Emmanuelle
"...Gianna and Mattia Mulaney who have decided to unite our families through Marriage. Cheers."
I had already joined the crowd in clapping when I processed Gerold's announcement. It was like I needed to double check if my ears were not lying to me, because I was in denial.
My hands suddenly stopped mid clap, my mind became frizzy and more aware of the people around me. My heartbeat matched the rhythm that they were clapping in— utterly fast.
The gorgeous dress that I was wearing and had spent too much on to impress people that did not care about me, the entrance that Marco and I had made, nothing mattered anymore.
I wore black to an all white party, was unknown and arrived with the very well known Marco Mulaney, I had expected their eyes on me. But, it was easy to forget why they were staring at me and giving me nasty looks.
It was even easier to convince myself that they were staring because they knew about Mattia and me. I rushed out of the crowd and stopped at one of the many bars.
"Two please."
"Two what?" The bartender asked.
"Something strong, like shots. Or something."
"Okay," he poured me two shots of vodka. I was not going to be able to get through the night sober.
"One more." My chest burned the same way my heart did.
"Okay, that's enough." Marco said after he had watched me down the two shots.
"I want one more." I argued.
"You're going to get yourself drunk." He tried to take the drink out of my hand.
I pulled the tiny glass back to me. "That you can't control yourself doesn't mean that I can't."
He let go of the glass whilst I was pulling it and the tiny bit of alcohol spilled on my dress.
"My dress!" I looked up at his straight face, no emotion could be detected.
"You know what. Do what the fuck you want." He spoke in a careless manner and walked away.
I was too oblivious to my surroundings to notice why he suddenly had a change of mind. I turned to the bartender and ordered one more drink. This time it was a cocktail of some sort. I took my drink out to the terrace where other guests had settled themselves near the buffet.
I was drinking on an empty stomach and though the food looked great, it was the last thing I was in the mood for. I wandered off to the fountain where only three other people were having their food in absolute quietness.
I sipped on my cocktail until the tall glass was empty then I just stared at the water as the coolness of the air around me started to disappear. Suddenly, it became very hot.
Not long after the three guests left I threw the glass in the fountain, got up and left as well. Walking back to where the buffet was, I spotted a familiar face staring at me. He looked at me with a wide smile.
Why is he here...
I took a turn to my left and walked through the grass to avoid him but he decided to walk into the same direction that I was walking in and unfortunately we came face to face.
"Emmanuelle, you look— absolutely stunning." Rafael complimented me.
"I know." I said and turned away from him when he stepped in front of me and blocked my path.
"What's wrong? You seem bothered." He asked with a smile that showed his amusement in the obvious.
"Because you're standing in my way." The alcohol started talking.
He shook his head and chuckled as he turned to look in the same direction that I was looking in. "I think it has more to do with that." He whispered, referring to Gia and Mattia. They were joined by Tia, Anthony and Marco.
"How come they're having fun while you're walking around with such a sad face?"
I bit down on my teeth.
"It's because they don't care about you. None of them do. Well, maybe Marco does. I saw him following you around like a puppy. But, if you really think about it— he might be doing that for a reason."
"What reason?" I looked up at him.
"You're the second biggest shareholder of a multi-million dollar company that his father owned. You have what should've been his. At least, that's what I would think if I were him."
I gulped, "Marco isn't like that."
"I'm sure you thought well about Mattia too, didn't you? You're such a positive spirit." He took a deep breath. "But, if you ever have a change of mind— come look for me. I'll be around."
My throat burned and I badly needed to pee. I pushed against his side and rushed to find the nearest bathroom which was occupied. In my mind I was floating when I coursed through the huge house until I came across another bathroom. I rushed in only to come face to face with a horror sight that completely sobered me up.
"OH MY GOD!" My hand flew to cover my mouth when I walked in on Marissa devouring Tobias' mouth in a full on make-out session as their hands wandered down each others bodies. His pants were undone and he had hiked her dress up.
I ran out of the bathroom with a broken heart as if I was the one who got cheated on. I did not think twice before I set my mind on telling Anthony. I might have been drunk but this was the first time that I was thinking clearly.
I searched for Anthony until I found him. But, just as I was about to walk to him I felt a strong grip on my arm.
"Don't do that." His voice echoed through my dizzy head.
"Stop!" I yelled at Marco who dragged me outside by the arm. "Let go! Anthony deserves to know the truth." I kept repeating as I tried to pull away from him.
He sighed as he let go of my arm. "It isn't your secret to tell."
I pushed him against the chest when he least expected it. I could not hold my anger in any longer. A Mulaney needed to taste my outrage.
"You knew!" I started hitting him with my fists as he tried to block my swings. "You made me ask him out. You made me make a fool of myself."
"Stop. Stop. Stop!" He held my arms. "Nuelle!" He said in a strict voice as I tried to free myself from his grip.
My head hurt and I was sad, mad— and above all exhausted. I dropped my arms, giving up the fight.
Marco took a step back and ran both his hands through his hair, holding his head. "I'm sorry. I– I didn't know," he pointed at the party that was now quite literally taking place behind us. "I didn't know about this. About any of it. I swear, I didn't know back then." His voice cracked.
"You're full of shit." I said as I was about to walk away.
"And you aren't? Huh? If Gia didn't know about you and Mattia and I were the one to tell her, how would you feel?" He said in an aggressive tone.
Tears prickled my eyes. I gulped not knowing how to reply.
"Is it really Marissa that you're so upset about? Or is it the fact that Mattia just got engaged? I tried to warn you about him, but I was the crazy one, right? Do you like being treated that way? Is that what I need to do?"
His words stung me and made my anger reach a level higher than I could control. I did not realize that my hand had met his face until the sound of the slap reached my ears.
Marco was shocked, we both were. But he remained calm. I chewed the inside of my cheek, unable to move. He took a step forward and slowly his arms wrapped around me. I did not push him away, instead I embraced it.
Perhaps, this was what I was missing— intimacy. The feeling that someone cared. I just happened to look for it in all the wrong places. Not that Marco was the right place, but maybe just accidentally placed at the right time.
I felt his lips brush against my forehead before they were lightly pushed against my skin, placing a kiss.
"Come on, we need to get back inside." He said when raindrops wet us.
I shook my head, "I don't want to see them right now."
"I understand," he took his keys out of his pocket and took me by the hand, leading me to the car.
He opened the door to the passenger seat and waited until I had gotten in before he circled around the car to get in on the other side.
"This whole thing is a fucking joke." He said after a moment of silence.
The car was facing the house and we could see the party in motion. "Those two can't stand each other but they'll sure as hell pretend." He pointed at Cleo and Gia who were engaged in a conversation of their own.
"My sister," he let out a frustrated sigh, still not able to accept what he had seen.
"When did you find out?" I was curious to know.
"After Mattia's accident. I looked into what Tobias was up to," he briefly paused. "When he declined your offer, I knew that something wasn't right. But, I thought it had something to do with the accident. I didn't want to believe it until now."
"I thought she loved Anthony."
He turned towards me, "She does. But, she has always been in love with Tobias. If—" he stopped himself from continuing.
"If what?"
"Nothing. Nothing can justify this behavior. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. And I'm sorry about the way I acted towards you." His hand gently reached for mine.
His apology felt sincere, but somehow I could not get Rafael's words out of my mind.