ALINA
I walked about with Dante as he met and greeted various individuals.
This was so tiring.
Did Dante bring me here as his side kick that was meant to follow him everywhere he went?
Frustration and anger were two strong emotions coursing through me.
He could have just let me stay back home.
I would have had my peace rather than being here with him.
Fuck. I hated this man so much. He was driving me nuts.
I did not beg to come here. Dante dragged me here.
But surprisingly, Dante was introducing me as his wife to every one we met. I actually thought he would be reluctant to do that.
I'm guessing this was just for the sake of formality. This man disliked me and found me repulsive.
Oh heavens please help me.
"The devil himself. Mr Dante Morelli"
I heard a deep baritone voice call from behind us.
I and Dante made a sharp pivot and my gaze fell upon a young handsome man, probably Dante's age, coming towards us.
His chestnut brown hair was slick, cascading down the nape of his neck.
His brows were full and his eyes carried a shade of ocean blue but I noticed an awful straight scar that was indented next to his left eye.
That must have been deep. He was as tall as Dante and he was equally muscular.
But overall, he was good looking.
His smile was rather infectious too.
"Ah Valentine Greco. If I'm the devil then what are you?" Dante asked with a brow slightly raised.
"Mr and Mrs Dante Morelli" Valentine acknowledged my presence, extending a handshake.
I took his hand and flinched as his iron grip almost pierced through my bones.
"But I didn't tell you that she is my wife" Dante smirked.
Valentine trailed doting stares at me which got me uncomfortable.
"You didn't have to tell me. You never bring a woman to this event neither do you like a woman clinging on to you"
"Mrs Morelli how do you do? I hope Dante is treating you right" Valentine asked.
I smiled at him,"I am fine and right is an understatement of how Dante treats me"
Ofcourse that was a lie.
Dante had been nothing but a tyrant to me ever since I stepped into his mansion.
"That's good to hear Mrs Morelli. And Dante I must say, your wife is very beautiful" he complimented me which got my cheeks flushed.
"Take your eyes off her" Dante replied in such a stern tone.
My brows knitted in confusion at Dante's words.
Why was he now being so protective? Lest I forgot, Dante didn't give two fucks about me.
"That's by the way. We have important issues to discuss" Dante added cryptically.
Valentine nodded, probably grasping what Dante meant.
"Excuse me for a while" Dante requested before he grabbed me by the arm roughly and led me out of their presence.
Taking me towards the nearby bar counter, Dante instructed me sternly.
"I am going to discuss some business related issues with Valentine. I expect you to be on your best behaviour and do not misbehave"
The order was loud and clear.
I sighed and nodded. Without saying a word, Dante left me to myself.
I watched his profile disappear into the crowd with Valentine.
I grabbed a stool and sat on it, my eyes perusing the various elites that were in attendance.
Fuck. This night was going to be so damn boring.
Suddenly, I heard my name being called from behind me which got me spurning around.
Holding my now shocked orbs was the soft gaze of Theodore.
What was he doing here?
"Theodore!" I practically screamed.
"Alina. Look at you. We meet again. Seems the universe wants us to meet" Theodore laughed.
I nodded and I still was in bewilderment by his appearance here. I thought this was a mafia function.
"What are you doing here?" I quickly asked.
Was he part of the mafia?
"I accompanied my boss here. This place damn bores the hell out of me" He replied with a roll of his eyes.
"You can say that again. I feel so bored. I don't even know what the function is for" I blurted out.
"Really? It's just a facade charity event. These rich folks come around and meet with top members of NGos, supporting them and all that shit with donations but we all know it's for their reputation" Theodore explained to me.
Oh really. I thought this was some kind of mafia event.
"Besides Alina" Theodore broke the silence.
"Who are you here with?"
"I am here with my boss" I copied his words and lied without thinking twice.
I didn't know why I said that. The words just slipped right out of my mouth before I could even stop myself.
"I love hardworking women" Theodore cheekily said to me with a boyish grin.
"We love you too" I giggled.
Theodore just knew how to lighten up my mood.
He was so approachable and friendly. I wish I could be with him instead.
"Besides you never did get to text me" he broke the interluded silence.
My brows furrowed for a while, trying to recollect if I did collect his number and then it clicked onto me that I did.
"Ohhh" I sighed, placing a hand on my temples with my eyes briefly closed.
"I must have forgotten" I realised. "I have been so busy Theodore please accept my apologies" I apologised.
Theodore waved it off and softly pinched my cheeks which got my face going beetroot red.
"Ofcourse I do accept your apology"
He then leaned in closer and gave me a mischievous grin. "Why don't we loosen up a bit you know?"
"How?" I questioned with hiked brows.
"Let us have a drink" he suggested.
I pulled my face back immediately, shaking my head at the thought of me drinking.
I couldn't do such. Dante would go mad with fury.
"I can't" I declined with a sorrowful look on my face.
"Why not?" He inquired softly.
"I don't want to get drunk. Besides my boss wouldn't be happy" I gave my reasons.
Theodore sighed and cupped my cheeks in his large palms.
"You won't get drunk. Trust me. Just a couple of drinks to atleast spice up our night. Besides literally everybody here is drinking and I'm sure your boss is too. Just look around"
My eyes wandered around, taking cursory glances of everyone and truth be told, majority if not all of the people in attendance had cups of drink in their hands.
I thought of it for a while. There wouldn't be any harm in just taking two cups and besides I know wherever Dante is right now, he must be defintely drinking. If not doing worse.
My mind shivered at the thought of Dante being romantic with women in wherever he was and I shook the thoughts off.
"Fine I'll. But not much" I gave my condition.
Theodore nodded with a wide grin. "That's my baby girl"
I chortled.
Facing the bar, he spoke, "Um bar man?" Theodore called out.
After about ten seconds,the bar man approached us.
"What can I offer you both?he asked politely with a smile as he rubbed his hands together.
"Um two shots of tequila please and a cocktail too" Theodore said with a smirk.
I arched a brow at him but shrugged my shoulders as the bar man nodded his head.
He then returned back with our drink and placed it before us.
"After you dear. Ladies first" Theodore winked at me.
I smiled at him and sculled it down in an instant, not minding the taste of the alcohol in my mouth.
"Woah! Look who is more daring than I thought" Theodore teased, sculling down his.
"That felt good" I gasped.
"You want another?"
With a nod, I called for more and before I knew it, I and Theodore had already boozed down more than six shots of alcohol.
I felt a whole new wave of energy surge through me. I felt daring and so hyper.
"Theodore let's go dance!" I suddenly yelled, catching my own self by surprise as I wondered where I got this renewed energy from.
Theodore shook his head at me. "No let's not go dance. You seem too hyper"
I giggled like a baby and smacked his hands. "I am not hyper. I am just happy. Drinking that was such a good thing. I've forgotten all my worries" I made gestures with my hands.
My eyes darted upwards, to the ceiling and it seemed to be spinning.
Why was the ceiling spinning?
I faced Theodore back and he suddenly had two heads.
I gasped and pushed him away.
What was I seeing?
Oh my God. I must be tipsy.
"Alina are you alright?" Theodore came forward.
I wanted to reply when a new music was being played and it instantly caught my attention.
"This is my jam!!" I yelled, dragging Theodore to the centre of the hall by surprise.
I shook my body, dancing it to the rhythm of the music. Literally everybody was looking at me but I didn't mind.
"Alina stop" Theodore tried to stop me but I pushed him away, causing him to clash onto a waiter, spilling the contents the waiter had everywhere.
"Oh" my mouth mad a gasp and my dancing came to a halt.
Murmurings flew in the air.
Why were they all murmuring? Was it because of me?
It was at that moment, my gaze landed on a pair of angry emerald orbs a few metres away from me and they were glaring at me.
Oh shit.
Dante.