It was a very unusual morning . For the past years living together with my haft sister and Step-mother, this is the first time I'm going to eat breakfast with them that's why it feel so strange. This morning is exceptional.
"Thank you" I whisper when Yaya Adelphi put down a glass of warm water for me.
She just smile and tap my shoulder and then she go back to the kitchen.
"Do you know what happen last night? Did Mommy Adie and Daddy had an argument after the party?" I can't help but to ask Aliah who's sitting across to me
She lift her head and crossed her arm raising her eyebrow to me. I wanted to rolled my eyes because of her unpleasant attitude, but then I wanted to show some respect in front of the food. I don't want to start an arguments too.
"You don't have to answer me" I said plainly and put some strawberry jam on my slice bread.
I heard her snorted as she continue eating her cereals. I'm eating too much carbs lately, I need to burn some calories later. But anyway, she's no fun! I just wanted to get along with her to enjoy the breakfast.
"Good Morning ladies" Dad greeted in strict voice as he sit on the head of the table and beside him is Mommy Adeline who look surprise with me.
"Good morning Mom, Dad" Aliah greeted them kissing their cheeks.
"Good morning sweetheart, sorry about last night" I heard Mommy Adeline whisper and give Aliah a kiss on her temple.
I remain on my seat and just nod my head when Dad look at me giving me serious stare. Is he mad?
"Good morning" I whisper and he tighten his lips and start fixing his table napkin.
I glance Aliah and she mockingly smile at me which I just give her a blank stare not wanting to give her a satisfaction.
We start eating in silent and no one dares to ask question about what happen last night. I really hate the silence that envelope us, they should at least talk. I don't care if they don't want to include me in their conversation, but at least talk.
"Svanna..."Dad called me dragging me back to my reverie "You left without telling me, everyone is finding you in the party" he continue as he wipe the side of his lips.
I lower down my gaze when they all look at me giving me an intriguing look. I was disappointed with him yesterday and at the same time hurt for not introducing me as his daughter, and then that Santorini worsen the situation. I feel harassed because of what he did and at the same time afraid. I'm afraid that Santorini is telling the truth, that's why I left the party.
Everyone are so suffocating to look and all I wanted on that moment is to leave as soon as I can.
"Svanna, I'm asking you" He ask in demanding tone "Gordon said you're not feeling well that's why you decided to go home" he continue.
I almost raised my eyebrow hearing what he said. Gordon did that? I slightly smile and nod my head getting along with the idea.
"Yes, I was dizzy after the performance" I reason out.
"You left the back stage first, you seems fine to me on that moment" Aliah inquire giving me a suspicious stare.
Of course she would do that! She would really find something to disapprove me, as always. I frown and tighten my grip on the fork utensil.
"I didn't do anything wrong aside from not attending the party. I was in my room the whole day sleeping" I explain defending myself against her accusation.
She's really good at accusing someone without knowing the truth. I gritted my teeth before I drink my warm water.
"You should at least inform your father Anna. Mr Santorini is asking your presence, don't you know how-" Dad didn't let Mommy Adeline finish her sentence by calling her name to make her stop.
"But Romano" she insist
"I'll talk to her, let's not fight it again Adeline" he said firmly while holding the cup of his coffee
Mommy Adeline turn her gaze towards me and then she gives me an expression of annoyance before she continue eating.
Curiosity eats me as my mind wonders what happen in the party. I am sure that something happen on the party, and that is the cause of their quarrel last night.
"Let's talk in my office later Svanna" Dad inform me.
"She won't fit Dad! It should be me" Aliah squeal surprisingly.
My forehead creased, where are they coming from? I don't understand them. I don't understand all of these.
"Don't involve yourself Aliah, just focus on you career" Daddy voice out. Aliah was about to insist her idea but Mommy Adeline silence her.
Pouting her lips and creasing her forehead to show disapproval, she still manage to nod her head before she continue eating her cereals.
AFTER BREAKFAST...
Wearing my maroon polka dot organza dress I fix my long black hair before I decided to walk towards my father's office. It was located at the end of the hallway on the second floor, two doors away from the library room.
The sunlight coming from the huge glass window compliment the bright green colors of the leaves from money tree in the corner across the door of my father's office.
I was about to knock the door to announce my presence when I heard a loud slammed inside. I notice that the door was open a bit so I dare to take a look inside.
"Adeline stop it! We're talking about the sponsorship here!" Dad growl sounding so frustrated.
My brows narrowed. Is that the sponsorship from Santorini? I grip my dress and walk closer eavesdropping to their conversation. Out of nowhere I remember what Gordon ask me. No one can really stop my father about the sponsorship. He was so desperate.
"How about Aliah then?! We can have the sponsorship and give Aliah what she wanted" she insisted holding her ground not wanting to lose in their arguments.
"That's not easy! We are talking about the company's future Adeline. The sponsorship is a big deal. We need that sponsorship to gain more investors" my father explain walking back and forth.
"I am sure you don't want us to fight it over again just like last night" she warned Dad, making him stop walking.
I cover my mouth in disbelief. The sponsorship is the cause of their arguments? That terrifying scene last night was just because of that freaking sponsorship from Santorini!
I blew an air in disbelief. This is unbelievable! How could they let greediness swallow their whole? I don't know how big the benefits it could give to the company, but still everything doesn't make sense to me.
"You don't know what you are asking Adeline. I am sure you don't want Aliah to put in danger" Dad affirm sounding so serious.
Danger from? What kind of danger is he talking about?
"Don't use Aliah's safety over me! You're just doing this because you're afraid that you can't keep your promise to Vanda!" She exclaimed and madness is evident on her voice.
My emotion instantly shifted. I fisted my hand and gritted my teeth upon hearing my mother's name. She has nothing to do with this quarrel. They shouldn't include her name.
Frowning, I heard my father sigh in defeat as he walk closer to Mommy Adeline and hugged her. My heart skip in pain. I never saw Dad held my mother like that.
"Vanda has nothing to do with this. It's for the company, I will do everything for the company even if I need to break my promise to Vanda" Dad said firmly.
Realization hits me and my body instantly went rigid as the fear crawl down to my system. I harshly open the door and they both look at me in wide eyes.
I disappointingly look at my father with my accusing eyes. He seems like he was caught on act because of his guilty reaction, but I was too denial to believe everything.
"How far are you willing to risk for the company Dad?" I bravely ask him wanting to demand a honest answer.
Clearing his throat it seems like I saw myself on his eyes as he look at me intently.
"Far from what you imagine" he answered in low stern voice
A single tear escape in my eyes as I confirm everything, feeling betrayed and in pain.
"That's why you sold me to Santorini" I stated that turns him voiceless.
"Dad answer me!" I scream loudly while my tears are streaming down to my face."Don't raised your voice young woman! I'm still your father" he authoritatively stated and all I could do is to shake my head.Did he really betrayed me? Did he really gave me to Santorini for the sake of the sponsorship that he wanted? How could he do that to me?"I have nothing to explain Svanna, wipe your tears and go back to your room" he remark and turn his back on me.A sob escape in my mouth before I left his office, I even saw Aliah on the doorway but I just ignore her and run back to my room.I lock my door and slammed myself on the bed hugging the pillow to find comfort. But then no matter how I tried to hug the pillow I used to be my shoulder to lean on, the heavy feeling on my chest just become difficult to handle. How could my father do that? He doesn't even explain his self. He should at least explain everything to me.I
"What are you doing here?" I hissed in panicked and walk closer to him. I roamed my eyes around afraid that someone might caught me."I didn't know you can climb that high" he utter in low baritone voice.It was my instinctive reaction to step back. He's really intimidating everytime he utter a words. He sound so authoritative although he's just being casual to me, I guess?"Just pretend you didn't saw me" I told him and fix my shirt and cap.I start walking when he intentionally block my way. Forehead creased I raised my head and was about to exclaimed but for the first time I lost my words seeing him standing in front of me.His two block messy hair makes him more gorgeous. With his well shaped manly eyebrows, dark grey piercing eyes that are intense when he look at me, straight and pointed nose, sexy moistened lips that he just licked a while ago, well sculpted jaw line that clenched when he's annoyed is enoughed fo
We walk silently and every time the wind blows Vicenzo hand instantly rubbed my back slowly and I can't help but to frown because of discomfort.We walk for more seconds and stop when I saw the small ballerina statue that was place in front of the grave of my mother.Automatically my lips curved into a smile and walk closer."It's been a long time Mom" I greeted with a smile and sitted on the ground "I'm sorry, I didn't planned my visit that's why I don't have flowers with me" I smilingly mutterMy hand trace her name that was carved on the stone. Dad doesn't want me to visit her, I don't know her reason but he's not allowing me to visit Mom even on her death anniversary."I'm a prima ballerina now. Dad permitted me to dance in the famouse Zeneca Theater, and it feel so great. I was like floating" I said chuckling pulling the grass on the ground.The night breeze is giving me comfort although I'm shivering a little.&n
"First posistion, Second position, Third posistion, Fourth posistion, Fifth posistion... one, one two four. one, one two five. one, one two lift" I spin using my one foot extending the other one. I do it continuously until I reach the barre.I inhale and exhale and hold the barre tightly, bending my body extending my legs on my back trying to reach my toe with my hand before I turn around lifting my body with my haft bend feet after a successful move. And then I collapsed on the floor breathing heavily because of exerting too much energy.I groaned because of the muscle ache on my legs. I've been practicing since this morning. I gained weight a littl maybe because I ate a lot lately so I need to burn some fats, also my mind is in chaos right now. I still can remember the last time I saw Vicenzo, it's been two days now. My father is not talking to me, he is mad obviously but then I don't understand.Why would he get mad at me? It should be the other way around be
"Vicenzo came here before he left the country. Is that true?" Dad confront me in strict voice giving me a suspicious stare.I studied his face and he really aged a lot. The wrinkles on his face is enoughed for me to conclude that he is really getting older. The sign of aging is so visible on his face yet it can't conceal his strict looking face.He's still the father that I used to adore. But then, I don't know if I still adore him after what he did to me."Svanna, are you really going to continue this stubbornness? Don't you know what Santorini could give to our family? Zeneca will be prosperous once you become his wife" he said in frustration when I didn't open my mouth to answer him.I shook my head feeling the disappointment towards my father. Am I really nothing to him?"Your sister Aliah. If you just know how she beg to me, for her to marry Vicenzo, because she knows what kind of honor she could give to this family if she was just you" he fru
"What if I am force to trust him?" I whisper when the car stop in front of the coffee shop."Then you must find a way to protect yourself Young Lady, because everyone are watching you now" he utter making me fall into silent.I heard him unfasten his seatbelt but I remain not moving. I just realize that, if things get out of control I'll end up trusting Vicenzo neither I like it or not because that's the least thing I could do for myself. That's the only way for me to protect myself.We are not in control of everything. And no matter how I tried to resist the fate that they wanted me to have, if that was really meant to be, then I'll end up losing because that was bound to happen."I wanted to understand the reason behind the action. I wanted to validate Dad's reason because he is my father. As much as possible I wanted to seek an answer even if it was just a lie, for me to believe him" I mumble under my breath " If they were struggling because I keep on
"What do you mean?" He ask in alarmed tone which made me shook my head.I breath heavily and hide my hand under the table. I shake my head- no, I am just making conclusion and accusing him. Yes, at first look Vicenzo is really intimidating. As what I define him, his unlawful beauty is screaming with roughness and unyielding authority. The way he stand speaks for power, he stand like a tyrant king. His mere presence is enoughed for you to doubt your safety and his voice that could send chill to your body.Although he is like that, I think it's too much to accuse him of something like putting my family in danger once we tangle our name with him.That's too much I guess, because as far as I can remember he didn't dare to hurt me when I was with him that night. I know he was a bit stern and he also look scary. Even just the way he speak with hardening tone, but it was a bit harsh that Gianni accuse him like that."Svanna Rose" Gianni called me making me sighe
I wave my hand to Gianni and he also did the same thing. I watch him leave while I'm standing on the balcony of my room. I grip the coat he gave me, it is indeed cold. The weather is gloomy, the wind is cold . All the broad sky was grey indicating of coming rain.I raised my hand on the air and stared at the bracelet Gianni gave me. It is really beautiful and fascinating. My lips curved into a haft smile but I stop when I notice someone is watching me across the street. I stood straight when I saw a man and narrowed my eyes trying to recognize him but then he's too far from me and I can't even figure out the detailed of his face. I watch him as he turn around and walk away until he disappear on my sight."What was that?" I mumble to myself and walk inside my room.I stumped across the window-seat pulling my legs up and covering it with Gianni's coat. I stared out the beautiful flower garden of Mommy Adeline while listening to the soothing sound of piano keys com