Wife to the Boss

In Crowd

 O L I V I A

"I promise I won't be gone long." 

"You don't even know when you'll be back." 

Alessio reaches out to caress my cheek sadly, "I'll do what I can to return soon, Olivia. I'll be back before our wedding," He teases and wipes my tears away. 

Today was supposed to be a happy and exciting day for me. I was starting my first day of classes here in San Diego.

The moment he took me to tour the school I fell in love with it immediately. The teachers were colorful and eccentric, the campus was a beautiful, lush green, and they were more than thrilled to know the soon-to-be bride of Alessio Romano would be attending. 

He had dropped off a large and unexpected donation to the dean without my knowing. I wasn't sure why he did it, but I loved that he did. 

Yet... here we are. First day of school and he springs on me this morning that he is going to Italy. 

It wasn't just him either...Beto, Anna, Giovanni, and Michele were going with him. Mateo was to stay behind and look over the house including me. Even though the estate was going to still be full of maids, cooks, and guards I had never felt so alone already. 

"Why can't Anna stay?" I pout and hear her scoff from the front door. 

I shoot a glare at her but Alessio pulls my face back towards him. "It's important business, love. I have to go to Sicily but I promise I will be back as soon as I can." 

"Ok," I nod a little. "I understand." 

He frowns at me and pulls me up towards him for one final kiss. My lips melt instantly to his and I so badly wish we could just stay there. My heart was already aching with his absence.

"I love you and when I return," He begins and pulls my hair away from my face, "You'll be my bride." 

"I can't wait." 

With a tearful goodbye he releases me from his embrace and walks out the front door with the others. All of them beautiful in matching black outfits as the guards move past them with several large black duffel bags. 

"It'll be okay," Mateo says from my side. His voice gruff this morning. "I'd be happy to drive you to school." 

"I... I think I'd prefer to drive," I say quietly and look at him, "If that is, okay?" 

Mateo smirks a bit wrinkling his age lines. "I'm sure Alessio wouldn't prefer it, but I won't tell." 

I give him a massive hug and grab my bag from the couch before running out the front door. A chill washes over my arms and I shiver with it. 

I guess a few months in New York didn't adapt me to weather changes at all again. 

I was grateful my new school wasn't too far from the manor but also a little terrified to even start.

 I hadn't felt this nervous in forever and I wasn't sure if it was starting mid semester for them or the fact that Alessio had donated such a large amount of money to the school and I didn't want end up the failure of the Romano family if I didn't succeed. 

The campus was massive and packed with students chatting with one another and walking from one side of the school to the other. The usual lush green lawns were more of a brown with the change of the season and the large palm trees covering the yard swayed dramatically with the wind. 

I stared down at my course schedule and felt my heart quicken. 

"You got this, Liv, "I mutter lowly. "Stop acting like a baby." 

"Hey!" 

I jump from the unfamiliar voice behind me and spin around in a panic. A startle yelp escaping me before I can stop it. 

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!" The stranger apologizes quickly. "I just noticed you looked lost." 

I place a shaky hand to my heart and laugh a bit in relief. The girl in front of me was not at all what I would've expected from her shrill and girly voice. 

She looks to be barely five foot and weighs probably no more than 100 pounds soaking wet. Her dark forest green pixie cut brushing against her long eyelashes swiped with purple mascara and heavy eyeliner. 

"My name is Jinx," She smiles politely. 

"U-uh, yeah, I'm sorry I am-" 

"Olivia Moore." She finishes with a smirk. 

"How did you know?" 

"Your boyfriend is the talk of the school right now," She laughs a little. "He donated a lot of money and some of us did some research on who the mysterious billionaire is." 

I laugh nervously, "Yeah...sorry about that. He can be...a lot." 

"Don't apologize!" She chuckles. "We needed it. Especially this year since we had a massive budget cut." 

"Right," I nod awkwardly. "I just...didn't want anyone thinking I bought my way in because of him." 

"Don't worry about it," She reassures and tosses an arm on my shoulder. "We'll let your talent speak for itself." 

I smile at her sheepishly and she glances down at my schedule in my hands. "World Art with Nelson?" 

I nod and hand it to her, "I only got to see the campus once with Alessio before he...left for a business trip so I am feeling a bit overwhelmed already." 

Jinx laughs gently, "Olivia, we are going to be best friends. I was a lot like you when I started last semester." 

"Really?" I ask as we start walking across the campus. 

She smiles causing the lip rings on her lower lip to pull tight with the expression. "I transferred here last semester when my girlfriend accepted a new job." 

I look over at her and she laughs a bit at my expression. "I'm gay."

I stutter, "O-oh, no! I didn't mean-" 

"You're fine," She waves me off. "We've been together for three years now and she sacrificed a lot for me in the past, so it was my turn." 

"She's lucky to have you." 

"She is," She smiles to herself, "but don't be so humble when you have a man like Alessio Romano by your side." 

My stomach flips a little with a swarm of butterflies as she mentions his name. 

My mind wanders to Alessio and I start to wonder if I should be sacrificing more considering everything, he has done for me. 

I always felt so many steps behind him no matter what efforts I put in. Would I ever feel equal to him? 

"He really does a lot for us." 

"So....I have to be nosey here, but what exactly does he do? Just born into wealth?" 

I nod, "His dad was the rich one." 

"Yeah, I remember when the news talked about him passing. That's so sad but I guess just a part of old age." 

"Right." 

It had been quite a mess when the local media caught wind of the billionaire up in the hills passing away. The Romano's had no trouble pushing it off as old age but of course those on the inside really knew what went down which meant so did the families in alliance with the Romano household. 

It had been months of Alessio trying to cover everything he could to ensure we wouldn't have to expect any attacks in retaliation to his father's demise. 

Fortunately, Alessio was good with his words and since everyone else had assumed he would've been next in line anyways they just moved past Adolfo's betrayal and agreed with the choice the Romano children had to make. 

It was a bit much though when Alessio really stepped into the light. Of course, everyone in the city was head-over-heels for the young billionaire now acquiring the Romano estate and businesses. 

To them he was just a handsome, rich young man with a lot of luck. Which we planned to keep that way. 

"Oh, shit! We better hurry," Jinx says randomly and snatches my arm. 

I try to keep up with her surprisingly quick pace as we move through the crowds of students heading towards the main building. 

I try to keep up but can't help but stare in awe at the scene unfolding around us. 

Students painting by sunlight against the massive windows. I watch as each stroke from the tip of their paintbrushes glide gracefully along the white canvas. 

A beautiful display of the courtyard coming to life on the board. 

"This is insane." 

Jinx laughs and pushes open a door that reads World Art. The two of us step inside and I half expected the similar set up from New York. 

Everyone would always be so proper and in their seats before the instructor came strolling in with their morning coffee in one hand and paints in the other. 

This was...a lot different from New York. 

Everyone was sitting on top of desks; some were even drawing on them in sharpie. The room had no theme at all, and translucent yellow drapes were tossed around on top of shelves littered with pieces of art taped to it. 

A massive multi-colored rug was laid out beneath the students and instead of the normal classroom set up everyone had moved the desks out to be in a circle with a single bean bag chair decorated with sunflowers perfectly in the middle. 

"What...what is this?" I ask. 

Jinx smirks, "Mrs. Nelson is super cool. She's like this old hippie but most of the teachers here are like that." 

"This is definitely different." 

"They are really big on expressing yourselves here, "she told me. "This is a safe place so...be whoever you want to be, Olivia." 

I nod a bit and look back over at the array of ferns and Monstera plants covering the seal of the nearest window. 

"Oh, hey! I want you to meet some people," Jinx says suddenly. "This is Cat, Alyx, and Robin." 

I follow her gaze towards the three people perched in the back of the room on top of desks with notebooks in their laps and vape smoke pooling from their noses. 

"Hi newbie!" 

I smile shyly at the only boy in the group. Tall and thin with a perfect smile and brunette hair with icy blonde tips. 

He didn't seem to have the "emo" look like the rest of them, but he did have charm oozing out of him with every smile and glance. 

"Nice to meet you all." 

"I'm Alyx, "He continues and picks up a cellphone decorated in pink gemstones. "Jinx will tell you I'm a gossip queen but really I'm just keeping things fresh and exciting." 

"He is a gossip queen, don't let him trick you." 

"Whatever!  I'm just having fun and causing trouble," He shrugs and points behind us. "See that gorgeous man candy over there with the green eyes." 

We all follow his finger to see the man he was pointing out who looked to be really into the blonde he was feeling up in the middle of the room. 

"He may be dating Tara, but I know Erik swings for the same team," Alyx declares softly. "He just won't admit it yet." 

I chuckle a bit and catch "Erik" glancing over the girl's shoulder to give Alyx a dead stare.  Alyx blows back a tiny kiss with his glossed lips and turns his attention back to the group. 

"Anyways, this is Cat," He bumps shoulders with the girl to his left. "She may seem quiet and reserved but get a little cocaine in her and she'll never shut up." 

My eyes widen a bit, "O-oh." 

Cat shakes her head at him and gives me a hopeful stare, "I'm not a drug addict, I promise. Alyx just has a big fucking mouth." 

"I don't judge anyways." 

"Oh, you will," Alyx butts in. "Everyone here has a story and I've learned in the past almost two semesters now that this place is FULL of drama. It surely doesn't end after high school." 

"Well, I'm Cat Monroe, "The girl continues, "I'm kind of a slut for pottery." 

I laugh a bit at her choice of words. Despite Alyx's identifier for her she seemed okay enough. She was dressed in the similar emo look with ripped skinny jeans and a band tee on that I couldn't make out. Her blue eyes were heavily coated with dark shadow tucked behind her ink black hair, and she had a tiny silver septum ring in to solidify her look. 

"I'm Robin." 

I look over at the girl standing up to the shake my hand. She was very petite like Jinx but stood out a bit more than the rest with her neon green pixie cut contrasting beautifully against her bronze skin. 

I smile at her and extend my hand to meet hers, "Olivia." 

"How are you liking it so far?" 

"Well," I murmur and look around. "Day one is already interesting but not bad." 

"Are you originally from here? You don't really have the Cali-bitch look." Alyx declares. 

"Shut up! "Jinx interjects. 

"It's fine, "I laugh at them. "I'm from New York but I moved here pretty early into my Senior year of high school for my dad's job. It was a culture shock, but I adapted pretty quick." 

"You see I would just L-O-V-E living in New York! All those businessmen in those tight suits really showing off their-" 

Robin cuts him off, "Anyways, I hope you like it here and we are glad to have you. Any pal of Jinx is always welcome to hang with our crew." 

"Yeah, but do you like to party, New York?" Alyx asks and puffs on his vape. 

"Party?" I laugh and think back to my very few high schools party moments that always had a way of ending horribly. "It's been a while." 

"Ever been to a rave?" 

I shake my head, "The parties with the glowsticks? No." 

"Well, we go to the real underground shit, "Alyx whispers. "Ya know undisclosed locations you have to find? Passwords and shit. It's real dangerous." 

"Stop it," Jinx argues. "Don't scare her away." 

"I'm not," I tell them. I had dealt with far worse things than risky rave parties. "I think that sounds really cool." 

"Oh, it is," Alyx continues. "Lots of party drugs and sweaty men covered in glitter." 

"Horny jail," Cat bonks his head. 

"Whatever! It's been like a month. I need to let loose, and these shitty little clubs around here just aren't the same anymore." 

"There's an event going on Friday about 30 minutes from here. My girlfriend got some insight on it last night, "Jinx mentions. "Would you be down?" 

I look up when I realize she was talking to me and hesitate. 

Alessio wouldn't be back by then and I really don't think he'd feel great with me going out with these new "friends" to a private party in some warehouse packed full of drugs and potential trouble. 

I just didn't feel ready to fall into that "married" lifestyle already. 

I was constantly alone and now that Kim wanted nothing to do with me I had absolutely no friends. 

Surely, Alessio couldn't get mad at me for at least trying to have a social life, right? 

"You know what," I grin at her. "Count me in!" 

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