Deception

Chapter 5 - Desire

A layer of deep red smooths over my lips. I fix my hair, smile a little, and then I stare into the bathroom mirror long enough to realise this isn't for me.

Mama's knock on the door makes me jump and I quickly wipe my lipstick off with a tissue, leaving the bathroom bare lipped.

"Finally." She grimaces as she looks at me up and down. "Fix your dress, and don't get too cocky about what the Valentino's said about you being the more beautiful Alvarez."

"Oh come on Mama they were were being nice."

"Hopefully." She disappears into the bathroom and I swallow down my unease. I already wasn't feeling too good about today - being a girl and having stupid insecurities- and Mama just seems to make it worse.

I adjust the hem of my loose white dress, walking through the restaurant again and giving a polite smile as I'm welcomed back to the table. I take my seat next to Leone at the round table, wavering my eyes over the dimly lit space.

All the guests that are here were all invited by Silas Cavallaro, yet he's the only one not here yet. The second course is starting and the finely dressed people seated at the tables are asking about his whereabouts.

Of course he's bailing, after all, it's not like half of us were forced to come here because of him.

I lean my chin onto my hand, playing with the fork and staring off into candle light and an atmosphere filled with warmth and the smell of food. At least his choice of restaurants was good.

City lights surround this floor, located on the 34th story of a skyscraper. Floor to ceiling windows twinkle against darkness, with cosy tables and booths against one wall.

A few murmurs come from the other table and me and Leone look in their direction to see Silas. He obviously doesn't apologise for being late and takes his seat at the table, which I could only imagine seated the most important people in here.

I pull a fork of my steak to my mouth, meeting his eyes across the room and making my presence known. Perhaps he forgot he even invited my family.

He sits back in his chair, maintains my gaze before replying to something a man next to him said.

I move my gaze away from him, focus on my food and try to engage myself in the conversation Leone is having with the strange people at our table. But I can't.

Knowing there's a man like Silas two tables away from me is making me inattentive, more than I show. I can't seem to focus when he's here, occasionally glancing my way. His voice quiet and controlled. Hair almost golden beneath the

Once we eat, and its the end of dessert a few guests start to leave. I'm starting to think this entire restaurant is reserved for the guests only, which only makes me wonder what this dinner is really about.

Its definitely not about the alliance between the Italians and Colombians, not when we aren't even communicating.

Us Colombians sat on one end of the room whereas the Italians sat at another, and me and Leone? Well we were just thrown in the middle.

The room soon starts to clear out. Mama is tipsy and disappears with the bodyguard, gesturing me to follow her home but I want to ride alone. Drunk Mama is not fun.

I pick at the last crumbs of my chocolate cake, watching the twinkling city lights as the room clears out.

"Ma'am?" A waiter asks. "Have you paid for that cake?"

"No, I-"

"I'm going to have to ask you to do so right now as the restaurant is closing."

My eyes narrow on him. "I'm part of the dinner guests-"