Chapter 7

“'Castelli!'”

My eyes widened in fear as I passed Leo a look but he didn't look the slightest bit bothered and continued eating while I was gripping to my seat, anxiety gripping up my throat.

It reminded me of my first encounter with some loan sharks that pretty much traumatised me.

The yelling went on, echoes bouncing from different sides of the house. Leo finally got up almost at the same time the voice was getting closer.

It was a difference from that night when he immediately grabbed his gun, tonight he seemed so relaxed that it was almost scary.

The dining hall door opened with more force than expected and a medium sized man who looked like he was in his 50s emerged brimming in rage.

“Where is she?” He yelled approaching Leo. “Where the fuck is she? I know she's in this house, Castelli”

All Leo did was look at the man like he was a crazy person which made me more confused. Were they acquainted? Because I'm sure a stranger won't just barge in like this.

“You're hiding her, aren't you?” He said keeping all up in Leo's face. I watched in fear as Leo still didn't do anything.

The man's gaze then snapped to me, cutting off my breath as his angry gaze was on me. “Oh! I didn't know you had one of your whores around, is that why you're keeping up this composure?” He said with a mocking laughter. “Heads up you cheap little bitch, he's going to use you and dump you before you even realize it…”

A tear involuntarily rolled down my eyes because for some reason all I could see was my dad, telling in the most brutal way how I would never amount to anything.

Before I could react, words stuck in my throat, I saw Leo move so swiftly followed by the sound of a crack, a sound I knew so well, definitely a cracked bone. His fist connected with the man's jaw, sending him falling to the ground.

Silence filled the dining hall, Leo's anger was terrifyingly clear. There was no hint of his usual unreadable expression but plain anger. His jaws ticked, he passed me a look as the doors opened and Mrs Thornton ran in.

She came straight to me, her touch gentle and firm, “Come, Cara, let's go”.

I felt frozen until I heard Leo's voice, it was deep and dark. “Portala nella sua stanza, subito” Take her to her room, immediately.

I had no idea what he just said but Mrs Thornton’s tug on my arm leading me out of the room made me believe he had ordered her to take me out of there.

She led me to my room in silence. I went straight to take a shower and went to bed.

I didn't get a good night's sleep last time because everything I closed my eyes I saw my dad yelling and cursing at me. I guess the nightmares are back.

I moved like a zombie from one play to another because apparently something was happening today that I didn't know of. I had breakfast in my room avoiding the dinning hall and I noticed that the bay windows that were broken from last night's rage were replaced like nothing happened.

“Hey, Mrs Castelli, I'm Kelly” I heard a voice behind me which made me jump in fear. She looked regal and carried herself with grace. “We don't have much time left so let's get to work”.

I was still confused until Mrs Thornton appeared, “Mrs Castelli, she's here to get you ready, just follow her”.

Ready for what?

I moved like a robot following her to a room which had all kinds of beauty products, dresses, heels and jewellery.

“What's going on?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

“Mrs Castelli, you see, Mr Castelli has a reputation especially for social events. But you…you need improvements”.

“Improvements?” I asked as a frown made its way to my face.

“Exactly,” she said in a matter of fact tone. “As his wife, you can't be seen as…common”.

“Common? And who decides what ‘common’ is”

I noticed her jaws twitching, I guess she's already fed up with my existence.

“Some adjustments will be necessary especially for the event tonight”.

“Wait, wait, what event?”

“That question should be directed to Mr Castelli not me”.

Some girls made their way into the room, their eyes scrutinizing me like I was a piece of trash.

Kelly gestured to a pair of heels, towering stilettos to be precise. “Start with these. Mr Castelli prefers a certain kind of…elegance”.

I looked at the heels in question and knew they weren't for me. Even though I've spent years in the strip club balancing on all kinds of heels, this one in front of me signified pain and discomfort.

“I…I don't think I can walk in those”

And right after that statement, there were echoes of laughter bouncing round the wall of the room and the girls were clearly amused.

A girl with platinum hair approached me with a disdainful smirk. “Oh, darling, don't worry” her words dripped with sarcasm. “We'll have you prancing around like a show pony in no time”

Another with a bright red lipstick added, “We've dealt with much worse. A little stumble here and there is nothing new to us, sweetheart”

I'm not your sweetheart or darling

“Okay, let's not waste anymore time, Mr Castelli expects his wife to be presentable”

They all moved, probing different parts of my body like I was a lab rat.

“She needs a chic dress”

“Her hair needs to be trimmed”

“She looks pale”

They went on and on talking and my head started to ring.

“Her posture, goodness heavens” Kelly snapped. “Imagine being seen with that posture next to Mr Castelli”

You need to learn to hold yourself like you're worth something,” the platinum blonde added. “You're now the wife of Leonardo Castelli. Act like it”

They were right and I hated the fact that they were right. I had to act the part to survive.

They started working after wasting so much time talking and arguing. Kelly appeared behind me with a pair of scissors. “Your hair is far too long. We need something more modern”.

“It's…it's fine as it is,” I attempted to protest but what followed after was the scissors snipping through my hair.

“Oh, darling, don't be a drama queen, a little off the end won't kill you”. I looked at the floor to see the ‘little off the end’ and had to divert my eyes as eyes gathered in my eyes.

My hair was always long and thick and I loved it that way.

Next came the outfits and all their choices were ridiculous, it was either too short or too revealing and I was going for neither.

I couldn't save my hair but I'm not wearing any of these dresses.

“I…I can't wear any of these,” I stammered hating how weak that turned out. “It's too much”

“Oh, come now, sweetheart, Mr Castelli adores a woman who knows how to show off her assets”.

I married a pig

“I won't wear that,” I said, shaking my head.

“Oh, darling, you think you have a choice? Mr Castelli wants you to look this way. And Mr Castelli always gets what he wants” with that they started trying to get me into the clothes physically while ignoring my pleas and struggles.

Until we heard a firm voice making everyone freeze. “Enough!”