"Dad, Mum, hurry up we're going to be late and possibly miss our flight," an exasperated Jaci says while running down a fleet of stairs.
Her family has been going around for weeks preparing to travel to Milan, they never seem to get all they need together in a place.
She isn't even excited about this trip, heck, she's only marrying the man to give her parents what they've always wanted: a rich son-in-law with a truckload of money.
It's not like she has a choice anyway. The man has money and even if she doesn't want to marry him, she doesn't seem to have that say. It's either she does it or she is in deep trouble. So all she has to do is move on with the act and pretend she is happily in love with a man old enough to be her father.
"Jaci, honey, remember to win everyone over when we get there, don't go frowning or throwing tantrums, don't make this wonderful man try to change his mind," Jaci's mum, Amelia mumbles putting on a pleading face.
Jaci just rolls her eyes as far back in her head as they can go. Her mum, Amelia has always been one that is so avaricious. Like, she will do anything for money including selling her, Jaci, her daughter to an old rich man just so she will rise to the top and have everything she has always desired; gold, silver, diamond and so much more wealth comes with.
As a matter of fact, Amelia is the sole reason they are going on this journey.
Yes, she is the one behind everything and Jaci's arch nemesis who will bring so many problems on her if she dares say no to this upcoming marriage.
Not that her dad doesn't have a say, of course, he does. But then having such a wife has its disadvantages, doesn't it?
Amelia has managed to pull him into her web. Heck, it's often like the woman is the head of the family as she often makes most of the decisions in the house. This for example.
Jaci's dad, Matt steps in as the mediator because he knows how the daughter and mother can go on and on if left to their devices. "Alright, my lovelies, let's think of the wonderful time we're going to spend in Milan as a family. We shouldn't ruin it by drawing up our swords now."
Matt heaps up the heavier suitcases and starts walking out of the well-furnished sitting room with Jaci and Amelia closely following behind with lighter ones.
Jaci is stunningly dressed in a two-piece floral print in the spirit of summer, the green felt material accentuating the smoothness and color of her skin. She looks ravishing and she knows it, only that she doesn't feel it. If only she is dressed this way to go meet that one-night-stand man. She will be a liar if she tells herself she doesn't miss him. Fuck, only the thoughts of him get her wet.
It's always at such points that she wishes she has a mum other people have. One that would have been less avaricious and put her happiness first. But she knows it's impossible.
As sad as it is, her mum feels she is the best in the world and won't spare her a glance to know how she feels. Won't even listen to her. All the woman cares about is herself while putting it that she is doing it for the betterment of the family.
Jaci can only exhale and put her mind to the journey at hand.
From New York to Milan by flight would roughly take nearly 9 hours, so they are in for a long flight. After they are all settled in for the long flight, Amelia decides to engage Jaci, seated side by side with her in a conversation.
"Tell me again about this wonderful man called Raffaele. I hear he owns chain restaurants all over Milan and even has some branches in the U.S," she gushes.
"Not now, mum. It's a long trip, we better save up our energy for other things," responds a fed-up Jaci. Her mum can never stop showing how materialistic she is. It keeps getting worse. Sometimes she looks at Amelia and wonders why she ever married her father anyway, she could have just spread her tentacles and sunk her claws into wealthier men than her father.
Her father, such a sweet and agreeable man, is always following his wife's lead, he obviously loves her blindly so her mum is lucky in such a way.
Jaci lets out a long breath and reaches into her Gucci bag and finds her headphones, puts them on, and jams to Little Mix's Black Magic. There better be a distraction, something tangible and worth her to distract her from everything and everybody when they land in Milan. Hell, she'd settle for any form of distraction at all and hope this wedding thing happens quickly so she can start traveling the world with Raffaele's money and put distance between her and the man as often as she can manage. Jaci smiles in her head while she keeps plotting and planning.
★
"Cindy, reach Vito for me, tell him we've got dinner at 7 pm and that I'll be introducing him to someone. Also, have you given them my specifications for arrangements and decoration for the dinner and engaged the florist we use at the restaurant in uptown?"
A pause of breath then, "Alright, oversee the arrangements if necessary, Cindy." Raffaele drops the connection and smiles.
Today will be a good day, he thinks, his fiancee being in Milan at last. Beautiful, witty, and intelligent Jaci, it will be interesting to see what she thinks of his operations and how he runs things here in Milan.
His phone rings around midday, it's Jaci. He picks, "Hello, Amore, hope you didn't find the trip tiring, I understand it's a long one."
"My bones, Raffaele, they're groaning. I don't think I can ever be used to long-distance flights. Anyways, we've arrived and lodged up at the Swan, it's a beautiful hotel. My mom can't stop gushing about it," a yawning Jaci replies.
"Alright, rest easy little bird. Can't wait to see you in the evening," Raffaele grins and passes his tongue over his lower lips.
"See you soon too," Jaci hangs up.
The restaurant that Raffaele picked has a terrace garden and this is where the dinner is taking place. It is romantically lit with scented candles and soft jazz is playing.
On the right side of the table is seated Raffaele and Jaci, the future couple, talking softly to each other about wedding plan gigs while on the right is seated Jaci's parents and a vacant chair for Vito.
"When do we serve the first course, sir?" A waiter suddenly walks in and asks Raffaele discreetly.
Raffaele loudly replies, "When my boy arrives, he should be here any minute."
Jaci's mum gushes, "This is a lovely place, Raffaele. Can't imagine all the work you've put in to actualize it. The location, the clientele, they're top-notch!"
Raffaele smiles, the benevolent smile of the easy rich, he is about to reply when Vito walks in. Vito is dressed in a deep blue evening suit that is well cut to hug his biceps and thighs.
A lock of his hair is recklessly dropped over one eye and he smells of affluence and power. There is a shift in the atmosphere as he walks in.
"There is my boy! Jaci, Amelia, and Matt, I want you all to meet Vito, he is everything I want in a son. Vito, meet my fiancé Jaci and her parents." Raffaele beams excitedly, having a proud smile on his face.
Amelia and Matt smile and appropriately respond to Vito and he responds but Jaci is in total shock. Her jaw is dropped and her eyes are dilated! This is the guy she was thinking about earlier! The same guy who took her body to heaven and back in that one magical nightstand she hadn't forgotten!
Recognition shoots up in Vito's eyes as well, the long-legged brunette seated in flesh and blood from across him is the same lady his body and soul chose never to forget! Fuck!
But between him and Jaci, he handles the encounter well and holds out his hands to Jaci who also controls herself immediately. "Really nice to finally meet the lady who captured the big man's attention, it would be fun getting to know you." He takes up Jaci's hands and lightly brushes his lips on her hands all the while thinking whether to tell Raffaele or not that he already knows Jaci.
Jaci can't move her body, she feels a shiver run down her spine straight to her bone marrow when he places his lips on her fingers.
One thing is sure; This is going to be one hell of a distraction!