Adopted – Episode 30

ADOPTED – Episode 30

© Happy William

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FLASHBACK TO ABOUT 3WEEKS EARLIER

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The driver drove away on signora Portia’s command, constantly looking in the back seat to see if he could recognize the body. Caesar, the driver, was shaking terribly. In all his years as a driver for Portia, he’d never done something like this.

A great distance faroff, he heard light breath from behind him and abruptly stopped the car.

He got down and flung open the back door, after making sure that no one was about on that night.

When he opened the wrap around the body, he was shocked.

“Signora Cosima Rufelli,” he murmured.

And she was still breathing faintly.

Immediately, he drove her to the Rufelli mansion, and dropped her at the gate.

Then he knocked loudly, and got into his car and drove a good distance away, hiding to make sure that she was taken inside, before speeding off to report to Signora Portia that she was dead, and he’d dumped her where no one could find her.

Back to Present

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Cosima

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#Rufelli_Mansion

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Getting out of my car, I shook my hair sideways to release the messy tangles which Roz, my agent, and Loulou, my makeup artist, and Hermia, my hairstylist had put it in. I’ve never been more attentive to taking a photo sh00t than in that moment; thinking of the look on Portia’s face and of my revenge boosted me.

Rozelle said it was a big hit, and she, knowing about my plans, said that I should have people piss me off more often.

Handing the key over to the driver, I walked up the four steps to the main door and got into the house.

My house was quite big, and richly furnished.

Not as the Salvatore’s. Theirs was the real deal in Italy.

My father, Deriongo Rufelli, was seated at the table helping himself to lunch. Mamà was moving in and out of the kitchen, giving orders to the cooks. Papà was actually down on his health, and so wasn’t that active in his winery. Which is why he was glad, and skeptical, when I was married to Emilio. But when he heard about Portia’s and Sergio’s betrayal, he personally wanted to sink a bullet in their brains.

But I handle my own problems.

“Buongiorno papà (good day dad).”

“Mio principessa, piacere Sì conocerla (my princess, how do you do)?”

“Bene, papà.”

I gratefully received a plate of pasta from mamà with a smile.

“So, how’s it going?” he asked, and I knew he was referring to.

With a smirk, I replied, “Swell.”

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#Salvatore_Estate

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Anne

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I’d spent like the whole morning packing stuff for our trip to Sicily.

It’d seemed like a dream when Emilio had told me earlier, but when I’d fully awoke, he’d assured me that he wasn’t joking, and I felt elated, shaky….a thousand emotions in one.

Sophia noticed my nervousness and chuckled.

“Anne, calm down. It’s just a trip,” she handed me a yellowish brown dress which I squeezed carelessly and dumped in the box with a huff.

“I’m not!”

She shook her head. “To be honest if Felipe and I could be free to love like you are, I’d be the happiest girl in Europe!”

“Hey, Emilio and I are not in love.”

“Whatever. I’m tired of your denying it,” she said and began folding my clothes properly.

I watched her.

“Sophia are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

“If you want I can talk to uncle Festus and —”

“No, Anne. Don’t bother. I’ll be fine. Just, focus on your honeymoon,” she winked and I threw a pillow to her.

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For all my suffering to pack Emilio came in at noon to say that I wasn’t taking anything.

“Except maybe a handbag. Ladies can’t do without that,” he chuckled.

And so I had to unpack again and arrange everything in my room, then lock it and hand the key to Prudence.

“Have fun Anne,” she said to me.

I laughed

Then I recalled something.

“Uhm, Prudence? What were you and Portia talking about in the kitchen the other day? You sounded so tense.”.

For a split second her face looked mortified, then it disappeared as quickly as it came and she wore a smile instead.

” IH, the usual. House chores. You know how she is,” she added with a smile and a wave of her wrists.

I bade every one good bye, except Portia and Sergio. They probably didn’t know that we were living. If I didn’t know better I’d say that Emilio was suspecting them of something sinister.

Bah.

Emilio returned from the office quite early. He wore a black polo that clung to his skin and made visible his biceps, triceps and taut stomach, and a caramel khaki knicker. It was the first time I’ve seen him in anything order than suits or formal shirts and ties and trousers.

He looked….. appealing to the eyes. That was all I could think of at the moment.

“Ready?” he asked with a smile and held his hand out to me.

Clutching my satchel bag with one hand, I placed the other in his.

With a wave to the people, we got into his car.

“To the airport, right?” I asked when we were on the road.

He made a turn.

“Sì —yes.”

Yippee, I thought.

My second time of flying.

But when we arrived the airport, and dark suited man accompanied by a uniformed airport staff led us away from the booking unit to the hangar.

I had just a moment to admire the landing and taking off planes before I spoke up; “Uh, Emilio, we haven’t gotten our tickets.”.

” And who said we needed tickets? ” he asked back amusingly.

I was confused.

“But aren’t we—”

“We are. On this.”

He pointed to a magnificent jet on the tarmac

I still didn’t understand until the two pilots inside began to prepare the plane for taking off, and the dark suited man drove Emilio’s car away after receiving instructions.

We got inside and I gawked.

No doubt, this was a private jet.

His private jet!

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Emilio

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Seeing the way Anne practically jumped to everything and ran her hands smoothly over the upholstery and furnishings brought a sort of light feeling to my chest. She looked too happy, and giddy, which she tried not to show by finally sitting down stiffly and tucking her hands between her thighs.

“Hey,” I said and propped my legs up on a side stool. “Relax. You’re as stiff as a stick. In this way you’ll develop cramps before were even halfway there.”

She let out a nervous chuckle. “I’m just too excited. I might ruin something if I actually relaxed. That would entail jumping off every couch here, and swinging from the door.”

Actually I was surprised.

“I didn’t know you as the type to get ‘overexcited’.”

“Now you do,” she grinned.

“Then be my guest.”

She shook her head. “I also have a small fear of heights. Small. I couldn’t go about swinging from the door even if I wanted to.”

Laughing, I stretched out an arm to her.

“Come here. Let’s cuddle.”

Her eyes widened immediately as she looked from me to my outstretched hand to the cushion I was sitting on.

“C—C-cuddle?” she stuttered.

I laughed again.

“Just come sit with me. The jet lag would soon set in. And you might be thrown off the plane.”

” I won’t get jet lag, ” she insisted stubbornly.

Minutes later, she did get jet lag; she began to doze slightly.

Although there were cabins and rooms aboard, I held her in my arms.

Apart from mumbling something indecipherable, she didn’t protest.

Just laid there snoring softly, pale against my tanned skin.

Giving in to impulse, I brushed a strand of brown wavy hair away from her face.

Could things get any more perfect!

Hours later, we arrived Sicily.

I woke Anne up by running my fingers along her cheeks.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she stared up at me before leaning away slowly to look around.

“We’re here,” I said.

Holding her hands, we got down and walked towards a black Hyundai at the parking lot of the airport.

One of my men had brought the car, and he went ahead to offload whatever luggage we might have left on the jet.

I gave last minute instructions to the pilot, and to the driver, before collecting the key, igniting the engine.

“Seatbelt,” I said to her.

After she’d fumbled a bit, she got it on and I drove out of the airport parking lot.

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Anne

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As we swoosh past, I couldn’t help but glance around at everything.

When I’d arrived at Italy, everywhere was greenish and hot and dusty in most places.

Here was also greenish, not quite though, and as hot. But still new to me.

I caught Emilio watching me with amusement, and I offered him a wide grin before turning back to continue my survey.

He assisted by pointing out various places and things and buildings of importance, though I’ll bet that I wouldn’t remember any of it.

“You sound like you know this place a lot,” I commented.

“Sì. I live here when I’m outside home.”

“Wow,” I exclaimed simply.

I’ve never been close to people that were rich, so all I could think of was Oh boy.

Not quite long after, he pulled up in the driveway of a huge mansion that was set on a hill, and once I alighted, I skipped over to check if what I thought was true.

It actually was!

There was a river under the hill! A big, blue, beautiful river that had some boats and canoes on it’s wide surface.

I turned to Emilio, sure thay amazement was evident on my face.

“Wow, Emilio! Just, wow!”

“It’s ñíçê right?” he asked, dropping the bag to stand beside me on the railing I was leaning against.

“Nice? It’s awesome! Even in my wildest dreams I’ve never expected this!”

“Wildest dreams, eh?” he asked with a pint of curiosity.

I covered my face with one palm and pointed the other to him.

“Not what you think.”

“And how do you know what I was thinking?”

“Your tone of voice. It gets that way when you want to brag.”

Now he was genuinely curious.

“Yes,” I added. “I still remember. You might not be doing it consciously though. And,” I walked around him and picked up a bag, “I don’t like boys who brag.”

Laughing at his surprised then knowing look, that he’d remembered that one time back in school when he’d taken me to a restaurant for lunch instead of the school’s cafeteria, I preceded him into the house and oh me gosh!

I actually don’t know when I’ll get used to seeing rich, beautiful, things. The theme was a shade of gold, which, with the aid of the chandelier above, cast gold light on all the furniture. Most of the doors and windows we’re French types; the ones with rosy designs. They looked like crystals.

A big plasma TV was the center of attraction for people like me who loved movies.

“Emilio the place is….it’s so wonderful!”

“Ya think? Well let’s get settled, and I’ll show you around.”

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#Salvatore_Estate

#Italy

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Portia

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Emilio…..

I thought to myself as I took a seat in the garden on my balcony, with a cup of my favourite ginger and carrot juice, and a plate of white grapes.

He’s thinking that by running away, he was protecting himself and Anne. He doesn’t know that his absence would make taking over Salvatore’s Wineries easier.

Sergio walked in when I threw a grape into my mouth.

“Have you gotten in contact with your father?” I asked him.

He nodded. “Ignatius almost blew our cover. We’ve erased all links between him and Dante.”

“Good. And the Augusto guy?”

“Dante says he’s keeping a close eye on the fella. They’re planning the ball for the announcement of this years Victory Wine.”

“You mean Emilio’s planning it? Outside Italy?”

He nodded. “The Guy’s wiser than we thought'”

“Shucks!”

Prudence came in, holding a tray with the latest edition of my favourite magazine, Rouge.

“Bene,” I said and took it out.

I turned it over to the front, and it fell from my grip as soon as I saw the front post.

“What, mamà?” Sergio asked and picked it up.

He too dropped it on shock, the colour draining from his face.

A ghost?

To be continued

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