Bound to the Don

chapter 20

*picture of Silvia above*🔝

Salma

I moved from the balcony and into the room, my body aching from standing for too long. My mind was reeling from too much thinking, and a headache was starting to form. I decided to lay down for a moment, hoping to clear my head. Just as I was about to close my eyes, Silvia walked in, making me sit up on the bed with a start.

"How are you feeling, dear?" Silvia asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

I rubbed my temples gently, trying to ease the tension. "I'm feeling a bit tired and I have a headache," I admitted. "I was just standing on the balcony for a while." I looked up at Silvia, who was watching me with a caring expression. "But I'm fine, really. Just a bit worn out."

Alright dear, if you say so. I just came to inform you about a pretty important matter, we have a bee guest and it will be best if you know beforehand about her to avoid any complications. She said her face moulded into wariness.

I listened carefully as Silvia told me about our new guest, Lady Victoria. As she spoke, I felt a knot in my stomach. Lady Victoria was the daughter of the leader of the Bianchi Mafia, a very powerful family in Italy. But even though she came from a powerful family, she wasn't allowed to be the leader because she was a woman. Instead, she was being prepared to marry the leader of the most powerful mafia family, Armando.

Silvia's expression turned serious as she warned me about Lady Victoria's personality. "She's very demanding and strict," Silvia said. "She expects everything to be perfect, and if it's not, she gets very angry." Silvia told me about the staff members who had gotten into trouble with Lady Victoria because they didn't meet her high standards.

I also learned that Lady Victoria was very obsessed with Armando. "She's been in love with him for years," Silvia said. "But Armando doesn't feel the same way. He's more interested in maintaining a business relationship with lady Victoria's family rather than pursuing a romantic relationship with her." She said and this made me realize that Lady Victoria's obsession with Armando would make her even more unpredictable.

As Silvia gave me advice on how to deal with Lady Victoria, I felt a chill run down my spine. "Always call her Lady Victoria, it is a must." Silvia said. "Don't look her in the eye, and don't smile when you greet her. She likes to make people feel inferior, so it's best to just be polite and respectful." Silvia's words made me even more anxious. I had never been good at dealing with difficult people, and the thought of facing Lady Victoria's anger was scary.

But what really caught my attention was when Silvia told me that Lady Victoria had a habit of targeting young, beautiful girls. She would become jealous of their youth and beauty, and would go to great lengths to destroy them. I felt a cold sweat break out on my forehead as I realized I fit Lady Victoria's criteria perfectly. I was young and, according to Silvia, beautiful. I knew I had to be very careful around Lady Victoria if I wanted to avoid becoming her target.

Silvia seemed to sense my fear and put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, Salma," she said. "Just be careful and follow my advice. Lady Victoria may be cruel, but she's also predictable. If you know how to deal with her, you'll be fine."

Silvia took a deep breath before continuing, "there is something else you need to know Salma. "Tomorrow, we're hosting a big banquet in honor of Lady Victoria it is a mandatory event ever since lady Victoria became our frequent guest abd it is crucial for everyone to be on their best behavior, no clumsiness is allowed. I know it's short notice but I want you to be prepared, just remember to follow my advice and you'll get through it okay?."

I had never helped prepare anything like a banquet before, and the thought of facing Lady Victoria in a crowded room was overwhelming. "But Silvia, I've never done anything like that before," I admitted, feeling panicked.