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"Well, now's not the time to. You have no right to even. When I needed you, when Artemis needed her father, he wasn't there. She doesn't need him now. Sienna..." There were tears in my eyes. "... doesn't need him now." I took a sip of whiskey straight from the bottle and gulped it with purpose, looking straight at his silver glare.
"You're right. I haven't been there. But at least, I'm trying to change that. Make some too to change yourself for the better. That's all Artemis needs."
With that, he turned around and slicked off out of the room. The teary eyed me just shrugged with an accompanying dismissive hum and began pouring myself a proper shot before I remembered that Mrs. Ricci, who had been silent all this while was still in the room. Boy did she look exasperated.
"What? I had to get him to leave me," I shrugged and took up my glass. "That, mama, is the art of manipulation. He did it to me some time back. How's this for payback?" I smiled and did an imaginary cheer before taking a sip. She just leaned back in her chair and chuckled.
"By the way, it seems I'd be having arguments with Alessandro in your presence for more effectiveness. He seems to forget his alpha male bullshit at the door."
"Ohh, yes. He knows I'd pull his two little stubborn ears and give his face a double cheeked slap if he ever raised his hand on a woman," she cackled, and I joined her.
She was like the mother I never had.
Chapter 25
"Artemis?" I called for the quintillionth time. I wondered where babies seem to just disappear to when you need them.
"Artemis! Lunch. Where are you? You've missed breakfast already. Mummy doesn't like that," I called again. This time, mild panic began to set in. Even though this wasn't the first or even seventh time she had disappeared from my sight temporarily, one of my biggest fears was her getting lost in this house, in some place no one would be able to find her.
I got to the kitchen and expected to see my daughter with Gretchen, but instead, I was met with Gretchen and two other kitchen staff. No mischievous toddler running around.
"Where's Artemis?" I asked straight forward after briefly exchanging pleasantries.
"Oh, she was here just a while ago. She said she wanted to see her grandma, so I let her out," Gretchen shrugged.
Oh.
"Oh, okay then. I just wanted her to have lunch. I didn't see..."
"Well, she did have breakfast, so just give it sometime."
"Okay, thanks." With that, I left the kitchen. I really could go back to doing whatever I was doing - nothing, but with the initial fear already bobbing in my head, I just wanted to see her and make sure she was in safe hands first. There was no one safer than her grandma...and admittedly, Alessandro as well.
Getting to the library, where Mrs. Ricci would usually be by this time, she greeted me, "So, you decided to withhold Artemis from me today? Pooh. At least I'm not bored now."
"That's funny..." I looked around the room to ensure she wasn't playing a prank on me, expecting to see Artemis tied by the leg with a strap of cloth or rope to avoid her causing so much damage when Mrs. Ricci wanted to do something important, but I saw no one.
"Of course it's funny, silly girl," Mrs. Ricci chuckled.
"Gretchen said she let her come look for you a while ago," I said flatly.
Her cheer paused.
"Well then, she could be anywhere. How long are we talking about?” She was already on her feet and putting back the book she was reading when I entered.
"A while ago is all I got. I didn't think much of it till now," I said as we both exited the library.
"You know what, you check in with her father while I check the back. We usually play in the garden. She might've gone there," she instructed, and I nodded without protest.
Off I went to Alessandro's office. I had a grievance with this part of the house - the mob part... where all the gruesome things were done to people, but today, I put aside my tiff with the area and ventured without ill regard. I approached the guard and asked him if Alessandro was inside to which he affirmed. That was all I needed to know.
I slammed into the room, and he didn't stop me. I felt like he secretly enjoyed the 'why didn't you knock' tiff between Alessandro and me. The fact that there was actually someone that could slander him without strict consequences...apart from his mother.
"Why on earth, tigre, don't you ever..."
"Artemis isn't here?" I interrupted his near feral growl. Now wasn't the time to feel powerful or gloat in the power I had anddelight the big guy at the door in our mini match. He too paused his fume bar from sliding over and looked at me.
"She said she was coming here?"
