The Coldwell

Choosing the target for Vane

The next day, in the afternoon, after lunch, all the Coldwells met. There were nine women present: the grandmother, her three daughters, and her five granddaughters, including Vane. Only Darius was missing, who would arrive the next day.

The women met in the large hall of the property, which was where they held all their meetings. Grandma Greta walked over to the big screen in front.

After turning it on, the image of a man's face appeared, and all the women focused their attention on that image, except Vane, who was absorbed in her cell phone without looking up.

"Girl, for the love of God, pay attention. At least give us your opinion. Is there anyone among them that you are attracted to?"

"Will you even consider my opinion? Won't you be the one to choose which man will get between my legs?"

"Enough! Vanessa Coldwell, you have grown up and been educated among women, except your brother. That is why you have no idea how cruel deception can be. Believe me, there is no man on earth who does not deceive and make a woman suffer. Not even Darius, as much as we love him. We have to be realistic, it's like it's in their blood. I've always wondered if they're programmed in some way."

"Your grandmother is right, Vanessa. I was a fool and believed in your father's love. While I was at home, crying over his absence, he cheated on me with another woman. I shouldn't have allowed you to spend so much time watching those silly shows. They feature a Fictional romance because that's what sells. It's the story every woman would like to have with a man, but honey, it doesn't exist."

Vane wanted to run away, escape. From a very young age she had wanted to be emancipated. That way her mother would have no power over her. Although she was of age, she had grown up hearing that it was her duty to accept her destiny as a Coldwell.

Everyone focused again on the image of the man on the screen. A short video began playing showing the man kissing a woman who then got out of her car. She then left and drove to another part of town to pick up another girl.

He was a very attractive man, with fair skin and hair as black as ebony, a muscular body, and almost perfect features, like all those chosen by the Coldwells. His expensive car revealed that he was a millionaire.

"Evenus Baltimore, as you can see, is a handsome man, an incorrigible playboy, perfect material for what we want. A girl contacted us, he courted her for months, promising eternal love, but only played with her. As soon as the girl fell in love, he dumped her, after making her get an abortion."

The girls looked at the screen with deep hatred.

"If he's not the chosen one, I'll take care of him."

Said Tanya, a girl with jet-black hair who was a little older than Vanessa. There were only three years of difference between them.

"Let's move on to the next one, Dominicus Vermont, a middle-aged man, flirtatious and cheerful. He was chosen because he deceived the daughter of a friend in the worst way possible. The cynical man was sleeping with both of them without their knowledge. The mother and the daughter were sharing the same man. When they found out, he mocked them. The girl attempted suicid, fortunately she failed."

Grandma Greta displayed on the screen the images of three more men, it was clear that all of them would have to pay for what they had done, but now they were focused on finding the first target and trophy for Vane.

"Lastly, this is Dante Damasco, Dadá as his friends have called him since his youth," she said.

Upon seeing the man that appeared on the screen, the girls stopped blinking, their gaze fixed on his face, including Vane. He was a blond man with a perfect face, and in the photograph, he was seen through the window of his car.

As the video started playing, the girls sighed. Their mothers and grandmother turned to look at them reproachfully, and they lowered their gaze in embarrassment. In the images that appeared on the screen, Dante was at the gym.

He was wearing a sleeveless shirt that revealed his muscular arms, and the tight shorts he had on allowed for a glimpse of his firm and well-defined rear. He was lifting weights.

When the man turned, facing the camera, they all let out an involuntary exclamation of astonishment.

"This guy is the one, there's no need to look further," Katrina quickly said.

"Yes, he's perfect, he's the man our Vane deserves," Sara exclaimed.

All the others said the same, while Vane remained silent.

"Do you like him, girl?" one of her aunts asked.

"I don't deny that he is very handsome, but all it took for you was to see his package to choose him. Have you not asked why they have chosen him to be a candidate? What if he turns out to be some kind of maniac?"

"It's true, why have they chosen him?" Tanya asked with curiosity.

"Well, this guy has had the luck to be really handsome, and to belong to one of the most powerful families in Italy. They also have great power here in the country. The Damasco family owns big companies in the United States, but it's an open secret that they are a clan of mobsters"

"And won't it be dangerous for Vane to get involved with that kind of people? Let's remember that she's inexperienced, just starting out. I wouldn't want anything to happen to her."

"Child, the Coldwell family doesn't know fear, am I wrong?" The grandmother looked at her granddaughters, they lowered their heads

"I know Vane will fulfill her mission perfectly. Because it's her first job, if she completes it satisfactorily, her trophy will have an even bigger diamond."

"Did they choose him just because he's a mobster?"

"No, daughter, let me tell you now. This guy was engaged to a very beautiful girl. They were together for several years, and on the day of the wedding, he left her standing at the altar. He didn't even have the courage to face her, he just sent her a note while she was already inside the church office."

"What did the note say, Grandma?" Katrina, as always curious, wanted to know the content of that mysterious note.

"Quiet, curious. I have no idea what the note said. The girl ran out of there and they couldn't catch her. They searched for her tirelessly and days later they found her at the foot of a cliff. Her mother is the one who approached me."

All the Coldwell women knew that they had to be careful that no man found out about their work. Except for Darius, the women who approached them had to sign a private agreement. If they dared to reveal what they did, they would have to pay millions of dollars in damages. A woman recommended them to others, but always with the condition that they not talk too much.

Besides, none of the women who knew them would ever speak. They feared them, knowing that they could be wiped out in the blink of an eye.

"Life is not easy for anyone, girls. We simply do a job, a job that allows us to live well, with the best luxuries. I think it is time for you two to start looking for the man who will be the father of your daughters. Know that when they get pregnant, the man should not find out. They have the option of artificial insemination, but you decide. In my opinion, it is better to enjoy it."

"Who will be the next to get pregnant?" —Vane asked.

"I think it goes without saying that they will be the oldest. I am not saying that they are becoming old ladies like me, not at all, but we must ensure that our legacy continues for generations. After they recover from childbirth, they will return to work. We will all take care of of those babies, like we always have.

Katrina and Sara knew perfectly well that Grandma was referring to them, and she was right; They had to ensure her legacy.

"Well, it's time to end the meeting. I think the winner of the prize is Dante Damascus."

"But I haven't accepted it," Vane turned to look at his grandmother.

"It's not necessary, dear. Everyone has already voted and due to your lack of experience you will have to accept the decision we have made. Here is the necessary information about him," Grandma said, handing her an envelope. "It contains relevant information about his life, some photographs that you should examine carefully, and a memory card with some videos. You should prepare very well, study the information carefully. Your exam will be held in a week. I hope you can pass it."

Grandma wasn't kidding; She took her job very seriously. The exam she was referring to would indeed take place. She was asked verbal questions about her goal and the punishment for each failure was severe. Vane had seen it countless times; Since he turned fifteen she was allowed to attend training. He had to prepare.

They not only demanded academic performance, which is why she had achieved great success. At her young age, she had completed two degrees due to her high IQ. She was always promoted to higher grades, and that was the least she expected from a Coldwell, as her grandmother constantly reiterated.

Greta was affectionate with her granddaughters, but that didn't mean she was soft—she was tough as iron when it came to her obligations.

At the end of the meeting, one by one they said goodbye and then left the Coldwell mansion, where only Greta, Vane and her mother lived.

—Daughter, I hope you don't disappoint me, I hope that one day you can take my place, I have chosen you as my successor, so you should know that I will demand a little more from you than the others.

—Thank you for your trust, grandmother, but I feel that my cousins are better prepared.

—Shhhh shut up, there will be no discussion about this, everyone already knows.

The grandmother slowly left the meeting room, leaving Vane without taking it in, the news had hit her like a bomb, she wanted to travel the world, see countries, cities and landscapes, she wanted to become a successful photographer, everything. That was before she fell in love, but apparently she couldn't fulfill her greatest dream.