Roxana

Stefano didn't linger that night. We didn't have sex as I feared he might want to but I know it might come to that eventually.

He didn't lock the door, as we agreed. This morning I venture outside with the intention to avoid him and find a phone.

I am wearing the same clothes five days in a row, which started to become a problem two days ago. I am not sure how to solve these issues; maybe I can request some? God knows how this works. Not that I am complaining, but I would have expected Stefano to want sex, since he didn't, I am unsure what he wants.

He seems to not be home, so the first thing I do is to look for Tomaso who turns out to also not be around. A bit unsure what to do, I head to the garden to have a walk.

From a distance, I see Lisa, with poofy eyes and disheveled hair talking to the brunette girl that I saw from the window. No, they are not talking they are arguing. Hmm...

"Take this as a warning," says the brunette girl to Lisa and walks past me eyeing me also from head to toe.

"Are you the new acquisition? God, you look crappy. His taste goes from bad to worse," she scoffs.

I walk toward Lisa and lean on the wall to her right with my arms folded over my chest.

"I think it's time for an honest conversation. Why in God's name are you here? You can't say it's for the cash because your family is not poor and you are quite smart, you can get another job at any point. You also cannot say it's because you are in love with Stefano because I don't believe that either; you wouldn't be here crying if you were. So why?"

She exhales and the tears start to roll freely over her face.

"Me... and Christian. We, we are together. We have been for three years already. I love him. He... he promised he would leave his wife a... after we finish this project because he needs money for the divorce."

"Are you out of your mind?" I almost scream.

She does not scream back as I would have expected, she just starts ugly crying and I can't help feeling bad and wrapping my arms around her.

"There, there," I say patting her back, feeling understandably awkward. "Look, Lisa... I know firsthand that Christian can be very charming and very... persuasive but... If he would love you he would never, never freaking ever, let Stefano do to you what he does. For fuck's sake, the man is trying to have a child with you. A freaking child... You might actually get pregnant."

"No... I... Take pills... But don't tell him."

I am not sure why this is unsettling me more than it eases my anxiety.

"And you?" she asks with a jittery voice.

"My father owes a lot of money to the mob in my country. No bank can give me such a loan so I asked Stefano and he said yes. And now I have to stay here for a year."

She just looks at me frightened.

"I... I am sorry. I... I never actually hated you... I was just jealous and afraid Christian would like you too much."

"Don't worry, he doesn't. For sure not. Now most certainly not."

I can't help feeling pity for Lisa; at least I am doing everything for someone who I love and who loves me back but she is just being used shamelessly.

"Lisa, Stefano is dangerous, I think. You should quit, go away and leave everything behind, including Christian, or him most of all."

"I know," she sniffs. "I was suspecting it. There were rumours that he dabbles in illegal stuff. That's why nobody wanted to come down here and... The Polish worker troupe left because... because there were gunshots fired in here but... How can he do this to me?"

"I honestly don't know..."

And I was thinking he was treating me poorly.

From the distance I see the brunette heading over again.

"Who is she?" I whisper to Lisa.

"That bitch? That's Chiara, Stefano's ex. I am feeling sorry for her because she recently lost her daughter but rarely have I seen someone so mean and dangerous; so better stay out of her way though I don't know if you will be able to since Stefano will most probably want you to sleep with him eventually."

She has a point there. No offence, Lisa, now I understand why, but you were really mean too.

"Daughter? Her and Stefano's daughter you mean?" I ask while my jaw pops open. That little girl, Marco's niece. "How did that happen?"

"I don't know for sure but I overheard some phone calls of Stefano's and it appears that she was killed. Like real homicide as you see on TV."

"By whom?" I ask feeling how the blood drains from my face. What other viable reason would you have to want your brother dead unless... Killing your daughter. Yeah, that seems a viable reason.

"Shhh," Lisa silences me as Chiara gets closer.

"Never mind, I think I know," I say and can't keep my hands from shaking.

That's not fucking possible. Would he really? He seemed to love the little girl and seemed also like having the personality of a baby Labrador once you get to know him not a damn killer.

"What's your name, blondie?" asks Chiara and both me and Lisa lift our heads."Not you, the short one."

Now I know it's me.

"I am Roxana. How can I help?" I ask timidly.

"Come with me."

"Where to?"

"To the house, genius. I need to help you find a dress. Though I don't know if anything that I have will fit you."

"Me neither," I mumble looking at her long legs and massive chest.

"I do need some clothes but not necessarily a dress and not right now, if that's inconvenient for you. So what for?"

"Stefano is taking you out."

Damn.

"Out, where?"

"To some business meeting. He didn't tell me more, just that I have to make you look hot. I said I will try but nobody can do magic..."

Hey, I know I don't look my best but no need to be that mean.

In the next hours, I have to admit that Chiara did her best to make me look... Not sure how to call it.

All the unfashionable hair from my body got removed and my nails were done by professionals under her supervision. Then she proceeded to find a dress for me and to do my hair and make-up herself.

"You are good at it," I compliment her honestly.

"Of course I am. I was runner-up for Miss Sicilia in 2018."

"Cool... Congrats..." I say, watching as my attempt at a conversation gets cut off.

"Try these on." She points at some knee-high boots of the same silver sparkle colour as the tiny dress I had to squeeze myself in.

I am quite tiny by all means but this dress is the tiniest, tightest, skimpiest thing I have ever worn. It stops maybe four solid fingers below your ass and has a loose neckline that plunges till below your belly button.

"Where did you wear this dress again?"

"Clubbing. Take care to not ruin it; it's Dior."

"Sure," I answer, raising my hands defensively.

Someone knocks on the door. For sure not Stefano, he is not the knocking type; he would just barge in.

"Si," acknowledges Chiara.

Tomaso steps in. He is wearing an elegant suit, more elegant than usual, but his expression turns conflicted when he is looking at me. Can't blame him, I probably remind him of a disco ball or Christmas decoration with all the sparkle.

"Roxana you look..."

Like a hoe?

"Sparkling?" I ask grinning with all my teeth to hide the nervousness.

"Yes. Like an attention magnet."

"Where are we going tonight? I have not gotten much information."

"To an important gathering in Napoli."

"And with all due respect, why am I coming? And why am I coming dressed like this?"

"Now how can I explain... You have the role of a trophy."

"Well, okay. I have been called worse."

"Let's go. Don Stefano is waiting," he says offering his arm so that I can balance better on my really high heels while walking on the cobblestones in the yard.

"We are driving alone?" I ask, genuinely wondering.

"Yes, Don Stefano will meet us on the way. It's a five-hour drive so you need to be patient."

"I am lacking many things but at this particular moment of my life, that most of all."

He gives me a tight smile and tightens fatherly my seatbelt. 

The silence feels heavy during the five hours and at some point, Tomaso can't help asking, "How did it come to this?"

"I needed money desperately and Don Stefano offered to loan me that."

"For what did you need money that desperately? You know, Don Stefano is not the... kindest... Lover."

"I know..." I can still feel the burn mark from yesterday hurting.

"I... Would have helped you. Why didn't you ask me?"

"You were not there and neither was Marco and it was urgent," I answer annoyed by his blameful tone.

"Now I can't intervene anymore without making him angry and he will take it out on you."

"It's okay. I will manage," I say and look away out the window at the vanishing landscape.

After a while, I realize I am being stupid and this is a very good occasion to ask questions.

"What do I have to know about this party?"

"There will be the creme de la creme of the gangster world."

"So you guys actually are... Gangsters?"

"Businessmen. There is really almost no difference."

Businessmen don't kill or maim people that owe them money they just fucking sue you.

"Mhm. I, have experience with eastern businessmen."

"I know. We were asked about you."

So you were the guys that gave Vitali the information. I can't help the hate and bile rising from my stomach.

My scornful silence is interrupted by the car stopping in a parking lot.

"You have to move to the other car. Don Stefano is waiting. Don't worry, only twenty minutes left till we reach the villa."

Don't tell me not to worry, you are not the one dressed in this sparkling something and are going to spend the next twenty minutes with that dude. Well, it is what it is.

I close the door of the Bentley and take a seat as far away from Stefano as possible. It seems actually quite fine since another girl who is dressed even more scarcely than me, if that is possible, is on his lap.

"Come here, kitten," he says eventually.

I slide a bit close. He just proceeds to push the girl off his lap and signals me to take her place. I comply halfheartedly.

"I have a present for you."

Please make the present not be attached to your body. But unexpectedly he opens a box and takes out a solid silver collar that he fastens around my neck.

Whatever floats your boat and brings me to my million. The silver chains that are attached to the collar bounce on the very generously cut front section of my dress.

We arrive shortly after. The building in front of us is very modern and minimal, vividly contrasting with Stefano's villa.

"Benvenuto!/ Welcome!" says a man in his early sixties who is waiting for us at the entrance. He is rather short and his white hair is gelled back. By his side is a girl, probably a few years older than me, dressed in a black pants suit. Her brown hair is cropped short which emphasizes her very beautiful bone structure and nauseatingly big hazel eyes. She has a bit of a masculine flair that suits her. I can't help perceiving her as incredibly attractive. She looks at me briefly and smiles somehow alluringly, stretching her pleasantly coloured full lips. Something about her reminds me of Kary.

Both of them kiss Stefano on both cheeks and don't pay me or the other two girls any attention. We are treated more or less like furniture or pets as we walk obediently two steps behind Stefano and Tomaso.

"Giovanni, È un piacere vederti. Rosangela, anche te,/ Giovanni, it's a pleasure seeing you. Rosangela, you too."

Without being asked, Stefano and Tomaso put the guns they are carrying on a silver platter and we continue walking inside and descending some stairs.

We are led to a big room, decorated in the style of a gentleman's club: dim lights, cigar smoke, leather, alcohol and women. I suddenly feel dressed appropriately, for my role at least.

Stefano sits down on an armchair. Tomaso is standing behind him and I look at them a bit awkward not knowing where to put myself and my sparkling dress. The other girl proceeds to sit on his lap but he just frowns at her and she stands up walking away.

"Come here, kitten," he says to me and I comply, walking closer. Grabbing my hand he pulls me on his lap and I sit there stiff and profusely uncomfortable.

All the people in this room are dangerous, too dangerous, so best not to stand out. I recognize the older gentleman from Stefano's party from a while ago and the attractive Arabian man I saw walking the grounds with Marco. He is one of the few who does not have a girl on his lap because even Rosangela does.

Fuck, I was staring too long and he noticed and now he is looking back. Eyes on the ground from now on, Roxi.

"Looks like Aziz likes you," whispers Stefano and starts moving his palm on my upper thigh.

"Who is that?"

"That guy over there that looks constipated."

"Ahm. Is that good or bad?"

"It's... Interesting. Potentially useful."

As stated, eyes on the ground from now on. It is just that the whole room starts to whisper and Stefano's hand suddenly clenches on my thigh, so almost unwillingly, I raise my eyes too, to feel like being struck by lightning.

He never wears white. Or I never saw him wearing white so this one time it only emphasizes the effect of whatever is happening and I can't help staring and sighing slightly. He looks back at me and we stare at each other and for a brief moment, the rest of the room ceases to exist.

"Eyes on me, kitten," whispers Stefano and tilts my chin to face him.

"Y... yes, sir," I manage to say, gutted and feeling how tears creep into my eyes.

Not that I have had time to deal with my issues but now a lot of unresolved stuff and an amalgam of feelings that I cannot place properly crash down on me and I just want to disappear, not sit half-naked on Stefano's lap.

"Che cazzo ci fa qui?/What the fucking hell is he doing here?"

"No lo so./ I don't know," answers Tomaso, his voice sounding almost frightened.

Even if I look at Stefano's face and see the angry but guarded expression, I feel Marco's eyes on me and the goosebumps building up on my arms.

"You know what? How about you dance for us, kitten?" says Stefano, grinning maliciously.

"D... dance?" I stutter.

"Yes, you are good at it, aren't you?"

Aren't I? ...

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