There were rare occasions when my father called me to have lunch with the family.
In general, I always tried to dress the best way I could and to fix my hair with a headband as my mother liked it so much, but this time I didn't.
I stayed in jeans and a T-shirt, with my hair loose and slightly frizzy because of the rain.
I didn't even try to straighten it or pull it up in a ponytail.
I only put on some light foundation to hide the pale face and dark circles.
The truth was that I had no energy.
I had been in limbo and in a trance for two weeks.
Ever since I got home, I had felt suffocated and nothing could motivate me.
No one had bothered to understand what had happened to me and my mother had blamed me for the ankle sprain I told her I had slipped in the Gerber family's bathroom.
Only Maya knew the truth.
I even went so far as to ask her to take me back to Bridge, but she categorically refused.
"Are you crazy? Wasn't it enough for you to be almost raped by that bastard and then have a gun pointed at you by the one who I don't dare name anymore? "Maya had attacked me furious and still shaken by that experience.
"Lorenzo saved me."
"Don't mention that man in my presence anymore, clear?"
"He didn't do anything wrong."
"He is an Orlando and that's enough for me!" Maya replied dryly, determined to forget one of the worst moments of her life.
With those thoughts still in my mind, I headed for the villa.
I was walking down the hall to the dining room when I felt someone grab my hips and I fell backwards.
I screamed in fright.
"I got you!" The person who welcomed me in his arms exclaimed cheerfully, trying to stop me from falling to the ground.
I turned and, as soon as my eyes met Brian Esposito's green and mischievous eyes, I got angry.
I didn't know if I was more furious about the joke or those green eyes instead of amber and bewitching eyes.
I moaned at Lorenzo's thought.
I couldn't get him out of my head!
Every time I closed my eyes I went back to his perfume, his embrace, his uncultivated beard, his shrewd and seductive gaze.
"Brian, let me go!" I fidgeted, wriggling as he tried to kiss me.
"You're beautiful, Ginevra," he whispered in my ear, continuing to hold me close to him and letting his hands slip under my shirt.
I gasped in shock.
In twenty-three years, no man had ever dared to touch me like that and now, in less than ten days, I was already a victim of sexual harassment for the second time!
With strength, I managed to turn towards Brian with my whole body and, as soon as I felt his erection against his jeans, I slapped him in the face.
Shocked by my reaction, he let me go.
"Try to get closer to me and tell my father!" I threatened.
"Do what you want, but you can't tell me what I should or shouldn't do!" He reacted angrily, tugging on my shoulder. "You'll have to learn who's in charge soon."
I was paralyzed by such arrogance. Talking about my father had always been a great deterrent, but this time it didn't work.
What the hell is going on?
Unable to react, I went to the dining room where I found my parents, my brother Fernando, who didn't even greet me, and my sister Rosa with her husband.
I sat at the table in total silence, as my father requested.
I gritted my teeth when I saw the waitress serving me a risotto with seafood, full of fish and shellfish.
Fortunately, I was immediately served some sparkling white wine that I drank eagerly.
I needed to forget what had just happened to me with Brian and the pain I was feeling right now.
"No wine for me. I can't," Rosa stopped the waiter who was about to pour her some Montechiari Brut.
Surprised, I stared at her and noticed that she put her hands on her belly.
"Oh God, you're pregnant!", I understood excited. Rosa had wanted a child for a year.
"Yes," she replied with a smile.
"This is fantastic! I will become an aunt! We must celebrate! "I exclaimed happily, but to my surprise, nobody seemed to jump for joy. It was as if ...
"You already knew that, didn't you?" I understood with a lump in my throat.
"We would have told you, but ..." my sister felt embarrassed.
"But we planned a barbecue to celebrate and we thought it was better not to invite you, given your diet," her husband added.
They had even celebrated. Without me.
My stomach closed completely.
"I promise you we will make up for it next year when we celebrate your wedding," added Rosa, leaving me stunned.
"My what?"
"We noticed that there is something going on between you and Brian," my mother intervened in a cautious but severe tone.
Dad, mom, you're not going to tell me what I think, are you? Aren't you selling me to your new business partner?
"I would have used the term harassment," I hissed, sending an accusing look at Brian who gloated with happiness, despite my words.
"We think it's time for you to get married and start a family. There is only a five-year difference between you and Brian. You will make a perfect couple, "said my authoritarian father.
"And, you can't go on living in the annex!" Commented my irritated mother.
"I can always look for a job and find an apartment," I tried to say, but the sharp blow of my father's hand on the table made me realize that I had said something awful.
"You will marry Brian and join the Rinaldi family to the Esposito family! This way, our family will become more powerful and we will be able to begin expanding in the west of Rockart City, starting with the port! "My father shouted angrily.
"Are you sacrificing me to satisfy your expansionist aims?" I snapped in disgust.
"Don't say nonsense! You are privileged and it is your duty to bring honor and respect to your family! "
"You don't even know what honor and respect are!" I befuddled, standing up.
"How dare you talk to your father like that?"
"You, rather, how dare you treat me as an object of trade!"
"Another word and ..." my father threatened me, but I no longer listened to him. I turned on my heels and left the room, casting a look of pure contempt towards my whole family who had not lifted a finger to help or support me.
In the distance, I only heard my father's screams swearing that one way or the other I would marry Brian within ten months.
I went to the annex with my heart pounding inside me but, just as I was about to leave the villa, I realized that I would never be able to fight my father and have a little peace if I continued to live there.
I needed to leave.
Yes, I had to run away.
Far.
As far away as possible.
Where no Rinaldi could have found me.
However, I was alone and needed help.
I hugged my arms with tears in my eyes, seeking comfort and warmth, but I felt even more alone than before.
I closed my eyes, and, in a moment, I saw Lorenzo Orlando's face.
He was what I wanted.
He was the only one who had protected me and set me free despite my lies and secrets.
I had promised him that he would never see me again, but at that moment I would pay gold to be still in his arms.
Determined to carry out the crazy thoughts that were taking shape in my mind, I went to the wardrobe where the guests' jackets, bags and personal belongings were placed.
I went in and immediately found my sister's bag and her briefcase.
Unable to believe what I was going to do, I rummaged through Rosa's purse and wallet, where I found a few hundred dollars.
I took them all.
The briefcase, however, was closed and I did not know the numerical combination.
I ran to the annex and took all my savings too.
It was a little over a thousand dollars.
I had to make that work, since I could not use my credit card to not be tracked.
In the end, Maya's lessons had been of some use!
Aware of having a short time before my father sent someone to look for me, I put the money in my pocket, put the cell phone on the bedside table and went to the garage.
"I have an appointment with my friend Maya at the Pub Hero, "I just said to the driver, getting in a black Maserati.
"Your father didn't let us know."
"Maya called me now telling me that she was standing in front of this bar and asked me to come get her," I invented, wondering if I should warn her of my escape.
No, I would risk putting my friend in trouble!
Eventually the car left.
Taking a cue from everything Maya had taught me, I followed her tips.
I was taken to the club, telling the driver to wait for me outside.
I went in and asked for Seth.
Eventually the boy with the dreadlocks looked out of the kitchen where he was cooking hamburgers on the plate.
"I need your help," I pleaded desperately.
"For the second time, no!"
"I'll pay you two hundred dollars for the ride and another three hundred for your silence. Nobody will know that you took me west of the river. If someone asks you questions, make something. Tell him you took me to the bus station, and I told you about New York. I beg you, help me! "
Only my frightened voice and the tears that began to streak on my face made him go along with my request, with the risk of ending up fired.