THAT DRESS
Dante
We pass by Viviana’ s hotel and she was already out and waiting for us, wrapped in a black coat that concealed a dress she had beneath- a burgundy piece that stretched beyond the length of the coat.
She goes to sit at the back, right beside Jacob and my blood sears. I miss the moment we had yesterday. While the silence had been uncomfortable for her in the beginning, her presence had simply been enough for me. And even though we had not spoken much, I still wished she could stay at the front with me. Or better still point the gun at my reach to Jacob’s head and make him drive us to the location of this event. But we can never have all we want, now can we?
“Evening Mr Bianchi” she greets Jacob. Our eyes meet in the rear view mirror. “Evening Massimo.” She says.
I was not expecting her to acknowledge me and I would be a liar if I said the hot spread I feel in my chest is not welcomed. Jacob seemed to be oblivious of the moment between us as he begins to talk about Fernando Grant- the investor that is making my Viviana go through all these stress. I’m certain by now she cannot wait to return home.
“You look beautiful Viviana-“ Jacob says and now I want to see her as well. But I have to keep my eyes on the road if I don’t want to kill us all. I don’t mind Jacob Bianchi’s death though.
“And I want you to present your best smile tonight. A smile that will sap all the strength and energy from Fernanado, something he can’t stop staring at and that will make him give all the bad decisions of his life in this one night.
Is this what you will be wearing?” He goes ahead to ask.
“No sir. The dress you got is underneath but I’m running cold for now. Hopefully before we get there I would have warned up a little.” She said.
I immediately fixed the temperature in the car and hope she warms up soon.
Jacob says more things that do all but make me pleased, annoying and again, more annoying things that gets me riled up about this event. I cannot wait for it to be all over.
Or I can.
Because when we get to the event and the doors are opened to us, my breath is stolen away, one I might never recover again.
Viviana takes off her black coat and it’s like everything is in slow motion as the dress she had chosen comes into the light. Merciful Heavens! I see the slit of the dress and a fire ignites at the pit of my belly. The off shoulder reveals the skin of her shoulders which is bare of any jewelry but regal as ever. The tossle of her to the side dances a little as she hands the coat over. My eyes go back to that slit because on that leg, a stocking made of the same material as the dress covers her. But it’s slightly transparent and I can make the damn outline of the creamy beauty that is her skin. How is she expecting me to cope all night? How am I going to survive this night?
But I soon retract that because Jacob is also watching her, eyes unable to blink or move from her to anything whatsoever around. His jaw is literally slacked and unable to stay jammed. This is how I know I am going to survive because if he tries anything beyond him, any slight thing to make her uncomfortable, this may be the day he is sent to meet his maker. The file I need be damned as well.
But, be damned? That information is important? Worlds could collapse if it’s not handled discreetly and well. Maybe not his death but it doesn’t mean there are not other things that can be done that seems to have an equivalent to death - even while alive. Though I almost punch his jaw just to snap it back into place. But I don’t blame him. My girl is a vision.
Innocently and so unaware of the World War III she was about to incite- because other men who were about to enter stood and some did a double take despite being with their dates- she turned back to us.
“I think I am all set Mr Bianchi” Viviana said and Jacob cleared his throat and adjusted his tie. Nothing was wrong with the piece of fabric but his hand still went there. Then he positioned his arm to her, jutting out his elbow for her to latch on. She takes it, so unaware that she stopped the world from moving for a few seconds.