43. Emiliana

"Are you okay?" Dante asks, assessing me. It's as if he has a sixth sense that alerts him when I'm not fine. I keep my eyes on my lap to prevent him from reading me. He does that too. Most of the time, I can't tell what he's thinking but I feel like an open book to him. It's times like these when I feel too young for him. An older woman might be able to mask her feelings and tell him she's fine. When he forces me to look at him, the way he's doing now, I find myself blurting out the truth. Albeit half-truth but still.

"I don't want to go to this gala"

"Why? Are you feeling sick?" His hand is on my cheek where his thumb is gently rubbing in circles. His touch is calming and I feel myself relax into him.

"No" I just don't want to take compromising pictures with a senator. But G was clear. I don't comply and the guy dies. Immediately after I left, I looked him up. He has a wife and two daughters. Unlike many politicians, he's not corrupt. He supports charities, has built homes for st