Vendetta

Chapter Fourteen: Party lights, Despair, and Concussion to go with it

The party at the Chamberlain house turned out to be an announcement gathering for Beneventi's supposedly new venture, The BenCorp.

'We aim to provide the best of services to the public through BenCorp,' a particularly flushed Adelina says through the mic, giving way to a whole round of applause. 'Due to some – uh, issues – our patron, Mr. Arrigo Beneventi, could not be here today. But I'm informed that the inauguration and functioning of the company would begin at the latest, and Mr. Beneventi would, in person, announce the heir and CEO of BenCorp. I would like to toast to the rise of BenCorp and the unnamed CEO.'

She raises her champagne. 'To BenCorp.'

All of them drank.

I raise my glass along, rather reluctantly, before downing my glass of apple cider.

Despite our strongest beliefs that the party was a mafia matter, it seemed that it wasn't one at all. There were mayors, senators, officers, prominent businessmen, advertisers, potential investors. It seemed that Arrigo was fishing for more cash among business sharks. There were very few members of the Beneventi family; Stefan, Adelina and Fico among them. I had a feeling that only the closest confidantes were involved. I also had a feeling that most of the dignitaries present had no idea whom they were dealing with.

I sit on one of the chairs, watching Christian. He stands among a few men, senators I guess, and he is talking to them. The men discuss business prospects with great zeal, they honestly have no idea they're talking to the only son of the most wanted criminal on earth. Christian, for that matter, looks no longer nervous, but perfectly at ease as he talks business with them.

'You like him.'

I turn around and I see Stefan slipping onto the chair beside mine.

Stefan Novan Beneventi. Son of a second cousin of Arrigo's. He looks like a perfect Italian god, with a sculpted jaw and a carved face. His good looks are a decoy to the devil he is underneath – he controls Beneventi's involvement in trafficking.

I think of myself, how my beauty is a lie, a façade to hide the devil that I am. It doesn't make me any different from him.

I rearrange my face into an expression of confusion.

'I beg your pardon?'

'Così innocente. How did you even end up with him?'

I look back at Christian. He is still talking to the people, more excited, his hands moving about, probably scaling graphs and statistics.

'We go to Uni together.'

'Fair enough.' Stefan scoffs, his eyes trailing from me to Christian. 'And you like him.'

I don't reply.

'The name is Stefan Novan. I know Chris from when he was in diapers so, let me give you a word of advice. You like him, but he won't love you back. He's going to use you and toss you after he's done. You are just another pretty face to him. Just another distraction from all the shit he's facing.'

My mind stumbles on a particular word of his rant.

'Distraction from what?'

Stefan smirks. 'He hasn't told you, has he? I mean, why would he? I am ready to bet you two won't last till tomorrow morning.'

'You are wrong.' I want Stefan to buy into our act. 'I know he likes me too. This time, it's different.'

Stefan smirks, his eyes glinting. He thinks he knows more, he knows how Christian is using me. Little does he know that I am the one using Christian. Christian Beneventi is my ticket to vendetta.