Perfectly broken

Chapter 9

Anastasia's pov:

The morning after our arrival, I wake up at 10 pm. Normally, I rarely wake up this late. Since we arrived late last night, I needed the extra hours of sleep.

I get out of the bed. My wedding dress is still laying on the floor where I left it. It took me forty five minutes last night to get out of it. It had millions of buttons on the back that are supposed to be opened by the groom which was not the case. As soon as we got here, Dante showed me my room and he was gone to god knows where. Of course, I preferred suffering alone for almost a hour over asking for his help.

I take the dress from the floor and I hang it on the walk-in closet. I am going to think later about what I am going to do with it.

I find by my door the boxes that I delivered from Spain to here. I open the one that contains my skin products and I head to my bathroom to do my morning skin care. Then, I put on the first thing that I find on the box containing my clothes: yoga pants and a white crop top.

I wonder what I am going to do for the rest of the day. Usually I work out on the gym or go for a run then I start working. Spoiler alert: There no business for me to deal with here because Mr my husband won't allow it. Even if he does, I won't accept to offer him my services. I Will never I break the oath I made to our mafia. I will always remain faithful to them.

I get out of my room and I descend the stairs. Yesterday, as I was so tired, I didn't notice how big this place actually is. At Spain, we had a small mansion as we were not a crowded family. At first, It was me, papa and mama. Ever since her death, it was just me and papa. So, we didn't need a lot of space. How does Dante lives in this huge place by on his own ? Maybe he had company before I came here. Maybe he had a girlfriend. As if I care. It is utterly none of my business.

That's when I smell something good. Really good actually. I am so hungry. I didn't eat anything since last night. And, I happen to have a weak spot for food. I can't function properly without a full stomach.

I hear shouts that make forget how hungry I am. It seems that there are persons fighting somewhere in the house. I track the voices and it leads me to what seems to be the kitchen. As I step in, I see the source of all the yelling I have been hearing for minutes now. A woman maybe at her end fifties and a man, who seems to be the chef as he is wearing a white hat over his head, are arguing. Worse than arguing, it seems as if they are going to get on each other's throats any minute. Another woman, much younger than the first one, is standing behind them. She is giggling while watching them. They were so busy yelling at each other that none of them notices me. To make my presence noticed I clear my throat: "ehm". Both, the woman and the men, stop arguing. All three heads turn in my direction. Everyone in the room stares at me with eyes wide open.

The older woman walks past the chef and approaches me with a large smile on her face.
"Mi preciosa , you are Anastasia right ?" I nod at her words. Without previous alert and out of blue, she brings me to her and she hugs me so tightly. I swear for a minute I couldn't breathe.

When I get out of her hold, She raises her head to look at the sky and she say something in which sounds like Italian:" grazie a Dio ho visto questo giorno." (thank god I saw this day). Then, she looks at me again. One of her hands cups my cheek and the other gently caresses my wavy hair.
" molta bellicima." (Very beautiful.) She seems to have a conversation with herself.

"Pardon, but who are you ?" I ask confused.
"Sorry darling I didn't introduce myself. Not every day we see such a beauty in this mansion. I am greta the housekeeper." She says.
"Nice to meet you Greta or should I say Mrs Greta ? Is it okay that I call you by your first name ?"
"Say whatever suits you, dear. That's what Dante calls me anyways."
She seems so friendly. I think I already like her.
"Are you Italian ? I think I heard you say something in Italian?"
"Yeah. I am. I have been serving the famiglia since 40 years now.  I am the one who helped grow up Dante. If you want to hear about childhood you are in the right place."
I want to scream No.
"No thanks." I say with a nervous smile. Not to upset her because she seemed so excited I add: "Maybe another day." Actually, Never In eternity.