Fear me

Dinner Pary

Catalina

I spent the whole day crying. I had already run to my old room and a few minutes later some servants were carrying my clothes back in here. I knew he would want me out of his way. I knew this was all too good to be true. I was a fool in more ways than one. I did this to myself. I knew what answering that phone call would do. I should have hung up or told Adriano right then and there. I wish things could go back to how they used to be.

Past

"Adriano," I called.

"Leave my soldiers alone, they are not toys," he said. I never really saw Adriano play with toys but he always had his army men lined up on a shelf in his personal toy room.

"They look like toys to me," I said snobbishly. He rolled his eyes at me. "Your mother said you have to play with me."

"I don't play," he replied. I stuck my tongue out at him and took a ball from his room. "HEY GIVE THAT BACK!" I ran away as fast as I could.

"Hey, can I play too?" Vicente asked. I laughed. I was now being chased by both of them.

"You are so dead, Lina," Adriano said.

Present

I thought about that time back then. I missed it. We laughed and played like we had no care in the world. I sat on the edge of my bed and continued thinking about that past I had wanted to reclaim so bad.

Past

"I hate the beach," Adriano whined.

"You hate everything," I said.

"Yes, especially you," he smirked. I threw sand at him and continued running around the beach. I was scared to go in. I didn't know how to swim. "Will you sit down?"

"No," I said annoyingly. I stuck out my tongue at him.

"Did you really have to wear that"? You're not womanly enough to pull it off," Adriano hissed.

"I think she looks plenty women enough to pull it off," Vicente added. Adriano huffed and continued reading the book he brought with him. I ignored them both and continued to run around the beach. I felt free. I always feel this way when I am with the Hernandez family. With my own family, I always felt trapped.

Present

"Can I come in?" Mrs. Hernandez said.

"Your back from your trip," I said cheerfully. She smiled at me. Her warm smile made me feel all the emotions I have been holding in. I ran to her and hugged her tight.

"Are you okay?" she said.

"No, I ruined everything," I told her. She had servants bring us tea and cookies.

"Tell me everything," I proceeded to tell her everything that happened. "Oh dear, I am so sorry."

"I wish he would believe me, I wouldn't do that," I told her. "You know I love your family."

"I know dear," she replied.

"My father is a monster who did nothing but beat me and my mother. He used her family's money to get more and take from those he should have been loyal to," I said. "I am afraid to lose him. I love your son so much."

"I know that too," she said softly.

"He is always going to hate me," I said.

"You think he hates you," she smiled. "He doesn't"

"Even if he had any small emotion other than hatred for me. He lost all that yesterday," I said.

"There is a dinner party tonight, Adriano wanted me to tell everyone," a servant said.

"Okay, thank you," Mrs. Hernandez said. "Dress nicely." Mrs. Hernandez winked and left to go get dressed.

Two Hours Later

I walked down the stairs. Guests were already here. I looked around to see if I could find a familiar face. I suddenly saw those eyes. Those dark cold black eyes. They didn't scare me. They enticed me. They made me want to be brave. I slowly descended down the last steps. Adriano's eyes never left me. I grew nervous. Vicente greeted me and took my hand. I was sad that Adriano didn't approach me but that was to be expected. I noticed a blonde-haired girl being introduced to Adriano. She was smiling. His face was still stern and his lips stayed hard lines. I prayed all night. "Don't smile at her."

I was with Vicente most of the night but from the corner of my eyes, I saw him with HER. This was the worst kind of torture. Was this the whole reason he was having this dinner party? Why I was allowed to attend? I am beginning to hate him. Maybe, that was his plan too. There was a bit of dancing after dinner. I wasn't shocked when I saw Adriano dancing with HER. I was annoyed. Vicente asked me to dance with him. I accept only because I didn't want to be in a corner alone. I didn't care about making him jealous or eavesdropping on him and his partner. If I could choose, I would be upstairs reading a book. About twenty minutes into our dance, Adriano bumped into us. He asked to cut in. Vicente swayed off with the blonde and Adriano embraced me firmly.

"You can't stay out of trouble, can you?" he said softly. "Did you think dressing like this would impress me or seduce me, by chance?"

"I was thinking it was working," I smirked.

"Not even a little," he said.

"Maybe not on you but look around, I have everyone else's attention," Adriano's grip became tighter and rougher.

"You don't want to test my patience," he said.

"I would tell you to come to test the durability of this dress," I said seductively. "But you seem busy with your new friend."

"Jealous," he said.

"Not even a little," I replied. He smirked and walked away in a hurry. I walked over to the dinner table. I was seated next to Adriano and his little friend was seated in front of me.

This night was going to be quite long and quite torturous but I was going to have fun and play with fire.