THE DEAL

Twelve

Ashanti woke up this morning with unhappiness in her heart. She didn't even bother to stand up from her bed.

"Fuck his arrogant ass," she thought to herself and covered herself with her blanket. "God please don't put me to shame," Ashanti mumbled. Her heart clenched in pain at the thought of that little girl all alone in the torture room without any hope if living.

The door opened and Lena walked in. "Rise and shine, my dear," she said and Ashanti sat up at the sound of Marcel's mother. "Good morning, Lena," Ashanti said. Lena smiled at her.

"How does this woman manage to look beautiful early this morning?" Ashanti thought to herself as she took in Lena's appearance. She was dressed in a yellow dress that complimented her radiant skin and made her look younger.

"I heard about yesterday," Lena said as Ashanti got out of bed. "Oh," was. all Ashanti could say as she approached her bathroom.

Ashanti walked into the bathroom and went to clean up. She walked out of her bathroom and got dressed in a pair of black leggings and a large gray shirt and paired it with gray fuzzy flip flops.

"I need to take out these braids," she said as she walked out of her room. She walked into the living room to see Dante and Marcel talking. They turned to look at her. She just rolled her eyes and went to the kitchen.

Marcel sighed and followed after her. "Ashanti, stop acting babyish and be mature," he said with annoyance in his voice. Ashanti turned to look at him with a glare, "Thank you very much for your observations. Please leave me alone."

She went to grab some cooking utensils when he grabbed her arm and turned her around. "Ashanti, why do you care so much?" He asked her. Ashanti looked up at him, "That girl passed through horrible things that no five year old should ever pass through. How would you feel if your five year old daughter got raped over and over again with slim chances of survival?"

"Fratello, sono qui," Andrea walked in. (Brother, I'm here). Ashanti gasped as she saw him holding Hailey in his arms. She was asleep and she was no longer wearing the ragged clothes. Instead, she was in clean clothes and her dark brown hair had a beautiful shine.

"Oh my God!" Ashanti exclaimed in happiness as she approached him. "She's asleep. I tended to her wounds and did a check up on her too," Andrea told her. Ashanti felt her eyes well up with tears. "Thank you," she sniffled as she caressed the little girl's face.

"Where should I put her?" He asked. "Please place her in my room. Thank you," she said and he nodded before leaving. Ashanti turned to Marcel who was leaning on the fridge.

"Thank you," she said. "You're welcome," Marcel said and approached her. "Will you eat something now?" he asked her. She nodded and looked at her fingers which she held together. "I'm sorry for my attitude," she mumbled. "It's fine, you did what you considered right. I have no choice but to listen to my fiancée," he said with a chuckle.

"You're going to pick out your dress today. Martini will soon be here. I need to get some work done, your family will be arriving tomorrow," he informed her. She nodded and watched him leave. 

_____

"This is the one!" Martini exclaimed as Ashanti stepped out of the kitchen. "I like it too," Ashanti said. "Me too," Camilla agreed. Martini motioned for his workers to bring the mirror closer so Ashanti could see her reflection.

"I look like a princess," Ashanti mumbled as she looked at her reflection. Martini chuckled. "On that day, you will look like the queen that you are, my dear," he said and she blushed.

She was wearing a long white ball gown. The corset wasn't revealing much cleavage, which she was thankful floor and the skirt was flared and puffy making her look like one of the Disney princess characters. It was off the shoulders but yet, it didn't reveal an unnecessary amount of bare skin.  Not to mention the number of real diamonds and aquamarines on the dress.

"I love this," Ashanti said and they chuckled. "What's your shoe size?" Martini asked her as she approached the kitchen. "Seven," Ashanti replied.

After Martini had left, Camilla followed Ashanti to check on Hailey. Hailey was still asleep on her bed. She looked calm, like she hadn't gone through a lot of horrible things.

"Poor child," Camilla mumbled sadly. "I want to adopt her," Ashanti told her. "I could just let mom take care of her," Camilla said. Ashanti shook her head,"I want to be the one to help her. I don't want to ever leave her side."

Camilla understood what she meant and smiled. "I'll see you later," she said and left. Ashanti made her way to the bed and climbed it. "Mommy?" Hailey mumbled as she shifted on the bed. She began to tremble and Ashanti began to panic.

"Mommy, no!" Hailey cried out as she turned from side to side. "Hailey, wake up," Ashanti shook her gently. The little girl opened her eyes and looked up at her with tears. "I miss my mommy," she mumbled brokenly and Ashanti felt her heart clench in sadness.

"Come here, sweetheart," she cooed as she opened her arms. Hailey didn't hesitate to sit up and accept her warm embrace. "I'll protect you," Ashanti promised her. The little girl could not stop her tears from falling as Ashanti patted her back.

"Do you want to eat something?" she asked her. Hailey nodded as they pulled away. "Let's go and make something to eat," Ashanti said and helped her get off the bed.

They were busy in the kitchen when Marcel walked in. He looked a little tired.

Hailey spotted him and ran to hide between Ashanti's legs. He sighed and went to grab a bottle of water.

He hadn't even taken a gulp when one of his men came in. "Capo, your father asks for you?" he said. Marcel rolled his eyes and took a gulp of his water before walking out of the kitchen.

"He's scary," Hailey mumbled as she played with the hem of Ashanti's skirt. "He's just doing his work. He didn't mean to be scary," Ashanti told her with a smile. "He saved me from those men," Hailey said as she looked up at her.

Ashanti looked down at her with a smile. "Yes he did," she said. "Are you ready to eat?" she asked and Hailey nodded