by Olga GOA
And Milano has chosen the hardest way, hoping he wouldn’t act like a fool.
“Hello again…” Milano uttered, a little nervous, while Lucenzo reached him and handed him the microphone. “I’m sorry that I will speak in English as Lucenzo did, but it is necessary because some guests here are not Italian from birth. I just want people who I care about to understand me... And especially, the person who became more important to me in the past months…”
Putting his hand on his brother’s shoulder, Lucenzo thus supported Milano, so that his elder brother could finally say the most crucial thing in his life.
“I want to introduce my companion to you, guys; a girl whom I hope you will approve of and welcome with open arms. She will be a new member of my family, because...” Milano continued, and then he stopped halfway. It was as if he still doubted his decision.
“Because she loves you...” Veronica softly finished for Milano, when Francesca handed her a microphone. Veronica got up and stood near Milano so he would finally look up to her and see her real feelings in her eyes.
The guests were silent, watching from their seats. They were waiting for the outcome.
“Because she loves me,” he repeated after Veronica, comprehending her words, and turned to her. Veronica indeed was a bright spotlight for Milano, which gradually dived into his murky kingdom. Milano craved to be found there by Veronica.
“This is Veronica Ledyanova! She is the sun that blesses my life... The sun, which has brought me out of the darkness and encircles me with its warmth,” Milano finished his speech, taking Veronica’s hands in his and kissing each one admirably.
Frozen Veronica could not utter a word―her lips were trembling, and she felt that her heart was about to jump out of her chest. The words of her beloved Demon were like a new electric wave. They reached the center of her soul and back to the brain, passing all the fences of unbelief and destroying them with overwhelming force.
Bianca, watching the whole engagement process, was ready to blow up the entire house! Veronica became a virus for her, which was difficult to fight. She thought she had to find something very reasonable. But what? She couldn’t decide on anything yet.
Unlike Bianca, Susan was mad at Milano, standing afar near the arc and hiding in the greenery. She didn’t understand why her ex-boss was so attached to Veronica.
“Why has Milano decided to take this action? Is he crazy?!” Susan asked herself in a harsh tone. She still envied Veronica, watching the celebration in the Veneziani’s house. “But there’s still time,” she grinned caustically to herself, thinking about the next plan of riddance from Veronica, “anything can happen before the wedding...”
Milano’s parents reacted to the announcement about the engagement in a different way. Milano’s father smiled, lifting his champagne flute and welcoming his son’s step, while Milano’s mother accusingly shook her head, not believing that her son fell for Veronica’s bait. Distrust permeated her soul, and Signora Veneziani wanted to find out the complete biography of Veronica; to find out about the unknown girl―everything she could gather about her. If Gabriela Veneziani learns that Veronica has a dark past, she will not allow Milano to marry his fiancée for sure.
Milano’s younger sister, Daniela, seeing her elder brother’s act simply retired. She could hardly believe that Milano will exchange beautiful Bianca for the nun Veronica! She was in solidarity with her mother that Milano should marry only Bianca Lesti.
How will I be able to acquaint my friends with this commoner Veronica?! Daniela mumbled to herself and went outside, to avoid saying anything rude to Milano.
Eduardo and Timothy took the news about Veronica’s engagement calmly, judging by their impenetrable and emotionless faces. But probably, a real hurricane raged inside them. Right now, they have lost the ability to communicate with Veronica and probably wanted to change that. But the ideas on how they intended to achieve that fact were only available to both of them individually. Lots of thoughts were floating in their heads at this tense moment.
After taking a glance at his family, guests, and especially those people who knew him, Milano realized by their facial expressions―many of them were surprised and shocked by his proposal to Veronica. Only his closest friends whistled and shouted something in Italian, approving his right choice. Milano felt as delighted as a child and gave thumbs up in solidarity to his friends.
“So what does Veronica say?” someone shouted from the guests, having lost patience while waiting for Veronica’s answer. Who knew what fate awaits Milano Veneziani?
“Yes...” Veronica answered immediately, interlocking fingers around Milano’s neck and bowing her head to his shoulder. She expected the subsequent actions from her Demon as well.
Not delaying the banquet, Milano got a large silver box out his trousers pocket and put it on the table, opening it. Two rings made from white gold, each of them set with a huge blue diamond, lay in the silver box. One memorable evening in the restaurant, out of happiness, Veronica had the opportunity of trying on one of the rings that was smaller and petite, when Milano placed it on her finger. The second ring, which was bigger and broader in size, belonged to Milano himself. It emphasized his power, rich status, and male strength.
Exchanging the engagement rings, Milano and Veronica smiled sincerely, continuing to dive into each other’s eyes. They looked thrilled―Veronica hugged Milano’s torso, and Milano mumbled something into her dark blond hair and kissed her crown. Veronica was a girl who found her way to his heart, and Milano was a man who became her shelter.
“So...” Lucenzo continued, taking the microphone in his hand again. “Francesca and I have prepared a surprise for my beloved brother and his amazing bride, Veronica! I hope you enjoy the song which my wife and I chose last night,” he broke into a smile as Francesca stood beside him and he twined his arm around her thin waist. “Milano, this is for you and Veronica!”
“Start the fun!” Francesca exclaimed, taking the microphone from Veronica’s hand as well.
Milano and Veronica came to the middle of the dance floor, and a cool hit ‘Looking for Love’ performed by singer Karen Ramirez started to play. Passionately, Veronica and Milano hugged each other; and some of the guests sighed, contemplating such a romantic moment of the wedding. The speakers of the musical equipment gifted the audience such a beautiful song.
Milano and Veronica moved slowly to the rhythm of the melody, listening to its words attentively. The lyrics of the tune confirmed the truth about their feelings, the fact they were in denial to some extent and did not know it themselves. Milano and Veronica were looking for love in reality until they found each other, albeit this love was still fragile. But their love existed; it doesn’t matter if it has so many different shades from dark to light. After all, a lot of people like Milano and Veronica did not know how love is born. However, Milano and Veronica gradually learned how their romance began. Their attraction was the first phase at the beginning of their love, and indeed, it was not a strong feeling. Only time could strengthen their love and give hope for real feelings. As Milano had to understand this fact, Veronica had to do so and soon if they wanted to move forward rather than remain locked in their desires.
Veronica and Milano stopped as their beautiful song ended. Milano pulled the microphone off Lucenzo’s hands, apparently wanting to say something in response to his brother.
“Thank you for such a surprise, my dear bro Lucenzo. Veronica and I are touched by your attention and kindness and Francesca’s as well. But I’ve also prepared a surprise for you and your wife. I’m asking you and Francesca to step into the middle of the wedding dance floor as the lead couple!” Milano began to clap, and the guests and relatives followed him, prompting the newlyweds to leave their seats and let them admire Francesca and Lucenzo’s dance steps.
Lucenzo giggled together with Francesca, and went to Milano and Veronica, hugging them gratefully. So Lucenzo and Francesca stood in a particular dance position and the remix of the song ‘I
nside My Love’ made by Sencae began to play. It was initially performed by the talented singer Delilah. The newlyweds started moving with special pleasure, not expecting what would happen next.
A small device, which was located at the top of a metal tent and fastened above the dance floor, unexpectedly poured colorful confetti and shiny rain over Francesca and Lucenzo. From the generators, standing near the dance floor, large soap bubbles began to blow everywhere, touching the surprised newlyweds. It wasn’t just a wedding; it was a fantastic show! The dance floor turned into a fairyland where everything was possible.
Lucenzo and Francesca did not expect such a surprise and immediately applauded Milano and Veronica, giving them their best gratitude. Finishing their white dance, the newlyweds invited the guests to come and sway on the stone dance floor. Friends and relatives started joining the wedding celebration; gentlemen were asking their ladies to dance with them. Children, including Francesca’s younger brothers, gently circled a dozen couples. The wedding banquet slowly reorganized into a discotheque.
“Actually, I wanted to coddle my children. And it seems like I’ll take care of my nephew, Milano’s child, instead...” Lucenzo noted, hugging his wife.
“There is still hope…” Francesca told him proudly, undoing his white jacket and leading her small fingers to his chest. “We can retire and go to a private room if you are already impatient to wait for the night…” Her giggling was nervous; she barely endured the many-months abstinence from sex. Francesca also wanted some privacy right now with her husband.
“Fra, are you serious about doing it now?” Lucenzo’s eyebrows fluttered up; he was in awe. His amazement reached its maximum when Francesca put his hands on her buttocks and left them there.
“Why not?” Francesca winked at her husband as she approached him, touching his rangy biceps. “If we endure until the nightfall, we will get tired and then fall asleep.”
“We’re at our wedding, little bell. What would the guests say if we were absent? They’ll guess the reason in a second,” Lucenzo laughed noticing Francesca’s face curled in disagreement with him. Lucenzo understood her reaction because he also wasn’t non-emotional, but he didn’t want to put his beloved in an awkward position. They both have to wait for a while, and then their reunion will be even sweeter than they could imagine.
During the break between the guests’ dances, Alessandro Veneziani decided to make a speech. He began to share his youthful memories―how Lucenzo came into this world, how he grew up, how seriously he and Gabriela educated him. How Lucenzo delighted the family with his success at high school, college, and university. Alessandro Veneziani also narrated about how obedient Lucenzo was and how he aspired to know everything.
Francesca rejoiced in how Alessandro Veneziani was praising his son before everyone. She couldn’t believe what happiness had fallen upon her! She saw herself as the luckiest woman in the world and didn’t want to change anything. Everything she dreamed of came true. Now she had to think about a career, unless, of course, her work won’t interfere with her status as a married woman.
Meanwhile, as Alessandro Veneziani’s speech was over, Veronica decided to talk to her close friends. She was standing at the table with mineral water, chatting sweetly with Gloria and Signora Carmela―her Aunt Henrietta’s second cousin. Gloria and Carmela congratulated Veronica on her engagement from the bottom of their hearts and couldn’t get enough of her and Milano. Carmela and Gloria confided in Veronica that she and Milano would be one of the most beautiful couples in Rome.
Listening attentively to her companions, Veronica assented to what they said. Sometimes she even nodded, enjoying their narration about unusual cases from celebrities’ lives. But soon Veronica did notice Milano who stood not far from her and watched her with a glass of wine in one hand.
Milano immodestly examined Veronica’s appetizing forms and wasn’t coy about it. It seemed like he was shamelessly undressing his goddess with his withering look. When he got tired of doing it, he lightly touched his lower lip with his right thumb and slowly stroked his lip causing Veronica’s face to burn with shame. It doesn’t matter how Veronica tried not to laugh; she didn’t succeed; she put herself in a weird situation. But Milano did not calm down at his game―he ran his hand through his black raven-wing hair and did it so erotically that Veronica’s throat was dry.
Veronica had to take a glass from the table and fill it up with some mineral water. She had to quench her bodily thirst right then. Veronica began to realize that Milano had deliberately provoked her. It seemed like he was revealing to her more and more hidden sides of her sensual nature.
The song ‘Burn’ sang by Alex Hook feat. Emma Brammer added more fuel to the fire of their fantasies. Veronica and Milano needed to escape from the celebration and forget about everyone.
“I think your fiancé wants to talk to you, Veronica,” Carmela smiled at Gloria, looking at one another. They had noted for a long while that Veronica’s attention was not with them, but with Milano. They asked the girl what thoughts she had about the last story, but Veronica didn’t grab anything from Gloria’s narration. She couldn’t answer them correctly, just mumbled something.
“Sorry, ladies. I strayed a little...” Veronica made an excuse, at which Gloria and Carmela grinned. They knew what passion for youth and amorousness meant; they have experienced it themselves.
“Go, Nike. We have something to talk about with Signora Vetrova. I want to hear how Signora Carmela helped you as Milano pulled a stunt and made you go away from him…” Gloria supported her new interlocutor, sending Veronica back to her beloved.
Seeing that his former nurse Gloria and Signora Vetrova were pushing Veronica to go to him, Milano’s eyes danced with intense lights. He was already looking forward to what he would do to Veronica and where he will try new sex with her―perhaps in the ladies ‘room or the garden’s thickets.
However, Milano’s sex plans went awry. His parents distracted him when they approached and sincerely congratulated him on this significant event. Only one of them pretended to be honest―as Milano supposed―his mother. He knew that from her grimaced face and their previous conversation she didn’t like Veronica.
“For the first time in my life, I agree with your decision, son,” Alessandro Veneziani announced, embracing Milano once more. “Veronica is a unique girl, and she doesn’t look like any of those women you had affairs with. She will be a wonderful wife and mother to your children—”
“Alesso! Not so fast!” Gabriela Veneziani interrupted him instantly. “We don’t know anything about Veronica yet. As soon as we find out about her life, we will decide whether she can become a wife to our son or not,” she said in a businesslike way.
“What’s wrong with Veronica, Signora Veneziani? Didn’t she please you because of her position in society or the fact that she’s pregnant?” Milano asked his mother sarcastically, finishing his wine in one gulp.
“Then I’m right,” Gabriela Veneziani told her husband, still glaring at Milano. “Are you sure this child is yours, Milano?” she turned to her son. “Maybe she is pregnant from someone else…”
“Well, mother… Because we had reusable hot sex and I didn’t use a condom, it is me… Veronica was a virgin… just saying!” Milano snorted in response to the stunned face of his mother. He could no longer hear his mother’s insults towards his pure Veronica, and how she blamed his goddess for what she didn’t do. He decided to tell the truth.
“Milano! Where’s your sense of tact?” Alessandro Veneziani clasped his hands wonderingly. “You owe it to your position in society,” he pronounced, supporting his wife.
“Listen, father!” Milano puckered his lips indignantly. “I have already told my mother that I won’t change myself for anyone, not for her, not for you. You know why? You always saw me as your profit when I grew up, and my mother saw me as her encumbrance. I felt like an outcast because you both spat on me. It looked like I was a foster child in our family. You never cared about me,
and yes, my parents were my grandpa and Gloria! Lucenzo and Daniela became wanted children for you, but not Milano Veneziani. And now you’re unwanted parents to me. Today I don’t wish to spoil my mood because of your objections. For the first time in my life, I made the right decision without fear of your disapproval. I want to be with Veronica and I will! And even the Devil won’t be able to stop me!”
Grinning maliciously at their petrified faces, Milano left the glass on the table and, turning, worked his way directly to Veronica. Milano no longer desired to argue with his parents and went to the waves of his memory. He got tired of delving into the things that need to be forgotten.
“You see yourself...” Gabriela Veneziani whispered, wiping spilled tears from her cheeks. “Our son hates us... more and more…”
“He just got used to everything―beautiful cars, beautiful women... If you take them from him, he’ll sing a misery song!” Alessandro Veneziani strictly suggested to his wife, not understanding why his son hated them so much.
“We need to bring our son closer to us, not to push him away! I think I’m losing Milano if I haven’t already. He remembers only our coldness, indifference, and rejection since he was a little boy. We were inattentive to him and very young, and he didn’t see our love. He’s right, Alesso! We cannot deny it!” Gabriela Veneziani wanted to burst into tears, seeing how unfair she had been to her elder son.
To comfort her, Alessandro Veneziani led her to the side stroking her back.
“Please, remember those difficult years of our lives, Gabi,” Alessandro Veneziani let out a long breath, squeezing his mouth at the mere mention of a torrential past. “If it weren’t for your father, we would have died from starvation, including Milano. I’m glad that your parents agreed to our marriage despite our ages. After all, things could have ended differently, and our son could have been born out of matrimony...” he continued with a frustrated look.