Fire And Ice

CHAPTER 4

                           MARIA'S POV

When we reached the dining hall, I saw two men sitting there and having a conversation with father. I was shocked to see my father trying to please them so much because never in my life  I have seen him trying so hard to please someone.

The two men sitting there looked as if they were father and son. The younger guy who seemed to be the son looked like he was suffering from constipation and couldn't wait to leave.

Although the younger man wasn't taking part in the conversation too much but he  surely was observing everything father said and by the look on his face it looked like he was someone who would use every little information he had on you to destroy you and was waiting for a chance to pounce on you like a panther.

And the most interesting thing was he really looked as lethal as a panther. A predator who was waiting in the dark and looking for the right chance.

Now as we walked towards them, father announced our arrival. The two men whose names I didn't know moved their head and looked in our direction and suddenly my eyes crashed with those magnificent green ones. Those orbs looked so awfully beautiful and dark. It felt like I was looking directly into his soul.

                        OWEN'S POV

As uncle and Richard were busy in their very interesting conversation. Or you can say as uncle pretended to be busy in his manipulating words, I made sure to look for any signs indicating danger. It was like a habit I grew while watching my and my family's back for so many years.

Suddenly the pig in front of me stood from his chair announcing the arrival of his family. Me and uncle moved our heads in the direction he was glaring at. And suddenly it felt like the world stopped when I glanced at those honey brown orbs, orbs so beautiful and so fascinating. It felt like I was looking at heaven through her eyes. Eyes holding so many mysteries and secrets in them. Secrets I wanted to unfold gazing in her eyes for nights.  There stood my little moon looking so adorable and beautiful even than the moon itself.

As I was gazing at my moon, I felt a sharp pain in my heart. It felt like my heart was hurting for all those years we could have been with each other with her in my arms. With her never forgetting me unlike now when she doesn't even remember me and was glancing at me with a mere look of curiosity.

I came out of my trance when uncle nudged my elbow telling me to pay attention and stop staring at Maria as if I will devour her right here.

When I glanced back in my moon's direction, I noticed that her gaze was not on me rather it was in the floor now and Jennifer Vitillo, her so called mother was glaring at her. I didn't like it, I wanted her attention on me all the time just like before.

My glancing spree was broken when Richard started introducing his family to us.

“Meet my family gentlemen. Here comes my wife and my daughters. This is my wife Jennifer, my daughters Christina  and Maria.”

“Come here girls and greet our guests properly.” he said as if they were two years old not twenty three.

“ It's nice to meet you both of you, I hope you are satisfied with our preparations.” said Jennifer trying to get all attention to herself as she usually does everywhere she goes.

Uncle Karen politely replied while nodded towards her.

“ Owen meet Christina, my younger daughter. The one with the beauty, she is the one who is running our Business mostly now. She is very so talented and capable that I don't have any stress anymore.” Richard tried to brag about Christina. There was no doubt that she was talented I had seen her making deals myself but it's not her who has my attention and it will never be her. My moon has all my attention and nothing can change that.

Richard then started talking about his business and didn't even introduce us to Maria, who kept her head downwards all the time. I felt extremely agitated at this. So I didn't pay any attention to his words and started walking towards Maria and stood at a few inches distance from her. I knew she knew that I was in front of her but still she didn't look up. And because Richard didn't find it necessary to introduce her, I decided to do that myself.

“ Hello there Maria, I am owen.” I introduced myself. Suddenly a soft gasp tore from her mouth which only I could hear and she looked up. And it felt like I stopped breathing.