Aurora had never felt this alive since she had arrived in Dallas, surprisingly her drive back home was peaceful as well. Her mind occupied with the memory of the eventful afternoon that she had with Cory.
Her first ride on her pony was definitely magical and it was certainly a memory that she would never forget in her lifetime. She had not realized just how wide her smile had broadened until she caught sight of her face in the review mirror.
'We are here madam" she heard her driver inform and when she looked out the window, surely they were at the Romano mansion. A small laugh escaped from her as she realized how deep into her head she had allowed herself to drown.
'Thank you" she thanked her driver and ever before he could unlock the door for her, Aurora stepped out of the car, totally unaware of the storm brewing. She entered the house and her head still stuck in the cloud, still oozing her new found love for riding.
Her joy came to an abrupt stop when Cory's face appeared in her mind, he was partially responsible for her joy. If it were not for his insistence, she would have never lived her childhood dream of riding a pony.
With her one foot on the first flight of steps, Aurora could not help but to feel an uneasy presence behind her.
'Good evening" she stopped and froze. Her father in-laws voice was one that always sent a shiver down her back whenever she heard it. For days, Aurora had been trying to avoid the older man and thanks to Leonardo, she had seen less of him but now there was no escaping.
She slowly turned around and plastered a smile on her face. The man before her was an older version of what Leonardo was and he was far grumpier that Leonardo was and that was what scared Aurora.
'No, yes… I mean, I am happy. I just rode a pony" she told her father in-law, not careful to hide her excitement but seeing the rise of him eyebrow, Aurora wished that she had kept that information to herself.
'That's strange" who told her, whilst stroking his chin as though he was thinking of something of importance.
'What is strange if I may ask?" Aurora asked, eager to know what her father in-law was thinking. The older man always looked as though he was brewing something.
'Oh is just, well—"
'Well what?"
'Well my wife informed me that you were at Lady Sue's house"
'Yes I was" she responded, her heart rate slowing down.
'But Lady Sue is out of town for some business matters I assume" her father in-law pointed out to Aurora's surprise.
'Yes I was informed that she was away on a business trip, I believe"
'So what took you so long?" her father in-law asked her, stepping closer towards Aurora and his tall frame was daunting, almost had Aurora shivering inside her shoes.
'I—I was riding, a pony" she confessed, her voice low and trembling as she locked at the ground rather than at her father in-law"
'Oh I see and who might have given you permission to ride the pony because if I know Lady Sue well enough, she does not allow strangers on her prized horses or ponies?"
'Cory! I mean Cory, her grandson" Aurora told him. Just like that he stepped, that one action allowed Aurora the needed space to breath.
'That is very kind of him, anyway, my wife wants to see you and you still owe me" he told her.
'Owe you what?"
'Let's stop pretending as though this marriage between you and my son is based solely on love… it's a business deal and the sooner you realize this then the better it will be for you" her father in-law informed her and even Aurora had to admit that his short description of what he thought about her marriage to Leonardo had hurt her a bit.
Just when her father in-law was thought to have had the final say and turned his back to face her, Aurora drew her strength from within her.
'Wait! You are wrong" she told him, her voice slightly high pitched than she would have wanted it to sound but it was too late and there was no going back.
'I am never wrong" he told her, his back still facing hers.
'Well, they say that there is a first time for everything" She heard herself say. Aurora wished that she could have taken those words back, years of working as a mare servant had thought her to be quiet and never speak unless spoken to and here she was, talking back to a man who had more power than she could ever dream of.
But just then she reminded herself, she was no longer Aurora, she was Avena Romano, the billionaire heiress speaking to man that paraded in the same social circles as she now did.
'I hope that you are no challenging me?"
'What if I am?" Aurora asked, crossing her hands over her chest, daring the older man to do his worst. His sick laugh was enough to send fear through Aurora's body and as she watched him walk away, she was well aware that the older man had something up his sleeves.
Aurora watched her father in-law disappear into the next room and just as he left, there was a sense of tranquility that filled the space around her, as though her father in-law was negative energy himself.
'Madam" Aurora jumped up as she heard someone calling out to her, to her surprise, it was none other than one of the helpers. 'My apologies if I scared you"
'No, it is not your fault. I was just stuck in my own world and not paying attention to what was happening around me. Is there anything that you would like for me to do for you?"
'Signora Carina is looking for you?"
'Yes, father in-law informed me of that. No need to worry, I will go and see her now" Aurora informed the helper who did a slight bow and walked away.
Walking towards her mother in-law's room, Aurora could still not get her father in-laws words out of her mind. She had no prior knowledge of the Romano family but seeing as to how powerful they were, Aurora had no doubt that they were into the same kind of business the Russo's were in.
**
Being back in his classroom was a feeling that Leonardo could not quite explain. After his engagement, marriage and being on the quickest honeymoon he had ever heard of, he was glad to be back. He taught one class and his students seemed happy to see him but he could not help but to feel that something was wrong with him.
An image of Aurora flashed before his eyes, he missed her, after only spending a day away from her, and he missed her.
Leonardo had never thought that he would miss the sound of her voice, the smile on her face and the way she looked at him.
Get over yourself Leonardo, you will see her soon. He reassured himself, but no amount of reassurance could fix the feeling of emptiness he felt in his heart.
He packed his books into his leather bag and just as he turned around, he saw her and his heart sank.
'Hi Rhea" he greeted her, his greetings dry as a biscuit and he quickly finished clasping his bag.
'You do not miss me I see?" She asked him, smiling and hoping that Leonardo would reciprocate the smile but to her dismay, he did not.
'Rhea, we both know how this would end. You ask me out to lunch, I say no and you get disappointed" even though the two of them were five feet from each other, Leonardo could see Rhea swallowing the lump in her throat. She was hurt.
'So after all these years of knowing you and trying my best to get closer to you… you go away and get married?"
'Yes I did, I am officially a married man now" He informed her and the look of pain was evident on Rhea's face.
'She must be really pretty?" She asked him. Her questions only irritating Leonardo with each and every passing second.
'Yes she is, may I leave now?" he asked her sarcastically but not once did Rhea move from the frame of the door.
'She must have cast a spell on you!" her raised voice certainly had no effect on Leonardo as he was used to her random outburst. Even when they were younger Rhea had always wanted to have her way and when she wanted something, she did not stop until she got what she was looking for.
'Raising your voice will not change the fact that I am now a married man" Leonardo pointed out to her, his voice stern as he stood firm on his decision. His actions only saddening Rhea more, her eyes watered as she slammed the classroom door behind her, locking both herself and Leonardo in the classroom.
'But I love you" her lips trembled, hoping that her plea would soften Leonardo's heart so that he would jump right into her arms.
'If you are done with the show that you are putting on, may I leave?" he asked her while not really needing her permission to leave.
'But—"
'But nothing Rhea, you can't always—" Leonardo's words were cut short as Rhea ran up to him and plastered her lips onto her his, kissing him passionately but not long enough before Leonardo pushed her back. Still in disbelief that Rhea would pull such a stunt.
Rhea landed onto the floor, eyes filled with tears as Leonardo stared at her in disbelief and slowly raising his index finger and pointing it at her.
'Let this be the first and the last time that you ever do such a thing" he warned her. Before Rhea could say another word to him, Leonardo had already walked past her and had exited the door.
Upon exiting his classroom, Leonardo was still in a state of shock and the only thing on his mind was, what his wife would think of him if she were to find out about this unreciprocated kiss.
He had enough, all he needed was to set his eyes and his wife and perhaps all would be well, whilst trying to keep Rhea at bay at all times.
Pulling out his phone from his pocket, Leonardo smiled at the wallpaper. Luckily for them, someone had managed to take the only beautiful wedding pictures where both Aurora and Leonardo were smiling, perhaps, pretending to smile and looking happy.
He could not believe how lucky he was to marry a beautiful woman such as Aurora.