Lib Novel Page 2
PART 1
Past
Chapter 1
5 years ago
(Nera 19 years old, Kai 29 years old)
“My dear Nera, you look stunning tonight.” The woman in a dark-red silk gown leans in to give me a quick peck on my cheek. Her heavy perfume invades my nostrils, and I struggle to stifle a cough. “Simply glowing.”
“Thanks.” I manage a smile, one that’s just as fake as the woman’s sentiments.
I got my period yesterday and spent the entire night tossing and turning, unable to sleep because the cramps were killing me. There are dark circles under my eyes that the foundation couldn’t cover, and I’m pretty sure my face is still swollen. We both know I look like a wreck, but no one would ever dare say anything of the kind to Nuncio Veronese’s daughter.
“And I love the blouse you’re wearing,” she continues. “Who’s the designer? It must be a super expensive label.”
“My sister made it,” I mumble and throw a glance over my shoulder, searching for my friend Dania, hoping she would save me.
“Oh. It’s adorable.” She smiles. “I was just saying to Oreste how the two of you would make a perfect couple. I’ll tell him to give you a call next week, Nera, my dear. He just bought a new car, the latest Tesla model, and I’m sure you’d enjoy a ride.”
I shudder. Oreste is a well-known manwhore who uses way too much hair gel and practically bathes in cologne, even worse than his mother.
“I’m busy next week. Maybe some other time.”
“Perfect. I’m sure that Don Veronese would approve of the two of you seeing each other.” She grins and leans in to whisper into my ear. “Your father is very fond of my son, and I’m sure he is considering making Oreste a capo.”
And there it is. The real reason she’s trying to set me up with her spawn. Not because she likes me, or because she believes we actually would make a good match, but because her son would have an easier climb up the hierarchy ladder with the don’s daughter as his girlfriend. It doesn’t even surprise me anymore.
“I’m sure he is. Oh, there’s Dania. I need to go say hi.” I grab a glass of iced lemonade from the nearby table and dash toward my friend on the other side of the garden. She’s frantically trying to beckon a waiter and is completely oblivious to my slow suffocation by social politeness. I keep my focus on my best friend as I squeeze my way between the party guests, hoping I won’t get snagged by unwanted eye contact with another person.
“Nera, sweetheart!” Someone from a group to my left brushes my arm as I pass them. “Your hair looks amazing.”
“Thanks.” The ponytail at the top of my head is hardly impressive, but it was the most effort I could manage after I washed my hair this morning.
“Oh, Nera, I didn’t know you were here.” A guy who looks vaguely familiar materializes right in front of me, bringing me to a sudden stop. I think he’s one of the underboss’s nephews. “It’s rather boring here. How about we sneak out and go grab a drink somewhere?”
“Um, no. Thanks.” I step around him, only to come face-to-face with Jaya, Dania’s cousin.
“We missed you on Saturday.” She offers me a huge, fake smile. “Melinda was disappointed when you didn’t turn up.”
Yeah, I’m sure her sister was devastated I didn’t come to her baby shower. Not because she wanted me there to share in her happiness, but because now she can’t say that the don’s daughter attended her party.
“I’ve only met your sister once, Jaya,” I say. “You invited me to her birthday, but when I arrived, she just took the present and didn’t even bother introducing herself to me.”
“She didn’t know who you were! If she did, I’m sure she would have treated you differently.”
“My point exactly. Please pass along my best wishes.”
I leave Jaya staring at my back and rush toward Dania. She’s trying to convince the poor waiter to bring her an alcoholic drink, by the looks of things.
“I need to get out of here,” I whisper as I tug on her arm. “Now.”
“Sure.” She snatches a glass of white wine off the waiter’s tray and lets me drag her across the lawn toward the stone fountain at the back of the garden.
“This should work.” I gesture to the iron bench next to the water feature and take a seat. The shadow of a big oak tree hides us in this spot, despite the nearby lampposts.
Dania throws a look over her shoulder toward the crowd enjoying the night outside the colonial-style mansion on the other side of the property. “Do you think someone will notice us gone?”