Lothario was at work. He was sitting in an office behind his desk at one of his business headquarters in New York. He heard a knock on the door. He was surprised to hear anyone knocking. He had instructed his secretary that no one was allowed in because he was busy. No one was to disturb him until he had called the secretary up to say otherwise. Regardless he said "Come in."

Lothario was surprised to see his son enter his office. But again he should have known only someone like Luigi would have dared defy a non-disturbance order by him.

Luigi entered and closed the door. "Hello... I need to talk to you..."

Lothario raised an eyebrow "And you could not wait to talk to me when I got home tonight from work."

Luigi shook his head as he walked closer to his father's desk "No. It is urgent... It is about Eden."

Lothario nodded "Of course it is... Take a seat. Tell me whats bothering you..."

Luigi sat down on a sofa opposite his father's desk and told his father everything. He told every detail of his encounter with Eden that afternoon. Of course he had missed the part where she had touched her hand on top of his. After that point he had diverted the conversation away and had asked Eden to give him every single other detail that she had heard from her aunt. Eventually he had to leave because Eden had said she wanted to make dinner that night to keep herself occupied. They were going to have food from outside that night. But Eden said she needed something to occupy her and wanted to be alone. So he had left.

Lothario listened to every detail and nodded silently. He waited for his son to finish.

As Luigi finished telling his father everything he said "Father... I need to know anything you can tell me... Eden is worried. I do not blame her. She has no idea who the Fontanas are and what they do. But she knows what life of crime can mean... She knows there is danger. Her aunt has made explicit threats to her family about what will happen if they displease the Fontanas... What can I do to help Eden?"

Lothario sighed "Luigi. You are talking to the wrong person here really. If you want information on the Fontanas, you will get more answers from your grandfather..."

Luigi said "From grandpa?"

Lothario nodded "Yes. Him and Ferdinando Fontana do have a friendship. I do not know of details... However, I think I am pretty certain Eden has nothing to worry about for now about the Fontanas... Your grandfather and I had an interesting conversation today. I think its best if you talk to him because I think its best you hear a first hand account from him and also Luigi I am very busy right now... Go talk to your grandpa... You can find him right across the street actually. After he paid me a visit today, he said he was going to go across the street to that diner that has a private serving place for us with a nice view on the top floor."

Luigi stood up "Ok... I will go to see him... If he is still there."

Lothario said "I think he must be still there because he said he was going to watch some program on TV while he was going to drink and eat something. He said he was meeting up with a friend. Now leave. I have work son..."

Luigi said goodbye and left. He knew whatever his father was working on was serious.

Luigi left the building and made his way to the multi storey fancy diner that his family members used sometimes. There were many social settings where his family got special treatment and even had priority access to their special guest rooms. But this diner was a favourite of his grandpa for some reason. He entered the diner and the manager standing there quickly recognised him and politely lead him to where his grandpa was. As his father had said, his grandpa was on the top floor in a room with a nice view.

When he entered he saw his grandpa sitting on a comfortable leather chair behind a table where he was having one of his favourite dishes, American style burger and chips.

Lorenzo was about to take a bite when he saw his grandson enter. He put down his burger and waved his grandson over "Luigi. Come over here ... You have come to keep your grandpa company, I see."

Luigi approached his grandfather and looked around "My father said you were meeting with a friend."

Lorenzo said "Yes. My meeting has finished. Take a seat... Do you want me to order anything for you?"

Luigi said "No grandpa... They already asked me at the door if I wanted to have the menu. I said no. I am not really hungry grandpa... I just came to talk to you... Its urgent."

Lorenzo said "You can talk to me while you eat. I can call them from here with the phone over there. Are you sure you dont want anything?"

Luigi nodded "Yes grandpa."

Lorenzo nodded "Allright. Let me turn off this TV at least."

Luigi watched his grandpa turn off the television that was in the corner. His grandpa came back and sat down. He said "Go on. I am listening." He then picked up his burger and took a bite.

Luigi took a deep breath and told his grandpa everything he had told his father. He finished his account and waited for his grandfather to say something.

Lorenzo took another bite from his burger. He was eating silently and looking at his grandson with a curious expression.

Lorenzo said finally after a few seconds of silence after he put down his burger "So, when were you planning to introduce this girl to me Luigi."

Luigi was taken back "Grandpa... I was going to introduce her at some point... But She is not even my official girlfriend yet. We are just friends right now..."

Lorenzo said "Obviously she means more to you than just a friend Luigi. I expected you to have introduced this girl to our family by now..."

Luigi said "Grandpa... She is not ready for that... I cant bring her home as my girlfriend."

Lorenzo said " I did not ask you to bring her home and I did not ask you to bring her to us as your girlfriend. You could ask her family to come over to meet with us in let's say a restaurant ... As two families meeting... You are friends with her brother... You did not have to tell her the real reason for the invitation... I do not accept excuses Luigi..."

Luigi said "Grandpa... I will introduce her to you when I get the chance.... For now, I need some answers to give to her. I gave her my word that I will ask around and find out if the Fontana's have any bad intentions towards her or any of her family members..."

Lorenzo said "You can assure her of her safety... Back to introducing her to the family..."

Luigi said "Grandpa... Please forgive me for being forward but now is not the time for this conversation..."

Lorenzo said "What is it with you young people and not following family traditions here?... I need to meet the American girl who has grabbed my grandson's attention..."

Luigi said "Grandpa. I promise you will meet her as soon as she is ready... I cant get her to meet with the family yet. I am sorry... Please grandpa can you help me here with what I asked? My father asked me to come to you... I want to help her..."

Lorenzo leaned back in his chair and said "Very well... You can go and tell Eden Carter what your father also said. Tell her that she has nothing to worry about for now. Your father is correct... I have spoken with Ferdinando and this matter should be of no more concern to you..."

Luigi said "Grandpa... You have spoken to Ferdinando Fontana, the head of the Fontana family? About the Carter family? When?"

Lorenzo said "I have been speaking to him alot over the years... He is a friend of mine... I have spoken to him of course recently and yes about the Carter family specifically."

Luigi said "You have?"

Lorenzo said "Yes. I have... Why do you think suddenly the Carter family are allowed to rub shoulders with the Fontanas? After all these years..."

Luigi said "You have made this happen?"

Lorenzo said "You could say that... Come on Luigi... You should be more watching events closely like how your father has taught you... Your father does not believe in coincidences... Neither should you... Your father finds out on a Friday that you have eyes for an American girl called Eden Carter... Then suddenly over the weekend that follows this secret is revealed to the Carter family by the Fontanas..."

Luigi said in disbelief "My father did this?"

Lorenzo said "No. It was me... Your father told me about Eden Carter as soon as he found out. He tells me of course such details because he knows who my grandchildren associate themselves closely with is important to me. He also knows I am close with Ferdinando Fontana... So he thought I had the right to know first before anyone else."

Luigi asked carefully not sure of what the answer could entail "Grandpa... What did you do?"

Lorenzo said "I paid my old friend a visit. It was nice catching up with him... I told him that my grandson is associating with the niece of his daughter in law... He was thrilled of course that our families have a connection...."

Luigi asked "Did you ask him to reveal the secrets to the Carter family?"

Lorenzo said "Well, Luigi I have been telling the man for years that his approach was abit extreme with his youngest son and he should have taken chances with the Carter family. But he told me that this American girl is no ordinary woman. She had been defiant and challenging the rules and ways of the Fontana family at the beginning... He said the rules must match the people who we deal with and for this woman who is not easily accepting to her new way of life these measures and threats were necessary to avoid having to punish her and break his youngest son's heart in the process. When she had her first child apparently Eleanor Carter finally became Eleanor Fontana on may levels. Motherhood calmed her down. She now sees herself as part of the family. She was happy with the arrangements and did not complain. Ferdinando also was never fully trusting of Eleanor not to cause any trouble... But finally when I told her that my grandson trusts Eleanor's niece, he just changed his view point. He thinks now that Eden is involved with an Alessandrini it changes everything..."

Luigi was leaned back in his chair and said "So... Your visit was the reason... But grandpa... Are they ever going to hurt the Carter family?"

Lorenzo said "Well, they have no reason to Luigi... Ferdinando talked to Eden's parents and Eden's uncle over the weekend and achieved some positive results with them. Apparently the Carter family are not a judgmental family at all. They do not judge people when they have no reason to. They also trust their family members. They believed Eleanor when she said she had been treated so well and had never had any difficulty in her new life. If Eleanor is happy and is asking them to keep this secret they will comply... Their family routes in deep into the country side... They have family values... They will do anything for their family members. I guess you have more in common with Eden than you think Luigi... The devotion they have to each other in the Crater family is phenomenal."

Luigi was slightly put at ease... a thought suddenly occurred to Luigi. "Grandpa... Does Eden's family know about me and my family? Do they know I like her and do they know what we do? How much do they know?"

Lorenzo said "Eden's parents and uncle do not know more than what Eden shared with you about how they see you... But Eleanor knows... I met up with Eleanor and talked to her in presence of her father in law... I told her about your interest in her niece. She wanted to know more about you... So, I did explain to her where you go to a Bellagio sponsored School with Eden and how you like her... I told her what your father had told me pretty much... She said she respected Eden's privacy and choices and was not going to bring this matter up with her or any members of the Carter family. But she did appreciate it that I told her... So Eleanor and her father in law know... I trust the Fontana family Luigi... They know you are associated with Eden... They will tell me if anything happens that is of concern to them regarding Eden and her family... So if you trust me Luigi, you trust what I told you about the Fontanas to be true too..."

Luigi nodded "Thank you grandpa... Your friendships with other families who do not even do business with the Alessandrinis at present has helped our family so much..."

Lorenzo smiled "From what I hear you are good at making friends too... You obviously made friends with the Carter family without even knowing their connection to the Fontanas... Sometimes unlikely friendships can take you places you may not even imagine... We all need friends..." He then went back to eating his burger.

Luigi's mind was at ease now... He wanted to thank his grandfather and leave but then remembered something. He said "Grandpa..."

Lorenzo said "Yes Luigi..."

Luigi said "There is something else I want to talk to you about..."

Lorenzo said "What is it?"

Luigi said "Today Gianluca talked alot... He told me that last night his grandfather took him to an opera house and then told him some secrets..."

Lorenzo said "What secrets?"

Luigi said everything Gianluca had told him. At the end he added "Grandpa... I have so many questions about what is going on in Sciliy... But my biggest question is how come... How come I have no idea about you residing in Sicily... Even my father did not take us to see your house in Sicily when the last time we went to Sicily. I had no idea you had a home and business in Sicily. I am not sure even if my father knows..."

Lorenzo smiled sadly "Your father does not want to know about what I do in Scilly...So I do not tell him about activities he has no interest in hearing about..."

Luigi said "I do not follow... What do you mean?"

Lorenzo said " There is so much you and Gianluca don't know... Gilberto has told Gianluca that his son is not interested in investing in any business outside the United States including Sicily... This is the view that is shared by your father too... Gerrardo and Lothario share this viewpoint ... from what you told me, Gilberto did not tell his grandson the reason for it... Let's say your father and Gianluca's father have a deeper bond and common ground than you might think. Have you ever wondered why the Alessandrinis and the Bellagios are so close?"

Luigi said "I always thought you were friends with Gianluca's grandfather... And the friendship passed on to your sons..."

Lorenzo said "You could say that... It is true... But our friendship may not be as deep as what your father and Gianluca's father have... Gilberto and I have our differences... We do not agree on everything... But your father and Gianluca's father are very close... They almost agree on everything relating to business as far as I know and on personal level they get along... This friendship has a deep root... And of course their reluctance to care to hear about what Gilberto and I do in Sicily in our so called retirement years has a deep root too... They do not like to visit Sicily... They will use any excuse to swerve their life path away from Sicily... If it was not for your mother's insistence to visit Sicily three years ago, your father probably would not have taken you there... He would only do it for your mother's sake so she sees her family... As for Gerrardo, he does not need to take his family to Sicily unless his wife wishes it. His wife, is reluctant because of how her family would receive her husband and she thinks it would not make her children happy. I agree with Gilberto when he says, Gina should go and visit her family, the Marchetti family. They want to see her and their grandchildren eagerly... Gerardo can handle the hostility. Gabriela and Gianluca are also mature enough to understand the reasoning behind the hostility of Marchetti family to their father..."

Luigi asked with curiosity in his voice "Grandpa... This information is all new to me... But can you tell me why Gerrardo Bellagio and my father do not want to know about Sicily and what you and Gilberto Bellagio do in Scilly?"

Lorenzo said "I do not want to tell you Luigi... I think your father must tell you one day...I suggest that you do not ask him about it before he decides to tell you. I think I prefer not to tell you more about Sicily than what you need to... You will find out what you need to know with time..."