Clarisa took a look into his eyes. They were deep. They had warning behind them. His piercing stare was making her hesitate to stop and remind herself of the warnings she had received. Everyone warned her about him. She laughed off most of them. Everyone could fear him but she didn't. She belonged to him. He was not going to hurt what was his. She took a step backwards "The rules..."
Vincenzo shook his head " There is one winner. Loser can forfeit or fight till they get a lesson the hard way."
Clarisa put her hands on her hips " The sword is the lady's choice of course. Ladies go first." Clarisa then didn't wait for a response. She turned around and muttered as she walked away " This is what I missed about this place, Vincenzo. Some challenge. You have scared people off there and cousins do your bidding. No one dares be my lab partner, never mind my duel partner."
Vincenzo watched her reach for the swords crossed on the wall. She stood up on her tip toes and pulled them from their holdings as Vincenzo took a deep breath watching her figure. He took a good look at her up and down. She was gorgeous. He suggested " Get comfortable. Take the coat off."
Clarisa turned around with two swords in her hands. She took a step towards his desk and put the swords on the table as she was watching him intently and warily walk closer to the desk.
Vincenzo approached the desk and put his hand behind his back as he watched Terza put the swords on the table. He watched her reach for her buttons. He stated " Nice coat. Where did you get it?"
Clarisa spoke as she was unbuttoning the coat " A designer made it for me on your aunts request."
Vincenzo smiled " Light blue matches your eyes. I like to see this coat on a winter day in the alps when you go skiing."
Clarisa froze. She looked at him with questioning eyes " Wait... How do you know? That's what the designer said to me... Have you been watching me that close?"
Vincenzo shrugged " I know everything Terza. You are my girl."
Clarisa narrowed her eyes as she was taking her coat off much quicker. " I can't believe this... You talked to the designers..."
Vincenzo took a breath as his eyes sparkled when her colosseum necklace came into view on her white dress. He replied " For that week only. I can't have them making my Terza unsatisfied."
Clarisa picked up her sword and declared " I will show you what satisfied means..."
Vincenzo nodded as he reached for the sword handle " You already have shown me. You have worn your necklace. That is satisfaction to me."
Clarisa gasped in disbelief and her eyes hardened.
As Vincenzo touched the sword handle, he saw his Terza jumping over the desk. She then jumped on the floor and stood in front of Vincenzo as she attacked Vincenzo. She hit her sword on his as hard as she could. He blocked her effortlessly but didn't put any extra force behind his defence to push her back. He was holding her up and by the looks of it he was in no hurry to do anything except stare at her.
To Clarissa's annoyance, he didn't act offensive at all as she jumped back and attacked again. He just defended himself. Their swords locked again as they stared into each other's eyes.
Clarisa demanded " Attack back."
Vincenzo gave her a sly smile " I will. I will attack your lips with mine."
Clarisa shook her head. He was flirting with her again. She warned "This is no joke. I want you to treat me like you treat anyone else in a sword duel."
Vincenzo replied " You are not anyone else. You are my everything."
Clarisa hesitated. Why did he keep flirting. She had nothing to say back when his tone went soft and sincere. This was not the same Vincenzo who terrorised people with intimidation. Even her own father put up extra security when Vincenzo showed up in the house with the excuse that Rosarios needed extra security to keep them safe at the O'Neil mansion. It was the other way round. Others needed protection from Vincenzo. No one was safe from Vincenzo except his own blood and of course his woman that everyone thought was Letizia. Only Clarisa knew she was the exception to his rules. She was his Terza.
Clarisa shook her head as she found her voice and took a step back " I am not your everything. You made your choice Vincenzo. You chose Letizia. You chose to be with her... You are protecting her. I know. But it doesn't mean I enjoy watching you with another girl. So you can't ask of me what you don't practice yourself."
Vincenzo retorted " She knows her place. She is Vitale's girl. I confessed to you when I first met her, I tried to get used to her as my girl because I couldn't see how this could be a temporary arrangement. I couldn't see how Letizia could be safe if she returned to Vitale... It broke my heart to be with her when my heart only belonged to you... I tried. I searched. Until I found ways... I went to Italy. My hope was restored after that faithful trip... I have enough back up plans to make this work. I thought I could live without you and watch you from far. I thought I could keep you safe from far and be satisfied... But I couldn't. I love you Terza. I don't love anyone but you."
Clarisa whispered back " You chose her."
Vincenzo argued " I didn't. I didn't have a choice. I have to protect Vitale. I have to help him. He is my blood."
Clarisa spoke " Alexander and Stefano are your blood but you don't show them so much love."
Vincenzo replied " I am closer to Vitale."
Clarisa asked " Why?"
Vincenzo replied " Be careful what you ask Terza. You may end up learning too much..."
Clarisa took a step towards him " Try me. I can handle it." She attacked and he blocked her again holding her up. Holding her back. He didn't make any effort to repel her. He just stared at her patiently.
Clarisa sighed " Why can't you attack. This is a duel."
Vincenzo replied " I would rather look at you Terza... I like to see my necklace on you... I thought you may take it off to spite me."
Clarisa replied " You wear the chain of the cross I got you... I wear your colosseum. If you take my chain off, I take off yours."
Vincenzo shook his head " I would never take it off."
Clarisa sighed " Well. I am not taking yours off either. You haven't given me a reason to take it off. But if you tempt me to take it off when you flirt. Don't try it. I don't want you to flatter me or flirt with me... I am not here to stay. Don't act like I am..."
Vincenzo pushed slightly making her retreat.
Clarisa declared "So you are attacking. Good."
Vincenzo asked "Terza. Why don't you come back? Haven't you been in Italy long enough?"
Clarisa shrugged " I will come back when I decide to Vincenzo." She attacked Vincenzo who stood defensively not attacking her.
Clarisa had enough. She jumped back as she stated " That's it. Attack back or I would not save you a dance tonight. I will save it for someone else." She didn't expect the change in his expression. That made her take a step back as he took a step towards her.
" Pardon me..." He demanded. He took another step towards her.
Clarisa gulped and went around a massive chess table that came half way above her waste in height shielding her. Was she hiding? Perhaps. She was thinking about her situation. There was a saying " Be careful what you wish for." Here he was there. He was looking at her with a hard look ready to strike. What had she done again to deserve the beast about to come out? ... Well... She had just threatened him.
Vincenzo walked around the chess table and Clarisa started walking around it. They were circling each other. Clarisa was awaiting him to attack.
Vincenzo smiled as his eyes looked hardened making him look menacing " Terza... Terza... Do you know what you are asking for?"
Clarisa kept moving walking around the table " A fair fight perhaps?..."
Vincenzo looked at her silently. He then declared " Let me make one thing clear Terza.... I don't deal with obstacles. I can't stand obstacles. I just remove them."
She then gasped as she watched him bring down his sword breaking the table in half and kicking it to the side. She almost screamed as she watched him step in front of her staring her down standing in front of her. His sword was down even though hers was up ready to defend.
Clarisa took a step backwards and another step also backward. She then found herself backed into a wall. She stood with her sword up ready to feel his emotions. Was it going to be his full force wrath unleashed on her? Hopefully not.
Vincenzo held his sword up moving it around in the air in circular motion as he spoke with meaning behind each word that made Clarisa jump " I swear to you Terza. If you let any man but me dance with you tonight, I will treat them like how I did with the chess table. I will cut them in half. I have waited months to hold you. If you give that chance to another man, I won't hesitate to run a sword right through them. I will do it. I don't care who they are.... You can ask me anything... You can ask me to wait and I will wait. But you can't ask me to watch you give a dance that's meant for me to another. You are mine. I won't ever let you give your heart to another and won't stand for it. I won't watch you give what's meant for me to another. Your heart belongs to me as mine belongs to you... I don't think you need a reminder..."
Clarisa argued back outraged at his outburst. Her mind was not in the boys zone at all " What has brought this on? What makes you think I will give my heart to another? A man must win my heart Vincenzo. I don't give it away. I only have one man in my life. It's his choice to win my heart or not..." Clarisa then took a step away from the wall towards him and then another one " Fight for me.... fairly. Fine... Let's adjust it abit. If you don't attack back, I will not give you a kiss before I go. You deserve a hello kiss and goodbye kiss when I come visit here. I won't give you your hello kiss unless you attack back."
Just then Clarisa got her wish. She knew how to get a fight out of Vincenzo. He did attack back and unfortunately for her, he knocked her sword out of her hand. She gasped as she looked at her sword on the floor.
Vincenzo gave her a smile " You are not ready to take me on yet." He then dropped his own sword on the floor as he took a step closer to her.
Clarissa's heart suddenly started beating faster and faster. He was getting closer. Suddenly before she knew it, he was standing too close and she found herself retreating until she was backed into a wall. She looked at him " You don't fight your father at all. My father taught me how your father fights... But you don't use his moves often..."
Vincenzo put his hands on either side of her on the wall as he leaned closer. His breath was on her lips " Terza. I wasn't taught to cross swords just by my father. Other Rosarios cross swords too... I will teach you what I know. All you have to do ... is ask." He then whispered as he leaned even closer and his lips were close to hers " If you ask me to stop, I will stop. Otherwise I go on...." He then leaned closer as his lips brushed against hers. He attached his lips to her possessively.