Chapter 155 - Still A Surprise

By the time Lena had gotten to her father's office, she was ready to go back to her room and forget being around people. It wasn't that anything bad had happened, it was just that too many people checking on her. Again, very kind of her family and she appreciated it, but too much interactions wasn't beneficial for her fight now especially when her brother and cousins insisted on hugger her so much. 

Her father at least understood how she was with her current mood and didn't try to push any such thing, though she could tell that he wasn't exactly pleased with the way she looked. She knew she looked exhausted, but she doubted that she would be able to sleep any time soon with all the thoughts going through her mind. 

Since she hadn't been sleeping and due to all the coffee she had drank only days ago, her father refused to let her have the pipe either which she knew would've helped in calming her nerves down a certain amount. She didn't argue with him though as she knew he wouldn't budge on it until he was certain that she was doing better. 

"I guess allowing Sam to go in and speak with you helped?" was one of the first questions her father asked after they had been sitting silence for a few minutes. She didn't really know how to start the conversation, but her father had wanted to give her to do so if she wanted before he started talking. 

"It wasn't a bad thing though he's far more affectionate than I am." The princess replied as she tucked one of her legs up next to her while she sat on the sofa. 

"I talked to him about what happened without him pressuring me into it. I'm not honestly sure how much it helped." Lena stared at the picture of her mother was on her father's desk as she spoke. Despite how long the other had been gone, her father still kept the picture there since it wasn't like he was going to be marrying again as far as he was concerned.

"It can take time before the benefits of such things take effect. The important thing is though you told him so he understands why you react the way you do to certain things. Early enough on in the relationship as well that it shouldn't create friction later on." Zane replied as he stopped what he was working on so that he could focus his full attention on to Lena. She made a muted noise in response to this. 

"It's not like it's going to change much. Certainly, he knows now what happened, but it's not like I'm going to suddenly change how I am just because he now knows one of the worst moments in my life." 

"You think that because you disclosed this that he's now going to expect you react differently around him because he didn't react badly to hearing about what happened?" Zane asked with a raised eyebrow not quite understanding the direction that his daughter's logic was taking. Lena was quiet for a moment as she messed with the ends of her hair. 

"Other people who know what happened have." She replied, pausing for a second before she spoke again. 

"I'm not saying that Sammy-boy is like everyone else. I'm just saying that the only frame of reference I have to work with from the past is that others have expected me to get over it more quickly because of the kind of world we live in." She explained. Sighing as she spoke again. 

"I'm not exactly sure how to move forward with such a person. I know the engagement and everything is still going to happen regardless of all this. But things aren't going to exactly be the same because of this and knowing that Samuel isn't even an outsider." 

"I don't think it really changes all that much though. It's not like he knows about this world anymore than he did before. Certainly though he has suddenly been thrown into the middle of it." Zane mused as he tapped his pen on the desk. He understood where her issues were coming from, but he didn't think that it was anything that needed too much focus. 

"Have you even heard from the head of Vedova Nera? I'm sure that they must've heard about everything that has gone on by now." Lena asked, changing the subject slightly to a question that she was curious about but wasn't thrilled about dealing with. Zane shook his head however. 

"As far as I'm aware he hasn't tried to make any contact with us. It may be that Jovani waited to allow any information about the situation to reach them until he knew how everything would play out." It was a feasible explanation, but there wasn't much time until the engagement party was set to take place. 

"Don't worry too much about it. There ware things we are getting into place and taking care of for that right now." Zane assured her. 

"I've been working on pushing it back for another week and a half until we get everything that just happened sorted. To those who replied to the first invite I have already explained that it is being put off because there will be another important announcement that will be being made in conjunction with the engagement." 

"If the head of the family doesn't approve of the engagement though, we won't be having anything to announce or do at all in the first place." Lena replied, her tone a touch annoyed. 

She didn't think that things would end up playing out that way, but she didn't like the silence since it had been four days since everything took place with Jovani. She would rather know what was going on then have to inquire herself. 

Hopefully however that would be solved once Samuel found out from the other when he intended to come and visit. She didn't really want him coming to the estate, but it was still the safest place for everything to take place since it was on their territory rather than his. 

"We have time still for all of that. Speaking of things that need to be taken care of," Zane gave her a meaningful look but already knew what he was referring to. 

"I know, I'm going to be having Genson leave soon. He will only be working at the company for a while most likely. I wouldn't have even brought him here if I didn't think that he had useful information." Lena told her father. She didn't quite understand where the particular level of disdain her for Genson came from, but it seemed like for a con artist who was supposed to be amazing at getting close to people, he somehow had the magic ability to get on the bad side of every person he worked with or was employed by. It was really a wonder that he was even still alive. 

"We have plenty of resources at our disposal that are fair more reliable than he is." Her father grumbled. She felt slightly inclined to roll her eyes at the other. She knew why his mood was like this, but to the princess she had made the most efficient move at the current moment in time consider neither her father or uncle was there. 

"I don't intend to rely on him again in the future." She said in order to appease the other.

"I expect also that you will want to be a part of the conversation with Jovani since you don't know everything that's going on as well?" 

"Yes, because I'll end up being the meet to officially meet with the head of the family even though you will be requesting permission for the marriage between you and Samuel to move forward." Zane replied. He had already cleared his schedule for flexibility in case this happened. 

"You should make sure Samuel understands that his mother needs to be around for that as well since it's her side of the family that we will be speaking with. She will need to voice her approval of the relationship as well." He explained. 

"I will make sure I tell him. He's most likely talking with Jovani or his mother right now since I asked him to take care of that. Which means he's currently in possession of my phone until we get his sorted out." The princess replied. She felt inclined to get him a new one rather than allowing him to use the old or getting it fixed. She didn't want to risk it being bugged or anything else as she barely trusted Jovani. 

"Since everything that has happened now, do I get to hear why exactly Sammy-boy was heading back to the jewelry store before we were ready to go and pick up the family rings?" Lena suddenly asked. Her father gave her one of his odd smiles rathe than answering the question. 

"That I believe is still something that you should ask Samuel about. Despite what happened, it is still a surprise after all for when you two get engaged." How unfortunate, this wasn't the response that Lena had been hoping for. She didn't get to comment on this however before there was soft knock on Zane's office door indicating that someone was requesting permission to enter.