Rolf Nagel - The End of the World Mafia

A while later they went to the pool. Karl took ??a huge leap into the pool. This was his way of showing his courageous virility and water splashed onto the edge of the pool leaving Marian standing there like a drowned rat.

"Oh wait, you are going to pay for that." Marian also let herself fall into the pool in order to duck the rascal’s head under water. Karl wasn’t to be recognized any more, he had found a completely new lease of life and enjoyed his male role willingly.

In the coming weeks, Karl got better acquainted with each corner of the villa and the grounds, but not the secret work area that was hidden behind a sealed and concealed door. He would be allowed to visit these personally at a later point in time.

The loving couple spent a wonderful time going on walks along the beach and visiting the most beautiful places in Palermo. They enjoyed the Sicilian cuisine, the dry red wine and the idyllic surroundings.

However, the happiness of love was overshadowed by a phone call from the university hospital.

One afternoon when Karl's mobile phone rang, he answered as usual, "Karl Grosser, good day." On the other end of the line a lady said, "University Hospital of Cologne, My name is Westfal. Mr. Grosser, are you the son of Mrs. Silvia Grosser?"

Concerned Karl replied, "Yes, that’s my mother, what has happened?" He sat down on the chair that Marian had pulled towards him when she noticed by glancing at Karl that something serious was in the air.

"I’m very sorry, Mr. Grosser, your mother was admitted this afternoon with a weak heart." The woman's voice paused briefly. "Unfortunately, your mother died of heart failure two hours ago." Another pause. "I am very sorry, Mr. Grosser."

Shocked Karl sank down onto the chair, "How could that happen? Mother died? I’ll come straight away!" He ended the conversation so that he could compose himself and Marian clasped the visibly shocked man in her arms to comfort him.

On the same day Karl and Marian flew to Cologne. Karl was very sorry that he had not introduced Marian to his mother beforehand. Now it was too late. She would have been so pleased that he had finally found the right woman.

Marian took care of her beloved touchingly and helped him organize the funeral.

The funeral was very small-scale. Two days after the funeral, they flew back to Palermo so that Karl could recover from his grief better and was not dwelling on memories.

It took a few days until the sorrowing man had recovered from his loss. Marian stood by his side constantly during that painful period and this deepened their feelings for each other even more. With Marian’s help, Karl was gradually able to overcome his grief.

Several weeks passed by. One Monday, Karl said to his sweetheart, "I would like to go into the city on my own today, there is something I would like to buy. I am sure to be back in three or four hours."

Marian looked at him questioningly, but accepted the comment as there was no explanation forthcoming.

The staff at the villa and the chauffeur were all highly educated and spoke excellent English, therefore Karl had no communication problems with any of them. The chauffeur drove him to the city and he asked him to take him to a good jeweler.

The chauffeur stopped at a first-class jeweler and accompanied Karl into the shop. "I would like to purchase an elegant ring with diamonds for a young lady. However, it should be rather unique," Karl told the chauffeur who translated this into Italian for the goldsmith.

It had got around the city a long time ago already that Karl was living in the Villa Rosso and he was served everywhere kindly and politely. However, the jeweler did not have a ring that met his expectations. The same experience was repeated several times.

Just as Karl was about to give up, the maestro in the last shop showed him a particularly elegant and very unusual piece. The ring didn’t appear a bit pretentious for a young lady and it was an exclusively crafted masterpiece with a diamond. It fully met his expectations.

Over the past few days, Karl had determined in his bliss to tackle his next adventure. Back at the Villa Rosso, he said nothing about his plans. When he saw Marian’s questioning eyes he didn’t want to torture her any longer and told her something totally harmless. What he said was, "I needed to think a bit about us and our future. And for that I simply needed some time. Alone! Do you understand? "

"I hope this means something good", she whispered. She wanted to change the subject quickly and suggested they go to the pool.

"No, I’d like to go down to the harbor with you and walk around there for a bit", Karl said. A short time later, the two of them were walking along the pier.

Karl had devised a particularly nice surprise for Marian for the evening and told the butler about his plan. He should prepare the pool, which was not visible from the villa, for a romantic dinner. The domestic staff took care of this task preparing the perfect setting for a unique and romantic experience.

In the early evening, Karl took his beloved Marian by the hand and led her through the grounds to the pool. Two musicians with violins joined them. They began to play old love songs giving the evening a charming ambience.

The staff had prepared a dream made up of flowers and lanterns for popular Marian and her companion. The evening was a perfect setting for Karl‘s plans and could not be more romantic. After the meal, the musicians and staff all withdrew quietly.

Karl stood up, took Marian’s hands gently and knelt down gracefully before her. Marian, surprised by all this, caught her breath for a second.

In a gentle voice he made his speech. "My love, you have shown me the stars in the sky. Within only a few weeks, you tore me out of my lethargic life and brought sunshine into my heart. My happiness is complete. I don’t want to miss you for one second in my life. My darling girl, I want to ask you if you are willing to share your life with me for eternity. Are you, my beloved Marian, willing to be my wife?"

He pulled the ring out of his pocket and slipped it slowly and gently over her ring finger. She looked at Karl and the tears rolled down her cheeks. She was unable to say a sound for minutes. Her heart was pounding, she was happy that he had fulfilled her deepest dream.

She gave her lover a long kiss and then whispered in his ear, "Yes, of course. This is my deepest wish, my love, until the end of our days. You make me the happiest woman in the world. Karl, you mean everything to me."

Both were in seventh heaven. They embraced and caressed each other the whole evening. When it became a little cooler, Karl picked up his bride and carried her in his arms into the house, up into the bedroom. That night was the longest in the villa and would have no end.

At noon next day they both woke up bleary-eyed. Before going to breakfast, Marian of course wanted to share the news with her father by telephone. She dialed his mobile number.

"My dear child," said Don Rosso on the phone, "what's wrong so early in the morning?"

Marian's voice came thick and fast as she told him the good news. Don Rosso sat down and listened attentively to the happy stories.

"Well, that's great! How wonderful, fantastic, I wish you all the luck and all the best from the bottom of my heart!" Her father's heart beat faster and he was choked and touched. He could barely hold back his tears of joy. "I have two more days here. I can’t come earlier. But pick me up at the airport please, then you can tell me about your happiness in more detail. I will finish my work quickly and earlier than planned and then I will come straight away. After all, I have to meet my future son."