Chapter Twelve

Replacement and Resentment

"All I'm saying is that bribing her with gifts won't make things easier, Pavi," Desiree chided, stretching her naked body about Pavi's bed. Pavi himself was already up and dressed. He was listening to Desiree try and persuade him from not using gifts as a way to tell Gia that a replacement for Mag would be hired today. He wasn't technically using the gifts to tell her, but hoped they might distract her at least. He and his siblings all agreed it'd be better to get the Opera up and running again as soon as possible. Operas required the Largo family's presence, and since Gia was now a Largo, she'd have to attend as well. It was her birthday, which was unfortunately ironic, but it would still take place. He did feel a bit guilty about dropping this bomb on her on her birthday, but perhaps, she'd show that courage and strong demeanor she's been showing for the past three weeks.

"Bella, it-a will be better to-a let her deal with it-a," he said, admiring Desiree's body. He was never limited to one woman and she knew that, but she never denied him access to her perfect, natural body. She was not only a friend since childhood, intelligent and loving, she was untouched by the knife which enhance so many bodies. He eyed her perfect, large breasts, tempted to bed her again. His eying did not go unnoticed and she puckered her smirking lips and wiggled a long, elegant, manicured finger. She got up from the large bed, escaping the black and silver silk sheets. She slipped into a short, black, satin robe with lace covering the back revealing her porcelain skin.

He grabbed her, his arm snaking around her waist, other hand removing the right shoulder of the robe, leaving her breast out of the robe. Her back arched and she sighed. "No, no. You have things to do. You can't do this again and then go see your daughter, it's not right," she giggled, puling her robe back up. He caressed her face, tracing her bottom lip, her playfully biting his thumb.

"Ah, bella, you-a have such-a beautiful face," Pavi muttered, his other hand still caressed her delicate face.

"Thank you. I like it, I think I'll keep it," she laughed. "Now, show me what you got for Gia," she purred. He nodded and released her. Pavi walked over to a black marble table on the other side of his bedroom and showed her the gifts he'd gotten for Gia. Desiree beamed. She was proud of Pavi for really showing affection towards Gia.

"I think she'll really enjoy these, Mr. Largo. Good choice. And the replica of this necklace is perfect. It even looks like it's been aged five hundred years..." she praised.

"Replica? No, no. It's-a the real thing. It-a once rested on-a the ill fated neck of-a the lady," he smirked. "When-a you're a Largo, nothing is-a too hard to-a get-a your hands on," The Largos clearly held very much power. When they said jump, you asked how high. When Pavi Largo asked you to find a historical artifact which was worth millions, you didn't ask why, you just did as you were told.

"Well, aren't you just wonderful," she remarked. "I also notice you got yourself a little something?"

He smirked. She knew he's never change those ways about him. The women, the faces. They were the components that made up Paviche Largo. It wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world but Desiree had known him since childhood. She was used to the odd behavior, and she accepted it.

"Now, if-a you will excuse me, bella. I will now-a go see Gianna," he said, taking her hand and kissing the top of it. She rolled her eyes and giggled.

Pavi strode through to Gia's apartments, and knocked on her bedroom door. No response.

"Gianna?" he knocked again. He heard muttering. He entered the room to find Gia curled up comfortably in bed, face to face with the dog, both sleeping peacefully. It was around nine thirty and he had place to be, so she'd just have to sacrifice sleep.

"Gia, please wake up-a," he said, gently shaking her awake. She slowly rose, eyes still closed and her hair was dominated by thick curls. He laughed at this. Carmela's hair did the same thing when she was little, before she altered everything about herself.

"I have-a some things to-a do today, but I thought I would-a bring you you're presents before," he smiled. She looked groggily taken aback.

"You didn't have to get me anything," she yawned, rubbing her eyes. He shrugged and handed her the little box. She opened it to see a necklace. It was a black choker necklace with a diamond L in the middle of the necklace. It was so beautiful, so wonderful. She never had anything like this, her mother thought her too young for fancy jewelry. This was stunning. She stared gaping and stuttered, "Thank you so much. It's so pretty," she thanked him, smiling, holding the necklace gently.

"That's not-a all," he said, handing her another similar box. "Be careful opening this-a one, it's-a delicate," he warned. She nodded and gently pulled out the long string of pearls, clearly aged, yet still beautiful. She soon found the little B pendent on it. "This is so pretty! Just like the one Anne Boleyn wore," she sighed.

"It-a is the one Anne Boleyn-a wore,"

"No! It can't still possibly be surviving!"

"Then-a why are you-a holding it?"

"How is it possible that this still exists?"

"I don't-a know. But, I take it-a you like it?"

"Oh, yes! Thank you so much. I'll treasure them," she said. These were quite the gifts, the Boleyn necklace being very personal, he knew she was interested in that time and the doomed queen herself. The little L necklace was a more important gesture though. She was finally starting to really be happy again, and she enjoyed having a father who acknowledged her and tried to do what was right and be loving in his own way to her.

"I'm-a glad. Now, I have something I need-a to speak with-a you about," he began. He sat down on the edge of the bed watching her put on the L necklace. She smiled brightly.

"Today, my siblings and I must-a hire a new opera singer," he started. He could see her face fall, smile slowly faded into a frown. "It's-a only for-a business. We must-a get things back to-a normal," he added. Normal. What was normal anymore? He thought to himself turning his head away. He then looked back at Gia, who had a solemn look upon her young face. She sight and smiled a tiny bit and shook her head.

"I'm-a sorry about this-a being today,"

"Don't be sorry. I'm fine. I understand," she said. Once again, she'd show a certain maturity that was hard to expect from an eleven year old. She had the endurance and spirit of Mag, certainly.

"May I come see if I wanted to?" she asked.

"Si, I see no reason why-a not,"

"And can I go outside?" She asked. Last time she went outside without telling anyone Desiree became panicked, and told her to ask next time she went out.

"I suppose, just-a don't go too-a far," he instructed. Pavi knew Desiree was beginning to become bonded with Gia and her feathers were ruffled when she didn't know where she was. Desiree was becoming very maternal to Gia, which was a good thing, having a maternal figure around must be good for young girls. When Marni was with his father, Carmela, was still Carmela, and was still the sweet little sister he adored, she was a good influence on the motherless girl. When Marni left, a choice which ended badly for her and Wallace, Amber was alright for a while, but as she entered her teen years she became increasingly spoiled and began her strive for perfection. Desiree was the kind of person Gia would need. She was kind and loving.

"I wont. Thank you,"

He smiled to her and left the room. Gia then got up and tamed her head of wild curls and got dressed into a black skirt and purple long sleeved shirt. She put her shoes on and fed Duke, who was following her around whining, a habit he picked up when he was a puppy. She took care of things and then heard a taping coming from her balcony. She walked over and opened the door, dodging a flying rock.

"Hey!"

"Whoops, sorry princess!"

It was Lucas. The boy who hung around with Graverobber and decided he would become friends with Gia. She enjoyed having someone of her own age to hang around with, but the nickname of 'Princess' was getting under her skin.

"Wanna come down and hang out?"

"Sure, I'll be down in a moment," she said. She got Duke's leash on and they were out the door. Desiree insisted that anytime Gia did go out, she'd bring Duke, to put her mind at ease. She appreciated Desiree was worried about her, but Gia was only now free to wander around a little, the last thing she needed was to have another overprotective force on her.

"Hey, Princess!" Lucas called. She scowled.

"Oh, look, you've even been crowned!" he snickered pointing to her her necklace.

"Ha-hah, you're so funny. But, fine. Call me princess. I won't help you get in to see the new opera singer!" she said sticking her tongue out and walking back into the building.

"Ah, fine. Might as well have some fun," he said, running off into the building with her. Passing the hoards of giggling genterns, Lucas was a little bit distracted. Gia rolled her eyes. Such a boy, she thought to herself.

They quickly made their way to the auditorium where they watched a young girl who looked about twenty in a long dress. She had a pretty enough voice, but nowhere near her mother's beautiful and unforgettable voice. She saw her father and his siblings. Amber was in a haze, Luigi looked angry as usual and her father was looking at the girl with a face she couldn't make out. It was a little creepy, a little bit towards the kind of look he'd give towards Desiree, but she was his... His girlfriend? She didn't know what Desiree was to her father, but the young girl was clearly interesting to her father. The young girl walked down to the Largos and started to sign papers held up by a gentern.

"Let's go see the new voice of GeneCo," Lucas suggested a little too eagerly. Gia shrugged and walked off with Lucas to the group.

"Ah, Alexis, this is-a my daughter, Gianna, and her little friend-a, Lucas," he introduced. Gia looked at the woman. Her hair was so blond it was almost white, her body clearly enhanced, she could see fading surgery scars on her olive colored skin and especially could see since her dress had a sheer upper half, revealing her augmented breasts.

"Oh, what cuties," she squealed, leaning down to their level. Lucas was in awe of the beautiful woman, and Gia didn't know how to respond to this.

"She's not wearing a shirt. Or a bra," Gia said flabbergasted by such an inappropriate opera outfit. Even for rehearsals, Mag would give off elegance and beauty. This woman gave off none of that.

"That's because, Gianna, she is wearing a sheer dress," Desiree clicked over, in a tight leather dress and knee high leather boots. Desiree gave off class by her attitude and even then, she never wore anything that revealing and was always covering everything that should be covered and be beautiful. Desiree had covered her hand over Lucas and Gia's eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I just wanted to look as best as I could,"

"That involves your breasts showing?" Desiree quipped.

"Dez, calm yourself," Amber sighed, eyes glazed over. "She looks gorgeous."

"Either way, it doesn't matter, she's the new voice of GeneCo," Luigi said, ignoring his sister's drug induced behavior.

"Well then, that-a settle's it-a," Pavi said, looking up and down at the young songstress. Desiree glared over at Alexis who had her arms crossed so her breasts would be covered and Desiree uncovered Gia and Luke's eyes. Gia could only see her father's interest in the girl and the tension Desiree felt. This is going to be much different then from when Mom was the singer... Happy birthday to me, Gia thought to herself.

Author's Note

And now we venture into this chapter. I wanted to establish the Pavi/Desiree relationship and I have plans for them and Gia and all of this and I'm really excited! I really hope you guys will review this and let me know what you think! And I know, Anne Boleyn's necklace couldn't possibly still exist, but it was an idea I hatched awhile ago.