Chapter 4

• Allecra
• Today is the day to meet the famous Dante Morello Massino, whom father so desperately wants to please. I hope he's not like father, who enjoys hitting, because if he is, I fear I will do something crazy, like commit suicide and leave Isabella alone. I shake my head vigorously to clear these foolish thoughts.
• "What's wrong with you, Allecra? Don't let them win, this is not you!"
• I put on the dress that mother left on the bed for me. I don't like how it fits me at all, it makes me look like a spoiled little girl. I'm pretty sure she did it on purpose, for refusing to acknowledge her in father's office yesterday.
• Looking at it closely, it's quite pretty although I don't think it's my style. I mean, it's not appropriate to wear to meet your fiancé... Argh! I feel so angry. The color is pale pink, made of a cool material that fits snugly on the body. There's no cleavage on the chest, thank goodness, but the back...well, mother really outdid herself, it's very low, so much so that I worry my lace pantie's waistband might show.
• As if that wasn't enough, the skirt of the dress is very high. I'm worried in case I have to climb stairs, I'm sure his bodyguards will have a show seeing me from below. The top is made of silk chiffon and the skirt of tulle is slightly flared. Seeing me, he must think I still consider myself a little girl. I don't know if they want me to convince him to marry me or if they want him to be disappointed faster so there won't be a wedding.
• Don't get me wrong, I would love for him not to accept this nonsense, but the sad reality is different.
• I take a deep breath before finishing my makeup. My lip hurts a lot when I accidentally touch it, applying lipstick was very difficult. I don't think I'll be able to hide how father left me, but the foundation and concealer do cover my dark circles and the bruise on my cheek, and a small one near my lower lip. I decide to leave my hair loose, it's very well straightened. I put on a simple bracelet, grab my clutch, check that I have the essentials. I prefer to be prepared than at the mercy of both men.
• Rafaelo and Luciano are coming with us. Thinking of Rafaelo makes my heart ache. I can't stop feeling what I feel for him overnight. I had so many hopes of being with him. I was foolish to think he felt something for me. I blink hard to calm myself, I don't want to ruin my makeup.
• I hear a knock on my door and hurry to put away my phone. I just remembered that I completely forgot about the meeting with my University classmates yesterday. If I had wanted to attend, I wouldn't have been able to because father left me in bad shape. I feel a heavy lump in my throat thinking about it and what awaits me now once I open that door. Everything I dreamed of will be left behind.
• With resignation, I go and open the door. It's Camilo again. I give him a fake smile as a greeting. He is kind, although I don't forget that he is loyal to my father, not me. He gestures that we should go downstairs, and I close the door to my room. I don't lock it in case my little sister wants to come and hang out here.
• We head over to where Father, Luciano, and Rafaelo are waiting for me. Stupid heart! It can't help but beat fast every time I see him. I give them a smile, forgetting for a moment who I am in front of, quickly correcting my mistake by lowering my gaze to the ground and assuming my role as submissive as best as I can. "I'm ready, Father. Good afternoon, Rafaelo, nice to see you, brother." I say, biting my lower lip as I wait for his approval, hoping he doesn't have the urge to hit me, although I think he won't do it in front of Rafaelo and also because we need to go to that meeting right now.
• How would I explain my appearance, if he were to ask?
• That gives me a little relief, knowing that for the first time something prevents him from hurting me. A small smile escapes me. "Big mistake, Allecra!" Father doesn't let it slide and comes close before whispering for me to hear, "I see you're in a good mood. I hope that helps you catch him faster. If not, you'll see what awaits you when we get home. Was I clear, Allecra?" I suppress a shiver of anger at his words, managing to nod to let him know I understood perfectly, but I remember that Father hates when I respond with gestures.
• "Yes, Father, crystal clear." I reply as he turns satisfied and heads towards the door.
• I raise my eyes slightly and see Rafaelo looking at me with something new in his eyes, an emotion I can't quite distinguish. It's strange, he's never looked at me like that before. I quickly look at Father and see him signaling to his men to leave. I start moving before he gets angry because I'm still standing in the same place. Rafaelo takes the opportunity to offer me his arm, and I accept more out of habit than necessity. He watches me closely as we walk towards the cars. "I missed you when you left Marco's. I felt very lonely and sad." he says with a voice that I know is fake sadness. I raise an eyebrow and smile, unable to believe the lies he tells, shaking my head.
• There's no point in getting angry. I must remember that he's a fake like all the others. I clear my throat before responding, "Really? I doubt that. I thought I saw you were in good hands that day." He just smiles in that way I love to see, as if it wasn't important that I saw him with that woman.
• Even though he doesn't reciprocate my feelings, I shouldn't dismiss him as a possible ally for any unexpected situation in the future in case I need him. If he turns out to be unhelpful like Dante, I may have to escape. I don't think Rafaelo would refuse to help me. We've known each other since we were kids.
• I clear my head of all these thoughts and focus on the present, on what's to come, and on trying to get this playboy on my side.
• I have to ride in the same car as Rafaelo, while Father and Luciano are in the other. Honestly, I don't have the energy to engage in more conversation with him, so I tell him I have a headache and he lets me be. Half an hour later, we arrive at a grand mansion that puts my father's to shame, with many more men guarding the place, making our home security look inadequate.
• We stop at the entrance while they communicate with the owner of the place, and it seems they give the order to let us in. My heart is racing, it feels like it's going to burst out of my chest. I touch it delicately with my fingers in an attempt to stay calm, but I can't. I take soft breaths and try to keep my face as calm and confident as possible.
• We entered through a long path, not much to appreciate, just trees all around giving the impression that the place is abandoned, but it's not, you can feel like you're being watched at all times. Finally, we arrived at the entrance of a huge house, it looks somewhat old but very beautiful and elegant from every angle you look at it. Something tells me that this playboy might be a bit eccentric, I hope not too much even though he's only a few years older than me. I don't know exactly what kind of person he is, one thing is what the cameras show, his photos, the interviews in internet pages or gossip magazines, and a very different thing is how he will be behind closed doors. If I'm completely honest, that terrifies me.
• But I must be brave, I can't help but clench my fists in frustration at not being able to do anything about what is about to happen. While I'm sitting waiting for my door to be opened, I feel Rafaelo is already getting out of the car. I imagine that father and Luciano must already be being received by this Dante guy, although in the exhaustive search I did, no image could clearly show his face. They open the door on my side and to my surprise, it's Rafaelo who extends his hand with a smile and I return the smile before taking his hand and getting out.
• He offers his arm and we walk to where father is waiting to be let in, but I see that the one who greets us is a stranger. As we get closer, it's clear that this man is not the owner of the house, because Dante is dark"skinned, tall, and well"built, while this gentleman is blond, tall as well but not like Dante seems to be. The stranger also seems to have a good body, but his muscles seem well hidden by the suit he's wearing. His face is beautiful yet also dangerous, I can tell by the calculating way he looks at each of us, and when he approaches a few steps, he shows a polite smile.
• "Welcome, gentlemen and lady!" he says. "Dante is waiting for you inside, he had a last-minute meeting but he's finishing it up. Please, come in and make yourselves comfortable." He says the last part with a somewhat mocking smile, which gives me a bad feeling. I smile back in a way that I hope is polite and not a horrendous grimace, but with how nervous I am, I doubt I've achieved it.
• We follow this handsome man into an elegant room, everything around exudes good taste as far as I can see. Everything was going normally until I see on one of the furniture what I believe is Dante Morello.
• He's quite comfortable with a voluptuous redhead sitting on his lap, the two of them seem somewhat familiar to me, but I can't place them from where. My stomach is in knots, it seems like they have a history or that they are in a relationship, I don't know what to think exactly. She squirms in his lap while kissing his neck and then moves up to his jaw, one of her hands holding his face, making it clear that she belongs to him. What the hell?
• As if that wasn't bad enough, he looks at me as if he hates me and wants me to disappear, then his gaze goes to my left, if looks could kill, I swear Rafaelo would be collapsed on the floor already lifeless.
• His gaze narrows on the grip I have on Rafaelo's arm, something ticks in his jaw, so much so that if I concentrate enough, I could hear his teeth grinding from where I am. He tightens his grip on the girl's legs.
• What he's doing is an insult and a clear rejection of the supposed engagement, I just hope father understands what this man is trying to say and that he won't blame me if this playboy doesn't accept the marriage.
• "Sir, please help me!” I hope my father understands that none of this is my fault and gets rid of the silly idea of marrying me off to this man, the tall and handsome man who brought us here looks at me to gauge my reaction, but I keep my face blank without showing anything and raise my eyebrow as if to say.
• “Do you expect me to make a scene, friend?” He just smiles and shakes his head, then looks at my father and brother to see their reactions.
• Rafaelo leans towards me and whispers in my ear:"Maintain composure and smile a little more, please. You don't want to anger your father." he then starts to gently caress my hand and make soft circles with his thumb as if trying to calm me down, but it only makes my disappointment in him grow a little more. I didn't know he was aware of what father had planned for me.
• Silly Allecra! Only you could think that. Everyone in our circle must already know and how foolish I must look with this reception.
• That makes me angrier. Disgusting playboy! Father quickly composes himself and clears his throat. "Dante Morello, it's a pleasure to see you again, we came to discuss your engagement with my dear Allecra, but it seems you were closing some important deal. Well, we must talk seriously." his tone is cheerful but I know he must be boiling with rage inside, but he pretends not to care at all and takes a seat in a chair near the loving couple. I feel disgusted, if I could run away from here, I would.
• I see that Dante is angrier than before and the vein on his temple bulges more. He whispers something to the woman in his lap, she smiles and plants a kiss on his mouth, which he gladly returns. I feel sick to my stomach at the unpleasant scene I am witnessing at this moment, and as if that weren't enough, that woman has the audacity to moan loudly.
• Dear Lord, if I felt disgusted before, now I definitely want to vomit all the little I managed to eat today. I swallow hard. After what seems like an eternity, she gets up from his lap, the pig pats her backside, which makes her smile and walk away swaying her hips in an exaggerated manner. This makes me wonder from which seedy brothel he must have picked up this woman. She brushes past Rafaelo and he gives her a seductive smile.
• Is this seriously happening? She's disgusting, not content with that playboy, she also wants Rafaelo.
• Poor Dante seems to leave a lot to be desired in the manhood department. That thought makes me smile with amusement as I look towards where he is sitting, only to discover that he has been staring at me deadly serious and with more hatred.
• God, my father is going to hand me over to the devil himself! Have mercy on me, Lord.