I wasn't supposed to react like that. I lost control of myself for a minute and it wasn't surprising that it threw her off. Her calmness in that moment was commendable. It would probably would have blown over the edge if she had reacted the way she usually would.
I was sure she was in safe hands that was why I didn't put up a fight when she chose to go in the other vehicle.
My anger was a transfer of aggression over one of my messed up shipments. We were transporting some weapons via the Indian Ocean and somehow they were confiscated. It cost me millions of dollars and freeing them would cost even more. It was very upsetting. And I had a feeling a few of my rivals had a hand in it, adding to the pile of problems waiting for me.
My phone rang just then. I decided to slow down a bit on the highway. It was my mom.
"Hello mother,"
"Where are you?" She questioned.
That question meant only one thing.
"You're back?"
"Yes. Come pick me up."
I had to take a U-turn. I had to be at the airport within the next hour. My guards turned with me while the ones with Mira in their vehicle, continued heading towards to the house based on my instruction.
When I got there, I sat at the waiting area. Not long after, she surfaced, looking decades younger than her actual age. But then she wasn't so old. She was 50+. Having gotten married and had all her children quite early, she was still looking youthful despite being a mother of grown adults.
"Mother," I said, bending over to give her a hug. I pressed a kiss to her cheek.
"You look well." She said, rubbing on my face.
"You look better. You had a great time I see." I remarked.
She grinned slightly. "I did. I have worked hard enough to relax and enjoy my remaining years."
"You don't have to be so dramatic. You aren't dying anytime soon."
She hummed, sounding disinterested in what I just said, "Hmm. We'll see."
I hated it when she spoke like this but I was not going to indulge her today.
The guards rolled her boxes while I held her hand and led her to my car.
"You better not over speed." She warned me as she always did when she rode with me.
"Yes ma'am." I said, fighting back an eye roll.
"Where's Mira?"
I paused for a brief second before responding.
"She should be home now."
"What did you do now?"
"What do you mean?" I scowled, tightening my grip around the steering wheel.
"I saw you tense up at the mention of her name."
"It's nothing." I muttered.
"Jace..." She called knowingly.
I sighed. "Okay fine. I transferred a bit of my aggression to her."
"What happened?"
I explained the confiscation situation to her.
"You really are your father's son." She chuckled but it was humorless.
"I'm my own person," I countered.
"Yet you embody all his negative traits." She retorted.
I frowned, glancing at her briefly as she stared straight ahead.
"You need to stop doing that. She is basically clueless about our world yet you keep offloading your baggage on her. She is not at fault."
It felt like she was no longer talking about Mira. She was talking about herself.
"I didn't mean to do that." I admitted.
My mother was one of the few people I could let myself be vulnerable with but only to an extent.
"I know. But you need to apologize. Especially because you need her to man the gates and protect your business from the authorities."
Yes she was aware of everything going on here even though she had been away for weeks.
I sighed. "Apologizing isn't my thing."
"Of course. I knew your ego would get the better part of you." She said with a roll of her eyes.
"It's just-"
"I don't want to hear it, Don Romano."
Her sarcasm was biting.
"Get her flowers or something at least." She said, pointing at the flower shop up ahead.
I groaned as I slowed down the car. Why did women have to be so complicated?
I had no idea what kind of flowers Mira would like so I just went a safe option. Red roses.
As the florist arranged the flowers, he asked if I wanted to write any thing on a card. I immediately said no. The flowers were enough.
My mother sent me back to get one. And I had them write; "To my wife, I'm sorry."
It was easier than saying it with my mouth so I just went with it.
I felt awkward putting the flowers in the backseat of my car. I had not done this in forever.
When I went out on dates with Caterina, I had someone send flowers to her so they were impersonal but this was the first time I would do it myself no thanks to my mother.
"This isn't a flimsy girlfriend. This is your wife. If you insist on her being your life partner, you have to try to not make her miserable in the process." My mother advised as we approached the mansion, patting my face softly as she got out of the vehicle.
Her words stuck with me as she walked to her side of the house. We would meet up for dinner later. Or not.
I walked up the stairs with flowers in one hand. It was weird but it felt odd as I approached my bedroom. I low key wondered if I had to give it myself. Why couldn't I just get someone else to give it to her?
I could sense the bewildered stares as I walked past my staff. I didn't care to look at them. It would only throw me off.
I got to the room and paused at the entrance. When I placed my hand over the knob, I exhaled.
Here goes nothing...