Elena woke up the next morning feeling a burst of restless energy. The excitement of the previous day had vanished into thin air, it was replaced by the usual unease that the villa oozes. She has sighed countless times hoping she could find her way out of the mess she put herself in. Dante's words echoed in her mind: "We leave for my family house early tomorrow morning."
She got out of the bathroom sluggishly hating the fact that she did not own a mirror in the villa. She realized that she needed to make a long list for Henry, a list of things that would be needing asides the cell phone she requested for. She chose a simple gown as she dressed slowly, a yellow flowery dress with a black pair of heels to match and a round small purse. She parked her silky hair in a sleek ponytail giving her face a well defined look.
The thought of stepping out of the villa and its environs after so long felt both freeing and terrifying. She anticipated the day she would be finally leaving the walls of the villa, it was finally here but she could barely believe it was happening.
The villa was unusually quiet. Even the birds that sang sweet melodies seemed hesitant.
"Dear universe, I do not want to regret this" She sighed.
At exactly seven Dante arrived in a well tailored suit and shiny black shoes to match. Elena did not wait for him to knock before she stepped out sizing him up with amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Ready wifey?" he smiled.
She answered him by nodding her head wondering why he was over dressed.
"Is it our wedding today?" She laughed. Not bothering to hide the admiration in her eyes.
"You never can tell" Dante shrugged as he took her hands and slowly led her towards the road that leads to the main city. "You look stunning". He winked.
"Thank you handsome" She gave him her hands without hesitating, she was in no mood to argue or wonder why he was being nice to her all of a sudden.
It was obviously because she had offered to help him, she wasn't stupid enough to not read the signs.
They walked past various old and abandoned building towards the market where the locals did their day to day business. It suddenly dawned on her that none of the locals ever crossed over to the environs of the villa, there was an unspoken boundary.
She walked in her heels gently trying as hard as possible not to bother about the stares they got from the people.
"Are we walking to your family house?" She scoffed. How bold of him to think she would dress up to look really good and then walk all the way to wherever his father's house was. In her designer heels?
Dante looked over at her but he did not reply.
"What a knight in shiny armor..... you should be ashamed..." She was mummering but was cut short when he suddenly picked her off the ground.
"Let's save you the stress" he smiled at her.
She gasped, at that moment she has so much to say but it felt like the words got stuck in her throat. She stole a quick glance at the group of people that had already gathered around, they stood a reasonable inch away from them. Was that how much they feared him?
He wrapped his strong arms around her carrying her effortlessly like she was some piece of paper. He stopped when they got to the end of the road, for the first time in a very long time Elena saw a part of the city that she never sees.
Henry had made sure that she was induced with sleeping pills when he brought her to the villa, he had feared that she would leave whenever she gets tired.
"Please stay here until the case is over, it's for your own good" he had pleaded with her.
"What's on your mind?" Dante gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. A gesture that made her relax instantly.
She was about to ask him why they were standing by the road side when two black SUVs and a Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of them.
The sound of the engines gave Elena a wave of mixed signals , a wave of excitement that she was finally leaving villa Rosa to the outside world and a wave of sadness taking her back to the life she left behind after moving to the villa.
The Rolls-Royce stopped right in front of them, the windows were tinted making it difficult for her to see who was in it. She could feel the piercing gaze of the passers by, more people trooped nearby to get a closer look of what was happening. Gossips really travel far and wide amongst the locals. Pretending like they were going about their daily activities, they whispered and mumured amongst themselves wondering what the son of Moretti was up to this time around.
A young man in his late twenties stepped out of the driver's side of the car.
He bowed slightly before them gesturing towards the passenger side of the luxurious car.
"Sir, ma'am" the young man said.
Elena just stared in silence. She smiled at the driver as Dante guarded her towards the car.
She had always guessed Dante wasn't an ordinary man. The villa, his aura, the way people dared not even mention him not to talk of get close to him.… it all pointed to wealth. Influence. Power!
But this was beyond extra ordinary.
It was something else entirely.
He was not just rich. He seemed untouchable. Not to be messed with.
"You never told me you were a billionaire" she joked.
Dante's lips curved in a smile. "What would it have changed? Will you marry me for real then?"
She scoffed. What does he take her for? Not only was she also from a wealthy home, her father is also a dangerous mafia boss. Even though the later embarrassed the shit out of her.
"At least we would not have to pretend to be a couple" he added. His voice low enough so the driver would not hear them.
She rolled her eyes and mouthed a NO. They both burst out laughing.
As the car moved, Elena let herself relax, her fingers entwined in her laps.
Dante glanced at her. "What bothers you?"
"Nothing..... I'm okay" She faked a smile.
But even as she said it, she wasn't sure if she had spoken the truth. She wonders what awaits her in Dante's family house.