The last thing I remembered was packing for Milan and eating dinner with my family. My dad was gone, as usual, doing work up in his office. My mom talked about the second trip to Milan, how it was only going to be me and my parents. My stomach cramped up at the thoughts of getting a new home, more like a second home. I was leaving my brothers, my birthplace, and my best friend. Now, I was traveling to a new place filled with new and strange people. The guy I was going to live with was insanely rich, attractive,and to most people, dangerous and dark.
It was about 3 am, I sat alone in my row on my parents private plane. My eyes refused to close, even though I was exhausted. I had striped down everything in my bedroom and packed it up, basically my room was stored somewhere in boxes in the back of the plane. I'd been to Milan once, so I knew what to expect. My mom had taken me out shopping for clothes appropriate for Milan attire, I honestly didn't care what I looked like and how I dressed. I had got a lot more pairs of shoes, mostly heels, skin tight and loose dresses, a few shirts and jeans. Apparently if your are a women marrying a mafia leader, you only wear dresses and skirts, no jeans or t shirts. Oh how was I going to live like this.
Finally, my sore and aching eyes gave up and closed. I got comfortable in my seat and laid my head back. The soothing cool AC lured my restless body to sleep, within a few hours, I'd be back in Milan awaiting my soon to be husband.
- - -
The plane jerked to a stop, I groaned and stretched. My eyes were glued shut, I had to rub them to get them ajar. The sky was a soft pink and blue, the sun was rising. I yawned before looking around, where were my parents? I looked down and found a note beside me on the next seat.
- Thalia
Your dad and I are out with Mr. and Mrs. Brambilla. We will be back soon, we have a young man waiting for you to show you to the hotel where you will then be driven down to Mr. Brambilla's house. We love you and can't wait to be with you again!
Love, Mom.
I sighed and walked down the aisle, I was in desperate need of a shower and a hair brush. The weather was nice, a soft breeze fluttered about in my hair. I turned and watched as the same car Dante drove me in sped up and immediately stopped a few feet away from me. The driver rolled down the windows, " Ms. Galonos?" I nodded, " yeah." The driver opened his door, " I got my door, thank you," I said. The driver nodded before getting back into the car, I hated when people tried to do things for me. I was almost nineteen, not four.
The drive to the hotel was long and quiet, just how I liked it. The radio was soon turned on and read off the news, surprisingly it had nothing about Antonio and I's arrangement. I sat my head back and closed my eyes, my muscles were sore from the planes seats and my stomach grumbled for food. I wanted to sleep more, my but body was 100% awake. I stared out the window, Milan was absolutely breathtaking.
We finally arrived at the hotel, it was definitely bigger than the one I stayed at the first time my family came to Milan. People dressed in formal attire walked in and out of the hotel, was there something going on? I looked down at my white long sleeve turtle neck, high waisted light blue mom jeans, and black boots. It was like I seem didn't remember how to dress in Milan. My normal was completely different from Milan normal.
- - -
I dragged my suitcases into the hotel, I got a few stares from people. Within a few minutes, a big white SUV pulled up the the hotel. About three men dressed in all black crowded me and carried my luggage to the car. I stood awkwardly before following them out of the hotel. " Ms. Galonos," a man said. I looked at him, " we have food waiting for you in the car," the man informed. My stomach grumbled at the information. " Thank you," I said as the car door opened. I expected to see a McDonald's bag or a Burger King's bag, but instead the inside of the car looked like a limo. A small table had been set up in the far back of the car. The smell of roast beef, green beans, corn filled my body. I had to keep my mouth closed from drooling. I eyed he car before sitting down, how the hell was this car big enough to hide a full meal alongside a table? " Everything okay?" The man asked. I scoffed, " everything is fine." The man held back a smile before closing the door and getting into the front. Without hesitation, I sat down and began to eat. I almost began to cry at how delicious the food was.The car began to drive, I kept my attention on my food and averted my eyes to the wine bottle in a metal bin full of ice.
The car stopped, I looked out the window as my jaw dropped. In all my life, I had never seen a house like this. It was nice yes, but the structure and gardening was stunning. I unbuckled as my door opened. " Ms. Galonos," the guard said. I smiled at him before getting out, he closed the car door behind me. " We have your room set up for you at the moment," the guard informed. I followed him into the insanely large house, everything was nice and clean.
I walked last about twenty maids, everyone was working hard and cleaning. " This way," the guard said. He turned and I followed him, I examined everything. My house was big, but this house mad my house look normal and undersized. The stairs were beautiful, gold trimming decorated the banister. Pictures that accented the walls hung up everywhere.
We walked down two halls, and about fifteen empty bedrooms. How many people stay here? I couldn't help but think what other women may have spent the night at this house. Then, the other side of me took a hold. I was walking around a house where other girls could've been in, dressed or not dressed. Girls who didn't give a fuck about others, girls who only cared about themselves.
" Ms. Galonos, your room," the guard said. He opened the door and I walked in. The room was exactly my type, the colors were nude and simple. " For right now, this will be yours until Mr. Brambilla and your parents get back," the guard informed. The thought of sleeping with a guy caused butterflies to erupt in my stomach, why the hell was I feeling like this? Guys never had this impression on me, what the fuck was going on!
" Uh, thank you," I said. The guard nodded, " if you need anything, just ask anyone." I gave the guard a friendly smile before he turned and left, closing the door behind him. A soft sigh left my lips, I looked around. " Okay," I said to myself. I rubbed my hands on the side of my legs and walked over to the window. I didn't know what floor I was on, I lost track after the third flight of stairs. Everything felt off, I didn't feel like I was at home. I knew that for right now this would be my new home, but it didn't confront me like my real home did.
- - -
The warm water against my sore muscles was soothing. I scrubbed a vanilla scented body wash all over myself before washing my hair. I looked up at all the different buttons on the shower neck. " What he heck," I said as I stared at a button that said "mist" my curiosity took over me, I pushed the button. Freezing cold water shot out and sprinkled onto my face. I stumbled backwards as soon was the coldness touched my skin. My hands waved around trying to push the off button. " For fucks sake!" I yelled. I slammed my hand down on the shower neck and stopped the cold water. I panted as the warm water returned. " Jesus," I sighed. I spent about twenty more minutes in the shower, it was comforting and soothing.
I sat down at my desk and turned on my vanity. I didn't want to put on a full face of makeup, so I only did the basics. I slipped into something more comfortable and basic. I wore a classic knitted turtleneck vest and a pair of ripped slim boyfriend jeans.
I added some light gold jewelry to accent my attire, hoping we wouldn't be going to some glammed up event for dinner tonight.
About an hour later, I heard the sound of cars driving up to the house. I closed the book I was reading and walked up to the window. I slightly groaned at the sight of seeing ten black cars parked in the driveway. Girls around the age of twenty got out, looking flawless as always. Men in nice clean suits and women in formal attire exited their cars. My heart skipped a beat when I saw him, he was talking to my parents and his parents. I suddenly felt out of place in my outfit, but didn't have the motivation to change.
A soft knock at my door ended my daze. I walked over and opened the door. My mom immediately smiled and pulled me into a hug. " You look beautiful," my mom said. She stepped back, " how is everything, are you all settled in?" " Yeah, I'm fine," I said. My mom nodded, " well we're going to have a huge dinner tonight. Some of the Brambilla's family came over to spend the night, tomorrow we're all going down to swim and have a BBQ." A BBQ? What were we, some normal family from Texas? " Dinner, swimming, a BBQ?" I asked. My mom smiled, " tonight will be formal and nice, tomorrow we'll be fun!" I forced myself to smile at my moms bubbly energy. " Everyone wants to see you, come on," My mom said.
I followed her down the several flights of stairs. My eyes immediately wanted to throw up at the sight of girls wearing flashy, barely covering anything, attire. Everyone looked at me and smiled, expect the other girls. " Thalia don't you look amazing," Mrs. Brambilla said. She walked over to me and hugged me, I hugged her back. My eyes couldn't help but look for Antonio, where was he?
" You skin is lovely," an older women said. " What do you use?" I looked at her, " I uh." I was about to answer her question when everyone's attention averted to something behind me. " Antonio," Mr. Brambilla said. I bit my bottom lip as the warm smell of Antonio's cologne melted into my skin. " Turn around," a voice in my head ordered. I turned around and met eye contact with Antonio, god he was breathtaking. " Hi," was the only thing I could think up to say. I could tell Antonio was holding back a smile, because the corners of his mouth twitched. " Hi," Antonio said back. Mentally, I was screaming and punching myself in the face. I could hear the girls behind me snickering about me and my attire. But I ignored them, instead I'd show them off tomorrow. Yes, I may look undressed and not fit in. But tomorrow, tomorrow I was going to show them what I had in store.