Mafia's African Rose

Tension

I wasn't in the mood for a party. Adriana's birthday should've been something to look forward to, but with everything going on, all I wanted to do was stay locked in my room and let the world move on without me. But Adriana didn't deserve that. She was kind to me, and I knew if I didn't show up, it would hurt her.

So, I made a promise to myself. Just this once, I'd push my feelings aside. I'd plaster a smile on my face and try not to let Alexio's constant back-and-forth ruin my day. How could I let his decisions affect me so deeply? It was embarrassing how much power he had over me. My body, my heart—they still yearned for him, but I couldn't keep letting him tear me apart.

"You'll get over him," I whispered to myself in the mirror as I pulled my short hair into a bun. "You have to."

Alexa burst into my room not long after, her energy buzzing. "Shopping time! We need to find the perfect dress for tonight."

Her excitement was contagious, and I couldn't bring myself to say no. Luca was waiting for us outside the mansion, leaning casually against the car. As we approached, he straightened up and opened the door for us.

The boutique Alexa dragged me to was luxurious—too luxurious of course one of Alexio's. Every gown on display screamed wealth, with glittering sequins and intricate designs that looked too delicate to touch. Alexa immediately dove in, grabbing dresses and holding them up to me with a grin.

"You'll look stunning in this!" she said, holding up a crimson gown that I wasn't even sure I could pull off.

I forced a smile. "It's beautiful."

Luca just trailed behind us, silent as ever, but I could feel his eyes on me now and then. I knew he could tell I wasn't as happy as I pretended to be.

"Angel, you okay?" Alexa asked as she studied a black dress on a mannequin.

"I'm fine," I lied, picking up a random gown to avoid her gaze.

She gave me a look but didn't push. Alexa had a way of knowing when to back off. She turned her attention to Luca  instead, holding up the dress. "What do you think? Too much?"

"It's perfect," Lucas said simply, though his tone was flat, as if he didn't care much about dresses.

While Alexa kept shopping, I wandered off to a quieter corner of the boutique. I found a simple red dress that wasn't as flashy as the others but still elegant. It felt like me—soft and understated.

Alexa spotted me holding it and clapped her hands. "Yes! That's the one. You'll look gorgeous."

I smiled at her enthusiasm and took it to the fitting room. As I stared at my reflection in the mirror, I whispered to myself again. "You'll get through this. Just one night. Smile, laugh, and stop thinking about him."

I slipped into the dress and saw how it hugged my figure, accentuating every curves my ass perky as ever. It was simple yet elegant, I felt beautiful.  I stared at my reflection, another thought crept in, one I couldn't push away. Would Alexio even notice me tonight?

If he even came.

I sighed, brushing my hands over the soft fabric. Who was I kidding? I shouldn't care whether he noticed me or not. Yet, the thought lingered like a stubborn shadow, and I hated myself.

"Angel, you look amazing!" Alexa's voice broke through my thoughts as she peeked into the fitting room.

"Thanks," I said softly, forcing a small smile.