CHIARA
Sleep was always a torture to me, but last night was the most torturous night of my life. I tossed and turned trying to get a certain black-eyed bastard out of my mind. I kept questioning myself why he wouldn't let me kiss him. He embarrassed me and made me feel like a pathetic and worthless slut for two times straight! I'd never been so embarrassed in my life, especially when I was the kind of woman who could get any man I wanted once I put my mind to it. Jokes aside, my ego wasn't hurt, it was crushed into pieces of grains.
At first light, I rose to my feet, refreshed and went straight to the basement. The guard who was stationed down there was still asleep, so I kicked his chair, and he quickly got on his feet. "Good morning young Madam!" he said, his eyes so red they irked me. "It's not. Open the door or hand me the keys." I said. He looked like I threw a bucket of cold water on him "Err… did sir permit you to?" he asked nervously. I looked him up and down, "Why else would I be here? You're wasting my time." Annoyance tasted bitter in my mouth. He searched himself for the key and opened with panicking hands.
I haven't even touched him for God's sake. Was I that scary?
As expected, the room was filled with gems. After all, what could you possibly expect from an old money Mafia with a reputation of theft and smuggling all over Italy? I smirked as my mind began to calculate the pieces of arts that I wanted for Terra and Tela. Safiya will be so happy to see them, and who knows, maybe even inspired for our art exhibition.
I collected about ten valuable paintings and called the guard. "Bring them all to my room upstairs, quick." I sighed when he wasn't moving. "I'll have to cut one of your ears if I have to repeat myself again." I said.
My slippers clicked on the floor as I made my way upstairs. I reached for my phone in the pocket of my jean shorts behind and received it. "Speak." I said, blowing my fresh mint painted nails. "What did you say? Come again?" I halted half stairs, frowning deeply. "What do you fucking mean my car got stolen? Wasn't it supposed to arrive this evening?" I asked, irritation burning my skin. "Listen, I don't care what happened. I need my car delivered before sunset. Useless worm!" I hung the phone and almost smacked it across the walls.
When I said, I liked to spoil myself on my birthdays, it started with a new car every year. Its either they deliver my fucking Bugatti Chiron or there was no color I wouldn't show them if they haven't delivered it come evening. I stomped to my bedroom, fuming. The moment the door opened, confetti went off, followed by a birthday song.
Marco brought the chocolate cake toward me "Blow them and make a wish." He said. I scoffed, "Sorry to burst your bubbles but wishes don't work." I said but blew the candles off anyway. "Happy birthday sister." He said and leaned in to kiss my cheeks. I faced Mama who had tears in her eyes "My beautiful baby girl is now thirty. Where is time running to?" She engulfed me in a hug. "Time is not going anywhere, Mamma. I can't always stay twenty." I hugged her back, smiling. I've been religiously avoiding the two of them and look how happy they were without me. This was what Antonio wanted. But it was also my way of protecting them from him.
Marco gave his gift. A wooden black horse. It had Prince Initials curved on the side of its tummy. Tears filled my eyes, and I hugged him. I haven't been to the stables or rode any other horse since his death. "Thank you." I murmured when we pulled back. Then Mama gave me her gift. "It's not much, but I hope you like it." What my Mamma didn't know was she could give me a stone, and I would still see it as the most beautiful one in the world.
"Do you like it? I had Marco secretly make it for you." She said beaming. "Do I like it? Mama, I love it!" How could I say not?
The gold necklace had three letters on it, which made me tear up profusely. C for Chiara, L for Laura and S for Simone as in my real father's name. I held on to it, "I missed him." I murmured. Mama gave me a back hug. "Me too honey, me too." She said.
A knock came at the door and then a maid came in. "Madam Chiara, there is a delivery for you at the gates." I frowned, wiping my tears. "Tell them I'll be there soon." I said and quickly rushed to the washroom. Marco drove me in his car to the gate. No delivery was allowed in this mansion unless it was a confirmed order by the head of the security.
Both Marco and I stepped out and met with a whole truck. Then a guy with blue uniforms, probably from a delivery company approached us. "Are you Miss Marino?" he asked. I nodded "Yes I am." He directed the signature book to me, "Please sign here." I did as said. And then he ordered his man to take down the things. My eyes bulged when I saw the car. It was indeed my Bugatti. What shocked me further was that I was planning to paint it the same color after its arrival.
A big square shaped thing wrapped in white papers was next. I gasped. "What is it?" Marco asked. "Please tell me this is not what I think it is." I walked closer and pulled the wrappers and my eyes grew in size as well as my heart slowed for a bit. "No way! I lost this painting to some anonymous bidder last week Marco. How is it here?" But the gifts weren't done. Boxes of jewelries and bouquets of flowers, all were the types I loved. I covered my mouth.
"Are you telling me you didn't order all these?" Marco asked, confused as I was. "No! I mean yes for the car but the rest no. I didn't order them." I faced the delivery guy in charge. "Excuse me, who sent me these?" The man reached inside his jacket and took out a letter, "He didn't give his name, but he said to give you this." Then he got into the tuck and left with his men. "What the hell? Do you have secret admirers nowadays, sister?"
I shrugged looking at the things, and then hurriedly opened the letter.
"Hey gorgeous. Did you like my gifts? I truly hope you have. Oh, and I was impressed by the drift stunt you pulled on me that day. Unfortunately, the feds are family. Anyway, enjoy. Happy birthday, love. Don't waste your time searching for me. Just know I'm your other half."
Marco took the letter from my hands while I was left stunned and speechless as I recalled the day I got my masked stalker caught by the police. Yes I had a stalker. He followed me while I was coming back from some event I can't remember. I'd made sure to block the path until the police arrived and caught him. Who the fuck was he? What? My other half? I didn't even know how to process that.