I had slept straight and the big day had come. I jumped out of bed as if I was late, but there was still plenty of time. I went to the closets to sort out the clothes that had been chosen for a long time with my best friend's consultation. I smiled remembering Vanessa's words while practically pushing me into the fitting room to try on that dress at the mall.
- Come on girl, it will look amazing on you. If I had an ass like yours, I would only dress with tube dresses marking my sexy silhouette. - she said, giving me a slap on the butt. - Go and be hot for both of us!
I couldn't argue with her. She had a cute and scary way of forcing me to get out of my comfort zone. And in the end I was always grateful.
- TA DAAA - I said mockingly as I left the dressing room.
- OH MY GOSH! MARINA, YOU'RE HOT AS FUCK.
- Girl, shut up. I'm sorry for this crazy lady. - I said addressing the saleswoman.
- Sorry my ass, they are used to me. But look at you, you look like a sexy executive. It will match that Laboutin that I gave you as a birthday present and you never used it. There will be no Italian to resist what this Brazilian has.
- Woman control yourself. - she always excited me with her excitement and she was right, the dress was too beautiful. It was a basic little black dress well adjusted to the body and with length just below the knee, it marked the waist well but without looking like I was vacuum-packed. It looked sexy and elegant at the same time. I wasn't exactly in shape, but I didn't have much to complain about when I looked at myself in the mirror, the boxing lessons I took, thanks to Vanessa, made up for my fall in sweets and hamburgers.
The memory of that day gave me the dose of excitement I needed. I put the dress stretched on the bed and went to take my shower.
I did light makeup with well-lit skin. In the eyes a slightly smudged outline and on the lips a nude lipstick.. My hair was incredibly wonderful so I decided to hold only a part of the side, leaving the rest loose and very voluminous as I liked to use.
The whole process took me kind of one hour and when I was ready I realized I haven't checked my cell phone yet. I saw three missed calls from Enzo, two from yesterday and one from today. There were also a few messages and one of them from today saying he would wait for me at the reception.
I put on my Laboutin pair and stared at myself for a few minutes in front of the mirror, feeling really wonderful. I took a deep breath, grabbed my bag, jacket and went out the door, heading for the most incredible day of my life.
Arriving at the reception, I soon saw Enzo standing near the counter with one hand in his pocket and the other fiddling with his cell phone, he was wonderful as always. He was wearing a navy blue suit that was probably custom-made, in fact, Vincenzo himself appeared to have been custom-made. Coldly calculated to be so beautiful and for sure, the shape used for him was thrown away.
He lifted his head and looked in my direction as soon as the receptionist called his attention. I could see some looks in my direction, but meeting Vincenzo's gaze on me as I approached, brought all sorts of feelings to my body.
- Santo Dio Marina, sei... - he said, his eyes roaming every inch of my body, seeming to search for the right words to use.
- That suit looked great on you. - I said smiling while adjusting his tie.
His perfume was wonderful, which made it almost impossible to keep coherent thoughts around him.
- Let's go? - I said looking right into his greenish brown eyes.
He didn't answer, just took a deep breath and pointed the way in front of me. I felt his hand gently touching the base of my back as he guided me along the path and the sensation made me shiver.
- Sei bellissima, signorina Marina.
"You look beautiful Miss Marina."
Raoul told me as he opened the car door for me to get in.
- Grazie Raoul.
"Thank you Raul."
Arriving at the Institute, I couldn't be more impressed. The architecture was incredible and the building was gigantic. There were people circulating everywhere and in the main gallery there were pictures and pamphlets referring to other events that were happening there simultaneously. Including art exhibitions, our Architecture congress and even a Medicine related conference.
I started to feel a chill in my belly and the fear that I would ruin everything by stumbling or stammering on stage started to dominate me. Vicenzo seemed to notice my panic when I stopped in the middle of the great hall with one hand on my chest and irregular breathing.
- Nina, are you okay? - he said, placing a hand on my back.
- Shit! I'm not. - My voice was shaky and almost inaudible.
To my surprise he said nothing at all, just hugged me. His strong arms around me, hugged me in a hug that seemed to have been made for me. He rested his chin on the top of my head. One arm wrapped around my back while his other hand gently stroked my hair. He whispered something in Italian that I couldn't understand but my heart did. We stayed like that, embraced for a few more moments. It felt so right, as if we belonged to each other. I gradually calmed down but I still didn't feel like letting him go. My wish was never to have to let go of his embrace.
He slowly pulled away and looked me in the eye as he brushed the hair away from my face. My arms were still around him and he had both hands holding my face. We were staring at each other, our eyes saying what words couldn't.
- Vincenzo. - a voice called from a distance.
He kept looking at me and a charming smile stretched his lips at the same time his index finger touched the tip of my nose. Then he turned to answer whoever it was.
- Andiamo, Vincenzo.
"Come on, Vincenzo." - said a man who was approaching quite anxiously.
I was still after Enzo and his big body prevented the man from noticing my presence.
- Dov'è la ragazza?
"Where's the girl?" - said the man.
- Nina, this is Marcello. Marcello this is Nina. - Enzo replied, moving to the side so the man could see me.
- Piacere di conoscerla, signorina.
"Nice to meet you, miss." - Marcello said, extending a hand to greet me as he approached, casting a questioning look at Enzo before speaking again.
- Mi chiedo come ti sei dimenticato di dire che era così bella, Vincenzo. O forse non l'hai dimenticato.
"I wonder how you forgot to mention that she was so beautiful. Or maybe you haven't forgotten." - said Marcello.
- Weren't we in a hurry? - Enzo replied.
- Andiamo avanti.
"Go ahead." - He concluded, pointing ahead. Marcello lowered his outstretched hand to greet me, and the handshake was replaced by a subtle nod. Soon he turned and went on his way. While Enzo stopped to speak to me.
- Are you feeling better? - He said with a look that I could swear that was a mix of concern and irritation.
- Actually I am, thanks for the support. - I said, giving him my best smile.
- Everything will be alright.
I shook my head in agreement and we went to the place that would be the presentation.
I was ecstatic, everything went better than I could have imagined. Enzo started with the introductions and after a few moments of speaking, he invited me to accompany him. I don't know if it was his presence or the hug from earlier, but I felt confident all the time. My presentation came out as natural as if I were explaining to a group of friends in my living room of my house and not to more than 300 people thousands of kilometers from home.
I left the stage practically out of my mind. Enzo was very excited and spared no praise for my performance.
- Didn't I say you would do very well Marina? - he said smiling.
- Looks like you know a few things. - I said mockingly.
- I know many things. - He said with a malicious smile and an intense look with his pupils slightly dilated.
- I still have to resolve some administrative issues before we go, can you wait for a while? - Enzo said before the atmosphere got too tense with my sudden silence.
- Sure, I'll take a look around the gallery in the meantime. - I said, really wishing to explore that beautiful place.
Enzo nodded and quickly went on his way among the people. I looked at the signs that indicated where the direction of each event was and decided to head towards some very striking pictures. In the main hall was playing music that seemed to be a mixture of classic and electronic, which matched with the paintings, as they were very modern and striking. I let myself be absorbed by the environment when I felt the vibration of my cell phone in the bag.
It was my mom calling.
- Hey old lady! - I said already knowing the rude answer that would come next, because she hated that I called her that.
- Old is your past. - she responded, trying to seem angry and I laughed hard.
- I'm calling to know how you are. You forget that you have a mother and if I don't call you won't call either? - she said with a slightly upset tone.
She was not wrong, I had really distanced myself a bit from my parents a few years ago. The thought made my heart squeeze a little, it wasn't something I did on purpose but it still wasn't cool.
- ... your father can't help but wonder how it went. - my mother's voice pulled me back and only then did I realize that I had lost myself in those thoughts for longer than I would have liked.
- Ah! The presentation is over now, everything was excellent. Now I am seeing an art exhibition while I wait to go. I will send some pictures to you in a moment.
- I'm glad it went well, daughter. You prepared yourself so much, we had no doubt that you would make it. I am very proud of you. I mean, we are. Your father is here screaming saying that we are both proud of you. - She said before telling my father to shut up.
- I know mom, thanks.
- Okay, let's not take your time anymore, when you have an opportunity call us. We love you. - she said in a loving tone.
- I'll call, I love you too. - I said before we hung up.
It was strange, now I felt a little sad and nostalgic. Maybe that's why I unconsciously avoided calling them, at the end of the calls I always felt that way. I took out my cell phone to take some pictures, deciding not to let these feelings take over and spoil my good mood.
I photographed some pictures, sculptures and took some selfies and walked to the main hall to wait for Enzo there while sending my photos. I was so distracted by the phone that I accidentally bumped into someone.
- I'm so sorry. - I said as I bent down to pick up the papers that were scattered on the floor.
- Marina? - I was so distracted that I hadn't realized where the voice was calling me from and for a second I thought it was Enzo, which made me look around to look for him.
- Nina, is that really you? - said the voice again, and only then did I realize that it didn't belong to Enzo but the person I had bumped into.
I got up quickly when our eyes met while we were still picking up papers from the floor.
But what the fuck, what the hell was he doing here?
I just pushed the papers towards him and started to move as fast as I could, my legs seemed to have a life of their own and I couldn't see anything beyond the exit much less managed to stop for the voices that were calling me. A light rain was falling outside, which was gradually increasing as I ran.