Shades of love

First Night

Third POV

"It's not that I was hiding this from you, Dominic. I was eventually going to tell you" - David tried to reason with his best friend, concerned by his angry reaction, which was starting to get other guests' attention.

"Then why didn't you? My woman is caught in life-threatening fire, her house is burned to the ground and I only find out now?"

"Because you were busy planning out the wedding with your new wife! You are being ridiculous and unreasonable"

"You know very well this marriage is nothing more than a business deal. You shouldn't have kept this a secret from me"- Dominic's eyes were blinded by anger, he didn't even realize his voice was starting to be heard over the music.

"Dominic" - David gave him a meaningful look, which was begging him to calm down "We will talk about this, in a more suitable moment. This is your wedding, hundreds of guests are watching the new groom"

"Did she get hurt?"

"No... Mia herself is fine"

'I should have known! You should have told me..."

"How could I? You were out of town, planning the biggest business deal of the century. She'll be fine, don't you worry" - David smiled brightly, with a fake joy in his eyes. "Come on, man! That's what you've been waiting for for so long. With all this money, you'll buy that b***h a castle if you want to"

"Say that word again about her, and I'll cut out your tongue"

"What is going on here, dear ?" - Olympia threw herself over Domenic, smiling brightly to hide the tension.

"Yeah, Dominic... This is your wedding. We can have this discussion later" - David nodded, smiling along, and not liking that so many eyes were over them both.

"Yes, after our honeymoon you can discuss whatever it is. Now it's time for our last dance, Dominic"

"Then we leave. Let's get this ugly circus over with" - Domenic took her hand, leading his bride to the dance floor.

.............................

The music started playing, and the light became light and was shining over the couple only, creating a beautiful, romantic atmosphere. The eyes of hundreds of guests were over the just married couple, but the mind of Domenic was far from this place.

"You can at least try to act like I have not kidnapped you. You are embarrassing me" - Olympia whispered in his ear while forcing a bright smile.

"There is nothing real about this wedding and you know it" - Domenic gritted his teeth

"This is the most beautiful day of my life" - she with dreamy eyes, looking at him in awe "All my life...my only wish was to marry you. And now it's become true, this is real Domenic, and you know it. I am your wife now, for better or for worse"

It took a few seconds for the words to register in his head. The music was blustering in his ears loudly, as another song was playing. Suddenly, he realized it was his and Mias' love song, the one he promised to dance the night away, at their wedding. Domenic looked at Olimpia, she was smiling but he could recognize the sneaky grin on her face, all this was intentional and she knew very well what she was doing. The reality started hitting him. Hard! This was real, and in his arms was his bride, but not the woman he loved. Domenic felt a sharp pain in his chest, he was now struggling to remember what were the reasons that made him agree to this marriage"

A spectacle of fireworks illuminated the sky, just over their heads

"Oh, my love! I am so happy" - Olimpia rested her head, over his broad chest.

"It's time to leave" - he replied bitterly, wanting nothing more but the exit the place, and pretend that nothing of this ever happened.

.............................

Mia POV

"When I arrived at the capital, it was already dark. I was hungry, tired, and worst of all scared. Never have I been to such a big city, when the lights were so bright, and so many people were rushing in different directions. Never have I felt so lonely either; I was entirely lost. Pushing towards the crowd, I finally left the big station. With the last money I had, I took a taxi. I had no choice, but to try my luck, so I gave the driver the address written in a piece of letter.

"Are you sure, miss?" - the old man asked me "This place isn't very safe, for a young lady. Especially not at night"

I felt my heart drop. "Yes, please. Take me to this address"- I could already feel the lump on my throat

"Okay" - the taxidriver nodded, and he didn't speak another word to me the whole ride. To try to push my thoughts away, I looked out the window the whole time, trying to memorize the streets or some locations.

When the taxi stopped, I realized what the driver meant. The street was half dark, but there were many people around the place. Most of them looked drunk and were loud. Women were half-naked, and the men didn't look very friendly.

"This is it?" - I swallowed

"This is the address you gave me, yes" - the driver replied.

I took a deep breath, trying to gather all the mental strength that was left in me. "There is no going back now Mia. You have nowhere else to go back to"

"Thank you, sir" - I took my backpack and paid the money. I was left with only a few pennies.

"Good luck, miss" - the man's voice was sympathetic, but I hated the pitty. Strangely enough, that gave me a boost of determination, as I smashed the backdoor with force. I am not a charity case, no man or woman will ever look down on me again, or worse pity me.

I ignored the young men that were catcalling me and went ahead as if I owned the place. I knocked on the door, praying that someone would answer.

"Who is it?" - a raspy voice asked. It did not sound friendly, nor pleased.

"I am Mia. Claire's daughter... "

"Who? I don't know you" - I could tell it was an old woman talking back at me, but her answer terrified me. What if the woman I was looking for, didn't live here anymore "Go away or I call the police" - she barked angrily at me

"Please, please" - I knocked again desperate "I am Claire's daughter. Claire Jones. My mother told me that if anything happens, she will help me. I beg you"

"Claire Jones?" - she asked. A spark of hope lighted up inside me

"Yes, yes. Claire Jones. I am her daughter.."

"Why are you here?"

'Please, I need help...please. I need a place to stay just for the night, at least. My mother told me that you would help me"

"Your mother is a lunatic. Why did she even send you back, after all this time? I can't believe that crazy woman"

"She... she died" - I manage to say, it was so incredibly hard to form this simple truth as a sentence. I still couldn't accept her death.

"What?"

"There was a fire, she was inside... she died"- my voice broke for the first time. There was a deadly silence, minutes went by. I realized this was a stupid mistake, showing up in the middle of the night, at a stranger's house begging for help. I sat back at the stairs, hiding my face in between my knees, wishing the soil beneath me would swallow me whole. The desperation and loneliness were overbearing.

"So you are Mia. I am finally meeting you face to face" - the woman's voice was now coming behind my back. "Well don't just stay in there. Hope in. This place has all kinds of scum running around"

.................................

Third POV

"Did you find her?"

"Who?"

"David, don't piss me off. Did you speak with Mia? I am trying to call her, but her phone is off service"

"I promise to talk with her, the first thing in the morning. But please, Domenic! It's your first wedding night. You should be paying more attention to your bride"

"Don't tell me what to do. Mia and her mother are homeless, God knows where. I don't want them sleeping at Mia's friend's house, or worse yet in some filthy shelter. You should have told me "

'Yeah...there are a lot of things, I should tell you, but it's not the right moment Domenic"

"Prepare my apartment downtown, I'll send them there"

"What? Have you gone mad?" - David gasped

"Do as I say" - Domenic cut off the call, annoyed.

"Who were you speaking with"- Olympia asked in a sugary voice, closing the bathroom door behind her. She was now wearing only bridal lingeries, with her hair loose around the shoulders, looking stunning.

"What are you doing" - Domenic try to avoid looking at her

"It's our first wedding night, I am just trying to look good for my husband"

"I thought we had this very clear, since the beginning. We are not to be living as a husband, and wife' - Domenic replied sharply, wearing his jacket back on.

"Oh, my love. You can't be possibly serious. We had the most amazing wedding party, we can continue to have some fun together. Remember, that my grandpa' want a grandson. The sooner we give him what he wants, the better" - Olympia hugged him from behind, trying to lock him inside her tight hug.

"You lied to me. That's something we'll discuss at another time, though" - his firm hand, gently pushed her away.

'Dom... Domenic? Where are you going?" - Olimpia run after him

"Go back inside, Olympia. Somebody might see you half-naked

'You are can't leave me here. Not on our wedding night. Please, please! Come back with me" - she grabbed his hand, trying to pull him back. Domenic took a deep breath, tired and overwhelmed.

"We had a deal, please don't start acting crazy and playing the loving wife. I don't love you, and you don't love me. Now stop it, and go back inside"

'I love you! I love you"- she runs before him, blocking the front door, with her body trying not to let him leave.

"What?" -Domenic frowned his brows "You are talking nonsense"

'I love you. I have loved you since I was in fifth grade. Everything I have done, I have done it for you, for us. I convinced my father that for this wedding to happen, I made it all possible"

"You think this is some sort of a game?" - Domenic could feel the anger bubbling up inside him

"No, no... My love for you is real, our wedding is real. Can't you see? I have arranged everything, for us to be happy. Our marriage. my father's wealth will be passed down to our baby boy. You'll have everything you ever wanted, and I have you. It's perfect, we'll be the happiest"- Olympia nodded looking at him straight in the eyes, her hand cupping and caressing his face.

"Get off me!" - Domenic pushed her again "You are being ridiculous"

"You are going to her, aren't you?" - once again she tried to stop him "You can't! You will not abound me at our first night, to run off to your mistress"

"Mistress?" -Domenic shook his head "She my woman, the only woman I ever loved. Now, get off my way" - he opened the door, and despite all the struggle, he managed to pass through Olympia. He could still hear her screams, curses, and loud noises she was making, as he turned on the car's engine. Once again, he tried to call Mia, but her number wasn't reachable.

'Where are you, kitten? You are getting me worried" - he whispered under his breath.