Chapter 47 Save the date

Chapter 47 Save the date
NOVA'S POV

I sometimes dream of a parallel universe where I exists without a name or any big obligations.

It sounds funny so instead I'll phrase it as joke over a few shots of tequila.

"Why aren't you dressed?" Dad's snear grows as I walk onto rhe patio.

I hadn't seen him.

"For what?" I ask flatly.

They've made it a rhing to leave me clueless. I might as well let them keep me guessing.

He scoffs.

Mom isn't here. She's usually the tone setter.

"You're attending a business board meeting with me. As the new face of Castiello Jewelries."

He takes a sip from his cup.

He picked up black coffee drinking.

He always hated it.

But I guess someone tested his masculine ego.

"Thank you for the invitation but I have plans."

He laughs.

"Plans? With who?"

"Fabio."

His face hardens.

Isn't it what he wants? A marriage? Is he surprised that I am not having an awful time?

Because I am.

I'm tormented every day by Sofia's absence and rhe role I played in it.

"I uhh...don't think his mother has something planned."

I almost chuckle.

He's pathetic.

Desperate to make me as miserable as he sees fit.

But two can play that game father.

"I wanted to get to know my fiancé. You picked him right?"

He pauses.

"Don't get smart with me."

"Don't contradict yourself." I say walking back inside before I feel a firm grip on my arm.

I don't think I'd ever noticed it before but it's clear that it's not fatherly scolding from the bruises he made me hide growing up.

"Let go." I say through gritted teeth.

It's hard to let him, now.

"You're coming to the meeting end of discussion. Get changed and meet me in the car before I remind you who's in control here."

"Vicctorio let her go NOW!" Mom's voice bellows and he does immediately.

I look at my arm. Another bruise. Maybe I do bruise easily.

I walk inside with mom sending me a sympathetic look.

Maybe there was more to my drinking and partying than forgetting about my fate.

Maybe I just wanted to feel anything but anger or helplessness.

Maybe I wanted to believe that dad didn't mean to push mom over fhat flight of stairs all those years ago.

It was a mistake.

Those happen.

It's afternoon.

I slept in after the endless partying I've been subjecting myself to.

They're easier than knowing someone is so close yet so far out of reach.

A flight to Rome is simple.

Showing up at Sofia's door is simple.

Asking her for forgiveness is doable.

But you know what isn't?

Doing all that without her life tumbling down.

Doing that without it coming off as selfish because of my dad.

He'd never accept embarrassment.

Or that Matteo Vescovi's daughter and his have something he can't control.

Something he can't force the public to believe that his rival is trying to destroy his reputation.

That his daughter has only ever loved women.

Not men.

Not almost men.

Just women.

An outfit is already placed on the bed for me.

Only my mother comes in here other than the staff.

I look it over.

A suit.

That's a first.

They usually parade me in dresses and femininity.

I'm surprised they haven't decided on a haircut for me.

I put it on because I showered earlier.

Somehow this feels more...me.

I hate dresses sometimes. Especially when I'm in heels too.

It'd be alot easier to put them on with sneakers.

I'm already tall.

I hold my hair up then give myself one last look in the mirror.

Downstairs dad is on the phone pacing and mom is talking to the housekeeper.

"What is this?" Dad asks confusing me a bit.

I thought they picked it.

"I bought it for her. Doesn't ut look good?"

Mom's face softens.

"Look good? Is this a joke? What happened to the dresses? Go change we're running out of time." He waves me off like he's already done with the conversation.

I barely talked.

"Don't listen to him. You look amazing. Wait for him in the car." She says softly leading me to the front floor before it closes behind me.

She'll get scolded for this.

But that's a risk she's willing to take.

Usually she's more quiet...to avoid conflict.

Suddenly none of that matters.

She's talking to me more.

Defending me against dad.

I sit in the b1ck of his car with his driver quietly tapping on the steering wheel.

After a long wait he settles in the empty space next to me.

I don't think it's ever been just the two of us in a car without mom.

Or worse...rode together.

At the building he walks ahead of me.

Making calls and talking to his assistant.

She's pretty.

But mom is elegantly pretty. I take up after her.

Her face features...her smile.

It just makes sense because dad barely smiles unless it's for cameras.

"Miss Castiello..your dad has told me so much about you." The assistant says but even I know that's no way to start a conversation.

She plans events. Events that he uses to keep me in control.

So she hasn't heard about me.

She's helped keep him in control of me.

"Hmm." Is all I manage to respond with.

Dad mutters something to her before she leads me away from the full boardroom.

"What's going on?"

She smiles.

"Nothing to worry about...just a wardrobe change." She says opening an office.

Her office.

"Here put these on."

She hands me a pair of white heels.

Her feet are smaller so it must be planned.

"Why?"

"Your outfit is great but not boardroom great. Put the heels on for the little time you'll be in there...trust me." She says waiting impatiently.

I'm not a brat if that's what she's worried about.

Infact I have minimal desire for riches.

My parent's riches.

I take off my sneakers and switch to the heels.

They fit naturally.

She leads me out of the office to the boardroom just in time for the introduction.

"Ladies and gentlemen, my daughter Nova Castiello the new face of Castiello Jewelries."

His authority echos.

They all clap still seated.

I had no speech prepared and I don't feel sorry for it.

"When will the wedding take place? Will it also be a launch of the new jewellery line? I think the bride wearing unreleased jewellery would up the numbers by a lot."

He sends a glare my way.

That question was intended for me.

Then he looks over my shoulder.

"Yes that's still the plan. Nova is graduating pretty soon so thewedding will be the day after graduation to keep the traction going."

Graduation.

The one thing I'd earned.

Somehow he'd found a way to turn that into his achievement too.

His assistant speaks so eloquently.

Even she knew before I did.

My eyes never leave his.

A small smile forms on his lips.

He enjoys this.

Toying with my life like its a simulation.

I'm getting married the day after my graduation.

Yet no one thought to tell me.

That a degree is the closest thing to a personal achievement I'll ever speak of.

"Thank you everyone for coming..now let's talk business."

Dad gestures to his assistant.

"Come on." She says to me and i follow her out of the boardroom.

I think if someone ever asks me why I don't want kids I'll start with this feeling I have now.

I never stood a chance at love.

I never stood a chance at living either.

But I can't help but feel the urge to leave all of this just to be with the one person that knew where to find me.

I'm not getting married.

That I'm sure of.

But at what cost?

Maybe if they disowned me or I did it first then he'd have no one to use.

If I want a life for myself....then I'll have to give up everything.

If freedom has a price... I'm finally willing to pay it.