Adopted – Episode 19

ADOPTED – Episode 19

© Happy William

#A_Week_On

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Anne’s POV

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Guess he wasn’t kidding about the ‘prisoner’ thing.

Emilio doesn’t exactly treats me like scum or something, that’s because he’s hardly home.

A day after the will reading, he’d ‘married’ Cosima in the quietest way; no celebration. Not that I would know.

I’ve made it my duty not to be available when he is. That way the awkwardness would pass.

This week, he was off to Spain as I heard from Prudence for some business deal. That is free time for me.

I sat on a cushion, trimming my nails and listening to Miley Cyrus Wrecking Ball.

Then a shadow fell over me.

Sergio.

I saw him through my phone screen, but I pretended not to.

I felt his hand on my back.

I jerked and took off the earphones.

”What the hell, Sergio!? ” I asked in annoyance.

The guy was getting on my nerves recently.

He raised an eyebrow. “Still acting the ‘chaste’ for my little brother. Well here’s news for you. He’s married. And it’s not to you.”

“Whatever. That’s like old news. But that doesn’t give you the right to hit on me.”

“I’m not hitting on you,” his voice dropped to a whisper, “I want you.”

”Ugh!” I pushed past him and hurried to my room and shut the door.

The hell he does!

What does he take me for? One of those sluts with whom he has random sex with after a drunken night!?

I inhaled deeply and exhaled lightly.

.

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I decided to have lunch with Festus’ family.

I told this to Prudence.

“Oh, Sì, Sì. But…” her eyes studied me for a moment. “Anne I can see you’re hurting.”

I forced out a laugh, which sounded dry and fake even to my ear. “I’m not, Prudence. You’re making assumptions.”

“But Anne you trust him, right? You know he’ll never do that,” she insisted.

I made a show of thinking. “Uhm, who’re we talking about?”

She shook her head at me as I went out.

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“So, you and Cosima still haven’t crossed paths yet?” Sophia demanded to know while we tidied up the kitchen after lunch and did the dishes.

“Crossed? What for?”

She sighed. “It must be pretty hard for you, living in that hellhole.”

“It is, Soph. A crazy mother. A mad brother. A deranged wife. Something in that family just doesn’t add up. But it isn’t my business,” I quickly added and passed her a plate to keep on the drainboard.

I now turned to her with an amused smirk. “So, how’s our handsome foreman holding up?”

As predicted, she blushed. “Who, Felipe?”

“Aha! So you’ve finally agreed that he’s the handsome foreman! I knew you were making goo-goo eyes for him,” I accused.

She giggled. “OK, I like him. Fine, I’ll admit it. But I’m not his type, neither is he mine. And I’m talking about the,” her voice lowered, “mafia stuff. Guys into that don’t do steady.”

Immediately she said that I remembered Emilio. How he’d hidden everything from me until the last moment when I almost got killed.

But I didn’t die.

I won’t think about that. He doesn’t exist for me, remember?

“Soph, I think he likes you,” I said.

“Yeah, to get into my pants. No thank you.”

“Aw come on. Felipe isn’t like that. He’s decent. I think,” I added uncertainly.

Sophia laughed. “No offence, Anne. But maybe you should try your ‘gift’ for discerning characters with Emilio. You could really use it to know he’s telling the truth.”

Truth about what? Turning me into his prisoner without freedom of movement?

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Later I said goodbyes to Festus, Rosa and Seraphina while I went to the house.

This big, boring house.

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Evening came fast.

I was taking a stroll around the vineyards near our house. Harvest was almost done. Soon, as Sophia told me, fermentation will take place, and then the dissolving of the fruits remnants by stepping on them with feet. Seriously!?

I was starting to feel cold.

The nights here had their moments; hot at times, cold the next.

I hurried into the house, and just when I was about climbing the stairs, the door opened and Emilio came in, looking so tired and haggled. His hair was rough, his tie loosened, the first few button freed.

He paused at the doorway, just staring at me without words. Just his hard expression with rare smiles.

He’d changed.

I wanted to go to him. Pull his arm and straighten his hair and ask him how the conference at Madrid went.

But I couldn’t, especially when his frown deepened on seeing me.

“Baby!” Cosima sang from the top and came slowly down.

“I’ve missed you,” she said and threw her arms around him and kissed him.

She sent me a smirk. I looked down, and proceeded to my own room.

“So how was it? It went well, I suppose?” she asked as she pulled his arm and straightened his hair.

“Cosima I’m tired,” he snapped.

Inside me I was giggling. Yes, she deserved that.

“Okay baby, I’m sorry. I just really missed you,” she said against his lips, and soon, they were kissing as if they owned the damned place.

Well, they did. And I’m just the stranger. The prisoner.

I raced quietly to my room.

I heard their footfalls as they made their way to his.

“Come on baby,” I heard Cosima’s seductive tone, “Come and love me.”

I slammed my door shut.

I’ve heard enough.

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Emilio’s POV

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“Cosima can’t you see I’m exhausted!?” I asked and pushed her away. “I want a bath. And some sleep.”

I began to undress while she stood at a spot, watching me.

“Emilio you know you can’t keep doing this,” she said finally. “It’s because of Miss Skin and Bones isn’t it? That accounts for your hostility towards me, isn’t it? Damn it Emilio answer me!”

She was becoming hysterical.

“Just shut up, Cosima. I’m tired, OK?”

I went into the bathroom for a shower, and spent more than enough time in there.

Thinking mostly.

When I finally came out, she was on the bed with the blanket wrapped tightly around her as she faced her part.

I scoffed, climbed on, and dragged the blanket from her.

“Emilio!” she said.

I ignored her as I wrapped myself up.

She came closer to me. I pushed her.

“Cosima, your side of the bed is waaaaaaaayyy over there,” I pointed to the edge , “and mine is here.”

“But Emilio don’t you get it? When are we ever going to consummate our marriage?” she whined.

“Only in your dreams.”

She still sat there.

Whatever.

I’m already on the long road to sleep.

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Anne’s POV

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They’re already tangled up in each other.

I angrily slapped the book I was pretending to read on my bed and put a pillow over my ear.

Sleep Anne sleep!

What does it matter what they did anyway?

I couldn’t sleep.

I took out my old history textbook from school, aka my sleeping pill.

And it worked wonders, because in less than three minutes I was halfway to dreamland.

___

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Cosima’s POV

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The sun rays shone on my face with a blazing intensity that I had to squint before opening my eyes.

“What the f**k!?” I screamed and jumped off the bed. “Who the hell had to open the curtains AND window blinds to the sun!?” I demanded from nobody in particular.

I knew who.

Emilio.

“Arrgh!!!” I screamed and scattered the beds and pillows all over the room.

This wasn’t how I’d hoped to start my morning. He’d ruined my day.

But just be careful with me, Emilio. You’ll love me by force even if it means taking drastic measures.

I got into the bathroom.

Even if it means blood.

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Showering was quick today because I was in a bad mood. But I still dressed to ki*ll as usual.

I was proceeding to the dinning for breakfast when a stupid maid rushed into me and spread pasta allover my dress.

“Damn you!” I exclaimed and looked over my dress.

“Oh signora Cosima, I am so sorry,” she said Bowing repeatedly as she tried to get rid of the spaghetti that was all over my hair.

The big red patches of stew on my immaculate sky blue dress and her clumsy way of cleaning me up, coupled with my bad morning just fuelled my anger and I pulled her up by the hair and slapped her.

“How dare you!? Don’t you know the cost of this dress and hair can buy your entire family!?”

“Signora Cosima pl–”

“You’re fired! Get the hell out of this house immediately!”

“Cosima what’s wrong with you! She said she’s sorry. It was probably an accident.”

I turned around, and my anger intensified on seeing Miss Skin and Bones.

“And who are you to interfere in my affairs! Mind your business, OK? This good for nothing is going, and that’s final.’

” She ain’t going anywhere. ” She helped the crying maid up. “Come on Fina, don’t cry. Just get something to clean up this mess.”

What, she even knows her name!

“Oh, Signora Anne. Thank you so much,” the maid said and scurried away.

Anne gave me a disgusted look and proceeded to return up.

I pulled her arm and slapped her.

“How dare you meddling nitwit!?” I roared.

She held her cheeks, obviously shocked.

“Who do you think you are, gutter girl!?”

“Gutter girl?” she asked with a taunting smile. ”I guess you’re talking about yourself then. Take a close look.”

I grew red and hit her again, and she hit me back, taking me by complete surprise.

“Listen Cosima. Just because I try to tolerate you and your stupid attitude doesn’t mean I’m stupid or weak. Don’t underestimate me. I bite, I don’t bark.”

With a last glare at me, she ducked into the kitchen.

But then I controlled myself, and hid a smirk.

She could bite. But she couldn’t if she had no teeth.

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Anne’s POV

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“Seriously, the girl is so full of herself. So what if she’s married Emilio? That doesn’t mean she can just abuse servants. It’s confounded!” I complained and took a forkful of pasta into my mouth and chewed slowly. Spicy.

“Yes. So she disturbs you a lot?” Prudence asked.

“No. She’s just mean. I get tired of hers and Emilio’s attitude. It’s like they’re deliberately trying to make me jealous!”

I stabbed a meatball with so much force and chewed it, unaware that I was frowning.

“Dio mio, Anne!” Prudence exclaimed, putting a hand over her mouth. “Wherever did you get that idea from!?”

I shrugged. “Feels like it.”

“And it’s working?”

“Hell no.”

To be continued

ALL EPISODES

 

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