CHAPTER THREE.

Lana.

"Mom, I don't want to go." I whine as my mom shoots me a disastrous glare. One that should freeze me in my bones, and rightfully so, but I don't bother to even look at her.

Why cant the world just leave me alone while I sulk and lick my sounds, quite literally since I have a bowl of ice cream in my hands right now, as she speaks.

"I'm not giving you much of a choice, Lana. Get ready, we're leaving now." I try my best not to get mad at my mom's words but she's pushing a really annoying button right now and I'm just a second away from lashing out at her.

"Why do you need me there, anyway? Dad has other children? It's not like they'll notice anything if we're not there." I whine.

This stupid annual gala has been all my mom has been talking about for ages to come. I initially gave her the impression that I cared, honestly but I couldn't care less. It's not like dad would even care if we don't show up. The only thing the man cares about is himself.

Besides, he has enough offspring to attend the function that he doesn't really need us there- by 'us' I mean I and my mom, but my mom doesn't seem to get it. She still thinks there's a shot at us having a normal family and my dad seems to always use that card on her.

She believes that one day, we'll be happy, we'll be the loving family she always dreams off, but I know that would never happen. Not when my dad has more families than he can count. Even if we came to be together, there'll always be a mistress vying around the corner to take dad away, not like I need him anyway.

"Honey, your dad begged me to bring you there. He said he's really interested in trying to get closer to us, Lana." The fact that my mom even believes his lies for the hundredth and one time doesn't faze me.

My mom loves my dad a lot, sadly she always will. Not even if he cheats on her more times than possible, she'll always believe in him. I think of Brian, and how I left him immediately. If I didn't know better I'd say I should have listened to him.

Maybe stayed, waited for him. But the thought almost makes me repulsed. I couldn't be that woman. The one who got cheated on times without number yet stayed- that was my mom, and although I wasn't proud of it, I still loved her.

"So what then, mom? I attend this one gala and what? He introduces me as one of his many children? Mom, this would only hurt you more." I try to reason with her but she looks away.

There's no use. "Fine."

She turns to me with bright eyes. I took my dads eyes instead of my mom's copper ones and I couldn't hate myself more for that, at least I had her fiery auburn hair. "Does this mean you'll come?" She asks eagerly.

I don't even try to hide my disdainful expression as I reply. "Yes, mom. But this one last time. If he hurts you again, I'm never seeing him, ever." I tell her. She doesn't meet my eyes as she nods. Deep down I know she knows he'll hurt her again, and as usual, she'll forgive him.

In little to no time I'm all dressed up and ready to go. With mom tucked in by my side, we head to the gala. My mind does the one thing or can't stop doing today and trails back to the man from last night.

Dominic.

God, why can't I stop thinking about him? I know he's possibly the most attractive man I've laid eyes on, but still, I just git out of a bad relationship. I shouldn't even be thinking about any man right now, yet I catch my mind trailing back him.

I had kissed him last night. The humiliation burnt a scarlet red in my memory. God! Why did he have to remind me of that this morning?

The thought causes me to stare outside the window. If I hadn't broken things off with Brian, I won't have had to move in with my mom, and attend this dumb gala yet here I was.

Soon, we're pulling up to a beautiful building that looks almost like a palace. The wall are designed in a bright array of gold and red, almost complementing my gold-colored gown.

"Thank you for coming, Lana." My mom whispers beside me, as I can see tears at the corners of her eye. I almost want to ask why she is crying but the man at the door ushers us in just then.

"Miss. Sullivan, you have a separate seat, please follow me." The man says. I turn to my mom in surprise. When my dad said we should come, I didn't think much of it, I assumed it was just another ploy to deceive my mom again, but a deep flurry of worry is beginning to settle in my stomach.

"Why am I sitting in a separate area?" I ask the man as we begin to move along. My mom didn't even interfere and just went the other way. He doesn't answer until I'm brought to a table which looks quite beautiful compared to the others.

Wait. Why am I sitting here like I'm some important part of the party? I don't even have the chance to ask that question as I catch the gaze of someone else. Someone I didn't think I'd be seeing again, especially not this soon.

Dominic stands up quickly and pulls out my seat. "Miss. Sullivan." I don't sit down, but instead stare at him. He looks even hotter than the last time, and I'm almost painfully reminded that I kissed those firm luscious lips the night before.

As if reading my thoughts, he bites on his lips slowly, and I catch my breath, a low heat pooling in my belly. Fuck, this man would be the death of me. "Um, Mr?" I trail off waiting for him to fill in his name.

"Santoro. Dominic Santoro." He says, before it all settles in. I suddenly remember why he seemed so familiar last night.

Who doesn't know Dominic Santoro? He's literally the biggest man in all of New York. At least one of the richest families in New York, added to the fact that he's the C.E.O of SIN- Santoro International Networking. The biggest organization in the whole fucking world.

And I'd just placed my lips on his like that. I was lucky he didn't get me arrested for assault. I gulp nervously. "Alaina Sullivan." I mutter weakly in a form of introduction. God, I'm so screwed.

"I already know that, please sit down." I gulp again, and sit. This time I ignore the fact that I was placed on his table. What do I have to do with being here? I know my father has some ties with the Santoro's, as that's a bit of the usual rumors, also possibly why Dominic even knows my name, but it's no secret we still aren't on the same level.

The Sullivan's are well to do, and we could be better if my dad wasn't such an adulteress but we aren't doing bad in any way, yet sitting me with the heir to the Santoro's fortune seemed a far stretch, if I say so myself.

Before I can muster the courage to ask Dominic this, my attention is pulled to the front of the stage, where an old man links his glass to call out attentions. I immediately recognize him as Donatel Santoro- Dominic's father. Yet the way Dominic sits tight on his sit shows he isn't too happy seeing his father on the stage. What could be going on?

"Attention, everyone. I have a very important announcement to make tonight. In fact, this is the sole reason you all are gathered here today." He says. There's a light laugh around, I'm guessing because this is an annual event that would have held despite his announcement.

The feeling of dread in me only heightens as he speaks. He takes a moment to introduce my father, while I look on. My father's eyes meet mine but he quickly turns away, ain't enhancing my worry.

What is going on?

Dominic hasn't even spared me a look since I sat down and it's also beginning to grate my nerves further. He seems tense but at least he knows what is going on. I on the other hand, am lost.

"This is why I am using this means to announce the alliance between I and my dear friend, Marcello with the engagement of our two children..." He pauses while his eyes meet Dominic's. Dominic doesn't look too happy by this, as his jaw only tightens.

I would have appreciated how hot he looked angry if Donatel's next words hadn't broken me off my haze. "My son, Dominic and Marcello's only daughter, Alaina Sullivan."

I freeze.

This cant be happening. I'm not his only daughter. My father has tons of daughters. It cant be me he's talking about, right? Yet I know it's me from the way Dominic looks at me. He's pitying me. He's mad at this, but at least he knew. He fucking knew and I didn't.

I stand up, ready to flee as Donatel continues speaking. "We are in no rush to proceed with the marriage as the two of us are still fit to run our businesses-" He doesn't finish that statement though and almost all the color drains out of my face when a shot is fired and the man drops to the ground.

Fuck! What?

Someone just shot Donatel Santoro and although earlier Dominic looked beyond furious now he just looked shocked. Appalled. I stood there, my hand covering my mouth as tie whole place turned upside down.

Donatel Santoro just got shot, and if he didn't survive, something told me that marriage he spoke off might just come sooner than expected, and the thought caused a foreign fear to flow through me. I am truly fucked now.