Chapter 14: Chapter 14

I have finished getting ready to meet Rebecca at the salon, days ago we planned on getting our hair done together. I want to ask Rebecca if we can postpone until tomorrow but after missing her calls and messages, I don’t think I am in the right place to change our plans. I also have to pack my things from home and get it here since I will now be staying with Richie. I also met some of Richie’s family members. Richie has two step-siblings, Emma and John. The rest of the family members I met are cousins, they came for John’s wedding which will commence in two weeks. John wants a simple wedding so the media doesn’t know about it. He plans on letting the world know about his marriage a month after it. John and Emma seem okay, they are not that bad and I like them already, mostly because they didn’t leave my hand hanging in the air like Emily did.

While taking a shower, I did much thinking and I decided to tell Rebecca everything today, I have never told her about my mom or my true self, I didn’t even tell her why I hate the Maranzano family. Rebecca has always been curious to know the reasons behind my hatred towards the Maranzano family but I told her I will tell her when the time comes and I don’t think there is a better time to tell her than today. I know I should have told her about it long ago but I couldn’t bring myself to talk about it.

I spray perfume on my neck and then on the dress. I am wearing a red off-shoulder gown that Richie bought for me hours ago. It was so nice to come out of the shower and see a lovely dress on the bed with a card that says ‘from Richie’ beside it.

"Oh wow!" I hear Richie say from behind me. I keep the perfume bottle and I begin to turn around and I see his smiling face.

"Do not turn, this is about you." He says

I halt my actions and my heart begins to pound. I stood there, feeling a desire run from my heart, to my chest, and down toward my inner thighs.

His finger touched my neck, and the hair as it was moved away nearly giving me the chills. His hand went from the sides of my head and down to my neck, out to my shoulders, and down to my hands.

He grabbed my hands gently yet firmly, put them in front of me, and paused. I felt safe, he spoke no words. He wraps his arm that isn’t bandaged around my waist and he breathes against my shoulder. My heart is about to beat out of my chest and I close my eyes and take a deep breath. He kisses my shoulder and runs his lips on my skin towards my ear.

"How do you always do this?" He whispers

"Do what?"

"Look beautiful." He kisses my skin. He sways my hair away and begins to kiss my shoulder, and runs his lips on my skin but doesn't quite make it that far as a knock was heard on the door, and before I could say a word a young black-haired lady stood in front of the door.

"I’m sorry to disturb you, but this is necessary." She says. I would have complained about how she just knocked without waiting for a response from us but the door was open so I don’t blame her for anything.

"Marta, please come in." Richie says with his arms still wrapped around my waist."Rach, this is Marta, she’s your new fashion designer and probably your new makeup artist."

"Hi, Marta." I say. She responds with a quick ‘hello’ and a lovely perfect-line smile

I look over at Richie and whisper to him to take his hands off me, I am not comfortable with his hands around my waist with Marta in the room. Richie heard what I said and he looked at Mary who was looking at us.

"I love you too Rach." He says and kisses me. My eyes widen and I looked at Marta, she had that ‘Awwn’ look on her face.

"You guys are so lovely together." She finally speaks out her looks. I roll my eyes and as Marta turns her gaze away from us, I elbowed Richie and got out of his grip. Let’s see how he responds to that with an I love you.

"Ouch! My arm." Richie wince

I didn’t bother to look because I know he was just whining, his arm seem to have gotten much better. He can now move it but he still has a little discomfort while doing that.

"What are these?" I ask Marta immediately some ladies walk into the room with five clothes racks.

"These are the clothes I designed for you. It was short notice so this is all I got for now." She says

Did she just say all these clothes are mine?

"The rest of the clothes will be delivered tomorrow and I think I need your measurements, I had these sewed with my model’s measurements." Marta says

Again, those are my clothes?

"Did you say that all of that is mine?" I point at the clothes racks

"Yes." She nods. I turn my gaze to Richie and I gave him a questioning look. I will love to have those dresses but I can’t accept what I can’t afford. Accepting one dress is okay but accepting too many dresses is just too much.

"I will let guys alone, If you need me, I will be right outside," Marta says and then walks out of the room. She closes the door while she steps out.

"Do not say a word." Richie says almost immediately as Marta steps out

"I have to say something. I mean it’s nice of you to get me these dresses and I appreciate that but I can’t accept it, it’s too much," I say

"I knew you were going to say this. It’s just a gift and I will love it if you accept it."

"But-"

"But nothing Rach, you helped me last night so consider this as a gift. Please. "

"Fine." I sigh "Thank you." I say.

"That’s more like it. Marta will get the remaining dresses, shoes, and accessories by tomorrow or maybe tonight, she’s still working on your outfit for tonight."

"What’s happening tonight?" I ask wondering why Marta will be working on my outfit for tonight.

"We are having a party to celebrate our engagement."

Before I could respond to that, he kissed my cheek "I have to leave now." With that, he walks out of the room.

I take my bag, and phone and head out of the room.

No sooner did I arrive at the salon, I park my car in the parking lot and headed inside.

"Rach, over here," Someone says as soon as I step inside. I look and see Rebbaca across the room. A hairdresser is working on her hair.

"Hey girlfriend, how are you?" I bend down to her level and place a kiss on her cheek.

"I'm good, you?"

"Good, too." I take the seat beside her "So where is Angelina, I thought you said she is coming."

Angelina is Rebecca’s cousin, she lives in Miami but had to come here for business purposes. I don’t know what kind of business Angelina does but I know that she makes a hell lot of money from it.

"She went to get something from my car," Rebecca says

"Oh, alright," I say before asking the hairdresser attending to Rebecca’s hair to get someone to begin mine. I take one of the complimentary water bottles and have a sip. As I'm drinking, Rebecca looks over at me and she had that annoying smile on her face.

"Oh no, now what?" I ask already annoyed by what she will say. Whenever Rebecca looks at me like that, I know that she’s going to say something that will annoy me.

"Oh, it’s nothing." She says

I shrugged and continue to drink the water.

"How was last night? Did you enjoy yourself?" She suddenly asks and I begin to choke. "Take it easy." She rubs my back as I catch my breath.

Her question, ‘did you enjoy yourself?’ was so unexpected. I can’t tell Rebecca that Richie and I almost fucked. If I do, I won’t hear the last of her. She’s gonna go all ‘babydoll, that’s good’ on me.

"So, it did happen." She says smiling at me.

Oh well, that was her plan, to make me choke so I can reveal what happened without saying a word. This girl knows me too well.

"Nothing happened." I say

"You can keep saying that." She smiles looking at the full-length mirror in her front.

"I’m serious Rebecca, nothing happened and besides Richie is injured, there is no way anything would have happened."

"An injury won’t stop a man from fulfilling his desires, babydoll."

That, I can’t argue with her. Richie is injured yet he found his way to my pantie. Thank god I didn’t even in because if I did, I would have regretted it all my life.

"Look at her face, it’s so clear that something happened." Angelina suddenly says from behind me, coming over to us.

"Angelina," I smile as she gets closer, but a pit forms in my stomach at her words.

Taking a seat beside me, she smiles and points. "You guys fucked."

"No!" The word comes out a little higher than I intended. Shutting my eyes, I sink into the chair as I realize that if they didn't know something happened between us before, they definitely do now after that reaction.

"Spill!" Rebecca says, catching on.

"I don't want to talk about it," I say

"Was it that bad?" Rebecca asks. I am surprised that she asked that question.

"Oh come on, it can’t be bad, it’s Richie Maranzano we are talking about. The lady's man." Angelina says the last part seductively. "Look at that smile on her face. It was definitely good." She grins pointing at me.

I wasn’t smiling but the way Angelina looked at me made me smile. "Come on guys, just shut up already," I say feeling a little embarrassed

"Oh please." Rebecca rolls her eyes "I’m dying of suspense here, so you better start talking."

"Yeah Rach, spill it." Angelina says

"Okay fine," I say.

Man! I feel embarrassed about this. "We didn’t have sex." I instantly clarify that part, I had to say that part first so they don’t expect me to narrate a sex story for them.

Rebecca and Angelina were about to talk but I raced them to it "We did have a little moment but it was nothing." I say. It was everything, Richie almost got under me.

They looked at each other and they burst into laughter "A moment." Angelina air quoted "Well, it’s not that hard to believe that Richie resisted having sex with you."

"Woooo woooo woooo. Do not go there, what makes you think he resisted me? I mean, I could have been the one that resist him."

Angelina chortles taking one complimentary water bottle. "I doubt that." She sips the water

"For your information, I resisted Richie, I told him I wasn’t ready." I say

"Okay, if that’s what you want me to believe."

I didn’t respond to her and I turn to look at Rebecca. I looked at says ‘what is wrong with your cousin?’ Rebecca got the hint and she shrugs. Angelina has always been like this, very annoying and irritating.

I take a magazine and begin reading it. "So, I hear the Maranzano family is having a party tonight." Angelina says

"Yeah, it's to celebrate Richie and mine’s engagement." I respond still reading the magazine.

"Ohh, I see," Angelina says not sounding interested. I didn’t say a word and I continued to read the magazine. Suddenly, Angelina stands up and keeps the bag.

"I will be back." She says

"Where are you going?" Rebecca and I ask. She doesn’t respond to that and she just walks out of the salon.

"What’s up with her?" I ask Rebecca

"I don’t know. She’s a weird girl so I’m not really surprised."

Shortly after Angelina left, the hairstylist finished making our hair and we were on our way home. Angelina took Rebecca’s car so I had to drop Rebecca home. On our way, I tell Rebecca all about my mom and the main reason behind me marrying Richie. I thought Rebecca will be mad at me for not telling her that earlier but I am surprised to see that she understand. She tells me that she will always be there to help me and if I need any sort of support, she got my back. Rebecca is a very good friend, I am so glad I have her by my side.

"Stop the car." Rebecca instantly says pulling me out of my thoughts.

I did as she says and I turned to face her, before I could say a word, she pointed out the window. I whine the glass down and take a close look.

"Holy shit!" I muttered. I can’t believe he has been lying to me.