what the f**k

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🌺Anne's POV🌺

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To be cool and cold and unemotional.

That was the only way I was going to survive this.

I snuggled into my passenger seat on the plane to get more comfortable. But nothing could make me relax now.

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And it's not because of the marriage to whoever.

I've never been on a plane before. This was a whole new experience I was willing to try out, despite being uneasy and excited at the same time.

I looked out to the front as an air hostess was signing the safety precautions that was being echoed over the speakers… and then we were warned to get ready for takeoff.

First the plane glided slowly on the runway, then it picked up speed smoothly, and before I knew it, it was taking off!

OMG!

The feeling of being airborne. . . that moment when even gravity had no power over you and you could just float away. . .that was an awesome feeling. I was tempted to unbuckle my seatbelt and float right out of the plane, away from everything that clouded my life.

But soon the feeling was gone, and we were on air.

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I remember what had happened this morning.

I was unable to sleep throughout the night because I kept tossing and thinking.

What if the man I was going to marry was quite old? I've heard of things like that, and I dreaded it.

It was then that I'd come up with my mantra; my new motto which I kept repeating to myself;

Cool…

Cold…

Unemotional…

It was the only way I was going to survive.

As a young girl I've always dreamed of a family. A happy family with no cares, no worries at all.



Now reality had given me a slap in the face, telling me that fantasies weren't real.

Mom and dad seemed reluctant to let me go. They seemed really unsure of anything this morning. But the fact that my tickets, visa and everything was booked told me plainly that they'd planned this all along.

Although I was angry with them, I couldn't resist giving them a final hug, before I left.

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I looked out of the window again. More clouds and toylike buildings and trees, and tiny snakelike rivers, and then the big blue ocean. They were beautiful but boring after a while, and soon I dozed off.

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… thirty minutes to landing….all passengers therefore buckle your seatbelts and prepare for landing. Thank you for choosing Air….

I woke up to someone tapping me, just in time to hear the announcement. It was the hostess who'd woken me up earlier for lunch. She gave me a friendly smile and moved on.

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I yawned and rubbed my eyes.

Soon we landed.

Our baggage were removed from the upper cart above our seats, and as I took my box and got out, the hostess by the door was saying something like, "…thank you for flying with us, and we hope we've made your journey a memorable one…."

The first thing that caught my eye was the bright sun shinning down on green fields. And it was so beautiful.

I got my visa stamped, and looked around for who ever was going to get me.

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Mom and dad said that transport had already been taken cared of, and that someone was going to meet me.

Just then, a tall and muscularly built man in dark suits walked up to me.

"Signora Anne Sheridan?"

"Y—yes, that's me?"

"Come with me."

He took hold of my box, the only thing I came with apart from my shoulder bag, and went into the tarmac. I followed him to a big shiny black car.

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Wow.

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I got into the back seat, and he took the wheel.

Soon we were swooshing past green shrubbery on either side of the double carriage road, and oh my god, everywhere was just so beautiful! I kept turning my head in all angles to get a glimpse of everything.

The man was quiet, so I asked, "Em…sir…where are we going to?"

"Del casa," he replied simply.

I huffed through my mouth. How was I supposed to know what that meant?

"I don't speak Italian… so could you please…make me understand?" I tried again, but he didn't answer.

"OK, thanks for coming to pick me up anyway. You know I actually enjoyed the trip, though I slept through most of it—•ha ha ha, isn't that funny?"

He didn't answer.

I sighed.

I wasn't the talking type, but I was just so nervous.

I wonder what to expect the groom to be like. Most likely an old man with money to flaunt around.

Cool…

Cold…

Unemotional…

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Emilio's POV

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Festus just called to say that Fergus was almost here.

I got up from the seat in the study and stretched. Then I downed the remaining glass of wine and went into my room.

A knock came on my door., and the knob turned and Portia came in.

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"Dios! I told you to always knock and wait!"

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She closed the door behind her and smiled.

She always looked different when she smiled, like the mother she was when I was little. It always brought back memories, and I found my self wondering why she changed.

That was then.

Now, I knew her not as the mother she was but as the greedy woman she'd become.

Not as madre again, but as Portia.

She stepped into the room.

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"Emilio, you know I'm in full support of you taking control of the Mafia."

"Last I remember, you were totally against it," I replied drily.

"Sì, I know. But now I want to support you. That's why I want to help. I've found you a bride."

"What the hell are you talking about!!?" I asked.

"I don't need your help, OK? And I've already gotten a wife."

She frowned. "Emilio it's Cosima Rufelli I'm talking about here. And she's willing. We'll just set the date for the wedding and—"

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"Stop it," I said.

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"I'm your mother Emilio, you should do as I say!" she yelled.

"No, you were my mother. Not anymore. And now, if you'll excuse me," I made a mock bow and walked out on her.

When I got to the sitting room, a woman was sitting on a chair.

She turned when she heard my footfalls and smiled.

Cosima Rufelli.

She was a popular actress, and her father was a good friend of Portia. She grew up with Emilia and I, and they were the best of friends.

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"Hi, Emilio," she said in her thin voice that pierced the room. She stood up and came over to me, kissing my cheeks.

"It's been a while," she said, still holding my hands.

"Sì."

I didn't know what else to say, and didn't want to say anything more.

"Emilio I heard about the marriage condition and that's why I'm here."

"Yes, look, Cosima. Portia must have given you the wrong news. I wasn't looking for a bride. I already have one."

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Just then, we heard the car pull up in the driveway.

I removed Cosima's hand from mine, and went back upstairs.

I don't know, but somehow I wasn't ready to meet her.

Not yet.

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Cosima's POV

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I stood in the sitting room with my hands at my side, the way Emilio left me.

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I couldn't believe that he said that to me.

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I turned to the door.

Why don't I see just who his 'bride' is?

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Anne's POV

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I managed an appreciative smile to the driver, who just nodded as he took my box inside. Another suited man came out and drove the car away from the entrance.

I returned my gaze to the house in front of me and oh my gosh! It was huge, and had this antique quality to it; it was like an ancient house, perhaps it was a legacy.

It was coated with dark grey marbles plastered on the walls; it gleamed in the midday sun. In front of the house were mowed green lawns which were surrounded by the same grey stones.

There were about six steps leading to the door, and I climbed it slowly.

The house might be beautiful. But it wasn't home.

With a sigh, I lifted trembling hand to knock the door, when suddenly it opened and a woman came rushing out. She immediately pulled me to her bosom in a tight hug, and she smelled of spices, bread and fruits, which was a comforting smell.

"Oh, welcome, welcome!" she said with a huge smile, holding my hands as if we were long time friends.

" Uh…thanks? "

"Dio mio, tuo est la bella (My God, you are a beauty)!"

"Uh…OK?" I replied unsure.

She laughed.

"Sorry, sorry. Where are my manners? I'm Prudence. I'm in charge of all the servants here. . .oh, silly me. I should take you inside. Come, come."

She pulled me by the arm, and soon I found myself laughing too. It was hard to be cold with a warm welcome as this.

Maybe the people here were not that bad.

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Emilio's POV

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Smiling slightly, I watched from my window as Prudence welcomed her.

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She was quite excited when I told her that I was planning to get married.

Prudence in her element.

She could make even the stiffest statue smile with her warmness and friendliness.



I leaned even closer to get a better look of the girl.

Anne.

I didn't think that I'd see her again.

Guess it's really a small world.

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Then I noticed Portia and Cosima going outside too.

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I groaned.

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Portia was definitely going to cause some crazy scene.

Better be there to prevent it from happening.



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Anne's POV

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"Prudence."

Prudence, the woman who welcomed me stopped when she heard her name.

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I stopped too.

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Two women, one who seemed to be in her late thirties and the other about my age came through the front door before Prudence had a chance to take me inside.

"Andare (Go). I'll take it from here," the older woman said in a clipped tone that had me on edge.

"Sì, signora Portia."

Prudence gave me what looked like an apologetic look, then disappeared inside.

The older woman ran her eyes over me, from head to toes, a distasteful look on her face.

"So," she began without preamble, "You're my son's bride to be."

"Uh….I guess so," I replied, not sure of what to say.

This woman, tall, slim and dressed in the most expensive silk and jewelleries, was nothing like Prudence. The way she looked at me…

I'll have to be careful. Cool.

The girl standing beside her was equally sophisticatedly dressed, and she looked at me like she'd rather be staring at a naked gorilla.

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"Why did he chose you?" the older woman, Portia I think, asked me.

"Excuse me?" I asked too. I was confused; didn't she know that her son would be marrying me? This was awkward.

"Look aunt. She not only lacks class, but she's dumb as well," the girl sneered, and I shot her a glare.

Her eyes widened when she noticed that, and she was about to say something when the Portia woman said,

"Cosima, I'll handle this.

... Now look here girl, I'm asking you a simple question. What did you do for my son, that he chose you?"

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"It's none of your business why I chose her, Portia," said a male voice from inside.

I swear I know that voice; it sounded so familiar.

Could it be. . .

"Emilio!" Portia said without ceremony.

I gasped slightly.

There could be more than one Emilio, right? This was Italy after all.

"You'll stay away from my affairs, Portia. You have no right to interrogate Anne like that."

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Portia and Cosima gave me looks, and turned to go in.

And that's when I had a good look at him as he came down the stairs.

It was Emilio Salvatore all right, unless I'm dreaming.

I stared at him as I slowly raised my fingers to pinch my arm.

"Damn!" I hissed and rubbed the injured part.

The pinch hurt, which means he's real.

What the actual ****!?

Seeing him again, standing just a few feet away from me brought back one thing only;

he left Dellany High, New York, USA, and even America without the decency to let me know.

At first I felt hurt, but that slowly turned to anger, and I don't know why.

Then, over these past years, I'd forgotten it totally. Guess his sudden appearance proved that I didn't really forget it, I just refused to think about it.

He stood there with his arms crossed around his chest, and his head cocked a little bit to the side, as if he was gauging my reaction.

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My eyebrows lowered in a frown, and I clutched my satchel tightly. Then I swung around on my heels, and ran towards the exit yelling...

"Taxi! Taxi!! Taxi!!!"

Damn, where was a cab when I needed it?

I needed to get out of here.

I tried again, "Tax—" but I was cut off and prevented from moving when I felt his hand around my wrists, pulling me to face him.

And I got a good look of his face. It was somehow. . .different. And his eyes. . .

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I snapped back to attention.

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"Let go of me, Emilio! I said let go!"

I tried struggling, but his grip was strong and tight, yet somehow he managed to keep it that way without hurting my wrists.

"Anne just calm down," he said.

"I'm not gonna calm down! I said let go of me, or else I'll scream." I threatened, but his eyelashes didn't even batt at my threat.

"I'm gonna scream my lungs out, if you don't release me this instant," I said again.

The corner of his lip curled upwards into a smirk that was deadly as it was sexy.

"You can try," he said in a low tone that sent cold hands down my back.

"But it would be a wasted effort, because everyone here, their loyalty lies to me first."

And then I noticed exactly what was different about him; the square set of his jaws, as if he was holding something back. . .the steely determination in his eyes. . .he had become cold.

Back in Dellany, he was always closed off and kind of stoic, but then it was understandable... I think.

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I lowered my gaze.

"What do you want from me?" I asked, but my voice came out as a whisper.

"You know what I want."

And then it hit me. Oh no!

somebody tell me it's not Emilio I'm marrying. Then the words of Portia came back to me, '…to be his bride…'

oh my God! It shouldn't be him!

Damn, my life sucks.

"Why me?" I asked again, finding myself echoing Portia's words.

He raised one dark eyebrow as if that was the stupidest question he'd ever heard.

He raised my chin with the tip of his right index finger.

Our eyes locked.

"Just because." he replied plainly, as if that was the answer.

Well, it was all he was going to give because he released me.

"Prudence will show you to your room, so you can get settled and prepare for dinner, which is in about three hours time."

He let go of my wrist finally and walked away, without any other word.

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I bounced twice on my bed in my room whose main theme was blue. The bedclothes were different shades of blue, from the lowest which was kinda light blue, to the upper, which was a deeper shade.

The curtains and window blinds were drawn, allowing the midday sun to seep in and bathe the room in a cool blue glow.

"How'd you know that my favorite colour is blue?" I asked Prudence who was helping me add finishing touches to the room, like where to keep my box.

"I didn't, he did."

"Oh."

She came to sit beside me. "I can remember, when Emilio came back from the U S and the A, he and Festus—"

"Festus?" I cut her off, not wanting to hear anything about Emilio.

"Where's Festus? I'd like to see him."

"He's on duty now."

"Alright. Please tell him I said hi."

"Sì. So, back to dinner. The whole family will be there; his madre—"

"You mean his mother?"

She smiled. "Sorry, Sì. I mean his mother Portia, his elder brother Sergio, and Cosima, a friend. They can be very unpleasant—err…I meant that they can be…"

I giggled. "It's OK, Prudence. I understand you."

She smiled again. "Emilio talked about you a lot, that's when he had time to laze."

"I highly doubt that," I muttered and went over to my box to look for a cloth for dinner.

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"Why. . you must be very happy."

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"Happy? Prudence, sorry to say this, but I'm miserable."