by Patricia Mar
“This villa is fantastic!” exclaimed Virginia, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She looked around her, her mass of blonde hair swaying as she walked. Sara gazed proudly at her sister: she looked beautiful. She was wearing a black evening dress that left her shoulders and part of her back bare and was attracting admiring glances from many of those present. As usual, the party for a few of Dario Gualtieri’s close friends had turned into a social event with a ridiculous number of A and B list celebrities present. The smooth tones of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin singing Christmas songs lent the whole thing a cosy, slightly poignant atmosphere.
Sara turned her attention to Daniel, who was standing at the buffet, intent on getting them an aperitif. With his thick, shiny dark hair, cheeky smile and dark eyes, and dressed in a classic tuxedo, he looked divine, and his charisma was like a magnet. Do you desire him, want him? Ok, look all you want – but keep your distance, he’s mine!
Virginia kept looking around, probably trying to see if she could spot Alessandro, even though she had only ever seen him in a photo on her sister’s phone. The historic home of the Gualtieri family was furnished with objets d’art and furniture dating back at least to the early twentieth century and was decked out in colourful red and gold decorations. In the entrance hall a gigantic tree, glimmering with a thousand lights, reigned supreme.
Holding three glasses, Daniel made his way through the guests, smiling and greeting people as he went. Sara and Virginia took their glasses and clinked them together while Daniel instinctively placed a hand on Sara’s back. A small gesture of possessiveness that she adored, because it made her feel protected and safe.
For the occasion, Sara had bought a dark red dress with a heart shaped neckline that had two straps studded with tiny rhinestones and a long, wide skirt that almost reached to the ground. The way Daniel looked at her the moment he saw her in the doorway of her apartment left her in no doubt about what would happen after the party. And in fact, she couldn’t wait – the whole evening was just the appetiser, because the main course would arrive after midnight. What you do on the first day of the year, you do all year, right? Well mind blowing sex at all hours of the day with Daniel certainly sounded like a good way of spending her time.
“So, where is Alessandro?” asked Virginia as she sipped her cocktail.
“I honestly have no idea. I kept trying to convince him right up until the last minute, but I’m not sure that he’s coming. My friend is…” Daniel broke off and a wide grin appeared on his face. “There he is. Wait for me here, I’m going to get him.” Virginia turned and watched Daniel move away. Sara was excited – her sister was finally going to meet the infamous Alessandro Gualtieri.
“Hey, pal.” Daniel placed his glass on a table, went over to Alessandro and patted him on the shoulder. “Look at you, you look like a penguin.”
Alessandro was wearing a tuxedo, which suited him perfectly, and his short, ash blond hair had been carefully combed. He kept adjusting the wire frame glasses on his nose distractedly. It was clear that he didn’t feel at ease.
“I knew it, I knew it was a really bad idea to come here. I’m leaving,” he said, and made to turn round.
Daniel stared at him in surprise. “No, you’re not!” he said, grabbing him by the collar of his jacket. “Don’t even think about it, or those two will kill me.”
Alessandro looked at him grimly as what was happening slowly dawned on him. “No…”
“I’m sorry.”
“No!”
“They didn’t give me a choice.”
“You traitor – this is a trap.” Alessandro’s eyes began to scrutinise the large hall until they settled on a familiar figure waving at him. She was not alone.
“Come on, come with me. We’ll have fun tonight and believe me, Virginia is really cool – and as you can see, she’s pretty easy on the eyes too.”
Alessandro glared at him. “So she’s a gorgeous blonde, so what?”
“My friend, you really are a dead man walking, do you realise that?” He pushed him through the crowd, Alessandro moving reluctantly.
In a few seconds they found themselves in front of the two girls. “Here we are.”
“Alessandro, what a joy to see you.” Sara hugged him and he smiled at her sincerely.
“You look amazing, my girl. This fool is so lucky!” exclaimed Alessandro.
“Who are you calling a fool, you clown? Anyway, let me introduce you to Sara’s sister, Virginia.”
Alessandro had to lift his head slightly to meet Virginia’s eyes. It was a shame that she was at least ten centimetres taller than him. Sara and Daniel gave each other a knowing look, then turned to study their friend’s expression. Virginia didn’t seem to have noticed. She reached out her hand to shake the one Alessandro extended towards her.
“Finally! I’m really pleased you came to the party. Your uncle has an amazing house.”
The corners of Alessandro’s mouth turned slightly upwards. “Yes, exactly what I think. Amazing.”
Sensing the irony in his voice, Daniel rolled his eyes, But Virginia didn’t seem bothered at all by the unsolicited sarcasm or the obvious difference in height. “It’s the first time I’ve been to such a smart party. I even had to buy a new dress. Usually, I just wear jeans and baggy shirts.”
Alessandro looked to Daniel for help.
Sara, on the other hand, could tell how nervous her sister was because she was talking way too much and that wasn’t a good sign. She had to calm her down. “You look good in a tuxedo, Alessandro. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you looking so elegant.”
“And I’m afraid you’ll never see me looking this elegant again, I had to hire this thing because my uncle insisted that I wear one. Doing things properly is very important to him… But I look like an imbecile.”
Virginia chuckled and he glared at her with his ice coloured eyes. “Do you think it’s funny that I look like an imbecile?”
“No, I just find it funny that you’re sharing how uncomfortable you are with us.”
Sara bit her lip to hold back a giggle. Her sister was coming back to herself, so perhaps all was not lost. Alessandro seemed to be looking at her in a new light.
“I am full of deep thoughts in here.” He tapped his forehead with a finger.
“I’m sure there’s plenty of space in there for your deep thoughts.”
Alessandro smiled. “I’m not sure that I should take that as a compliment. I’ll have to get back to you on that.”
“Well, while you’re doing that, would you mind accompanying me to the buffet?”
She took his arm and Alessandro seemed to stiffen even though his face continued to appear relaxed and happy. He had to raise his head, even if only slightly, to look at her. “I have the strangest impression that I’ve just become your official escort for the evening.”
“What nonsense, you haven’t just become my official escort – you were already that last night, you just didn’t know it.”
“I’m on Candid Camera, aren’t I?”
“I’m afraid you’re not famous enough for that. And, no, you’re not a victim. In fact you’ve just won the lottery tonight.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask you why.”
“Simple, you met me. So make a note of this date on your calendar.”
At that very moment Dario Gualtieri arrived, clad in a tuxedo of iridescent dark blue fabric. He obviously felt perfectly at ease judging by the way he moved. “Well, hello to you all, what a joy to have you here.” He hugged Sara and Daniel enthusiastically, kissing them on the cheeks. “And this magical creature must be Virginia.” Virginia’s smile turned to surprise as she was unexpectedly seized for a hug too. Finally, Dario focused his attention on Alessandro. “Is my nephew actually here?” he said, feigning surprise. “I never believed that it would happen. It’s a date to stick in the calendar!”
“That’s just what I said!” exclaimed Virginia.
“I was set up by that guy over there, Uncle D
ario,” said Alessandro, pointing to Daniel.
“He was starting to get covered in cobwebs so I realised that I needed to intervene promptly.”
Dario patted his arm. “Good work, Daniel. Sometimes you seem more like my nephew than he does.”
“I’m quite happy to arrange for a swap – you two are welcome to each other,” Alessandro grumbled.
“I love you, dear boy, but you really do need to loosen up a bit. In that outfit you look like an…”
“An imbecile?” suggested Virginia under her breath so that only Alessandro, who was standing next to her, could hear her. Sara pulled her arm and Virginia grunted. “What did I do?”
“Alessandro, you should change your look, this is too formal and serious for you,” continued Dario undeterred, analysing what his nephew was wearing. “And maybe choose a more cheerful colour, like yellow or red.”
“Who do you take me for? Elton John ?” replied Alessandro, sounding shocked.
Dario didn’t bother to reply. “Well, I’ll leave you to it. I have to get on with greeting the guests like a good host. God, what hard work it is! I wonder why I keep organising these parties.”
“I wonder that myself, Uncle.”
“Oh, shut up, you. Why don’t you go over to the buffet in the meantime? We’ll be moving to the main dining room for the dinner itself. It’s a delight, the chefs have outdone themselves this time.”
“Are you sure it was worth it? Half the people here look like they never eat at all? And the other half look like they’d burst if they so much as looked at a radish!”
Dario snorted. “See you later, and you,” he said, turning to Alessandro, “keep your tongue in check.” And then he left them.
“I think that your uncle made a very good suggestion, and I propose to accompany you to the buffet. It will be a great way to keep your… tongue busy,” said Virginia, and with a graceful movement she took his arm and began moving him off in that direction.
Alessandro turned to Daniel and mouthed, “You’ll pay for this.”
Sara burst out laughing. “My sister has all the delicacy of an armoured car.”
“Poor Alessandro, it almost makes me feel sorry for him. We tricked him into coming to an evening that represents one of his worst nightmares.”
“You forced him out of his man cave for a party full of super famous celebs, complete with a blind date as well.”
“He’ll never speak to me ever again.”
Sara laughed and took her boyfriend by the arm. “I’m afraid you might be right. But don’t worry, I’ll still talk to you.”
“For what I have in mind for later, you won’t need to talk much,” said Daniel, stroking her chin with his fingers and drawing her to him. Their lips met in a tender kiss that was full of the promise of something bigger and deeper. “No, my sweet and passionate Sara, my plans include a lot of flesh, lots of moans and not many words at all.”
“Argh, how long is it until midnight?” sighed Sara, who was already thinking about the very passionate evening ahead. Daniel laughed in that raspy and terribly provocative way he had that sent her wild.
The dinner was perfect, the guests seeming to adore the nouvelle cuisine which was all accompanied by fine wines. Sara, Daniel, Virginia and Alessandro had been seated at one of the many round tables for eight, which their party had shared with two other couples of an undisclosed age. Nice enough people who had been pleasant company but who didn’t have much to say for themselves, leaving the four of them plenty of time to talk to each other. Even Alessandro had lost his grumpy negative air and become very talkative.
Sara couldn’t help but observe her sister and her friend. Virginia had never seemed more beautiful and there was something about her that made her magnetic. Alessandro responded to the signals that she was giving off, and at every joke he was ready with a comeback, his wit making him particularly charming. Sara knew her sister well enough to understand that something important was going on. She couldn’t guess what was going through Alessandro’s mind, but she could certainly tell what Virginia was thinking. The slight flush of her cheeks, the way her face glowed, the funny way of talking, all contributed in making her look radiant.
Daniel seemed to be enjoying himself a lot too, if the way he was playing footsie with Sara under the table was any indication. If he was trying to goad her into being naughty, or at least into having sinful thoughts, he had succeeded. From time to time she gave him a reproachful look and Daniel responded with a smile and a sweet word in her ear. She wanted him.
Finally the dinner was over, and Daniel’s delightful torture with it. The guests returned to the various rooms on the ground floor. Daniel went off to say hello to someone, but Sara decided not to follow him and stayed with Virginia and Alessandro. After all, Daniel knew lots of people at the party, and she’d smiled and said hello to everyone who had greeted him. Sara’s feet had begun to hurt and even her jaw ached from all that smiling.
The three of them wandered around a little until they arrived in a room whose walls were lined with mirrors and where the music playing was an invitation to dance. Many had already seized the opportunity, while the antique clock on the wall announced that it was only a few minutes to midnight. Virginia immediately stood to attention. She turned to Alessandro and held out her hand with exaggerated grace. “Yes, I accept.”
He stared at her as if she had an apple on her head or a fly on her nose. “I beg your pardon?”
“I accept your kind offer to dance with you, thanks for the invitation.”
Alessandro twisted his mouth comically and turned to Sara. “Is she always like this?”
“Always.”
“How have you survived all these years?”
“Earplugs.”
“Yeah, hilarious,” said Virginia, still holding out her hand towards Alessandro.
He took it and drew her to him, putting his other arm around her waist, forcing their faces together. Eye to eye, their mouths a few centimetres away from each other. He lowered the tone of his voice and it became deep and breathless. “This is going to be the worst dance experience of your life, I’m warning you.”
“If you say it like that, I don’t care if it’s going to be the worst nuclear catastrophe, let’s get to it!”
Alessandro couldn’t help but smile and he pulled her onto the dance floor without another word.
At that moment they were assaulted by the metallic sounds of Titanium by David Guetta. Sara settled herself near the window and enjoyed watching a clumsy Alessandro trying to improvise his movements so that he didn’t look too ridiculous, while Virginia became as sinuous as a boa constrictor. The poor boy had no way of escaping.
Before long, Dario’s voice appeared over the top of the music announcing that the clocks were about to strike midnight. The waiters positioned themselves near a couple of tables covered in very expensive bottles of champagne. There was no limit to the opulence. Sara couldn’t help thinking how strange it was that, being Daniel’s fiancée, she was living in another world. To be honest, she found it all a bit embarrassing. She had been so lucky to find such a great, genuine love, but sometimes all the rest of it just seemed a bit too much. She wasn’t even able to enjoy it. Even if she’d had as much money as they did, she would probably have continued to store things up like an ant, setting something aside for the future and spending only the bare minimum. It was her mentality that was profoundly different from that of these rich, laid back types. She would never be so carefree , and in truth she didn’t actually want to be, but her commitment to accepting that golden environment and understanding it as much as possible had become of primary importance. She wanted Daniel to be sure that she shared every aspect of his fame and his public life. She would be better at it in the future, and to be honest she couldn’t really consider it a sacrifice, because the prize was the best man in the world – the one who, with small, caring gestures, knew how to give her everything. A caress, a smile or a kiss were priceless gifts that could ne
ver be bought. Instinctively she touched her engagement ring and relaxed, aware that an important year was about to start. The year when everything would change.
“Here I am! I’m sorry for abandoning you, I made it just in time.” Daniel put his arm around her waist and hugged her. “Did I miss anything?”
Sara pointed to the dance floor where Alessandro and Virginia were twirling. “It’s either a primitive mating ritual or some kind of rain dance, I haven’t figured it out yet.” Daniel’s laughter warmed her soul. She loved looking at his face and drinking in every detail of it: the line of his full, soft lips, the shape of his eyes. He was the image of perfection – or maybe it was that she was blinded by love and had given up any pretence of being objective. But she didn’t care. She put her hand behind Daniel’s head, and pulled him towards her. Their mouths met and melted together in a kiss that tasted of promises of what was to come.
Meanwhile, the countdown, voiced by an enthusiastic Dario, had begun.
“3… 2… 1… Happy New Year!”
But Daniel and Sara were still kissing. When they parted, they looked at each other for a long time, their eyes smiling as much as their lips. “Happy new year, future Mrs Gant.”
“Happy new year, future husband.”
“That has a certain ring to it – I like it!”
“Me too!”
The sounds around them had become festive: the music continued to play and the sound of pleasant chatter was interrupted frequently by the sound of corks popping and the clinking of glasses, as couples danced to the old fashioned sounds of a Waltz.
Daniel took her by the hand and led her onto the dance floor. Sara could see her sister and Alessandro attempting to waltz in a clumsy but sweet way and she hoped with all her heart that this New Year’s dance would be the first of many for them. But Daniel interrupted her thoughts when he pulled their bodies closer to each other in a tight embrace. They began to dance, looking one another in the eyes, and everything else disappeared: the music, the chatter of the other guests, the optimistic sound of clinking glasses, the laughter.
There was only Daniel and Sara, united in sublime harmony, in a world of their own where they were king and queen.