EPISODE 11 — A PLACE BESIDE HIM
1214 Words
The following morning, Bianca woke to the sound of rain against the windows.
She stayed in bed for a few minutes, staring at the ceiling.
Everything about her life had changed so quickly.
A few weeks ago, she had been working as a waitress, counting every naira she earned because every little amount mattered to her mother's treatment.
Now she lived in a mansion.
She wore expensive clothes she never would have bought for herself.
People called her Donna Romano.
And she was married to the most feared man in the city.
Yet none of it felt like hers.
It felt borrowed.
Three years.
Then she would return to being Bianca Moretti.
She got dressed and went downstairs.
The dining room was unusually quiet.
Alessandro was already there.
"Good morning, my dear."
"Good morning."
He looked at the empty chair beside him.
"Lorenzo hasn't come down?"
"I haven't seen him."
Alessandro sighed.
"That boy will work himself into an early grave."
Bianca smiled.
"Maybe that's why he's so grumpy."
Alessandro laughed.
"Don't let him hear you say that."
Before Bianca could respond, Lorenzo entered.
He was dressed for work, his expression serious as usual.
"Good morning."
Bianca looked at him.
"Good morning."
Lorenzo sat.
Alessandro immediately started talking.
"I want both of you at the foundation dinner tonight."
Lorenzo frowned.
"I have work."
"You always have work."
"It's important."
"So is your marriage."
Lorenzo looked at Bianca.
She raised both hands.
"Don't look at me. I didn't ask for the dinner."
Alessandro smiled.
"Exactly. Which is why you're both attending."
Lorenzo sighed.
"Fine."
---
Later that morning, Bianca was walking through the mansion when she noticed several people preparing the ballroom.
Flowers were being arranged.
Tables were being moved.
She stopped Maria.
"What's happening?"
"The foundation dinner."
"I thought it was tonight."
"It is."
"Why are they preparing already?"
Maria smiled.
"Because the Romano family doesn't believe in last-minute preparations."
Bianca laughed.
She continued walking.
Then she noticed something.
A large portrait hanging near the ballroom entrance.
It showed Lorenzo's parents.
Bianca had seen photographs of them before, but never this one.
She stood there quietly.
"They look happy."
A voice came from behind her.
"They were."
Bianca turned.
Lorenzo stood a few feet away.
She looked back at the portrait.
"I've never heard you talk about them."
"There isn't much to say."
"That's not true."
Lorenzo looked at the portrait.
"My father taught me everything I know about the family."
"And your mother?"
His expression softened slightly.
"She taught me what it meant to be human."
Bianca looked at him.
"And what happened?"
Lorenzo was quiet.
Then he said,
"Life happened."
He walked away.
Bianca didn't follow.
She understood that some questions needed time.
---
THE FOUNDATION DINNER
By evening, the mansion had transformed.
Important business partners, politicians and members of the Romano family's inner circle filled the ballroom.
Bianca stood beside Lorenzo.
She felt eyes following her.
Whispers travelled through the room.
"That's the new Donna."
"She's beautiful."
"She's not from a powerful family."
"How did Lorenzo choose her?"
Bianca pretended not to hear.
Lorenzo leaned slightly toward her.
"Ignore them."
"I am."
"You don't look like it."
She smiled.
"Do I look nervous?"
"No."
"Good."
A man approached them.
"Don Romano."
Lorenzo shook his hand.
"Mr. Conti."
The man turned toward Bianca.
"And this must be your wife."
Lorenzo looked at her.
"Yes. Bianca."
The man smiled.
"Welcome to the family."
Bianca returned the smile.
"Thank you."
They continued through the room.
Lorenzo introduced her to several people.
At first, Bianca wondered why.
Then she realized something.
He wasn't simply introducing his wife.
He was presenting the Donna Romano to everyone who mattered.
She understood the importance of it.
So she played her part.
She smiled.
She shook hands.
She listened.
And she never once embarrassed him.
From across the room, Alessandro watched proudly.
But someone else was watching too.
Valentina.
She stood beside the entrance, observing Bianca carefully.
She had expected Lorenzo's new wife to be nervous.
Weak.
Temporary.
Instead, Bianca was handling herself remarkably well.
Valentina's expression tightened.
---
AN UNEXPECTED MOMENT
Later that evening, Lorenzo was speaking with several businessmen when Bianca noticed an older woman struggling to carry a glass.
She immediately walked over.
"Mrs. Conti, let me help you."
The woman smiled.
"Thank you, dear."
Bianca helped her sit.
"I hope you're enjoying the evening."
"I am."
The woman looked at Bianca thoughtfully.
"You know, Lorenzo has never introduced a woman like this before."
Bianca didn't know what to say.
"Really?"
"Never."
The woman smiled.
"Perhaps Alessandro made the right choice."
Bianca glanced toward Lorenzo.
He was still speaking with the businessmen.
She smiled faintly.
"Perhaps."
---
OUTSIDE THE BALLROOM
Valentina stepped onto the balcony.
She needed air.
A few moments later, Lorenzo followed.
"You left."
"So did you."
"I came looking for you."
Valentina turned.
"Why?"
"Because you disappeared."
She laughed softly.
"Since when do you care where I go?"
"I don't."
"Then why follow me?"
Lorenzo didn't answer.
Valentina studied him.
"You've changed."
"You've said that already."
"And I'll keep saying it."
She stepped closer.
"When we were younger, you hated these gatherings."
"I still do."
"You hated smiling for people."
"I still do."
"You hated pretending."
Lorenzo looked at her.
"I still do."
Valentina's voice softened.
"Then why are you doing all of this for Bianca?"
Lorenzo's eyes hardened.
"She's my wife."
"Contract wife."
He said nothing.
Valentina smiled sadly.
"You can fool everyone else."
She stepped back.
"But don't try to fool yourself."
She walked away.
Lorenzo remained on the balcony.
---
THE DRIVE HOME
The dinner ended late.
Bianca sat beside Lorenzo in the car.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then she said,
"You did well tonight."
Lorenzo glanced at her.
"At what?"
"Being a husband."
His eyebrow lifted.
"That's a compliment?"
"Yes."
She smiled.
"You introduced me to everyone. You stayed beside me. You even warned me when someone was about to ask an uncomfortable question."
"I was protecting the family's image."
"Of course."
She looked out the window.
"Still, thank you."
Lorenzo looked at her.
He didn't answer.
But something about her words stayed with him.
---
When they arrived at the mansion, Bianca stepped out of the car.
Before she could enter, Lorenzo called her.
"Bianca."
She turned.
"Yes?"
He held out his hand.
She looked at it.
"What?"
"Your hand."
She placed hers in his.
Lorenzo walked beside her toward the entrance.
There were guards watching.
Servants waiting.
Cameras from the foundation's official photographer still flashing outside.
To everyone watching, they looked like a powerful married couple.
But only they knew the truth.
It was a contract.
Three years.
Nothing more.
At least, that was what they both believed.
Inside the mansion, Lorenzo released her hand.
Bianca looked at him.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
She walked upstairs.
Lorenzo remained downstairs.
His security chief approached quietly.
"Don."
Lorenzo turned.
"What?"
"We received information about Ferraro."
Lorenzo's expression hardened.
"What information?"
"He has been meeting with someone."
"Who?"
"We don't know yet."
Lorenzo looked toward the staircase where Bianca had disappeared.
"Find out."
The security chief nodded.
"Yes, Don."
Lorenzo's eyes returned to the darkness outside.
Ferraro was moving.
And this time, Lorenzo intended to know exactly where he was going.
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