Mafia

9 Damon: At the Gallery

Another gallery opening...or was it a charity ball? Who knows? I can never keep track of which events are which. The only reason I ever show up to these events is to keep up my image as the powerful Damon Stallone, future head of the Salvatorie crime family.

I'd managed to drag Tony and Steve with me to the event. Partially as security, but mainly because they're my best friends, other than my sister. It took a little convincing, but Tony was in once I said the words "open bar" and "free food". Between the two of us, Steve didn't stand a chance.

All heads turned towards us as we entered the gallery. Everyone in this city knows who we are. None of us paid the flashing cameras or questioning reporters any attention as we walked straight into the gallery.

It took a couple seconds for my eyes to adjust to the bright lights of the gallery. Once I could see clearly, I looked around the room. All around, there were the usual important figures of the city, none of whom were at all interesting. I made my way to the bar. Tony and Steve not far behind.

In less than a minute, all three of us had drinks in our hands. Tony, as usual with these events, was playing games on his phone, and Steve was bored out of his mind. I looked around the room as I sipped on my drink.

As my eyes traveled around the room, they landed on the most unique woman I've ever seen. She was definitely beautiful. There was absolutely no doubt. With her light blue dress covered in yellow and white flowers, tan shoes, and rose gold purse, she was definitely underdressed, especially compared to all the other women wearing full length ballgowns. Her wavy dark blond hair flowed around her, almost bouncing, as she moved around the room. She grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. She said something to him, and he did a double take, then smiled as he walked away.

I tore my eyes from her as I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye. Not too far away from the mystery girl, there was a group of men in tuxedoes looking at her.

I felt my jaw clench and my muscles tighten when I noticed them staring at her. They were pointing in her direction and talking to each other. They were talking about her, and the way they were looking at her, even from across the room I could tell they wanted her. I kept my eyes on them, as my hand tightened around my glass.

I tore my eyes away from the group and looked back to the mystery girl. She was looking at me. I could finally see her face. Even from across the room I could tell she was beautiful. Her face was perfectly framed by her medium blond hair, and her eyes were framed by a pair of glasses with a dark frames. She still held the champagne glass in her hand, and it was still completely full.

Our eyes met for an instant, and she immediately turned away. I smirked into my drink as I took a sip, finishing it off. I set my empty glass down on the bar, and made my way over to her.