Better The Devil You Know

Unity of Hell

'Where the hell have you been?' Antonio yells, causing the hungover Aurora to cover her ears in pain. She ignores him, instead walking towards the staircase, her bare feet padding along the floor with her heels in her hand.

'You think this is funny, huh?' Antonio roars, steam practically pouring out of his ears. 'What makes you think you are entitled to disappear for two months?'

Aurora stopped on the staircase, turning around to face her father, her messy hair covering her face, 'I don't know, honestly. I suppose, maybe, it was the same entitlement that made you think it was ok to decide who I got to marry.'

'You're the Mafia's daughter, Aurora. Stop pretending this is personal.'

Aurora continued walking up the stairs, 'See, I find that funny. You're not the one being sold. Andrea, be a dear, call someone to take my bags up,' she said absentmindedly waving at her pile of suitcases by the door.

'Sis,' Andrea warned, before Antonio put his hand up to silence him.

'Your mother will come to your room shortly and get your ready. She's no happier about your little escapade around the world than I am.'

Aurora stopped, leaning against the balcony, staring down, 'and tell me daddy dearest, is she any happier about the whoring out of her daughter to the highest bidder?'

Antonio's jaw clenched, before looking his defiant daughter up and down, 'In that outfit, it appears you've already got some experience in that area.'

'Perfect. That was the look I was going for,' she winked and spun around on her toes, waltzing to her room, her head pounding.

She fell onto her bed dramatically, flicking through social media, grimacing at the stories of her from last night.
There wasn't much she remembered from the past two months, but that's what made them so good. All she remembers is sun and booze, celebrating her last two months before her 19th birthday when she would be forced to marry some mafia guy.

She woke up that morning on her jet, her friends passed out around her. They had one last mad night in Ibiza, their last destination on their world tour.

She was proud to say in those two months she had experienced her full roaring twenties. There wouldn't be much fun involved here on out.

Aurora's bags were brought to her room, followed by her mother and her glam squad.

'My darling, I was worried sick!' Valentina cried dramatically, hand on forehead and all that shebang.

'Mother, I am not in the mood for you today. Please leave.'

'It's your wedding day! Come on, smile a little.'

'Why? Tell me mother, what the hell do I have to smile about?'

Everyone who was bustling around the room had gone eerily quiet, no doubt eavesdropping. Valentina looked around sending death glares to everyone who dared look at her daughter who was slumped on the bed, looking, quite frankly, like a total mess.

'So I take it your bachelorette party was crazy!' Valentina started fussing over Aurora, 'We'll get you some food and coffee to get rid of the hangover yeh? And some umm... Champagne! Yes, we'll get some champagne to calm your nerves.' She waved towards a member of staff, and pulled Aurora into the bathroom.
'You all just, clean this all up and start preparing. It's Aurora's big day!'

The bathroom door slammed closed.
'No, it's Dad's big day. It's his business deal.'

Running the bath, Valentina sighed. 'I know honey, but there's nothing I can do. Your father made his mind up, and all I can do is make it close to the real thing as possible.'