The Other Side of Silence

Back in My Day

Gloria's POV

It all started when I was in highschool. I was a senior in my highschool then, which meant that would be my last year in highschool before I move to college.

I remember it like it was yesterday.

I had three more weeks of classes before my final exams came around, and I sure as hell was acing my exams. All I had to do is focus in class.

While back at home, mom and dad were prepping up a 'special birthday gift' as they called it.

My 18th birthday was around the corner so they made sure to be speedy and as secretive with it as possible.

The day came around and I woke up that morning to be surrounded by a bunch of my favourite daisies and roses which were placed perfectly around my king sized bed. It was a very cute and wholesome act coming from my parents. That's actually the sweetest my parents had ever been to me throughout my whole 18 years of life.

Something was definitely wrong.

Coming down the stairs after a quick shower, I stop dead in my tracks at the sight in front of me. Cole Thompson on one knee, with a diamond encrusted ring with his family slash Mafia's crest on it in a silver ring box.

I took in the newly decorated interior of our house. Decorated with my favourite flowers and balloons at all corners, with paparazzi at different angles all facing my direction.

I was fully aware of my parents truth and about what businesses they actually run, even at that age, but all of that is not known by the media nor the world.

My Dad was the leader of the biggest Mafia in the underworld, and everyone who knows who we really are is definitely someone in the underworld as well.

To the world, we were one of the most thriving and most successful entrepreneurial families in all of America with a clean criminal record, but to our business partners and associates we're anything but.

To the world, the reason why Cole Thompson was on one knee was to ask for my hand in marriage because our love had been in existence since middle school, but in reality, that was just a business deal where every asset and benefit enjoyed by Cole's Mafia will be shared with ours and vice versa.

With the media all up in my face, I couldn't just reject the offer, and also because I wanted to have nothing to do with his temper.

When Mafioso's are humiliated in the slightest, they brings an end to whoever or whatever caused it, and I didn't think I could handle a full blown bloody war between the two most powerful Mafia's just because of my stubbornness.

With fake excitement plastered on my face, I ran down into his arms, wrapping mine around his neck while his arms snake around my waist possessively like as if he was laying some sort of claim on me or like he was marking his territory, either one, they sound about the same to me but whatever.

After breaking our hug slash public display of fake affection, he picked my hand and his and placed the diamond crested ring and slipped it effortlessly into my middle finger. He then spun me around to face the paparazzi with his grip firm on my waist.

While all thar was happening, I was busy trying so hard not to get blinded by the bright flashing lights.

Fast forward a little and now I'm back in school after my strict one week confinement given by my dad for the sake of my security and my protection.

While resting my head in my hands on my desk, I felt a hand clamp on my shoulder like whoever it is wants to throw me off the chair.

Quickly, I jerked my head up to see who has the audacity to bother me that early in the morning. George Hayes. He was the actual person that has been my best friend since middle school.