by Olga GOA
Meeting his former mistress Bianca, Milano angrily frowned. He was disappointed in his mother’s intentions to interfere in his relationship with Veronica. After all, he was never aware that Signora Veneziani had encouraged Bianca to marry him, and as a result, Bianca probably didn’t want to miss the chance.
Milano mentally cursed, realizing that his problems were just beginning. It was not over with Bianca yet.
“Oh, Milano. I wanted to talk to you! Can you give me a minute?” Bianca’s mood changed dramatically, and she smiled at Milano coquettishly. She adjusted her long mahogany hair, which only from the top was sealed with a silver hairpin.
“Why on earth should I?” Milano muttered, condemning Bianca’s conversation with Veronica. Even though he heard only the end of their dialogue, that was clear enough that Bianca had come just to annoy Veronica.
Veronica attentively watched her Demon and his ex-girlfriend standing nearby. She tried not to think about what Bianca had asked him in a whisper.
“I won’t keep you too long, Signor Veneziani. It’s just a conversation,” Bianca giggled and waved her hand as if she did not seem to understand Milano’s suspicion.
“Wait, Bianca...” Milano quickly responded and was detached from his ex. He didn’t wish to show Veronica that he ignored her presence, seeing her distressed gaze.
Milano reached to Veronica in a moment, who was in better control of herself than usual, and unexpectedly hugged her. He kissed Veronica on the lips, reassuring her about his loyalty. The passion he infused into the kiss only proved to Bianca that she missed the boat. Milano did it so that his former mistress would leave him alone and never seek for any personal meeting. His thoughts were occupied only by his amazing Veronica.
Planning to surprise Veronica once again, Milano whispered into her ear that if it hadn’t been for the wedding banquet, he would have taken Veronica to his room and fried their bodies on the slow fire of ardor. He desired to repeat everything that had happened in their bedroom earlier.
Veronica only smirked at her Demon’s words, kissing him gently on the cheek. After all, she saw how Milano adored her, but she misdoubted the reality of his love. Veronica only feared that her Demon could break her heart! She won’t be able to live under the same roof as him, knowing that he’d cheated on her. For her, fidelity in a relationship was the main base on which her trust and love could sprout up.
Leaving them alone, Veronica returned to the table where the celebration had started. Elegant Francesca and Lucenzo appeared before her eyes; they have been looking for her for so long.
Francesca immediately took Veronica’s hand and led her to her table, sitting beside her.
“I missed you so much, my dear Nike, and Lucenzo couldn’t find you. Milano is such a taciturn man for not telling us where you were!” Francesca snorted, trying not to be angry with Lucenzo’s brother. Milano was so helpful in search of her and wasn’t as bad of a person as she had thought. But Francesca didn’t like how secretive he was.
“You look so ravishing today, Fra. Thank you for your kind words and the invitation to your table,” Veronica smiled gently at her friend, watching as the guests talked and waited for everyone to gather in the garden.
“Veronica, no need to thank us,” Lucenzo smirked, supporting their conversation. He drank a glass of champagne and at the same time pushed a plate of food to Veronica. “Eat.”
“Yes, sweetheart. Lucenzo is right,” Francesca shook her head, not liking what she saw. “You look tired. Milano does not give you food to eat?” Francesca was worried about her dear friend.
Bending, Veronica muttered into Francesca’s ear, “No, it’s not that... I ate a little in the kitchen due to Milano’s order. Just… Milano yearns for my attention. You know what the attention is... I cannot say anything in Lu’s presence...” She continued, realizing that Lucenzo could hear them clearly.
“I understand...” Francesca responded, imagining what Milano did to Veronica while she entertained the guests. “Well, he’s such a torturer!” She went on, giggling in a childish manner.
“You are clever, Fra... Hints are not worth mentioning,” Veronica burst out laughing; piercing the slices of bacon with her fork. She put the slice in her mouth, and chewed, beginning to enjoy the famous carbonara pasta. This dish was seasoned with special sauce, and Veronica was pleased to have such an exquisite taste on her tongue. The wedding table was so fragrant that Veronica suspected she would gain five kilograms in one day.
The superb menu of dishes that were placed on all the tables craved Veronica’s attention. The recipes she was not familiar with, Veronica asked Francesca or Lucenzo, and they were happy to give her an exclusive tour of their native Italian cuisine.
A delicious risotto with porcini mushrooms stood on the table next to the cutlery and white napkins. It was a traditional dish at Italian weddings, and it was a sin for Veronica not to taste it. At the head of the table, she also saw meat dishes―Roman-style milk lamb, breaded turkey fillet chops, veal in a milk sauce, rabbit in tomato sauce and more. She also noticed that there were expensive fish dishes like canned tuna and anchovies, flounder and swordfish, sardines, which were baked in the oven in olive oil. And of course, the celebration was not complete without different types of Italian pasta and other seafood that Veronica discovered as well.
The wedding tables featured the various salads and appetizers of tomatoes with mozzarella cheese and basil. Veronica tasted different salads from asparagus and pink pepper, broccoli with almonds, and grilled vegetables to canned artichokes. The dishes with different types of cheeses, sausages, and other goodies were also added to the menu. Drinks were more than enough for everyone―natural juices and compotes from a variety of fruits and berries, as well as a selection of alcoholic beverages. Of course, Veronica drank only the juices and mineral water due to her delicate condition.
From such a variety, Veronica’s eyes scattered, and she decided to try almost all the dishes. Her stomach rumbled again, and she blushed slightly as Lucenzo and Francesca turned their heads in her direction.
However, Lucenzo and Francesca approved of Veronica’s impulse to eat, saying that she should think only about herself. She shouldn’t worry about what people think of her―her child’s health was paramount. They were prepared to protect Veronica in front of the guests if it was necessary.
So what if Veronica has a good, healthy appetite? Francesca thought. Ain’t nobody’s business except Milano’s!
***
Milano talked to Bianca while Veronica sat with Francesca and Lucenzo at the table; they had a long discussion that centered on the scope of the wedding. Milano was throwing cigarette ash into an iron urn and casually leaned on a steel arc, twinned with a green chambering plant.
Bianca was nervous, watching only Milano’s half-side that was turned to her. It looked like all she said to him fell on deaf ears. It was clear to Bianca Lesti, judging by Milano’s posture―melancholy overcame this man, and he had a kind of disregard for her.
“You’re not surprised I haven’t shown up the past four months?” Bianca was chirping like a magpie, trying to touch the impregnable Milano with her hand. “After all, I went to Milan to improve my skills as a makeup artist, that’s why I was absent. I was allowed to take a vacation only a week ago. Although I understand that I shouldn’t go away from you… You keep yourself near this commoner! What did you find in her? I don’t see anything special about that Veronica.”
“Bianca, I don’t care where you’ve been or who you’ve been with! Besides, I’m not gonna allow you or my family, or Susan, cast mud at my lovely Veronica. Got it?” Milano suddenly freaked out, throwing the almost-smoked cigarette into the ashtray. He wished to escape from his pesky ex to the guests. Bianca pestered him to no end!
“When will you stop ignoring me?” Bianca asked him, pretending to whimper. She couldn’t come to terms with how Milano had switched to Veronica and didn’t want her. It was bad news for Bianca.
“I will
be engaged to Veronica tonight, and we’re getting married soon. Is it so incomprehensible to you that I should notify you by a pen letter?” Milano grinned at the folly of his ex-mistress. He was tired of chatting with her and wanted to finish this conversation once and for all.
“Uh, I don’t believe you. You couldn’t have a crush on her! No!!!” Bianca jabbered, almost in tears. She tried not to show her emotions but all of them reflected on her face―shades of anger, aversion, and jealousy, everything she felt for Veronica. With desire, Bianca tried to persuade Milano to come back to her, but his whole entity reached out to his goddess.
“You are a great mistress, Bianca, but no more...” Milano coldly told her the truth, deciding to go back to Veronica. “I never swore eternal love to you, and I don’t intend to!”
“Why did your Veronica, so angelic and pure, get pregnant by you?! Maybe it was not you who got her pregnant. Are you sure she didn’t sleep with anyone before you?” Bianca tried to present Veronica as a low-lifer as much as she could but Milano didn’t listen to her. He knew who took Veronica’s virginity; it was only him.
“I’m holding myself back, not to hit your shameless face, Bianca! Stop being a bitch!” Milano’s anger was growing, the muscles on his cheeks nervously twitching from the stress.
“Don’t say, Milano. I figured out everything by myself. She was a virgin, right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have fucked her the first day you met her! You always like tasting inexperienced girls in that way!” Bianca shouted at him, but Milano brushed her off.
Remembering that time was precious, Bianca decided to put everything on the line. She pushed Milano to the fence, overgrown with a chambering plant and attacked him with her kisses. She skillfully showed her creativity in the act of seduction; Bianca attempted to excite this handsome hunk, Milano. She tried making him forget about his ‘foreigner lover.’
But Milano didn’t fall for her trap; he sharply pushed Bianca off, wiping his lips after her kisses. He did not expect such a dirty trick from his ex-mistress and was dumbfounded at Bianca’s antics.
“If you do something like that again, you will fly out of here in a second!” Milano barked disgustedly, stepping away.
“Can I kiss you, pretty boy, can’t I? Milano, wait a minute! Where are you going?” Bianca screamed as Milano ran away from her like from a plague.
Milano left Bianca near the arc to argue with herself because he desired to get back to Veronica. He was eager to be distracted by his goddess’s kisses. When Milano was not far from the place where the tables stood, Milano combed his hair which Bianca had ruffled. He didn’t want Veronica to know that Bianca kissed him. Veronica was a hyper jealous lover!
As Milano was about to reach the large space prepared as a dance floor, he met Gloria on the way. He could tell by her angry face and crossed arms that his ex-nanny was discontented with him. But she didn’t see Bianca kiss him... or did she?
“Don’t make mistakes you won’t be able to fix, son. Bianca is very cunning, and she wants you back. It is not clear at all?” Gloria rebuked him, still standing at the same position and looking at him in disbelief.
Milano attempted to get past Gloria, but Gloria’s hand stopped him, pushing his chest a little. Gloria did not move, and Milano stepped back, daring to explain everything to her.
“I didn’t kiss Bianca, Gloria. I went to Veronica! I swear,” Milano folded his hands as if in prayer, asking his ex-nanny to believe him.
“It doesn’t matter if she kissed you or you kissed her, Milano, but you gave her a reason. From now on, don’t be so flippant. Veronica doesn’t deserve to be cheated on! Don’t hurt her, she’s a very good girl and deserves to be happy,” Gloria advised him, quietly talking to Milano and not letting his demons wake up. She only pointed out Milano’s mistakes, but she didn’t repulse him. She was like a real mother to him, who was ready to listen to her son and teach him right.
“My dear Gloria, all I want is Nike! Trust me! She’s carrying my child, and she belongs only to me!” Milano answered her passionately, frowning at Gloria.
“Then stop communicating with Bianca, neutralize her completely! Find out for yourself, Milano―do you want to be with Veronica just because of the baby or do you want to marry her because you love her?” Gloria asked him, looking into the eyes of Milano. Did he ponder about whether to tell her the truth or not?
“Gloria, that’s hardly the point… Love is not so important!” Milano shouted, scowling.
“It is important!” Gloria snapped at Milano. “Without love, marriage will not live forever!”
Milano did not want any attention to the supplication of his former nanny; and he rushed to the table where his brother, Francesca, and Veronica were sitting. He smiled slightly at everyone and landed next to Veronica, who was busy gorging the meat dishes and drinking a peach juice. Milano smiled, noticing how great an appetite Veronica had, and gently stroked her back. He liked it when his Amazon listened to him without showing her arrogance.
Glancing at Milano, Veronica looked down at her plate again, no longer giving him attention. It was like she avoided him as if she hadn’t any interest in Milano at all.
Milano was a little wary; why did Veronica act like that? He seemed to have done nothing wrong and behaved like a true gentleman. But Milano started doubting that Veronica believed him. At least he hoped the food would distract him from the memory of Bianca’s forced kisses. Although even he started eating cheese pizza, he couldn’t get rid of his heavy thoughts.
Milano carefully cut the pizza, placing a small piece in his mouth with a concentrated look. He repeated this action for a long time until he realized that Veronica was staring at him irritably.
Well, what else? Milano thought, hating her silence.
“You liked her kiss, didn’t you?” Veronica made her claims when Milano stared at her, puzzled. He couldn’t imagine how his goddess read his mind. How could she have guessed what had happened minutes ago?
“I didn’t touch her, Nike...” Milano reported with a degree of disrespect to Bianca.
“And this?” Veronica carefully wiped off the lipstick on his cheek, which Milano hadn’t noticed when he was running away from Bianca. Veronica showed him the trace of lipstick on her thumb, and Milano didn’t know where to put himself. He had never before felt such shame in his life, Veronica had found out about his lies. But he didn’t want to perturb her, as usual; he just wanted to hide the fact that Bianca kissed him.
“She did it by force, baby. Believe me.” Milano quietly assured her by touching Veronica gently.
“Don’t touch my hand!” Veronica rejected him, removing his hand from hers. “I don’t even want to think about how you hugged her with that hand and...”
“You imagine things, Nike. Nothing happened,” Milano muttered, trying to draw his rebellious doe to him and kiss her behind the ear.
“Can you tell me that you both hadn’t retired to the ladies’ room?”
“When are you going to start trusting me, damn it?!” Milano almost jumped out of his chair because of Veronica’s accusation.
Veronica got up, attempting to leave the table just to avoid making a scene in front of everyone. She wanted to believe her Demon, but it was hard to accept that fact. It appeared like the truth mentioned in the famous proverb―once bitten, twice shy.
However, Milano didn’t let Veronica go. “How can I handle everything? What do I have to do to make Veronica stop doubting me?” He asked himself quietly under his breath.
And, like a magician, Lucenzo came to their aid when he noticed their serious debate. Leaning over to Francesca, he whispered something secret to her, and Francesca chuckled, clapping her hands softly. She seemed to approve of the idea of her clever husband.
Coming up to the middle of the garden and taking the microphone in his hand, Lucenzo tapped it. He checked to see if the device worked well and was satisfied that it did. As someone who had seen the complex psychological types of people, Lucenzo knew how to
defuse the situation between his elder brother and his girlfriend. He needed to show them something romantic and very sensual.
“Dear friends and relatives!” Lucenzo began his speech in English. “Thank you for coming to our family’s celebration today and sharing in my happiness with Francesca! Big thanks to my parents for how they turned me into a real and dignified man. A man who will always appreciate the best human qualities such as honesty, decency, beauty, and love! A special thanks to Francesca’s parents, Signori Andrea and Bruno Lascatti, who raised such an amazing girl to be my wife. The girl who will always cause my heart to beat, a million times stronger than before! Let’s drink to the health of our parents and the future we will build!”
The particularly impressionable guests remained seated; they even shed tears at his speech, taking out their handkerchiefs. Others, on the contrary, gave the groom a standing ovation, whistling and shouting in Italian “ben detto, Lucenzo!”[36]
“Wait a minute...” Lucenzo suddenly interrupted the acclaim; he spoke loudly into the microphone. “I didn’t tell you the most important thing! I owe my happiness to my elder brother Milano. He helped us reunite with Francesca, so I can’t thank him enough not even with a song. But first, he will share with us the news that we all will be pleased to hear!”
Francesca pulled Milano over by his shoulder’s sleeve, seeing his faraway look. She whispered that he should get up and announce the news of the engagement to everyone, but Milano seemed to be rooted to the seat. Francesca turned her gaze to Lucenzo, and from her gaze, it was clear that she was hinting her husband to save the situation.
Lucenzo coughed slightly, thus bringing Milano from the oblivion. Lucenzo waited until Milano woke up and made an offer to Veronica.
Milano got up. He already told himself that he couldn’t turn back and leave his baby alone, but his inner demons insisted he would be the worst father. Although, he knew that no one would take care of his baby better than him. Milano believed that ‘saying one thing and doing it are two different things.’ Even his grandpa told him so a long time ago, “knowing the path and walking the path―are not the same thing.”