Katerina Dale

"Done!" Elijah and I looked at each other and bursted into laughter. We were both covered in flour powder and pink icing that we used on the birthday cake. Thankfully, the maids and cooks had left us alone in the main kitchen and promised to keep it a secret. They advised us not to do it but I promised to take responsibility for whatever happens later on so they silently left. I received a few weird stares when they saw my green eyes but I shrugged it off and pretended as though nothing was wrong.

Looking at the beautiful pink and white toned cake with huge rose decorations and a small white banner that read "Happy Birthday Grandma", my face broke out into a relieved smile. I can't believe Elijah and I were able to finish baking this in time and were not caught by anyone else. No one had come down during lunch, something that the head butler, Clarence, had explained was a regular occurrence on Alana's death anniversary.

The De Luca family held strict traditions, they were to meet in the De Luca family mansion every weekend and eat all three meals together. However, today seemed to be an exception since Arsenio was busy with coaxing Eliana to leave their bedroom, Arosio was working and his two brothers had disappeared after breakfast.

"Mommy, you are the best baker ever! It looks really nice," Elijah bounced up and down excitedly, making the flour on his black curls fall around the kitchen countertop that he was sitting on.

"Why thank you, my little prince! It is all thanks to you being the best sous-chef ever," I gently tapped his nose that was covered with pink frosting and giggled when he pouted at me.

In all honesty though, none of this would have been possible without my maternal grandmother. Grandmama may be a horrible cook but she is a very talented baker. Everything I know about baking was taught to me by her. I used all of my skills to bake this cake and decorate it with Elijah within the limited time that we had.

"What's a sous-chef?" Elijah titled his cute head and questioned me as I helped him off the counter and placed him onto the floor.

"It means assistant! Now, let's bring this cake into the living room," Elijah's soft feet padded against the floor as he followed me out of the grand kitchen and we headed towards the main quarter's luxurious living room.

The elegant living room was decorated with pink and white balloons and flowers everywhere. Elijah looked at me with a huge grin before running towards the balloons and tossing them into the air while laughing. I shook my head at him with laughter as well before placing the cake onto the glass table that was in the middle of all of the sofas.

Looking at the clock on the wall, I saw that there were only a few minutes left until the head butler, Clarence, would bring everyone here. Nobody had any idea what was going on since Elijah and I instructed Clarence to keep it a secret.

"Here you go, Mistress," Helena stated as she brought me the portrait that I had seen her bringing to Eliana earlier in the morning. It was a beautiful painting of Alana with her smooth skin, vibrant green eyes and straight dirty blonde hair cascading down her elegant face. She had the same sharp nose as her siblings and high cheekbones as Eliana.

Apparently, Eliana would hold this very portrait and cry herself to sleep every year on this day. I felt bad asking Helena to steal it for me, but that was the only way for me to ensure that Eliana would leave her bedroom tonight.

"Thank you, I really appreciate your help, Helena. Please close the lights, mama should be coming down any minute now," I smiled at her sweetly and she looked at me a bit longer with a questioning glance before nodding her head and leaving the living room.

Signalling Elijah over to me, I placed the portrait onto the sofa in front of the cake and made sure that Eliana would be able to see it once she entered. Elijah gave me a thumbs up and began to giggle before coming over to where I was standing in front of the cake. We made sure to stand on the side so that Alana's portrait would be seen by Eliana.

The lights suddenly shut off, making Elijah and I hold our breaths. My heartbeat incredibly fast as I began to question whether I was doing the right thing. We heard several pairs of frantic footsteps heading towards the living room as Clarence's voice rang through the darkness along with the De Luca men's voices.

"Do not worry madam, I am sure the painting is in the living room," Clarence stated as their footsteps got closer.

"Si, mama. Don't worry," Alanzo and Adriano's voices stated as well and we could hear them about to open the grand doors to the living room.

"What the-- Why is it dark? What is going--" Arosio's smooth voice demanded before the lights suddenly turned on and Elijah and I yelled while setting off the confetti poppers we had prepared.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA/ GRANDMA" Elijah and I exclaimed in sync and watched as the De Luca family stared at us in shock.

Each member of the De Luca family were staring at us in pure shock as their mouths fell open and their eyes almost popped off their attractive faces. Arsenio looked between the portrait and the cake before blinking several times. Adriano and Alanzo were looking at Elijah and I in wonder and I could see Alanzo's eyes tear up a little while Adriano's fists were clenched at his side. My eyes unconsciously traveled to Arosio who was looking at me with his dark eyes swirling with unidentifiable emotions.

Finally, my gaze snapped to Eliana whose eyes were widened in shock as she began to take a few steps towards Elijah and I as if she was in a trance. Her eyes never left mine and I wondered if I should stop while I'm ahead. But I didn't want to leave this family with any regrets so I braced myself for the worst before rushing out my next words.

"We are really sorry for doing this without your permission, mama," I started as I gave her a small smile and she froze in her steps towards us.

"Yes, really sorry, grandma" Elijah chimed in as I looked down at him and suddenly realized that we were both still covered in flour and icing. I chucked nervously while wiping the icing from his cheek and looked towards Eliana again.

"I know that I have no right to speak and act in such a way regarding this matter. Please forgive me for such brazen actions. I have never met Alana but I can already tell how much of a happy and beautiful young woman she must have been. She had such a caring mother like you after all and she gave birth to my precious little prince," I started again slowly and hesitantly looked up to the De Luca family to see if they were going to kill me. They all were still in shock and Eliana still stood frozen a few steps away from the glass table that held the birthday cake so I decided to continue speaking.

Taking the lighter, I lit each of the birthday candles before gently placing the cake near where Eliana stood. Turning around, I took Alana's portrait from the sofa and brought it towards the glass table. Elijah and I stood beside the cake while I held Alana's portrait up for Eliana to see.

"Please stop punishing yourself, mama. There was a reason why Alana would wake up every morning on your birthday and pour all of her efforts into baking the best cake for you. She loved you so much that she never wanted to have you blow out candles on the same cake design so she made sure to make something new every year. How do you think Alana would feel from up above in Heaven, when she looks down and sees her beautiful mom crying on her birthday for three years and refusing to blow out her birthday candles?" my soft voice pierced through the silence and I could see the De Luca men staring at me in astonishment but I paid them no mind. My mission right now is to help Eliana grieve and move forward in her life.

"But...without my baby Alana...I just can't," Eliana's grief stricken voice stated through tears as everyone looked at her in shock for having finally spoken. Usually, she would not speak on this day at all, knowing this I let out a big smile. This was progress, she was slowly opening up.

"Who said Alana is not here?" I questioned softly and moved closer towards her with Alana's portrait. My hand gently took hers and placed it on the portrait where Alana's angelic face was.

"Your Alana is right here but most importantly, she is in here," I smiled at Eliana before placing her hand above her chest where her heart is. Her eyes widened in realization and slowly lifted up to mine as I let go of her hand and stepped towards Elijah.

"And, above all, your Alana is over here. She may have left Earth three years ago but she left a very important piece of her heart behind for you to celebrate every year with in her stead," I smiled encouragingly at Elijah who ran forward and tightly hugged his grandma around her legs.

"Don't cry, grandma. I promise to bake a cake for your birthday every year just like mommy did! Will you be happy from now on, please?" Elijah beamed up at his grandma with his bright emerald eyes shining. My eyes shun with pride as I watched the little boy who was mature beyond his years.

A few moments of silence went by until Eliana slowly nodded her head through more tears before she bent down and held Elijah in a tight embrace. I looked behind her and saw the cold-hearted De Luca men releasing sighs of relief while smiling brightly at Eliana.

Arosio was staring at me though and his eyes held that same indescribable emotions, making my cheeks flush red for some reason.

"Thank you, my sweet boy. Thank you," Eliana whispered while wiping her tears away and laying kisses all over a giggling Elijah's face.

"Of course! Don't worry, mommy and I will bake your cake every year. Right, mommy?" Elijah exclaimed excitedly and looked towards me expectantly. Eliana looked up at me as well and I gave her a reassuring smile, not wanting to ruin their family moment.

"That's right! Now let's cut the cake before the candles go out," I quickly changed the subject and placed the portrait onto the table.

Reaching out, I took the cake into my hands and held it in front of Eliana before glaring at the unmoving De Luca men behind her. They seemed to understand the meaning behind my glare since all of them shuffled towards the sofa's quickly, making Elijah and I release a series of giggles.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Eliana/mama/grandma, happy birthday to you" we all sang happily as Eliana stared at us and began to cry again.

I balanced the cake on one hand and reached my other hand out to gently wipe her tears away. She looked at me with a motherly smile before blowing out the candles as the De Luca men and staff members that I had not noticed, began to clap cheerfully. Placing the cake down, I handed the knife to Eliana and gave her an encouraging smile.

"First bite is for my precious grandson,"Eliana spoke with a gentle smile as she bent down to feed Elijah who had his mouth wide open.

"Yummy!" the little boy giggled cheerfully and happily ate his small piece of cake.

"The next bite is for..." Eliana stated as I went to move the portrait back to the sofa. I didn't want any cake to spill onto it.

"my precious daughter," Eliana spoke in an earnest tone, taking me by surprise. I turned around while holding the portrait in shock. I had expected her to feed her husband or sons next.

"Mama?" I stated startled but still opened my mouth when she brought the small piece up to my lips and kissed my forehead.

"Thank you, my sweet daughter. Thanks to you, I am able to move forward and not sadden my daughter who is watching over us from heaven," Eliana gently stated as tears began to fall down my eyes. I really wish I had a caring mother like her, although grandmama did take my mother's place while I was growing up.

"You're welcome," I gave her a bright smile and stepped away from her to allow her family to have some time with her as well.

Wiping my tears away, I carefully placed Alana's portrait on the sofa and had it facing forward so that she could watch her family celebrating her mother's birthday for the first time in three years. I turned and watched the De Luca family with a distant smile on my lips. I wish I could have such a big family like theirs.

"Ouch, I'm hurt. What about me, il mio amore?" Arsenio grumbled out as he pouted towards his wife who let out an angelic laugh.

"Don't worry, I didn't forget about you!" Eliana cut a a big piece of cake and instead of feeding it to her husband, she smeared it all over his handsome face.

Everyone in the room froze in shock as the staff members took a step back in surprise. It was as if they had never seen their Master covered in cake before. But then again, the image of that tall, dangerous man covered in cake was indeed something new.

Eliana and I were the first to break the silence as we began to giggle at the shocked men. Arsenio looked towards his wife with a mischievous gaze before he swiped his hand across the cake and smeared it all over her face as well. Eliana pouted as her husband and three sons began to laugh at her.

"Don't do that! Mommy and I spent hours baking it for grandma!" Elijah pouted and folded his arms in annoyance.

I laughed even more and ran towards him before taking a handful of the cake and smearing it across his small face as well. He looked at me in shock, as did the rest of the members of his family. They were probably wondering why I was wasting my efforts when I spent so much time baking it.

"My little prince, the point of a cake is to bring happiness and people together. Whether that is done by putting the cake in your mouth...or on your mouth, doesn't matter!" I giggled aloud and felt a certain man staring right at me with his intense gaze.

"You're right, mommy!" Elijah cheered before taking some cake and throwing it towards his uncles faces. And might I add, the kids got impeccable aim!

"Oh no you don't, come here!" Alanzo and Adriano took a handful of the cake and began to chase little Elijah around the living room.

"Be careful!" I cautioned through laughter and smiled at Arsenio and Eliana who were lost in their own world, embracing each other tightly.

My gaze snapped to Arosio who began to stalk towards me. Despite the chaos going on, his face remained unscathed. Even during playtime, everyone knew not to mess with the dangerous mafia boss. A mischievous thought took over my mind as I took another handful of cake and brought it towards his handsome face.

Arosio's dark eyes bore into mine but this time, maybe because he was closer to me, I was able to see the emotions swirling in his dark obs.

Affection, love, appreciation. All emotions I had never seen a man look at me with before.

My hand filled with cake instantly froze right beside his face as Arosio raised a brow towards me. I took a step back, only for him to snake his arms around my waist and pull me flush against his warm body.

My shocked gaze snapped up to him and I felt my whole body freeze when he swiftly bent down and passionately kissed me. His kiss was both tender, yet demanding and made unfamiliar emotions take over my senses.

Right when I finally came to my senses and was about to push him away, Arosio released his hold around me and stepped back. Part of the cake on my face had landed on his attractive face as his mouth curled into a devilish smirk.

"Delicious," he stated in a husky voice, making my cheeks instantly flare up as I shuffled away from him.

"Isn't it tasty, daddy? Mommy and I spent a lot of time on it!" Elijah exclaimed as my shocked eyes snapped towards him and the rest of the De Luca family who had been watching us.

Oh my God, I completely forgot that they were here!!!

"I don't think your daddy was talking about the cake, little Eli," Alanzo teased as I looked away from them in pure embarrassment and looked towards Arosio, silently begging him to deny that claim.

The shameless man licked his lips as his darkened gaze lingered on my lips before he finally spoke.

"I tasted something much sweeter than the cake," Arosio's deep voice stated while my mouth fell open and I ran to the other side of the room towards his parents.

"Uh...Papa, mama let's go have dinner. It's getting late!" I cleared my throat and began to pull them towards the dining room but pouted when they all began to laugh at me.

"Mama, we need to wash up first!" Elijah reminded me as my cheeks flushed red in embarrassment. No wonder they were laughing at me!

"Oh right! Come let's go, mommy will help you," I hastily spoke before hoisting Elijah up into my arms and running out of the living room with the De Luca family's laughter trailing off behind me.

******

Hello lovely readers,

I hope you enjoyed this update.

PLEASE READ, COMMENT AND VOTE!