"Why is the security so tight?" Santiago asked, trying to see through the line.
"Maybe she knows that we are coming," Riccardo replied, looking at the fancy decorations on the elegant Mansion. He was so fascinated by the lights and the slow music that he didn't notice that he was already at the gate.
"Good evening, signore," one of the guards said, earning his attention.
"Good evening,"
"May I see the invitation," he gave his card like he was asked and proceeded to do the further security steps. After being asked many questions, he finally entered. A few more minutes later, Santiago joined him.
"God, that was intense," Santiago let out a breath of relief, making his friend chuckle. The lights were not that bright, yet they were good enough to recognize that there were people around.
"I think we should go separate ways," Riccardo suggested, his eyes fixed on the girl who was chatting with another woman.
"Yeah, where will you go?" he asked, looking around the mansion.
"There," he gulped his drink before going in the direction his eyes were fixated at.
"What?!" before Santiago could process anything, he was already gone. "Great, get us killed," he drank his wine nervously.
Riccardo didn't mind his friend's words. He just went to the girl who is now looking around the guests. He knew his target despite the blue lights, which are better than darkness.
"Do you mind if I asked you to dance with me?" he extended his arms for her. She seemed to hesitate at first, and then she looked at the man on her right. This wasn't left unnoticed by him. He also shifted his gaze to the direction she was watching. There, he saw a tall man burning in anger, making him smirk as he knew he just made one of his enemies mad. Though he wasn't his main target, it wasn't less satisfying. As he was lost in his thoughts, he felt a small, soft hand resting on his palm. He looked up to see the owner who was none other than the girl he just asked for a dance. His ultimate enemy and the main target, Eliana Cassidy. Without saying anything he took her to the dance floor. He then rests his hand on her waist while her hands rest on his shoulder. After that, they started moving slowly along with the rhythm of the music.
"May I know who you are? You seem familiar?" she asked, lips raising at the corner.
"Really?" she nodded. "Care to tell me why I look familiar?"
"You don't actually look, you sound like someone,"
"Who is it?" he spun her around, putting one hand on her waist while the other intertwined with hers.
"Someone I know," she responded, as they slowly walk backward not forgetting to follow the beats of the slow music.
"Should I be glad?" he removed his hand from her waist using their intertwined hands to spin her twice before pulling her onto him.
"I don't think so," a slight smirk appeared on her lips as she slide her life leg making her right one kneel, and quickly returned to her first posture. He then picked her up by her waist, her right leg folding between his legs while the other folded on his right.
"I think your man didn't like the idea of you dancing with me," his gaze was on the man who is about to break the glass on his hand as he twirled her so she could see what he meant. After witnessing his rage, she decided to add more fuel. She leaned into the man whose hand is now on her bare leg and whispered,
"Are you scared?" eyes never leaving the guy across the table.
"Never been," as soon as she heard his response she flashed a sly grin to her man.
"Let's spice it up then," as if he was waiting for this, he turned her back and their dance got hotter.
In the meantime, Edoardo was not pleased by what he was seeing. Especially after the sly grin his fiancé gave him. The idea of another man being in the same room bothers him, let alone watching her cling to one.
"Just snatch her away, dude. You're going to actually burn at this point," Alessandro suggested. Even though he was enjoying the drama, his brother's anger is getting out of hand.
"I can't," he gulped his fifth whiskey. "And that's fucking killing me!" his eyes piercing through his lover and her so-called dance partner.
"Sorry, man," he patted the younger's back. Edoardo couldn't see them anymore so he turn his head to the left. There, he saw someone talking to Paula. Their conversation was not audible, but it was obvious that she wasn't comfortable.
"I think some guy is bothering your wife," he tapped Alessandro's hand, pointing at her. The man is now trying to touch her.
"I'll be back," he twisted his head as quickened his pace to his wife.
"And you say you hate her," Edoardo scoffed, staring at them wondering what would happen.
"Sir, I told you. I don't want to," Paula pushed the creepy old guy's hand from her arm.
"And I told you, I will pay you any amount you ask," he tightened his grip on her arm. Suddenly, she was pulled by a strong hand.
"I suggest keeping your money for hospital bills," he was glaring into the old man's soul.
"Ah, so she was already bought. Just send her to me when you're done playing with her," her eyes started getting watery hearing those dirty words.
"She is not bought, you piece of shit," he raised her left hand, "She is married!" he then slowly leaned to the man, "And watch your mouth when you speak to my wife!" his voice was dangerously low. The man didn't speak anything. He walked away leaving the couple in an awkward atmosphere.
Paula was processing what just happened and what Alessandro just said. Her mind failed to catch all of his words except for one. 'My wife,' it's the first time in their nine years of marriage he addressed her like that. His usual words are either 'My property,' or 'woman,'. So him calling her that was confusing which made her heart skip a beat.
"Did he try to do any inappropriate thing to you?" he asked, narrowing his eyes as he examine her face.
"He grabbed my hand," her voice became low when she said that. Instead of asking more questions, he took her arm, checking if she was okay.
"I'll kill him!" he muttered under his breath, seeing the mark of his hand on her milky skin.
"Why did you save me?" her voice cracked. "Why do you want to kill him just because he bruise my hand?" except for the crack, she sounded so innocent and that caught him off guard. Seriously, why did he do that?
"I still hate you, but you are still the mother of my children. Plus, I hate it when someone touches anything that belongs to me," he tried to sound as calm as possible. She gave him a nod with a sweet smile.
"Don't smile like that!" he frowned. "I hate it!" he added, stabbing her already broken heart.
"Sorry," she lowered her head. He decided to stay with her wanting to show off what belonged to him.
Meanwhile, Edoardo is slowly losing it. Their dance was getting hotter along with his inside. After gulping some cold water, he headed towards them. Despite the anger he had, he kept a calm face when he approached them.
"Beautiful dance," he clapped after seeing the man planting a kiss on her hand.
"Merci," he slightly bowed his head earning a suspicious look from Eliana.
"Alors tu es franças?"
"Oui, Dieu merci, vous aves remarqué,"
"Pourquoi?"
"Parce que cette belle dame pensait que j'étais Italien."
"Can you guys at least tell me what you're talking about?" She finally decided to barge in.
"I said you thought I was Italian," the accent change cleared her little confusion. She knew who he was but this made it clearer.
"And he said you're beautiful," said Edoardo wrapping his hands around her waist.
"Merci, for the compliment," she smiled.
"Il vaut mieux garder un œil sur elle si vous ne voulez pas la perdre."
"Je ne permettrai pas cela,"
"Anyways, good night, Mademoiselle," he pecked her hand making Edoardo clench his jaw. "Good night, Monsieur," he left saying.
"Tu m'as l'air familier, puis-je connaître ton nom?"
"Demandez-lui, elle sait,"
"Who is he? He said you know him," he looked at the disappearing figure of the man resulting in her freezing on her spot.
"None of your business," she tried to walk away but he grabbed her arm.
"This is our party. So it is my business," he pulled her closer to him. "Who is he?" he looked dead into her eyes as he said that.
"Why don't you check the guest list?!" she yanked her arms before stomping back to her seat. Just then Domenico came to her holding a phone. After clearing his throat, he gave her the phone and her glasses. She removed the mask she wore and put her glasses on to see what this was about.
<"It's almost midnight, Your Highness. The game starts in fifteen minutes. Keep your eyes open, if you don't want to end up like last time!">