HELENA'S POV
"Gianna says hi, she misses you"
And I stopped dead in my tracks, but I didn't give in to the temptation to turn around and catch his mischievous eyes waiting to hold mine captive but my legs wouldn't propel me forward. I wanted to hear more, I wanted him to say more and as if he could read my mind, I heard his voice drawl out more casually.
"Saw her a few months ago at her movie premier, looked hella good and she talked my ear about you nonstop, then I told her if she misses you so bad, she knows where you're at"
I waited to hear Dante's voice urging for more information, but the silence brought an unexpected relief to my chest, and still my legs wouldn't move an inch and then Matteo's voice came to my ears
"She said it's a surprise" I could feel the smirk all the way from where I stood "I'm curious too, and I doubt she knows about – "
"Matteo!" Dante thunderous voice boomed in the air and that was when I decided to walk away and go to my bedroom to get ready to go dance. My body still ached from the previous night expeditions with Dante, I could still feel the biting feeling from where he had nipped at my neck with his teeth almost like he had the intention to draw blood. It was sore to touch and it burned bright red, I could feel the familiar ache between my legs, a subtle reminder of the rule I had broken but it was done now, there was no going back. He had drawn me deep and dark into his orbit, and even if I wanted out – he wouldn't let me. I could see it in his eyes, the way he looked at me when he thrust into me, a darkness pooling in those deep blue orbs.
I picked up my phone and saw that there was a text from my sister, I swiped it open.
"Lunch at the tennis club? Mom said to discuss wedding plans. P. S. she's going to be there, so come prepared"
I rolled my eyes playfully, trust my sister to always be so dramatic about everything. My mom could be a bit burdensome, so I could understand her warning.
"See you there" I texted back, then a thought passed through my head and I typed vigorously on my phone.
"What really happened between Gianna and Dante"
I waited nervously, and when I saw my the three dots come bubbling up, my heart beat sped up to a dangerous level as the dots bubbled for a few more seconds until her text came through.
"No idea"
I groaned and threw my phone on the bed and headed straight to the shower. I got dressed in a white flowing gown with a halter neck that ran all the ways to my ankles, I applied a little make up and I stepped out of the room.
By the time I arrived at the club, mama and Vivianna were seated already, with mama nursing a glass of water and Vivianna angrily texting on her phone. Mama saw me first, her eyebrows furrowed at the sight of me
"Oh Cara mia" she gushed, "Look at you, you've gotten so skinny. Isn't he feeding you? Oh my God, I knew I was right to be against the idea of you moving in with him before the wedding, he paid our debt and so what?"
"Mama – " but her voice trailed in before I had a chance to speak.
"You know you really don't have to get married to him, you know"
I shot my eyes to Vivianna desperately, my eyes begging her to save me and she chuckled quietly.
"Mama, thanks to Dante. We can get Papa's company up and running now"
"Oh we don't need the bloody company, he can have it. I do not like that man one bit after what he did to you, that's why I was so bent on you meeting Christian" I rolled my eyes at her statement and I signaled the waiter, ordering a chicken salad but Mama wasn't done talking.
"You know the actress – Gianna or whatever she's called and she totally didn't deserve that Emmy"
"Mama – " it was Vivianna's turn to caution Mama, but she ignored her and turned her attention back to me.
"You know the one he left you for, swindled him and skipped town with his money and the next thing she was tv, starring in a new series. It was rumored that he didn't sleep for a week"
"Mama – you can't just talk about people like that" Vivianna exclaimed.
"Why not? It's an open secret"
Then Vivianna looked at me, it was a kind of look that made me feel sick to my stomach, like she was pitying me and I knew what it meant. Dante was never going to be mine, a part of him had already been tied to Gianna and it was going to be hers regardless of how things played and I was going to be left with nothing.
"Don't listen to her Helena?"
"Well, it's not too late to call this whole thing off, we'll figure out a way to pay off Papa's debt, you don't have to sell your soul to the devil a second time, what's the reward going to be, a special seat in hell?"
My mind pooled thoughts that I couldn't control, my eyes unfocused and I no longer felt like eating. Mama was right, no matter how sour her face was when she spoke or how many Italian slurs escaped her pursed and disapproving lips.
I didn't say anything, just focusing my attention on my food which I no longer had no interest and blocking out Mama's voice in the background still complaining about the D'angelo family, Dante D'angelo especially and she would lose her marbles if she knew there was another demonic cousin back in town.
Just when I thought I could finally muster up an appetite and eat my food, I heard my mother's voice again, this time more cheery than the last time she opened her mouth to speak and she was waving at someone
"Christia, over here!" she called out loud and I whipped my head around so fast, I was scared it was going to break. I was thinking she was trying to be silly but no, there was that tall specimen of a man, with defined features, and immediately I felt a slow panic consume me, immediately checking around for Dante because he always seemed to materialize out of thin air whenever Christian seemed to materialize out of thin air around.
"Mama" I turned around sharply "Why did you invite him here? I'm engaged" I flashed my ring in her face.
"I silly diamond ring doesn't mean anything, cara mia, I saw him at the store and invited him over to lunch"
"Dante is going to – " at this time, Christian had reached us cutting me off instantly while I greeted him with the most polite smile I could muster and he chose to seat beside me.
***
A few hours later, after lunch and after Christian had walked me to the car, a tender gaze in his eyes that I knew I had to avoid. I slipped away from him, his words hovering in the air above me alongside with my mother's words
"What's your reward for dining with the devil, a special seat in heaven?"
Was it crazy, was it so bad that I wanted the devil and I wanted that special seat/
I tiptoed into the house, not sure if Dante had returned home yet from wherever he went to with Matteo, but the house seemed quiet enough oddly but it wasn't until I stepped fully through the ornate doors that I heard videos coming from the patio and I paused. It was definitely Dante, followed by the more annoying voice of Matteo and I rolled my eyes.
I was going to make my way quietly to my room when I heard my name from Matteo's lip, he called it like it was some dirt on his tongue
"So what's the deal with her – Helena"
"What about her?" Dante asked next and I paused to listen
"Paulo said you're engaged to her"
"Yes"
"What of Gianna?"
"What about Gianna?" Dante's voice seemed to choke at the mention of her name and my heart began to pound so loud, I was scared they were going to hear.
Matteo sighed, a frustrated kind of sigh because he wasn't getting what he wanted.
"So what's the deal with Helena then?"
"It's nothing – "
My heart stopped
"It's just a contract marriage, it doesn't mean anything. It's the least she could do to pay me for covering her father's debt – she has nothing else to offer"
I felt my heart sink into the hollowness of my stomach.