Chapter 6

The limousine stops at Avery’s mansion and we all climb out of the car. It’s not as late as I thought, only 10:00 pm wow I guess I did end the fun early. I followed Sierra and Aurora inside. I was about to head upstairs with them when Enzo grabbed my hand.

“Not so fast Bambina,” He pulls me toward the hallway where his office is, when Sierra clears her throat.

“Whitney, grandpa called. He wanted me to tell you to call him,” She said.

“Did..” I paused, licking my dry lips. “Did you tell him about the clubs or drinking?” She shook her head.

“He didn’t ask,” She replied, walking up the steps.

If Dwayne would have asked her she wouldn’t have lied again she would have told him the truth, and the truth might be dangerous for me. Marcus is probably itching to beat me some more.

“He can wait,” Enzo said, pulling me down the hallway. The door he opened and pulled us into was a dark room, Enzo let go of me and I looked around. The floor is black and white squares and looks like something from the fifties. The walls are black and the ceiling looks like the stars.

I’m not a fan of black on black but if this what floats his boat who am I to judge his taste?

“What were you going to tell me? Before Aurora interrupted you,”

He flips the switch on the wall and the room lights up, not bright but enough to see. He takes off his jacket and throws it on the table by the door along with his gun belt and guns.

When he remains silent I walk toward him and he holds out hand for me to stop.

“Don’t,” His body stiffened.

Frowning, I ask, “Why? You said in the car…”

“What I said in the car doesn’t matter now,” He cuts me off.

I’m getting more and more confused by the second. First he wasn’t interested and then he was and now he’s not again? I don’t get it. What could have possibly changed between then and now?

“Is this some kinda joke to you? Playing with my mind making think you're interested when your clearly not,”

When he doesn’t answer I walk out the door. I don't have time for this. My feelings aren’t a game, they're real and it’s painful that no one stops to consider them.

I swear the nights aren’t long enough and it took me a while to fall asleep. My mind was being pulled in so many directions. I’m starving. I can't remember what I ate last so it most likely wasn’t good. One thing I will never forget is food. I’m a big food critic. I just love food with different textures, flavors and boy could I use a banana and strawberry turnover. There’s nothing I'm not willing to try.

I made my way to the breakfast bar. The girls aren’t up yet and when I sat down Selma walked up to me with a smile on her face.

“Can I get you something to eat? Sorry I don't have anything prepared but Enzo said you may be hung over and not want food,”

“He did?” I asked her and she nodded.

“Yes ma’am he said ask the wild one before you give her breakfast she was drinking and screwing around. I do apologize for being blunt but those were his words,” Selma said, she put her head down with shame as she repeated his words.

How dare he talk about me to the staff. That's just rude. I haven't screwed anyone….Ever! Yes Enzo has made my womanhood feel things that I’m curious about exploring but he had no rights.

“He’s wrong, I am hungry,” I told her, I’m not even going to bother with explaining myself to anyone let them think what they want.

Today I put myself in a box and conceal it, today I’m no longer myself. I'm Dwayne Isla Martagos daughter, a classy lady that doesn’t misbehave or speak her mind. She just smiles and agrees and does what she’s told, including meeting my fiancé.

“What can I get for you?” Selma asked.

“I’m not picky when it comes to food. Whatever you make is fine but no bacon and eggs, maybe something with fruit?”

She nods and goes to the kitchen to whip something for me. I was gonna order my turnover but that’s my comfort food and I don’t want the thought of all this on my mind while I eat my favorite dessert.

Maybe tonight for a snack well, that is if Nikolai lets me come back here. One can only hope he’s not as cold as my father made him sound.

I know he won’t be happy about my digging around into his company finances but I was only doing the job I was given to do and his recent cash flow was suspicious so I did some investigating but I came up empty handed. Dwayne said Nikolai wasn’t happy with what I found out. He thinks I know something but I don’t.

But I’m not going to tell him that.

It must be something bad for him to want to marry me to keep me quiet.

“You’re in deep thought. What’s on your mind?” Sierra says, sitting next to me at the bar.

I smile at her and shake my head.

“I’m meeting my fiancé today,”

Her face contorts and she looks down.

“I can’t believe grandpa is actually going through with this,” She shook her head.

“I’ve accepted what is,” I muttered.

“But you don’t love him! A marriage should be between two people who love each other unconditionally,” She carries on.

“Like you and Daniel?”

She nods, “We love each other so much. We’ve broken up for a few months but we just couldn’t stand to be a part,” She smiles remembering the moment.

“You don’t have to marry for love. People get married all the time to benefit themselves,” I shrug.

“What if you fall for this man?” She asked.

She doesn’t know who he is or the reason behind our marriage. There will be no love…..ever.

“So?”

She chews on her jaw something she does when she’s avoiding asking a question she wants to know but she hates to ask.

“Spit it out,” I tell her and she purses her lips.

“What about Avery?”

I inhale a deep breath.

Somehow I knew this was coming but I couldn’t prepare myself for the pain my heart feels every time his name is mentioned.

“Siera,” I turned my face away from her. I don't want her to see the tears that are threatening to fall.

“I know you love him Whitney. You can’t deny it, I don’t get you. Your going to let grandpa pick the man your gonna be with,”

“I have no choice,” I raised my voice. Strike one a lady never raises her voice or talks back.

“The crazy part is that you actually think I do. Dwayne is controlling my life now I have no say over anything and for the last time don’t it about Avery! He doesn’t want me Sierra, he made that clear eight years ago. If he would have any feelings for me at all he would have called or texted he has done none of those things, don’t you get it? He’s not interested,”

“I’m sorry,” She bites her lip. “I had no idea how much his leaving hurt you,” She said.

“Do you know how it feels to love someone that doesn’t love you back?”

She shakes her head.

“Love got me nowhere, not even when I dropped to my knees and begged him to stay. I’m done with love maybe marrying Nikolai is exactly what I need,”

“I hope you're right,” She sniffled, wiping her tears.

“I just want you to be happy,” She adds.

I do too. But it seems like happiness is so overrated love, happiness, got me nowhere. Maybe if I do this I’ll start to find joys in life again, a peace of mind that I’ll be out of Dwayne’s reach. Marcus will never be able to touch me again.

I hate the thought of leaving Isla Martago, it's the only place I’ve ever been until now. The world has such beautiful places to explore. If I marry Nikolai, maybe he’ll take me on a honeymoon to Greece or Spain, some amazing place somewhere far away from the island, a place with white beaches and crystal clear water. Anyplace really the farthest from here the better and leave the ghost of my past that follows me around like a shadow. It's a constant reminder.