Static Hearts

The glamorous event

The ride to the Romano's mansion was short but when they arrived the event had already started. When walking through the halls Reina came across Camille who was potently giving instructions to the maids. Choosing to ignore her they hastened their peace ending up in the megalithic ballroom.

The vastness of the place, the number of participants, and the extravagance of the food was on a completely different level compared to normal gatherings.

Many guests would line up to greet the host seated at the far end of the hall and then proceed to where the influential people were gathered to try striking a conversation with them. Not all of those were small-talk and pleasantries. In the mafia business, events like these also served as a place to conduct diplomacy with the other houses.

Reina's sudden appearance attracted stares for a short moment.  Many males' eyes were irritably riveted on her, unable to tear away.

"I hate engagement parties almost as much as I hate weddings. Any reason why anyone gets married?" she muttered while confronting their stares with a disinterested expression.

"Love I guess. Still, the only reason why these two are getting married is to throw an obnoxious gala so that the rest of us feel unworthy." Greg said while staring at the diamond chandelier hanging on the ceiling. "I'll give them five months."

"Two." She concluded avoiding her friend's skeptical look. "She's got looks, he's got money. One of them is bound to run out."

"Sister, why did you take so long to come?" Jasmine called loudly causing for the others to widen their eyes in shock. Reina Romano didn't usually join events because of being in poor health, therefore she was only known as a name among their affluent society, never showing her face in public. Finding out that this was the oldest daughter of Damien Romano left many of the guests speechless. Quite a few of them made sure to remind themselves to approach her later during the event, as opportunistic as that might seem.

After dragging her sister to the dressing room Jasmine asked:

"How do I look?" her voice was trembling with feverishness as she whirled around in order to exhibit the dress she was currently wearing "What do you think about it?"

Her mother had ordered a rose-themed princess style dress covered in rose-shaped diamonds especially for this day. All of her friends adored it, taking pictures and saying the gown was beautiful, but something didn't fit. It didn't show as much skin as she usually would prefer, which her mother deemed suitable since the De Lucas are known to be quite conservative. Yet, wasn't it too extravagant looking??

"It's a monstrosity." Reina stated shaking her head.

Of course she would say that. Jasmine groaned rolling her eyes. "How can you even walk with that thing?" This time the question was directed towards Camille who was standing silently at the side.

"Since my legs are not dysfunctional..." Jasmine spat ignoring her mother's warning glares.

"As much as I would love to see you fall and break an ankle, it can majorly affect this family's reputation." Reina said calmly, in contrast to her stepsister who got even more nervous.

"Ughh... this won't do. I need to change." 

At that moment Reina noticed a teenage girl attending to the stressed future bride desperately trying to stop her from freaking out and actually changing her dress. Greg knew this girl. They studied in the same school after all.

"Hi! I..." when she was about to clarify the reason of her presence...

"Spare me. After all, I am not really interested in who you are." Raina said impatiently.

Greg was stifling his laugh at his friend's words, while Madison stood there in shock. How can she not recognize her? She wasn't even wearing much makeup.

"It's me Madison."

"Do I know you?" Greg now started to laugh loudly unable to hold no longer.

"Honey it's not that bad..." Meanwhile, Camille continued to patiently console her daughter before being rudely interrupted.

"No, it is. Just look at this. Who was that stupid stylist that designed such trash? It's a fucking mess." As her eyes glanced at her sister's black and white piece they were filled with inestimable envy.

"Give me your dress." Jasmine said.

"Ha!" was the quick response to that injudicious suggestion. Reina was about to leave the room when someone suddenly called her name.

"Reina dear, I was hoping you wouldn't come." An old but dignified woman, they all were well acquainted with, joined their conversation uninvited. She was a person the Romanos really didn't want to come across. Their unfortunate encounter took place in a tea party a year ago. What was supposed to be a relaxing afternoon ended up with the words 'a presumptuous self-centered cow' and Reina's departure on the first ten minutes.

"Madam Bianchi...what a bother to meet you again." Greg was painfully pinching her skin as a warning to avoid trouble and making constant eye signals which were repeatedly ignored.

"So I see things haven't changed much from the last time we met." A clear frown was heard with those words indicating she hadn't forgotten a thing. In that woman's words, tone and attitude, Reina could hear the distillation of the thousands of compromises that had defaced her life. It was suffocating, annoyingly so.

So, with her inimitable, subtle, and almost sarcastic humor, she said: "Oh yes. My brother keeps spoiling and indulging me with my extensive selfishness, while my little sister obviously still appears to be bad at doing so."

"You..." Their intensive glare contest was put off by Damien Romano's booming voice. With an expression of unprecedented calmness, he raised a toast while hundreds of people worshiped and attentively listened to the hosting oration.

"Many of you have made a huge effort to join us today. On behalf of the Romano family, it's my pleasant duty to bid you all a genial welcome" His way of speech was didactic and erudite, portraying the attitude of a superior leader.

"Jasmine calm down." Nevertheless not much could be heard from the dressing room. A propitious sense of chaos and crisis had taken over the bride. And things got even messier when the sound of approaching vehicles was heard.

"They're here!"

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I hope you enjoyed this chapter which is the beginning of an adventurous night. On the next one De Lucas will be present heating things up. Thank you so much for your votes and comments till now. ♥♥♥