Alexia POV

Alexia was the first sitting at the dining table at 6.50 waiting for the others. She was fiddling with her phone when her father, uncle and the five eldest sons walked in and took their seats. Santino, Luca and Giovanni came in a few minutes later quickly followed by Leo and Marcello. At 5.58 the four scrooges were the only ones missing so when Alexia heard footsteps approaching she conveniently dropped her phone under the table. She ducked under it and was out of sight just as the foursome walked in. "I knocked on Alexia's door. She grunted like a pig again." Riccardo said. "Guess we will have to wait for her again today." Nico sneered. The whole dining room was silent. Alexia got out from under the table and sat down. "You might want to consider getting Riccardo checked out by a psychiatrist. He could very well have schizophrenia if he is hearing pigs in his head." Alexia remarked as she got comfortable in her chair. Just then, several maids came through the door with trolleys full of serving trays. Several bowls of spaghetti, sauce and meat balls were placed around the large table. Bowls of salad and plates of garlic bread as well. Bowls of freshly grated parmesan cheese was also placed on the table and the maids quickly disappeared again. "Riccardo, my office after dinner." Their father said sternly before reaching for the bowl of spaghetti. Alexia scoffed making him halt and all eyes turn to her. "Something amusing?" He asked. "Yup." Alexia said curtly. She couldn't believe the audacity of this damn family. "Care to share?" Alessandro asked. Alexia looked at her uncle for a moment wondering how two people so identical in looks and body mannerisms could be so different when it came to how they treated people. "I just find it interesting that some people get a private punishment while others get called out in front of everyone." Alexia said still looking at her uncle. He hadn't been at dinner yesterday so she didn't think he knew what had happened. "I'm sorry, I don't understand." Alessandro said. "Ah, thats right. You and Matteo weren't here for dinner yesterday." Alexia said. "Maybe one of the Scrooges could explain what happened." She said looking down at the stunned foursome of assholes. When no one had said anything for a while Marcello spoke up. "Like tonight, Riccardo came down for dinner saying he had knocked on Alexia's door and reminded her of dinner. He said she grunted like a pig in response to his knock. We then all waited for Alexia to come down for a long time before Uncle Leonardo sent a maid to get her." Marcello took a sip of his water. "When she got down, she said she was sorry to lost track of time. Uncle Leonardo was angry and told Alexia he didn't like people being late, especially not when someone had given a reminder to be on time. Alexia said no one had knocked on her door but Uncle Leonardo got angrier and told her to be quiet. He also told her he didn't like people that didn't tell the truth so he grounded her for the weekend." Marcello said taking a breath before digging into his food. Alexia was impressed with how fast he could talk and still give clear details. "If you ask me." Marcello continued with a mouth full of spaghetti. "Alexia is now mad because Uncle Leonardo punished her in front of everyone for something she clearly didn't do, but Riccardo get's to have his punishment in private. It's clearly unfair." Marcello stated. "I'd be angry too." Alexia's lip twisted. She was amused and impressed with the youngest ginger. The dining room was silent and everyone was looking at Marcello with wide eyes. Alexia decided to start eating as well. She didn't care about this whole situation anymore. She had a clear picture of this family and how it worked. Leo followed suit but everyone else just kept looking between Marcello, Alexia, Riccardo and Leonardo. She could feel the anger radiating off of Matteo who sat next to her. And she could tell Alessandro was displeased as well though she wasn't quite sure who that displeasure was aimed at. If Matteo's death glares were anything to go by, he was angry with Riccardo and their father. In the completely silent dining room, Alexia quickly finished eating her food before excusing herself and taking her plate to the kitchen. She had better things to do and she certainly didn't want to stay in that room.

Alexia grabbed her laptop off her bed and placed it on her new desk. She pulled up a chair and booted up her laptop again. This next part would be the harder part for her and she actually had to concentrate on her task. 10 minutes later her and Leo's secret knock sounded softly on her door. Alexia tapped a key and a different screen came up. "Come in." Leo and Marcello stuck their little heads in when they cracked the door open making Alexia smile. They came in, Marcello closing the door behind him. "Are you okay, Lexi?" Leo asked worriedly. She smiled. "I'm fine Leo." "Promise?" He asked sounding doubtful. "I promise." She chuckled. And she was. Sure it hurt that her family, well most of her family, behaved like this around her but it was still better than what Thomas had put her through. And as long as Leo was happy, she was good. "We're going down to the theater to watch a movie, do you want to come?" Marcello asked. "It's family movie night." He added. "Family movie night?" Alexia asked. Marcello nodded. "Yeah. Everyone that isn't working or has other plans will get together Saturday nights to watch a movie." He explained. Alexia nodded. She didn't know what to say to that. "Did you want to come?" Marcello pressed. Alexia shook her head no. "Not this time. I don't feel like being in a room with a bunch of pencil di..." Alexia didn't finish her sentence, remembering who she was talking with. Leo smirked, having caught her intention. She tried to watch what she said and did around little ears but sometimes she slipped. She knew Leo couldn't care less about it but she didn't know how Marcello would react. "Maybe next time." Alexia said, diverting the conversation away from her slip up. Though she didn't think she would go next time either. Unless the next time turned out to be the three of them, Santino and Matteo. Maybe her uncle, Emilio and Luca as well. They had been friendly enough. She wasn't sure about the other brothers and cousins though. They hadn't really seemed interested in her at all. Like she was just an observer and not something to interact with. Her so called father and the four Scrooges? It would be a cold day in hell before she volunteered spending any unnecessary time with them.

"If you change your mind, we'll be in the theater." Marcello's words drew her out of her thoughts. Alexia smiled and nodded. She wasn't going to change her mind. Marcello left but Leo stayed behind. "Er du sikker på at du er okay?" Leo asked. (Danish translation "Are you sure you're okay?) Alexia nodded again. "Helt sikker." She answered. (Danish translation "Completely sure.") Leo studied her for a bit. "I.. eh.." Leo started. "I fell asleep in Cello's room last night. I'm sorry." Leo said. "Why are you sorry about that?" Alexia asked confused. "I didn't sleep with you." He said sounding sad and worried. "You don't have to sleep with me Leo." Alexia said. "I think it's great you and Marcello have gotten so close so fast." She said smiling at him. "But you slept alone." Leo protested. Alexia smiled at her brother. "Leo, you're always welcome to come in here and sleep." She started. "But most brothers and sisters don't share a room, let alone a bed. It's okay for you to sleep in Marcello's room - as long as he is okay with that of course. But it's also okay for you to be in your own room and have Marcello and other friends you will make sleep over. You really don't have to worry about me Leo. I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself." Alexia reassured. "But like I said. You'll always be welcome in here." Leo nodded and then he and Marcello left her room. Alexia looked at the door till it closed and then clicked on a key and continued her work. A few hours later there was another knock at her door. Frowning, Alexia clicked out of her work. "Who is it?" "It's Matteo." The deep voice said outside the door. "Come in." Alexia said and swung her chair around facing the door. "I just wanted to come check on you." He said as he said down on her bed. He had glanced around the room but his attention was on Alexia. "I'm fine. "She shrugged. "How's your throat?" "It's fine." Alexia said. "Pretty much healed already." "Do you like your room?" He asked looking around. "Sure. It's nice." Matteo nodded, clearly hesitating. Alexia thought it was slightly amusing how fast he had run out of casual topics to talk about before forcing himself to get to the point. "I. um.. I'm sorry." Matteo said. Alexia fought her smirk. That wasn't what he had intended to say. "You're not at fault." Alexia said getting annoyed that he of all people, is the one in here apologizing. "Still." Matteo insisted. "Do you just make a habit of apologizing for other peoples behaviors?" Alexia asked now mad. "With the exception for Leo, Marcello and Alessandro you're literally the last person that should even utter an apology." Alexia bit out. "If anyone should apologize it should be Leonardo." She said locking eyes with Matteo. She watched him flinch at the name. "He's your dad." Matteo said. Alexia raised an eyebrow. "Is he?" She questioned. Matteo looked shocked. "Did you not see the DNA test?" "I did. It confirmed we're blood related." Alexia agreed. "But that doesn't mean he is my dad. He sure as hell hasn't acted like one." Alexia pointed out. "But..." Matteo started before Alexia cut him off. "No." She said. "There are no butts. Kiara raised me but I still don't even call her mom because she never acted like a damn mom should!" Alexia said. She could feel her blood starting to boil. "Leonardo might be your dad, Matteo, and everyone else in this damn household, but mention one time in the last 48 hours I've been here, where he has acted like my father?" Alexia said. Matteo froze at her words. "He took you shopping." He said not sounding convincing in the least. Alexia didn't even think he believed it himself. She rolled her eyes at that. "Sure.. Because he was in such a hurry to move us across the world before we could get our own things." He didn't need to know they'd had very little outside of an old dirty mattress. "And while Leonardo might have been there." Alexia continued. "I didn't see him do anything or even pay for anything." She pointed out. She hated that she sounded materialistic right now but she didn't know how else to get her point across. "Luca and Santino did most of the shopping and swiping. And you and Luca paid for the online purchases. So tell me, Matteo. When did he act like a father to me outside of grounding me for something the Scrooges did?" Alexia asked. Matteo's eyes went wide with realization. "And don't defend their actions by telling me they are not normally like that." Alexia said just as he opened his mouth to say something. Matteo closed his mouth again. He had been about to say just that. Instead he sighed. He could tell Alexia was getting mad now. He stood up ready to leave. "You've been ungrounded." He said softly. Alexia shrugged. "Doesn't really matter. It's not like I have anywhere to go and I definitely don't want to go anywhere with anyone." Alexia bit out. Matteo looked sad, and for a second Alexia regretted saying that. Matteo had been kind. So had her uncle. Luca, Emilio and Santino had been fine too but they had sat quietly at the table and listened to the four assholes make snide comment about her without saying or doing anything. So had the rest of her brothers and cousins for that matter. But they had been indifferent to her so she hadn't had much hope for them to begin with. She made a mental note to check in with Leo that they were treating him okay. If not, fists would fly. She didn't care how she was treated but anyone who treated her brother badly was a dead man walking. Matteo hung his head in defeat and walked towards the door. "Good night, Alexia." He said as he opened the door. "Night Matteo." Alexia said as she watched the door close. She took five minutes to calm herself down and then she went back to her work.