The Arrangement {Book 1}

{Nineteen.1}

"Hey, baby... Dondrae, Alfonso, Adonis or Raheem?" Cris asks me. I walk into his office in our house. We cannot decide what to name the baby if it is a boy.

"I can't choose between Dondrae and Raheem, but I love the name Alfonso and Adonis too. I really love Adonis."

"Well I will just get things made with the names on it and we'll choose once we see him."

"If it's a girl.." I start.

"IF it's a girl.. What do you want to name her?" Cris asks me. I shrug. "I want you to name the baby."

"Okay..." Cris raises his paper. "I have Jai-Vonna Principessa." He puts the paper down.

"Princip- what?" I ask. He laughs. "Principessa.. It is princess in Italian. Principessa will be her middle name."

"I like it.." I nod, thinking about it. "Jai-Vonna Principessa Rondinelli." I let it roll off of my tongue. I smile. "It sounds so beautiful." I admit.

"Yeah.... And if you want it can be Burke Rondinelli." He suggests.

I nod. "Rondinelli is just fine by its self."

"It was just a suggestion, Mi." He says with a hint of attitude.

"Okay. Don't get smart with me." I tell him.

"I didn't." He stands up from his chair and slams it up against the desk, causing me to jump and he walks out. I shake my head and look around his office to distract myself from crying. The phone starts ringing and I go to it. "Hello?" I answer, barley able to speak.

"Mi?... What's wrong sweetie?" Aleesa asks me.

"Nothing Ma." I say. "I just need to get some rest. I'm just a little overwhelmed."

"Then you go lay down now!" She tells me, sounding so serious.

"I will. Did you need to speak with Cris?" I ask him. "Well I wanted to speak with anyone that would listen.. I am not going to be coming over until tomorrow night, okay?" She asks.

"That's fine. I can't wait to have you over." I smile at the thought of having Cris's mom spend the night with us makes me really happy.

"I can't wait to me over, bellissimo."

I laugh. "While you are here I need you to teach me Italian, please."

She giggles. "I surely will.. You'll have to get used to Italian, poco cris will be speaking Italian for sure."

"What is poco and what is the other thing you said."

"Poco.. Little, Bellissimo is beautiful."

"Okay, thank you for telling me tha-Ooh my g-.. I'll call you back." I hang up, scared of the sudden sound of something being throw in the house. I make my way down the long hall and I call out to Cris. "What A'Mirah? I have to get to work." He sound clearly irritated by me.

"Hold on, now." I raise my finger to him, he slaps it down and walks past me after grabbing his brief case. "Really Cris?" I ask, turning around. He ignores me. I feel myself become weak, but I also feel very angry. I follow Cris downstairs and I open the front door for him. "I love you." I say in hopes that he will respond.

"I love you too." He says not looking at me, making me feel dejected. I close the door, I put my back up against it, and I slide down it crying. I hear keys at the door. I stand up quickly, wiping the tears from my face, trying to pull myself together. "Mi." Cris calls my name.

"Yes?" I ask walking off down the hall. I hear his footsteps behind me. As I approach the kitchen his arms wrap around me. "I'm sorry." He apologizes. I nod.