? ? ADOPTED ? ?

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# Chapter_Fourteen
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Anne's POV
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I slipped my arms into the sleeves of my turtleneck, and wore a jean trouser that stopped at my ankle.
I ran my fingers through my hair (I'm so used to doing that instead of using a comb) and checked myself in the full-length mirror.
Hmm...I still looked like myself. Prudence said I should dress up for dinner. I laughed to myself. Who does that?
With a final look at myself, I slipped my feet into a pair of flip-flops.
On opening the door, a petite woman stood on the other side, dressed in a maid's uniform.
"I was asked to direct you to the dining room," she spoke with a slight bow of her head.
"Um...OK."
I followed as she led me through hallways that we expensively decorated with one form of artwork or another; antique vases and paintings... They were ñíçê. The Salvatore's must have a great taste. Of course they must. They were filthy rich.
With a wistful sigh, I nodded a thank you to the maid and stepped into the room.
It was spacious, and large. Three chandeliers, one huge and gold, and two small and silver, were fixed strategically on the ceiling in such a way that it took the length of the table, which was really long with what I'm guessing must be thirty seats in all. And on three seats sat Portia, Cosima and Sergio, staring at me like I was an alien descending from outer space.
I gulped and took slow and careful steps, trying to see where I'll sit. Portia sat at the head, Sergio on her right and Cosima on her left. Perhaps Emilio will seat next to Sergio, so I took the seat next to Cosima.
She sneered at me. "What cave did you crawl out from?"
"Excuse me?" I asked, not listening to her. I was concentrating on the cutleries; the teaspoon for tea, the bigger one for soup, fork in the left and knife in the right... or was it knife in the left and fork in the right?
Arrgh!!
"I said, look how you're dressing to dinner," she repeated.
I stared at my clothes. What's wrong with my favorite turtleneck polo?
"Who's she, mother?" Sergio asked in a deep tone that made me look up to find him staring at me with... eww, don't go there.
But really, didn't these people know of my 'betrothal' to Emilio?
"Um..I'm..."
"She's your brother's bride," Portia announced dully and waved a hand in my direction.
I saw that Sergio's handsome face screwed up in a frown.
"Where did he get her from?"
"My thought exactly," Cosima chirped in. "I'm thinking that maybe there was a favor somewhere."
"Excuse me," I said more loudly this time. "Didn't any of you know about this?" I asked as I shared a glance to them all.
"Now first of all, you have no right to speak unless you're spoken to," Portia said. "Do you understand? Here we have rules. We do not live life on reckless impulse as you do back in the U S and the A."
"What do you —"
"And, we do not talk back," she cut me off with a cold stare, resting her chin on her linked manicured fingers which glittered from the number of rings on them.
It was pointless saying anything. The food hasn't even arrived, and I'm already uncomfortable.
I nodded, but then my eyes caught Sergio's, and he was still staring at me... like he was sizing me up or something.
"So, tell us your name. Family background. Everything."
"Anne. Anne Sheridan," I replied plainly. What else was I to say?
"Very good, Anne. Now listen to me. Clearly, because I'm only going to say this once. I don't know why Emilio chose you, all the way from New York. But just know this. I value my family, and status. And if you are in anyway a danger, I won't hesitate to call off the marriage."
I could feel myself sweating and cringing from her hard stares. I've never been quite tough. On the outside, yes. But inside, I was easily hurt. And Portia's words hurt deep.
"Am I clear here?"
I choked on the tears.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good."
Just then, the double doors to the kitchen opened and servants came in holding different types of food in trays; they set the table and left.
Portia gave me a smile.
"Enjoy. Dinner is served."
I already lost my appetite.
I stared down at the cutleries and the food before me. I didn't even know anyone. They were all so strange. The silent clink clink as silverware met chinaware... the hushed whispers between Portia and Cosima and Sergio, Sergio's eyes on me, the strange food soaked in wine before me... they all jumbled into one big mess in my head as I fought for control over the wave of dizziness and tears that tried to take over. full length mother of the bride wears look long
Bullies were bullies.
Whether in the form of abusive foster parents, or a classmate in grade school, or a sophisticated woman at the dinning.
And the best way to put them at bay was to tell them off.
I wasn't as bold as that yet. Maybe next time...
But for now, I pushed myself away from the table and ran out.
At the door I bumped into Emilio as he was coming in, but I didn't stop despite his calls to me.
I entered the sanctuary of my blue room and there... like I've always done, I let the tears fall.
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Emilio's POV
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I was late to dinner.
I knew I'll be. Running the wine business and the Mafia at the same time was tiring. But there had to be a reason why papà left both legacies in my name, and non in Sergio's. And I was going to find out that reason, before I thought of splitting the shares.
I got into the back of the car with a smiling Festus at the wheel.
"So, signore, she's here?" he asked.
I sensed the need for gossip, so I said, "Just drive."
Truth be told Anne was on my mind. The way she reacted when she saw me, and when she found out we were getting married was still on my mind.
Did I hurt her so bad that she was filled with such... hatred for me?
I didn't want to think about that now.
I was late to dinner; who knew what Portia had up her sleeves.
"Festus, step on it."
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I watched as Anne sat rigidly at the table, and Portia had a look of satisfaction on her face. I knew that something went wrong.
Just then Anne got away from the table. She bumped into me as I was about entering, but didn't stop to hear what I had to say.
"Oh Emilio, you're just in time for dinner," Portia began in her fake cheerful voice.
"What did you do to Anne?"
"Hey, Emilio, that's no way to talk to our mother," Sergio cut in.
"Oh, and what are you now, the elder brother? Too bad you both lost that role long ago."
"Emilio---"
"No Portia you listen. First of all, stop sitting in my chair. Secondly, keep your meddling fingers off my businesses. Which literally is everything around here. Both if you. If you can't accept that Anne is going to be my wife, then you can swing from the chandeliers. There are three available. Just enough."
I spared Cosima a seconds glance and walked out the dinning towards Anne's room.
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TBC