2| addiction

                                    

                                          
•Matteo Rossi•
I adjusted my tie as I walked downstairs to breakfast. I don't live with my family but I know they're here. As if they don't have their own houses.
When I make it down the stairs, I hear little footsteps running towards me, then someone hugs my leg. "Ciao Zio" my niece, Vittoria giggles as she lets go of me, extending her hands indicating for me to carry her. (Hi uncle)
I pick her up, tossing her in the air, making her giggle before placing her on my hip. "Where's your papà?" I ask her.
"He's already with Zia and nonna and all them at the table." she replies as I walk into the dining room. Everyone is already sitting there, my father to the right of the head of the table, my mother next to him, and my siblings on the other side. My brothers wife is next to him.
My brother Alessandro and my sister Lia just nod at me as a form of greeting. I nod back as mamma gets up to hug me and papà gets up to shake my hand. Him and I have always been very professional and that was it. He was never much of a father figure but more of a mentor. We obviously still cared for and trusted each other but that was the extent of our relationship.
My parents were both in their fifties but looked way younger than that and it honestly freaked me out. "Come stai, figlio?" Mamma asked me as I placed Vittoria down and she ran back to her mother, Sofia. (How are you, son?)
Sofia and my brother were arranged to marry when they were both twenty. Well, I was supposed to marry her but I don't want to get married so my brother married her. It's all the same in this business as long as the families get connected somehow, and they liked each other anyways. Funnily enough, he ended up getting her pregnant a few months before the wedding and when they got married, her bump was quite obvious.
"Bene, mamma. E ti?" I asked her as I sat down at the head of the table. The maids brought out the food, placing them in front of each of us, and then swiftly walking back into the kitchen. (Well, mom. And you?)
"Bene. Now, your papà and I need to talk to you" she said, almost excitedly as she picked up her napkin. She delicately placed it on her lap before picking up a fork and knife to begin eating.
My eyebrows furrowed as I did the same with my napkin. "What about?" I asked and she sighed. She had that look on her face. The look I had seen, I think about a thousand times now. "No mamma, per favore. I am not going to talk about this. Especially not now."
"Matteo you know you're going to have to get married eventually. And we know you don't exactly want to get married so it would just be business. I mean she doesn't necessarily have to always be around or even have to talk to you much but you know how this world works. People see you don't have an heir or don't plan to have one, they talk, they scheme. You know all the bad things that could happen." she said, with a scolding tone.
I sighed. "Mamma we have been over this before. Now I respect you, and I love you, but I am not going to marry some random girl who I have no feelings for. Even if I did, and she caught feelings for someone who actually gave a damn, people would find out what was going on. They'd think I'm weak because my wife would be stepping out on me with another man, and being weak is something I will never even risk showing. So many things could happen whether I do this or not. Now may this conversation be over please, let's enjoy breakfast." I said, in a slightly demanding tone.
"Yes mamma. He may be the worlds biggest ass but he still cares. About his reputation." Aless says sarcastically. I glare at him and his playful expression. Sofia gives him a look and smacks his arm lightly. He looks at her as if he hadn't said anything. He rarely ever takes anything seriously. He's the jokester of the family, and I do care about him but sometimes with his stupid jokes I just can't stand him.