Cara's pov
"I wonder why you kept such an amazing friend from me, Cara. Lord knows I could do with one more." Gina gave me a mock frown before going back to grinning at Diana.
It wasn't even up to ten minutes since I'd introduced them to each other and they were already besties. Gina was completely besotted with Diana and vice versa. They'd been talking non stop and I was beginning to feel like the third wheeler. I knew it was over when they found out they both shared a love for plants even though their main interests were quite distinct- flowers being Gina's and succulents being Diana's but plants all the same. They also bonded over their obsession with some guy from a love series whose title I couldn't recall.
"As much as I'd love to leave you guys to your heartwarming meet cute, I'm afraid I have to remind you of our initial appointment."
Both girls turned to me with the exact same look of slight disappointment. They'd been in the middle of chatting about watering hacks.
We were supposed to go get our outfits for Manuel's birthday party and bringing Diana along had been a last minute decision. I was still hesitant to expose her to the mafia world but she was willing and the choice was entirely up to her. She had readily agreed to Gina's invitation to the event against my warning of having to see Dominic again.
"Why should I have to avoid him?" Was her huffed reply as she flipped her hair. "I didn't do anything wrong, if anyone was supposed to stay away, it's him."
That was that, now all three were going to make sure we were the prettiest at the event. Call it the pretty trinity. With the presence of the two girls, I felt certain I could carry out what I planned to do, which was winning over Manuel Salvatore. Even if I loathed the very idea of it.
But anything to ensure Luca and I are allowed to be together in peace.
It took less than five minutes for us to get to the floor with the top designer stores. Luca had given me his black card earlier and had all but threatened me into agreeing to use it as I saw fit. And doing that was what I was going to do. I would splurge without holding back, making sure to get Diana and I the best money could buy.
A good outfit was a lady's battle wear and if I was going to lunge willing into what I planned on doing, go head to head with my mother who was sure to interfere and ruin things for me, I needed to do it in the best dress.
"I've never been to Saks before," Diana said in an excited voice as we walked into the ritzy store, her green eyes shining.
"Me neither." I said under my breath, growing uneasy at the number of high class looking women browsing about. The last designer store I'd visited with Gina had been virtually empty so this was a new experience for me-shopping amongst rich people that is.
But I must confess, it was a good feeling.
Four shopping assistants appeared before us, welcoming us with the politeness they were trained with. They got to work immediately. Showing us racks after racks of luxury dresses.
Gina was the first to choose a dress, a swirly armless dress with a flower studded bodice and a flowy skirt.
"That's so gorgeous on you." I said once she tried it on.
"You think?" She said, swirling in front of a mirror almost the size of the wall it was mounted on.
"Definitely." Diana confirmed.
We helped with picking mine and Diana's after that and the dresses we decided on were similar yet not. While mine was a stretchy ruffle that fit like a glove all the way to my knees before pooling around my feet, Diana's had a silk skirt with thigh high split and was looser on her hips and legs. The similarities were on the bodice-both had a crumbcatcher design and offshoulder straps.
"These dresses are gorgeous!" The superior of the three shopping assistants gushed.
"I agree." Gina
We shopped for shoes next, then purses and when we exited the store, our hands were full of shopping bags.
"Shit, I really need to pee." Diana declared when we were halfway near the escalator leading to the mall's exit. She pushed her bags into my hands and dashed off, leaving me to struggle with hanging them on my arms.
Gina laughed as I groaned aloud and proceeded to help me but she, too, soon disappeared, pulled away by a call from her husband.
"Great," I muttered with a breathy sigh, still struggling with the bags. I considered calling Sergio or Nino to help but my phone was at the bottom of my purse which was in one of the bags and I couldn't remember which.
After another minute of fussing, I quitted altogether, putting the bags to the white polished ground. Gina was a few feet away, twirling her hair as she spoke into the phone so I entertained myself by watching random strangers move about. That was when I caught a flash of a horrifyingly familiar mane of ash blond hair.
I did a double take, squinting harder as I zeroed in on the exact spot, my pulse quickening. It couldn't be, it's been years, way too many. I must have seen someone else.
I caught sight of him again.
No. It can't be. He disappeared, hasn't shown up for five years now, it just can't be him.
I didn't know when I started to move, when I started to chase after him.
"Cara!" Gina called after me. But I ignored her, weaving around bodies as I made my way closer to the man I suspected was him, silently hoping I was mistaken. I wanted to be.
I spotted Sergio and Nino among the crowd, moving at the pace I was and it emboldened me. With them, I was safe, nothing could happen. Diego would be powerless in their presence. It made me press through faster.
I yanked on his shoulder as soon as I was within arm's reach, unknowingly holding my breath as the man turned to… a total stranger.
A sigh that rattled my rib cage pushed out of me. It wasn't Diego. I was mistaken.
The stranger stared down at me in confusion and an equal amount of annoyance which was very understandable.
I bowed subtly in apology, my cheeks catching heat with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I thought you were someone else."
He smoothened out the creases from where I'd grabbed his faded flannel shirt and whirled around, continuing in the direction he'd been heading for.
"What's the problem?" Sergio asked when he got to me, Nino a few steps behind him.
My heart was beating fast, my lungs cinched and my body light with the residues of fear. "Nothing, it's fine." I whispered, even as the hairs on my skin stood on end.
It wasn't him Cara, you can relax. A soothing voice spoke softly in my mind, causing my pulse to slowly go back to normal. Diego would never return, he was probably dead and if he wasn't he definitely have gotten wind of my relationship with Luca and had stayed away.
There was nothing to worry about.