Chapter Two

Discreet

Mag woke with a start the next morning, greeted by a message from non-other than Rotti Largo. She groaned a rolled out of bed, opening the curtains letting the gloomy grey light in the room.

"Mag, I understand that you've given birth. Please come to office, we must discuss your situation. Bring the child." Mag sighed. Her boss wasn't particularly thrilled when she told him she was expecting and keeping the child. She had only guessed he had a hunch who her child's father was, and though he was furious, he allowed her the 'privilege' of making her own choice. Mag kept performing until she was too big for any dress to hide her figure and she went into seclusion until she had given birth.

Quickly pulling on a long black dress of her usual style, and a cloak, she picked up her newborn who was simply in a diaper. She pulled out a little black onesie and gently put it on Gianna. She then hurried down the stairs, and out to her chauffeured car.

Her chauffeur, Max had gotten a car-seat already, she smiled, Always a step ahead of me, she thought to herself. She dreaded having to go to GeneCo tower; she dreaded having to avoid Rotti's horrible children. She dreaded having to see Rotti. This was her life though, all under Rotti's control.

Once they arrived, Mag was able to slip in mostly unnoticed, holding Gia close to her under her cloak. She earned a few strange looks from genterns, looking oddly at how she was walking, and they seemed to notice she was concealing something.

Finally, after finding the elevator in the dark and dreadful building, she was in Rotti's office. Rotti, sitting at his desk, his usual business like demeanor and appearance, his intimidating Hench girls looming behind him as always, alert and ready to strike any threat.

"Mag, welcome. Please, come, sit." He greeted. Mag did as she was told, uncovering Gia from her cloak, settling comfortably with the infant.

Rotti's gaze fell upon Gia; it was a warm look, something Mag had never seen on his face. Mag was on guard however. This was still Rotti Largo, the man who had no problem having people organs ripped out of their bodies mercilessly.

"May I hold her?" Mag quickly looked up, startled by this question, weary of him wanting to hold her daughter. She rose and walked over to Rotti, who was sitting behind his desk, she gingerly handed Gia over to Rotti and as soon as she was out of her arms, she ached to have her back.

"Ah, Mag, she is truly beautiful. Her name?" he questioned. "Gianna Angioletta Defoe." Mag answered. Rotti looked kindly at the child, her looking up at him with familiar eyes.

"About where she'll end up…" Rotti started. Mag inhaled sharply, she was under the impression she could keep her daughter.

"Rotti, please, I beg of you, let me keep her," Mag pleaded. Rotti shook his head, still looking at Gia, "Mag, this isn't good for business, you can't have such a huge distraction. Children are time consuming," he mumbled thinking of his own children and their ridiculous antics.

Mag could feel tears brimming in her enhanced eyes, "Please, Rotti. I'll do anything. I'll find a caretaker. I have a nurse coming today, I can ask her. Please, I'm already your caged bird, no freedom whatsoever, please don't take away the one joy in my life," she begged. Trying to appeal to his humanity was easier said than done.

"Please, I'll work twice as hard, no complaints, I beg of you, please don't take her from me," Mag whispered, tears streaming down her face. Rotti looked at Mag and then back to the tiny baby in his arms; he sighed, and handed Gia back to her mother, who held her close. "Alright, you may keep her, but as you said, you'll need to find someone to watch her while you work. The public won't know that you have a child, and she mustn't interfere with your work. Whomever you chose as a caretaker must be discreet and cooperative. Do I make myself clear?" he asked, "Yes, of course." Mag replied hastily, nodding her head vigorously in agreement.

"Now, who is this nurse you mentioned?"

"Her name is Lucia Evans, I believe." Mag answered. She'd clearly want to speak with this woman before she allowed her to watch her child.

"I'll look into her files and if I feel she is an appropriate match for a caretaker, I'll send her a message about this job, you can speak with her about it," he explained. "Since this will be difficult to conceal from the employees here, they'll have to agree to confidentiality as well. Although, I don't think that will be hard to make them agree to," he chuckled. Mag shuddered at what he was implying. "Please remember what you've agreed to Mag

"Yes of course, I'll be careful with this situation."

"You may leave now Mag," Rotti dismissed. Mag didn't need to be told twice, with a nod, she left Rotti's office and hurried into the elevator. Once out of the elevator, she turned the corner to the exit and ran straight into the person, she wanted to avoid most. Pavi Largo.

"Ah, dear Mag! As-a beautiful as-a ever!" Pavi complimented. Mag scowled at him. He was as usual, dressed in an over the top style outfit, a feminine face adorning his own.

"Hello, Pavi. If you'll excuse me, I was on my way out," Mag huffed. Pavi grabbed her by the arm "Why the rush bella? What's-a this?" he questioned, eyeing Gianna whom she had covered up as soon as she ran into him.

"This is my daughter, Gianna," Mag said uncovering the child. Pavi's eyes widened slightly, he of course knew the paternity of the child, which was only confirmed when the same green eyes looked up at him. He really hadn't expected his father to allow his precious soprano to keep the child she was carrying. He observed the infant, taking in her features, he could certainly tell she was beautiful, she had porcelain skin the same of her mother, rosy, chubby cheeks, beautifully green eyes, matched with dark eyelashes framing them, and dark curls gracing the top of her head. She was a perfect child, he thought, a child that of course only I could have a part in, he thought smugly to himself.

"Ah, I- ah see. She is-a molto bella. Congratulations on-a beautiful child," he said. Mag glared at him, she felt as if she was mocking her, he knew very well that this was his child, and she knew very well, he wouldn't be involved, as if she wanted his insanity around her precious daughter.

"Excuse me; I really must be on my way." Mag excused herself, not wishing to be in this situation any longer. "Addio, Magdalene, Gianna." Pavi moved out of Mag's way, allowing her to rush out of the building.

Mag finally got back into her car with haste. The situation with Pavi, and him seeing the results of their little trysts was uncomfortable. She didn't want him to see Gianna. She certainly didn't want Gianna to know that she was related to the Largos. She shook it off, looking at Gia in her car-seat peacefully dozing off, made all her worries disappear.

Soon enough, she was back at her home, she grabbed Gia, thanked Max, and strode back inside. She put Gianna up for a nap, and waited for the nurse to come. In the meantime, she let herself relax. She hadn't been this happy since before Marni had died, who once again her thoughts drifted to. Marni would be her daughter's godmother if fate hadn't taken her away. Marni's own daughter, would be like a big sister. Her mind was wistful, for those thoughts, wishing they could only be true. She thought of poor Nathan, whom she hadn't seen in seven years. She hoped he was doing fine, she really never had the opportunity to see him. Her train of thought was suddenly disrupted by knocking on the door.

She stood up, and walked down the stairs to answer the door to Lucia Evans. Now that she wasn't in agonizing pain, she could see the girl was in her mid-twenties, with thick auburn hair that fell in waves to past her shoulders. She had crystal blue eyes and full lips which were wearing a kind smile. She was very beautiful, but not overdone like the scalpel sluts that roamed around. She wore a long grey sweater and dark jeans. Mag was glad she didn't dress like the genterns.

"Welcome, please come in," Mag greeted. Lucia smiled and nodded, entering the home. Mag led her to a French styled sitting room. "Would you like some tea, Ms. Evans?" Mag offered

"No, ma'am, I'm fine thank you." Lucia politely replied.

"Okay, so I'm assuming you got the message from Mr. Largo?"

"Yes, I did, and I'm more than happy to help out with your daughter. "

"You're aware that I'll need you quite often and will need you to be very discreet?"

"Yes, I'm aware of that. Not a problem to the time or the discreetness. I understand this a difficult situation, and I wouldn't want to harm you or your daughter by going around blabbing that Blind Mag has a child." She explained.

Mag smiled, this girl was genuine, and she seemed like a truly nice person, who only wanted to help. So very people still held these qualities today.

"Forgive me for prying, but have you had any surgery?" Mag asked

Lucia giggled "No, not all that seems to be a common question these days. I haven't had any cosmetic surgery, no. I did require a heart transplant as well as a liver transplant. I had organ failure about a year and a half ago. I was a very frail child, I got very sick very easily, it lasted until adulthood where it got worse. I'm quite healthy now though." Lucia explained.

"Well, Lucia, I think you'll make a wonderful caretaker to Gia. You seem like a lovely person. Would you like to see her now?"

Smiling, Lucia nodded." Mag showed Lucia upstairs into her room where her daughter lay in her white bassinet, ever so gently, Mag picked up Gia and brought her over to Lucia, placing her in her arms. Gia gurgled at the transition.

Lucia smiled down on the infant, "What a beautiful baby girl," after checking her heart and breathing, Lucia concluded, "She seems perfectly healthy, Ms. Defoe."

"Please, call me Mag."

"Mag. If you don't mind me asking, where is her father? Feel free not to answer if it makes you uncomfortable." Mag looked off for a moment, she wasn't offended, but she didn't know quite how to answer that.

"Gianna's father is Pavi Largo," taking in the shocked expression on Lucia's face, she elaborated, "It was nothing romantic of course, merely physical, it only happened because of the fact that his father practically owns me, I really didn't have much of a choice. It's long been over."

"Of course. I'm so sorry for asking, I didn't mean to be rude," Lucia apologized.

"Don't be, out of it, I got a great gift that has already made my life brighter." She said, caressing Gia's cheek. She looked up and smiled at Lucia, who returned the smile. At this moment, for the first time in a very long time, Mag felt happy, she wasn't completely alone anymore.

Author's Note

So, I hope this was more elaborate and written better than the first chapter. I'm satisfied with how it's coming out. I did tweak a few things in the first chapter, making it ten years before the Opera rather than eight, Lucia's last name, nothing huge. I definitely wrote more into detail in this chapter and hope to be able to keep writing this way! I hope you like it!