my finger. If anything I'll have you on your knees in a matter of seconds. So let's not play that game, no?" She tilted her head with an innocent smile.

"Oh she's got you there bro." Benedetto laughed out loud.

"I second that." Angelo nodded with a grin.

"You make me sick." Imelda huffed out before standing up and storming off towards another table.

"Go get your sister." Emilio gestured to Parlo with his head.

"Make it look good. We don't need anybody sticking their nose into our business." Penelope added.

Parlo sighed before standing up. Euphoria watched him hold out his hand to her. His lips move and formed into a smile. For anyone outside the family it looked rather darling and inviting but everyone in the family knew it was anything but that. It was murderous and terrifying. Imelda was all too quick to take his hand. He guided them to the dance floor. It was the last dance before dinner was to commence.

~¤~

Euphoria wiped off Salvatore's face with a napkin. He had gotten chocolate sauce on his cheeks and and nose. Some of the ice cream and dripped onto the napkins she hand placed on his neck and lap. "There you go. All nice and clean."

She watched him hop off his chair and give a slight bow and held out his hand to her. "Would you like to dance mama?" He beamed with a smile, showcasing his dimples.

Euphoria could hear Gabriela gush loudly at how adorable he was. "Watch out for him. He might take your woman from you." Angelo stated to Demetrius as he chuckled.

"Of course I would love too." She took hold of his hand.

"Wait amore, I haven't danced with you yet." Demetrius stated with a slight frown.

"Well then Demetrius. Maybe you should've asked me first. Take some pointers from Salvatore aye?" She gave him a cheeky smile as she wiggled her brows.

Salvatore let out a shout of victory before sticking out his tongue at his father. He then began to tug at her hand. Euphoria giggled before following him to the dance floor.

After a few songs Demetrius came to cut in but Salvatore was not having it. He didn't want to leave her alone with him. Demetrius seemed to become irritated by his son's possessiveness over her. Euphoria stepped in before they could begin to bicker like they had at the Zoo. Demetrius was to carry Salvatore in his arm while the other wrapped around her. While she wrapped her arms around them both. Salvatore was pleased while Demetrius seemed to be frustrated by the situation.

Demetrius's frustration didn't go unnoticed by Salvatore and the little boy found it hilarious. He began to provoke and patronize his father more by placing small innocent kisses on Euphoria's cheeks. Euphoria found it amusing.

"See papa this is how you treat a lady."

"Ah little boy." Euphoria cut her eyes at him.

"I mean a woman." He corrected himself with a proud grin.

"When you asked about women, Salvatore, I didn't tell you those things so you could use them on my woman- your mama." Demetrius narrowed his eyes at him.

"I wanted to see if it works." He shrugged.

"So you basically set yourself up for this predicament." Euphoria smirked at him. "And he's too young for you to be telling him about women."

"Stop entertaining this." Demetrius frowned.

"You're such a baby." Euphoria pecked his lips. She had wiped off her lipstick before eating and replaced it with a thin layer of lip gloss after dinner.

"I want one too mama." Salvatore turned her cheek to her.

Demetrius shifted Salvatore away from Euphoria before she could reach him. "No you don't get one."

"Jealous papa?" A cheeky smile made it as on his lips.

"Ok enough you two before you start bickering." Euphoria reprimanded the two.

"He started it." Demetrius grumbled only for Salvatore to turn to her with an innocent smile. Demetrius frowned at this.

"I mean it. Enough." She reprimanded one last time.

"Demetrius." A new voice called out bursting the little bubble the family of three were in.

It was then that Euphoria noticed some people were taking videos as they danced together and most just watched them or danced around them.

"Madeleine." Demetrius stated grimly. "Who the fučk let you in?"

Euphoria snapped to Demetrius so fast she almost got whiplash. She was sure that she had never heard him curse infront of Salvatore until this very moment. Salvatore too seemed surprised by it. He could sense his father was upset. He reached out for Euphoria in which she gladly took him.

"I came to see my son."

"Really?" Demetrius quirked a brow. "I don't see him."

"He's right there." Madeleine frowned pointing at Salvatore.

Salvatore hugged Euphoria tightly as her burried his face into the crook of her neck, hiding his face away from the woman.

"I suggest you leave before it's too late." Demetrius gritted out.

"I'm not leaving without my son." Madeleine reached for Salvatore but Euphoria stepped back as Demetrius blocked her path.

Penelope along with Emilio stepped up to the scene noticing the situation. She took Salvatore from Euphoria.

"Get him out of here." Emilio ordered with his eyes trained on the woman.

Penelope nodded as she made her way towards the exit with Parlo following her. Benedetto, Imelda, Angelo, Fredrik, Evan and Gabriela stepped forward as well. Euphoria was shocked by the protection and support system.

Euphoria could tell things were about to turn whole lot of ugly.