Mafia Obsession (OBSESSION SERIES #1)

CHAPTER 15

Mafia Obsession - Chapter 15: A Jealousy Unmasked

The charity event was a whirlwind of glittering gowns, champagne flutes, and forced smiles.  Celeste, adorned with Angelo's breathtaking diamond necklace, moved through the crowd with an air of confidence, her presence a beacon of beauty and grace.  She was the wife of the Don, a woman who commanded attention, a woman who was both admired and feared.

But beneath the surface of her composure, Celeste felt a growing sense of unease.  The world of the Mafia was a world of shadows and secrets, a world where trust was a luxury and truth was a rare commodity.  She had seen the darkness that lurked beneath the surface of Angelo's world, the violence, the corruption, the betrayal.  She had seen the fear in his eyes, the guilt in his voice, the secrets he kept hidden.

And she was starting to feel trapped.  Trapped in a gilded cage, a world of opulence and privilege that was both exhilarating and suffocating.  She was the wife of the Don, but she was also a prisoner of his love, a prisoner of his obsession.

As she moved through the crowd, Celeste noticed a young man staring at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of admiration and curiosity.  He was handsome, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes, his smile disarmingly charming.  He approached her, his voice soft and smooth.

“Excuse me, ma’am,” he said, his eyes sparkling with a playful glint.  “I couldn’t help but notice your necklace.  It’s absolutely stunning.”

Celeste smiled politely, her heart pounding slightly.  She had never been one for attention, but this young man’s gaze was both intense and alluring.  She felt a strange sense of excitement, a feeling that she hadn’t experienced in a long time.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice soft.  “It’s a gift from my husband.”

The young man’s smile widened, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

“He must love you very much,” he said, his voice filled with a hint of envy.  “To give you such a beautiful piece of jewelry.”

Celeste blushed, her heart fluttering in her chest.  She knew that this young man was flirting with her, but she couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of attraction.  He was different from Angelo, more carefree, more spontaneous, more… alive.

“He does,” she said, her voice a soft whisper.  “He loves me very much.”

The young man’s gaze lingered on her, his eyes filled with a mixture of admiration and curiosity.  He introduced himself, his name was Marco, and he was a friend of one of Angelo’s associates.  He asked Celeste about her life, her interests, her dreams.  He listened intently, his smile disarmingly charming, his eyes sparkling with a playful glint.

Celeste found herself drawn to him, his energy, his enthusiasm, his genuine interest in her.  She felt a sense of freedom, a sense of liberation, that she hadn’t experienced in a long time.  She was enjoying his company, his conversation, his attention.

But as she talked to Marco, Celeste couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched.  She felt Angelo’s gaze on her, cold and intense, his presence a shadow hovering over her.  She knew he was jealous, she could feel it in the air, in the tension that crackled between them.

When Angelo finally approached them, his face was a mask of displeasure, his eyes cold and hard.  He took Celeste’s hand, his touch possessive, his gaze fixed on Marco.

“Celeste, my love,” he said, his voice a low rumble.  “It’s getting late.  We should be going.”

Celeste felt a pang of guilt, a sense of betrayal.  She had enjoyed talking to Marco, she had felt a sense of freedom, a sense of liberation, that she hadn’t experienced in a long time.  But she also knew that she had crossed a line, a line that Angelo would not tolerate.

She smiled apologetically at Marco, her heart pounding in her chest.

“It was nice meeting you, Marco,” she said, her voice soft.  “I’ll see you around.”

Marco smiled back, his eyes filled with a mixture of disappointment and understanding.

“I’ll be seeing you, Donna Angelo,” he said, his voice filled with a hint of regret.  “Take care.”

As they walked away, Celeste could feel Angelo’s gaze burning into her back.  She knew he was angry, she could feel it in the tension that crackled between them.  She knew he was jealous, she could see it in the way he looked at Marco, in the way he held her hand, in the way he spoke to her.

“Angelo,” she said, her voice soft, her eyes searching his.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to…”

Angelo stopped walking, his gaze fixed on her, his expression unreadable.  He took a deep breath, his shoulders slumping with defeat.

“It’s okay, Celeste,” he said, his voice a low murmur.  “I understand.  I’m… I’m just a little jealous.”

Celeste’s heart sank.  She knew he was jealous, but she hadn’t realized how much it bothered him.  She had never seen this side of him before, this vulnerable, insecure side.  It made her feel both sorry for him and afraid of him.

“I’m sorry, Angelo,” she said, her voice filled with remorse.  “I’ll… I’ll be more careful in the future.”

Angelo smiled, his eyes filled with a mixture of love and possessiveness.  He pulled her close, his arms wrapping around her.

“I know you will, Celeste,” he whispered, his voice husky with emotion.  “You’re mine, and I’m not going to let anyone take you away from me.”

He kissed her, a long, lingering kiss that spoke of love, of possessiveness, of a bond that was both fragile and unbreakable.

Celeste knew that Angelo’s world was a dangerous world, a world where love and violence, beauty and brutality, coexisted in a precarious balance.  But she also knew that she loved him, with all his flaws, with all his secrets, with all his darkness.

And she was ready to face whatever came next, together.