Deep Sea

Chapter 7 - The party

The thing that impressed them was the park of the villa. A large English lawn with a marble fountain in the centre, thick laurel hedges all around and some trees including pines, poplars and oaks, solitary and monumental in their immense height, emphasized by the headlights that projected beams of light from their base. The paths leading to the long buffet tables were paved with patchy white stones. From the tablecloths to the cutlery, everything had required the utmost attention to detail, even the dishes were refined in their tastes and colors, so much so that certain flavor combinations had never even entered their minds for Furio and Riccardo.

- Try these shrimp with avocado, they are delicious.-

Veronica had begun to put her hands everywhere, observing the ways of the ladies in long dresses and imitating them. The guests, in more or less numerous groups, exchanged smiles holding glasses with drinks of the most varied colors. Veronica devoured canapés, observed from a distance by her three knights who were still hesitant about whether or not to tackle the food charge, but already on their second aperitif. Ettore, one hand in his pocket, was evaluating how much larger that villa could be compared to his own. Having made a couple of eye measurements, he decided that everything had to be at least triple, three times the size of the house, three times the garden, three times the price. He shivered. Just thinking about how much his house had cost him and how much he still had to pay put him in crisis.

- Is everything okay, Veronica? -The girl turned around with the last bite of the salmon canapé in her mouth, smiled and reached out to shake her main hand, trying to swallow the bite as quickly as possible.

- Thank you so much for the invitation, you have a house... an extraordinary house! Allow me to introduce some of my friends: Furio Cristofari, Riccardo Rampon, and Ettore Pasotto.-

- It is a pleasure.

Diana D'Auteuil was like a rain cloud on a dry evening. The smile was enchanting. The hair was pulled back with gel and enhanced the aristocratic profile, the eyes were attractive like those of a Byzantine Madonna. She was dressed in purple, with a fluttery dress, held up by a single shoulder strap that revealed an enviable cleavage and no sign of the costume despite the tan being more than evident. A large pendant with the effigy of a walnut tree hung from her neck.

- Three bachelors without girlfriends or are you all Veronica's suitors? -The three musketeers smiled.- It was a battle, and we lost! - Furio took Veronica by the shoulders - So he will have us with him for the whole evening.-

At that unexpected squeeze Veronica felt a moment of embarrassment and her plump cheeks turned red, she prayed that no one would notice.

- Furio is the only free one, Ettore and I fought the real battle, but when women love their independence it's hard to convince them.-

- Don't tell me! - Diana raised her glass as a sign of toast and met Hector's tamed mastiff eyes - I hope I haven't caused a marital crisis - she said, turning to the only married man of the three, noticing the wedding ring on his finger. The man clinked his glass against his guest's and forced a smile:- I wouldn't have missed this party for anything in the world. I'm so inexperienced in social events that his and Veronica's invitation came at the right time.-

- Well...- the woman hesitated glass to glass - I wish you a very pleasant evening then.-

From one side of the garden a long and annoying whistle could be heard. Then a man motioned for Diana to follow him.

- With permission...-The lady took her leave and headed towards the source of the noise, and only then did a spotlight illuminate that corner, highlighting a small stage with a keyboard, a microphone, a stool and some speakers on it.