Chapter 5.

January 17, 2016

Ophelia's POV

I put on the last touch to my makeup. Despite my efforts to look ordinary, my face was flawless, my hair in perfect deep wavy curls and my skin glowed.

Providence was not on my side today.

I stood up from the stool of dressing table and walked to the full length mirror to examine myself.

Perfection was all I could see.

The ivory coloured strapless gown clung to my body like a second skin and hugged all the right places. My silver six inch stilettos were comfortable to walk in and matched my simple silver stud earrings, necklace and bangles. The gown had a mid thigh slit on the right that showcased my long legs.

My father knew how to dress a woman.

I picked up my silver purse from the dressing table and walked out of my room.

Men and women who stood in the hallway made way for me to pass. They greeted me but I didn't respond.

I didn't care for anybody's greeting right now.

I reached the top of the stairs and paused.

My father was in the foyer, welcoming someone who I assumed was Baddo's son with a firm handshake.

He looked handsome, my father, in his white tux. His silver hair slicked back in his favourite style. I could almost forgive him for what he had done.

Behind him stood Luke in a similar tux but in black. He had his hands behind his back as he assessed Baddo's son and the men he came with.

As if he could sense my presence, he turned towards the stairs, his mouth wide open as he stared.

I graciously walked down the stairs and stopped in front of him.

"Buonasera principessa, you look beautiful as ever." He said.

"And you look not too bad yourself." I smiled for the first time this evening.

His blue eyes lit up as he smiled back.

"Amore mio, I'm glad you could join us tonight for dinner." My father said, with a large smile on his face.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

Like I had a choice in the matter.

"This is Baddo's son." He gave way so I could meet the swine.

I quickly assessed him, he looked like he was in his late twenties. He was tall, had the complexion of one that was always in the sun, with his smooth face and plain brown eyes. He looked like a proper mobster that he was, wearing a pin striped suit, a black shirt with three buttons undone and a black hat with shinny black leather shoes to match. All that was missing was a walking stick and the excessive gold jewelry.

"Good evening, Mr Baddo." I said with as much politeness as I could muster.

"Oh no, sweetie, you can call Daniel. Mr Baddo is reserved my father. What's your name, precious?" He said with a smile on his face that showcased his white perfect teeth. I wanted nothing more than to bash them in and make him swallow them. He took my hand from my side and lifted it to his lips.

Absolutely disgusting.

"Ophelia." I said in my sweetest voice.

"You have a beautiful daughter, Antonio."

"Indeed. May we proceed to the dinning room?" My father asked, while gesturing with his hand.

We walked from the foyer to the large dinning room that could as well be used as a banquet hall. The whole family was present and seated, most of them with dates. This was really an important dinner.

As my father entered the room, everyone stood to their feet and only sat when my father sat at the head of the table.

Baddo's son, I mean Daniel sat at his right, he didn't wait to pull out a chair for me to sit in. Such an uncouth prick.

"I'll do it, princess." Luke said behind me. He pulled out the chair and tucked me in carefully and comfortably before moving to the other side of the table.

I mouthed a sincere, 'Thank you' and he replied similarly with a, 'You're welcome' and took a seat on the left side of my father, his assigned position as underboss.

"So, you're like the princess of the Empire?" Daniel leaned to whisper in my ear.

"You can say that." I replied. Placing my purse on the table.

"I like that name, maybe I'll call you princess from now, what do you say?"

I gave no reply.

No one, apart from Luke called me princess, not even my father. This man was getting on my nerves.

"Shy?" He asked, then chuckled when I didn't respond. "You don't have to be shy around me."

Shy? I rolled my eyes and rapped my lacquered nails on the table, asking God to help me through this night.

The kitchen staff brought the starter meal and displayed it for everyone before going round the table to serve. They served according to hierarchy of course, starting with my father.

The bread and tomato soup was very rich, delicious and helpful because it kept Daniel's mouth occupied.

I called the attention of the server, when he bent down to my level, I said, "Send my regards to the chef, this is wonderful."

Conversations on the table was smooth and cordial, jokes were made and my father allowed a little teasing. But by God, Daniel lacked table manners, he laughed at what someone said with his mouth filled with food, he nearly knocked my glass of wine over too. Or maybe my hatred towards him was making everything he did intolerable.

We had chicken risotto that was accompanied by beef braised in red wine.

As a treat for his guest, my father served his favourite cabarnet Sauvignon to go with the main course.

I knew my limit with alcohol and stuck with only two glasses, the same could not be said for Daniel, as by the end of the main course Daniel was drunk and turned his attention to me again.

His breath, hot against my cheek.

"You're beautiful, you know? If your father wasn't here, I'd take you on this table this very minute." He leaned to whisper in my ear while his hand snaked underneath the table to my exposed thigh. His hand went up and down the length of my thigh, further implying what he meant to do.

I picked my fork from my plate. I had finished eating but I picked it up so I could jab it into his eyeball.

I looked at my father, he was oblivious to what was happening. I looked at Luke, he seemed to notice everything and clenched his fists like it would make his day to punch the bastard.

He looked at the fork in my hand and shook his head.

'Help me'. I mouthed.

He nodded.

He cleared his throat, "So, Daniel tell us where you studied and what you studied? I'm sure Ophelia would love to know."

Conversation on the table stopped as everyone turned to look at Daniel.

And that, was all it took for the bastard's roaming hands to leave my body.

"Some philosophy in some university in London." He laughed, attempting to pass it off as a joke.

London? I turned to look at him, utterly surprised because I was studying in London. And philosophy of all things, he did not look or act the part at all. Maybe his father paid his way through school.

He winced, then held his head like he wanted to stop it from falling off his neck.

"Are you alright, son?" My father asked. "You don't look too good."

"It's the wine, I think I had too much."

You think?

You finished a whole bottle and you think you had too much?

This was my second glass and I was tipsy as hell.

His men stood from the table and walked over to him. They picked Daniel up, walked out of the room and out the house without a 'goodbye' or a 'thank you' at least.

"Well, that was interesting, wasn't it?" my father asked the whole group.

With Daniel out of the house, the charade was over, Some people groaned, others stood up and left the table, the rest took their dates outside to leave, as women were not allowed to sleep in the house. It seemed no one wanted desert.

I was going to have one hell of a hangover tomorrow. I picked up my purse and left the table without saying a word to my father, stumbling a few times as I made my way to the stairs.

I took my first step up and fell forward. I would be glad if I had not broken my ankle.

"Stupid heels." I muttered as I sat up to take them off.

"Ophelia, are you alright?" It was Luke.

"The room is spinning. Carry me, please?" I asked with my arms wide open.

"Of course."

I squealed when he picked me up and carried me bridal style up the stairs.

I didn't really expect him to. We weren't kids anymore.

We reached my room, and he dropped me outside my door. He looked at me with those intense blue eyes of his but didn't say anything. When I turned to leave, he held my arm and pulled me back against him, his other hand went around my waist. Our close proximity reminded me of our height difference as I craned my neck to maintain eye contact.

"I'm sorry." he whispered. So many things were said in those two words.

"I know."

He leaned forward but thinking better of it, released me and stepped back two paces. Putting enough distance between us.

"Goodnight, Princess." He said, with his hands behind his back.

"Goodnight, Luke."

I opened my door and stepped inside as he turned to to leave.

"Don't forget to take a shower before you sleep." He spoke as he walked down the hallway.

"Why?" I poked my head out the door.

"You need to wash that bastard off you." He spoke over his shoulder.

I smiled as I closed my door.

I sat on my dressing table for the second time that evening. I took off my jewelry and put my hair up in a loose bun, securing it with a hair tie.

I took my dress off and stepped out of my undies, leaving a trail that led to my bathroom ensuite.

There I ran a bath, adding my essential oils and body wash. When it was ready, I submerged myself in the large tub and let the water get up to my chin.

Some music and a glass of non-alcoholic wine would have been nice but it was too late to get them.

I lay there thinking about everything and nothing, about dinner today, until I drifted off to sleep.

The water was cold when I woke, I pulled the stopper and rinsed myself before getting out of the tub.

I grabbed a robe from the rack put in on and secured it around my waist. Then I brushed my teeth in the sink.

I turned off the lights and walked into my room, climbed into my bed, pulling the covers around my body.

I fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow.