My eyes dart over to the door as light from the hallway seeps in, finding Anabel standing in the doorway, gripping the handle, impatiently tapping her heel as she waits for us to leave.
I chose the right dress for her. Her strawberry-blonde hair cascades down her back with a few strands framing her face. Thefloral tattoo on her shoulder peeks from under her hair, all the vibrant colours inked into her skin on modest display.
Walking towards her, I follow her lead through the halls to the wide staircase. Arm in arm, we take each step in unison until we reach the bottom and turn to follow the chatter that bounces off each wall.
Each step I take brings me closer to whatever awaits me behind the doors in front of me. I know this dinner is important, it’s the only reason my father would announce it so late, but the reason is still unknown to me. And I’m not sure I want to find out.
The last time my father announced a last-minute meeting with his associates, I was in my last year of boarding school and I returned home four months early because my father ‘needed’ me. I was unable to return due to the strict rules the dean had in place, so I never even graduated. It was a business meeting that lasted no longer than an hour and I wasn’t even included. I still never found out the meaning for it all.
”There you are,” my father says, his voice quieting the already hushed voices, bringing everyone’s attention to Annie and me. “Wow, you look beautiful, Principessa. You clean up well, Anabel.”
When my father mentioned a few guests, I figured two or three, maybe four at a push. But, as I take a step back in awe of the eight vaguely familiar pairs of eyes that stare into my soul, my skin pricks.
We make our way to our seats. As usual, my father sits at the head with Chiara to his left, me to his right, and the rest of the guests spread out across the table.
My father mumbles something incoherent under his breath before turning to introduce me to the table. “Ladies, gentlemen, I’m sure you remember my daughter, Liana.”
“You’ve grown up fast,” the man two seats down says with a smile. “I could swear I saw you not long ago, but that’s clearly not the case, is it?”
I offer a tight-lipped smile, not knowing how to respond before turning to face the man opposite me. His eyes are already dancing on my skin, adding fuel to a fire I never knew ignited, but it’s as if he pays no attention to me noticing him. His eyes scan down my chest to my stomach until there’s nowhere else for them to go, forcing him to retrace his steps and, for a moment, our eyes meet.
For the seconds that he and I hold eye contact, the entire room stops and spins. His deep green eyes bore into my honey-brown ones, sending shivers down my spine. My icy-blonde hair has nothing on his midnight-black strands that drape down his face, swaying back and forth with each breath. The guests’ fragrances mingle together in the air, but the scent of cigarettes and mint weigh heavier, and I can only imagine it belongs to him.
Before I can breathe anymore of him in, he licks his lips with a half smirk, bringing me back to the present.
“Liana, sweetie, you remember the Vitale family, don’t you?” my father questions, placing his palm on my forearm.
“No,” I tell him in a whisper, my cheeks heating.
Light laughter sounds down the entire table. “That’s okay, dear. It’s been over a decade since we last saw each other in person.” A woman seated across the table and a few seats down speaks, and all heads snap her direction.
“I’m sorry,” I say before turning to my father, “is it necessary for me to be here for this part of dinner? I usually come in after the formalities and before any deals are made.” Heads swing my direction, all of them holding narrowed expressions.
“Pensavo che glielo avresti detto?” The older man sitting towards the end of the table says.I thought you were going to tell her.
I can only assume he wanted to have a private conversation, but everyone except Anabel seems to understand. Chiara whips her head at my father, her eyes searching him as if seeking an answer.
“Non potevo farlo.”I couldn’t do it.
“You couldn’t tell me what?” I fold my arms across my body and my back stiffens.
Since I was old enough to understand, my father had me taking Italian classes to ensure I would keep in touch with my roots. They’re talking about me as if I can’t understand.
My father gulps, forcing a swallow before opening his mouth, only to clamp it shut again after stuttering a few times.
“Your father—”
“Dario,” the older man says, his words laced with a silent warning. “Let Gabriel explain this to his daughter. We’ll be outside when you’re ready.” Everyone lifts themselves from their seats and exits the door that leads to the entertainment room.
“Anabel—”
“She stays,” I hiss, cutting him off.
“Very well,” he says with a nod, slightly readjusting himself to face me properly. “Do you remember the day I didn’t come home until 2am?” I nod.
How could I ever forget? It’s the day he completely changed, becoming only a fragment of himself.
“Someone hacked into the company’s assets, almost wiping us out completely.” The look on his face speaks volumes. “It was the worst thing we’d ever endured and it wasn’t just the job that put me over the edge, it was the money the company had lost. He takes a shaky breath before releasing it, sending a feeling of nausea through me. “I had no other choice than to turn to Vincent for a loan. It was either that or let all the years of hard work I put into the company just disappear.”
