Adopted – Episode 9

ADOPTED – Episode 9

© Happy William

#Airport

#New_York

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Anne’s POV

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To be cool and cold and unemotional.

That was the only way I was going to survive this.

I snuggled into my passenger seat on the plane to get more comfortable. But nothing could make me relax now.

And it’s not because of the marriage to whoever.

I’ve never been on a plane before. This was a whole new experience I was willing to try out, despite being uneasy and excited at the same time.

I looked out to the front as an air hostess was signing the safety precautions that was being echoed over the speakers… and then we were warned to get ready for takeoff.

First the plane glided slowly on the runway, then it picked up speed smoothly, and before I knew it, it was taking off!

OMG!

The feeling of being airborne. . . that moment when even gravity had no power over you and you could just float away. . .that was an awesome feeling. I was tempted to unbuckle my seatbelt and float right out of the plane, away from everything that clouded my life.

But soon the feeling was gone, and we were on air.

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I remember what had happened this morning.

I was unable to sleep throughout the night because I kept tossing and thinking.

What if the man I was going to marry was quite old? I’ve heard of things like that, and I dreaded it.

It was then that I’d come up with my mantra; my new motto which I kept repeating to myself;

Cool…

Cold…

Unemotional…

It was the only way I was going to survive.

As a young girl I’ve always dreamed of a family. A happy family with no cares, no worries at all.

Now reality had given me a slap in the face, telling me that fantasies weren’t real.

Mom and dad seemed reluctant to let me go. They seemed really unsure of anything this morning. But the fact that my tickets, visa and everything was booked told me plainly that they’d planned this all along.

Although I was angry with them, I couldn’t resist giving them a final hug, before I left.

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I looked out of the window again. More clouds and toylike buildings and trees, and tiny snakelike rivers, and then the big blue ocean. They were beautiful but boring after a while, and soon I dozed off.

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… thirty minutes to landing….all passengers therefore buckle your seatbelts and prepare for landing. Thank you for choosing Air….

I woke up to someone tapping me, just in time to hear the announcement. It was the hostess who’d woken me up earlier for lunch. She gave me a friendly smile and moved on.

I yawned and rubbed my eyes.

Soon we landed.

Our baggage were removed from the upper cart above our seats, and as I took my box and got out, the hostess by the door was saying something like, “…thank you for flying with us, and we hope we’ve made your journey a memorable one….”

The first thing that caught my eye was the bright sun shinning down on green fields. And it was so beautiful.

I got my visa stamped, and looked around for who ever was going to get me.

Mom and dad said that transport had already been taken cared of, and that someone was going to meet me.

Just then, a tall and muscularly built man in dark suits walked up to me.

“Signora Anne Sheridan?”

“Y—yes, that’s me?”

“Come with me.”

He took hold of my box, the only thing I came with apart from my shoulder bag, and went into the tarmac. I followed him to a big shiny black car.

Wow.

I got into the back seat, and he took the wheel.

Soon we were swooshing past green shrubbery on either side of the double carriage road, and oh my god, everywhere was just so beautiful! I kept turning my head in all angles to get a glimpse of everything.

The man was quiet, so I asked, “Em…sir…where are we going to?”

“Del casa,” he replied simply.

I huffed through my mouth. How was I supposed to know what that meant?

“I don’t speak Italian… so could you please…make me understand?” I tried again, but he didn’t answer.

“OK, thanks for coming to pick me up anyway. You know I actually enjoyed the trip, though I slept through most of it—•ha ha ha, isn’t that funny?”

He didn’t answer.

I sighed.

I wasn’t the talking type, but I was just so nervous.

I wonder what to expect. Most likely an old man with money to flaunt around.

Cool…

Cold…

Unemotional…

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Emilio’s POV

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Festus just called to say that Fergus was almost here.

I got up from the seat in the study and stretched myself. Then I downed the remaining glass of wine and went into my room.

A knock came on my door., and the knob turned and Portia came in.

“Dios! I told you to always knock!”

She closed the door behind her and smiled.

She always looked different when she smiled, like the mother she was when I was little. It always brought back memories, and I found my self wondering why she changed.

That was then.

Now, I knew her..not as the mother she was but as the greedy woman she’d become.

Not as madre again, but as Portia.

She stepped into the room.

“Emilio, you know I’m in full support of you taking control of the Mafia.”

“Last I remember, you were totally against it,” I replied drily.

“Sì, I know. But now I want to support you. That’s why I want to help. I’ve found you a bride.”

“What the hell are you talking about!!?” I shot out. “I don’t need your help, OK? And I’ve already gotten a wife.”

She frowned. “Emilio it’s Cosima Rufelli I’m talking about here. And she’s willing. We’ll just set the date for the wedding and—”

“Stop it,” I said.

“I’m your mother Emilio, you do as I say!” she yelled.

“No, you were my mother. Not anymore. And now, if you’ll excuse me,” I made a mock bow and walked out on her.

When I got to the sitting room, a woman was sitting on a chair.

She turned when she heard my footfalls and smiled.

Cosima Rufelli.

She was a popular actress, and her father was a good friend of Portia. She grew up with Emilia and I, and they were the best of friends.

“Hi, Emilio,” she said in her thin voice that pierced the room. She stood up and came over to me, kissing my cheeks.

“It’s been a while,” she said, still holding my hands.

“Sì, Cosima.”

I didn’t know what else to say, and didn’t want to say anything more.

“Emilio I heard about the marriage condition and that’s why I’m here.”

“Yes, look, Cosima. Portia must have given you the wrong news. I wasn’t looking for a bride. I already have one.”

Just then, we heard the car pull up in the driveway.

I removed Cosima’s hand from mine, and went back upstairs.

I don’t know, but somehow I wasn’t ready to meet her.

Not yet.

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Cosima’s POV

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I stood in the sitting room with my hands at my side, the way Emilio left me.

I couldn’t believe that he said that to me.

I turned to the door.

Why don’t I see just who his ‘bride’ is?

To be continued

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