It has been two weeks since my father announced that I was getting married to Lorenzo. I have done everything in my power to research on him and even get news about him from other people, but it is almost like he is a living ghost- an ancient relic. Everyone knows about him but no one knows him.

I haven’t seen or heard from him, and he hasn’t reached out to me. My father’s plan seems more absurd and impossible to obtain right now.

In the last two weeks, I have been training with Laurent even more than usual. He has strict orders not to bruise or hurt me, but that’s practically impossible given the nature of our training.

Other than Laurent, I have been training with a lady, I call her fox eyes; she has these sharp and attentive features that make it look as if she is staring into your very soul. She has been training me on how to be a docile housewife. I already know the proper etiquette and how to behave in our world, but father is scared that one day my temper will get the best of me and Lorenzo would realize what I have planned for him.

Fox eyes isn’t a totally horrible person so I don’t mind the lessons. It has been a good way to keep my mind off of the engagement party that is taking place today.

Father arranged for it to happen in the same place that the announcement was made. It will start around 7 and go on from there.

I was made to take out my braids last week- father said they looked old and worn, and uncivilized for the event at hand. He wanted to get my hair straightened but I fought him on that. I have never used heat on my hair, and I don’t plan on starting now because of a man I don’t even know.

I ended up with a single bubble braid down my back, and even though he didn’t like that I refused his choice, he didn’t complain.

Yesterday was a very hectic day; I got my nails done a simple light pink color with French tips. I went shopping for my shoes and my dress came back from the stylists who were getting it altered. I didn’t try it on yesterday, but I am about to now, and I hope- no I pray for their sakes, they got it right. Because father is on a warpath right now, and if anything is less than perfect, someone will get punished for it.

The stylists helped me put it on, and I couldn’t help but stare in awe at how beautiful it looked and felt on my body.

The dress is in my signature pink color, but leaning towards a neutral blush tone. It is a short dress that stops around my lower thighs, but it has a sort of cape attached to my waist that flares out to the ground giving it an aura of decency.

The torso side of the dress has a corset like feel and the thick straps fell off my shoulder and onto my upper bicep.

This is perhaps the most scandalous dress I have ever worn to a public event. I don’t know how father will take it, and perhaps I don’t care because I am doing this entire wedding for him, the least he can do is let me choose a dress for me.

The stylists finished up the last touches on my makeup. It was on the simple end since my dress was already a bold choice. They kept my face looking completely natural with minimal eye shadow and glossy lined lips.

When they were done, they helped me slide into a pair of silver heels, did my edges and finally I was ready.

One of them asked to take me down but I refused and dismissed them all from my room. As soon as they left, I exhaled deeply and found my eyes in the mirror. I stared at the girl hunched over her vanity in a pretty dress and shoved back the emotions that were threatening to overwhelm me.

I am doing this for my family.

I repeated this phrase in my head until it gave me the semblance of ease, and finally made my way down the stairs.

Father was waiting for me at the foot of the stairs, and he frowned when he saw me.

“I didn’t see this dress,” he said as he took in my appearance, “It’s too revealing; you look like a hooker at the club.”

“The best way to catch the attention of a man like Lorenzo is to look appealing,” I rehearsed my response to his disapproval the day I chose this dress, “If I look too decent, I will risk him thinking that I am boring. But this way, I look both desirable and naïve.”

Father stared at me for a second, and I thought he was going to get angry, hit me and tell me to change. But at the last minute he smiled, congratulated me for my quick and smart thinking and held out his hand for me to take.

I sighed in relief and let him lead me out to the car.

The night was young, but the party was alive. All the guests were present and mingling when father and I arrived at the venue. They all stopped and openly stared at us as we walked in, but I kept my head high and my nose in the air as I followed father to the table where Giovanni and Mario were already waiting.

“Is he here?” father asked and Giovanni shook his head, “We have to make the announcement soon; he better not disgrace me.”

They delved into rapid Italian and I kept my boredom at bay by swirling a glass of champagne in my hand. A few girls came up to me to tell me how beautiful I looked and how they couldn’t wait for the wedding.

I remembered one of them as the girl who was rude to me the day father made the announcement. I gave them all pretty smiles and thanked them but didn’t engage with them. I have no time for fake people. Their only reason for speaking to me is because they want to be bridesmaids at my wedding. It would give them immense bragging rights.

Ten minutes after we arrived, the atmosphere shifted, and I knew that Lorenzo had arrived. I turned to face the entrance, and saw him walk in with Alessandro by his side, a new guy I haven’t seen before and a girl.

They came over to us and while the men gave their greetings, the girl came over to my side.

She looks a bit younger than me, I would say she is eighteen or nineteen. She has the most luscious blond hair I have ever seen, with soft baby blue eyes. Freckles line the length of her nose and when she smiled, I saw the hint of a dimple.

She is shorter than me, even in her heels, and I had this overwhelming urge to protect her because she is sunshine, flowers and everything pretty. She doesn’t deserve to be in this world, because it will snuff her out like a light.

Her dress was short ivory number with puffy sleeves, a tulle skirt, and when she turned, there was a huge bow in the centre of her back and her hair was in cute ringlets framing her face.

“Hi,” she whispered to me, “I’m Evelyn, but you can call me Evie or Eve.”

I smiled softly, “I’m Isabella.”

She seemed happy that I responded because her lips pulled back into the most radiant smile I have ever seen. She opened her mouth to say something, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her, and she retreated behind her cousin.

Lorenzo Russo stood in front of me, and just like before he towered over me. I had to crane my neck to look at him, and he held out his hand to me. I took it and he placed a soft kiss on the back of my palm. It was simple and chaste but I felt it all the way down to my core.

“You’ve met Alessandro before,” he gestured to his consigliere, “This is my cousin Evelyn who will be staying with you until the wedding, and this is Emilio- my enforcer.”

“It’s nice to meet you all.”

Emilio gave a grunt and I used the opportunity to really look at him. Compared to the others, he looked really put together. His suit was ironed perfectly and his hair was slicked back with not a single strand out of place. He looked the most normal out of the three but there was no mistaking those intelligent eyes that seemed to map out the entire room and the hardness to his mouth.

His eyes found mine and I gave a short nod, his eyes narrowed but otherwise, he didn’t say anything.

Father left to make the rounds, and Evelyn sat next to me. The three men didn’t sit with us, but they stood near enough that if anything went wrong, they could easily be available.

Evelyn told me about herself while I waited for my father to make the official announcement and introductions. She is eighteen and an only child, her mother died during childbirth like mine, and her father was killed during a war. She has lived with Lorenzo all her life so she thinks he is a big teddy bear, and she is very excited to have a sister.

Her enthusiasm was contagious but I couldn’t help but worry for her. She is a goldfish in a sea of sharks, and it was obvious from the way the men in the room stared at her. I gave death glares to whoever caught my eye, but I didn’t need to because Lorenzo’s piercing gaze was enough to make them scurry away.

Finally father climbed the stage, and gave a toast to Lorenzo and I. I gave my most charming smile in response and the music began.

It was customary for the engaged couple to have the first dance, but somehow I doubted Lorenzo would dance with me until he came to my side and offered up his hand. Evelyn all but squealed as I took it.

He led me to the floor and when his hand came in contact with my waist, my spine straightened immediately. Even through my dress, I could feel the searing heat of his palm.

We danced in silence and everyone watched us with rapt attention. Only when the first dance is over will they join in.

Their attention and the eyes felt too much, but what made it worse was the bored almost annoyed look on Lorenzo’s face.

“You should at least try to look happy to dance with me.” I couldn’t stop the bite from coming out. He raised a brow at me but didn’t say a word. “I know you’re only doing this as a duty, I’m not naïve. But you could try to look happy about it.”

He still didn’t respond, and when the song was over I tried to leave, but he kept a firm grip on my waist.

“I’m adhering your traditions of being civil with you until we are married,” he whispered, “You wouldn’t know what to do with me if I danced with you like I was happy.”

After the last word left his lips, he let go of me and I stumbled almost drunkenly back to my seat.

Evelyn stared at me with wide eyes but I just shrugged in response.

She delved into another conversation and while I was listening to her, I felt a hand on my bare shoulder. My skin prickled at the feel of Mario’s hand on my shoulder.

“Would you like to dance Isabella?” his eyes were on my chest but his hand was stretched out towards me. I hesitated and he all but tugged me out of my chair. “It’s tradition.”

He held my hand in a bruising grip and whispered, “You look beautiful tonight. Your skin is glowing.”

I held back the bile that rushed to the back of my throat. He started to pull me towards the dance floor but Lorenzo stepped in our way.

“She’s done dancing,” his tone held no room for discussion and Mario must have been as shocked as I was because his grip loosened and I quickly jerked my hand away.

“You don’t make the orders around here,” Mario tried to look intimidating but was failing.

“That might be true,” Lorenzo agreed, “But she is my fiancée and I said she is done dancing.”

The room had gone quiet. My eyes found my father and he was watching the scene with a blank expression but amusement in his eyes.

Mario’s face grew red with embarrassment but he stalked away.

Lorenzo reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver band. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. I would have to deal with whatever over extravagant ring he decided to get for me. I could almost feel the weight of the band and held back a shiver.

When he slipped it on my hand, I realized how light it was. I looked at it and was relieved when I saw that it was a simple silver band. It glittered with tiny immaculate stones but there was no oversized rock, much to my relief.

He led me back to my seat and turned to Emilio, “No one dances or approaches them again.”

It was a simple order, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear. Emilio nodded and Lorenzo went back to his conversation.

I was shocked by his actions, so I sought out familiar faces in the crowd.

I saw Laurent staring at me with shock, Giovanni looked equal parts confused and impressed. Finally, I found my father. When he caught me looking at him, he raised his glass towards me, as if to say, well done.