The Grand Ball: A Message from a Stranger

"Look what I got," Santiago"Look what I got," Santiago entered Riccardo's office, waving a fancy envelope. Riccardo took a sight glance at it and shifted his attention back to the documents he was examining. "That's it! You're not gonna say anything?"

"Isn't it the invitation card for the annual ball?" His gaze never left the papers.

"How do you know?" Santiago frowned his brows.

"I already have it," he said, finally looking at his confused colleague.

"What?! How?!" His confusion turned into shock. He knows how difficult it is to get this invitation. But seeing how his friend is casually saying that he already had it, didn't make any sense to him.

"I have my own ways," he shrugged, fixing the documents on his table. As he was doing that, Santiago took a sneak peek at his document, making him more puzzled.

"What are these?" he pointed at the papers on the table. Riccardo looked at them, raising his brows like he realized something.

"Ah, the boss told me to check them," he quickly put them inside his drawer.

"Since when do you know anything about finance?" he narrowed his eyes, speculating something suspicious.

"Who said these are related to finance?"

"I didn't know that the graphs and the numbers are photos of suspects!"

"It's just the number of crimes and suspects arrested," he scratched his nose, looking away from his college's direction.

"Oh," he didn't take time to believe what he said.

"So, what should we do with your card?" he pointed at the envelope in his hand.

"I guess, I'll go with you,"

"Great! So shall we get ready? I mean, we only got three hours," he said, looking at his watch. "Do you know the theme of the party?"

"I heard the dressing code is black," Riccardo nodded. "And, this year, everyone has to wear a matching mask,"

"Mask?"

"Yeah,"

"Typical Eliana, she is full of surprises," he frowned, lips turning downwards at the corner.

"Do you know who you will pretend to be?"

"I don't have to," he stared at the invitation card with a knowing smirk.

"What do you mean you don't have to?"

"You think she wouldn't know?" he walked out after slightly hitting his colleague with the card.

"Do you want her to know?" he tilted his head, a brow raising in disbelief.

"I won't be sad about it," saying that, he went out of the station to prepare for his big night. He knows this is his biggest opportunity to get some information about her. He wasn't scared of being caught by her, but rather he was excited about it. He wanted to see her face when she finds out that her highly secured event didn't stop him from anything.

Meanwhile, Eliana is busy checking if everything is settled. She wanted to make sure everything was perfect since everyone's eyes would be on this event. Although this was not her first time hosting this event, she was a little nervous about it. Especially now that Edoardo was ignoring her. He usually helps her, but now, he didn't even make single eye contact with her. But she didn't let this bother her. She just focused on checking everything.

"You know there will be paparazzi tonight, right?" he asked, looking at the decorations on the stairs.

"And?" she was looking directly into his eyes.

"We–"

"Oh, I almost forgot that you live for people's attention," she clicked her tongue inside her cheeks.

"I just—"

"Don't worry. I'll pretend," she said before walking past him.

"I just want to hold you," he finished his sentence as he stared at her, disappearing back.

As she was stomping her feet mumbling something angrily, she bumped into Domenico. He apologized quickly and started looking at her wanting to say something.

"Domenico, can you tell me what is going on? You have been staring at me for three minutes now,"

"Miss, there was a message that was sent to you through Laura's phone," he almost whispered since there are a lot of people around them.

"What is it?" he gave her a smartphone as an answer. Taking the phone from his hand, she wore her glasses. She bites her bottom lip while reading the message on the screen. After she finished reading, she turned the screen off and handed it back to him.

"What should we do?" Domenico asked hesitantly.

"Just tighten the security for tonight," she clicked her tongue inside her cheeks. "Do you have the list of guests for tonight?"

"Sure," he gave her a tablet with lists of names on it. Whilst she was checking the list, there was a new name she couldn't recognize. It was an exclusive party so she almost knew all of her guests.

"Who is Ademaro Bernandi?" she squinted her eyes.

"New boss, he joined the underworld recently,"

"Then how come did he get this invitation?"

"He is powerful, and he is investing in gemstones. He has a ton of them," she nodded showing her approval.

"I guess it's a win for us then," she said as she gave the tablet back to him. "How is Adrian?"

"He is doing good, now that he is with his mom," a smile crept on her lips, hearing that. "How are Bella and Marco?"

"I haven't seen them in a while. But I guess they are fine," the smile never left her lips, even though this time, they were trembling.

"Paula is coming, right?"

"Yeah, her annoying husband too," they both chuckled at her expression.

"He is still your brother-in-law,"

"And I still hate him!" she patted his back as she went to her room.

After she reached her room, she went to the bathroom to take a quick shower. It didn't take much of her time when she finished. Later, she wore the black long dress that was laying on her bed. It had a slit on the left side of her leg up to her hips. She finally did her makeup and hair before checking herself in the mirror. Just then, there was a knock on her door followed by a Crack signaling that the door was already opened. In front of her, a tall man was wearing a black suit along with a black shirt and a black tie. His eyes were looking at her, begging for some attention. However, his strong presence didn't have any effect on her. She just wore her mask and fixed some of the hair she left open.

"The guests are here," he said to break the intense silence. She hummed in response and walked towards him. "Listen I'm—"

"I don't want any disruption for tonight. So I recommend you to just smile for the guests and not talk to me for the rest of the night," she met his gaze as she said that. He couldn't say anything more so he nodded and took her hand as they went to their guests.

At the entrance, there was tight security. Everyone was a bit shocked since this is the first time for them to witness security to be this tight at an exclusive Ball. But they eventually got used to it and cooperated except for someone.

"Your sister is so dramatic," he rolled his eyes as they pass the door.

"Maybe she knew something,"

"Whatever," he scanned the room until he spot his target, "There she is, the drama queen herself,"

"Don't say that," she slowly said not to offend him. He glared at her and pulled her closer to him.

"Listen to me, Paula, don't you dare tell me what to do!" he whispered near her ear. She quickly nodded blinking her tears away. But he was still glaring at her. "You're here because of your sister, not because you're my wife. I want you to remember that" Saying that, he pecked her head. "Let's go, shall we?" smiling at her, he extended his arms. She took it and tried her best to smile before they head to the hosts.

"Good evening, Eliana," he said as he approached them.

"It was a good evening until you showed up," she smiled pressing her lips together, earning a slight smack from her sister. "Good Evening Alessandro,"

"Good evening, Paula," Edoardo took her hand placing a gentle kiss on it.

"Good evening," she smiled shyly.

"You look great tonight,"

"Oh, thanks," she looked at her dress unconsciously.

"Let's give the brothers some space. I'm sure they missed each other," Eliana said, pulling her sister to the other table. Edoardo couldn't do anything but sigh loudly.

"What did she do this time?" Alessandro asked, looking at their disappearing figure.

"It was me," his eyes were fixed on his fiancé who was now talking to her sister. "I messed up,"

"You didn't last long?" Edoardo chuckled at this comment.

"Worse,"

"Well at least thank your God that you are with the person you love!" his fist tightened around his glass as he saw Paula smiling.

"Why are you saying this? She is a wonderful woman,"

"Then marry her!" he gulped the whiskey he was holding. "Sometimes I wish she died instead of her," his gaze darkened at her. Suddenly Paula turned around and met his killer gaze. She stared at him for a while before turning her head back to Eliana.

"Bro I think you're just being rude," Edoardo scoffed. "And what is so special about your 'First loves'? They are just normal human beings who broke your heart!"

"So, it's because of him," he took another glass from the waiter.

"Honesty, I don't understand why you guys care about them so much. Like move on, For the love of God!" he slightly shouted.

"Okay, relax," he patted his back and decided to end this conversation.

"Are you ok?" Eliana asked her sister who is fidgeting with her fingers.

"You know I'm scared of these people," she said with a huff, glancing at the powerful mafias. This made Eliana chuckle.

"Yet, you are born from one of them and you married one,"

"Not that I chose it," she lowered her head.

"I told you to divorce that shit,"

"Let's not talk about it," she forced a smile.

"Why don't you listen to me?"

"Because I'm older than you and it should have gone the other way,"

"I didn't have a choice,"

"Neither did I," they looked at each other with a pitiful beam. As Eliana looked around, she saw that there are a few guests at the entrance.

"Why did you tighten the security today?" Paula asked her eyes following the younger's.

"Just in case," her gaze never left the door as Paula nodded. "I'm sure your husband was pissed," she turned to her.

"He wasn't happy about it,"

"Good to hear," she turned her head back to her guests. Just then a man wearing a black suit and mask approached them.

"Do you mind if I asked you to dance with me?" he held out his hand to Eliana. She hesitated a bit before taking a glance at Edoardo. He was biting his lips furiously, tightening his grip on his drink. His eyes were telling her not to accept that hand. His jaw clenched as he started shaking his head to show his disagreement. She could tell that his tension was growing by seeing the way he loosened his tie. This was her sign to accept that hand and she did, watching his eyes burning.

'This is what happens when you cross my line!' She thought with a smirk playing on her lips.