A Mafia Daughter 2

Part 8

To Amy it was like a fairy tale. She couldn't believe that this was her, staring at her from the mirror.

Everything had happened so quickly, Bianca had helped her out with a dress and arranged for Matteo to pick her up at 8 PM. She couldn't believe it- here she was dressed like a princess about to go to a ball with prince charming.

She frowned, remembering that Prince Charming was probably not very happy about the situation. Just two days ago he had broken off their little affair and she had made the resolution to just let it go and move on. Suddenly, his mom was setting them up to go this party. It was like a dream come true. Maybe when he saw how she looked, dressed up like this, he would begin to feel something.

Amy admired herself for a moment, loving how it felt. She had always felt a bit out of place around women like Bianca, knowing she lacked a certain elegance but tonight, she felt she could certainly hold her own against anyone... even Viviana Aliotta. Amy shook her head, she shouldn't be thinking of her. It's true that her and Viviana were from two very opposite ends of the circuit's social circles but that didn't make her better than her.

Amy shook the skirt of her dress and brought her hands up to her hair. It was piled up at the top of her head, much in a fashion she had seen Viviana wear before. She hadn't done it on purpose, at least not consciously, but she wondered if maybe the similarity would make Matteo admire her.

"Stop." she told herself. It was no good to compare herself anymore, besides, maybe Matteo didn't care for her anymore, he had cast her away, hadn't he? Amy carefully touched up her make up, deciding against wearing too much and instead sticking to an almost natural look.

Matteo stood outside of Amy's house in a terrible mood. He wasn't happy about this arrangement at all but he couldn't refuse when his mother extended the invitation. He remembered how Amy had tried to refuse, turning quite red at the suggestion but his mother wouldn't hear of it and he had to be a gentleman.

He knew Amy wasn't at fault, she'd been at the wrong place at the wrong time but he couldn't help but feel it was all a mess. It wasn't as if he could just flat out tell his mother about the awkwardness of the situation although if she had known she never would have suggested it.

This even was a big deal for his family- His father and mother usually went together. Their family was well known as socialites, owners of several different 'legitimate' businesses. It was natural that they should attend events like these and expected by the people they kept in their pockets.

This year he had agreed to take his father's place as he had been ill. Of course, he had always known that one day he'd be coming to these events in their place. Matteo smiled as he imagined himself walking in with Viviana. That would be something- to see Viviana decked out like a princess for a ball.

He had been quite relieved when his mother said she wasn't going, hoping to get in and out of the party quickly, but of course, his mother wasn't going to want to waste the ticket. What surprised him was her choice of girl- His mother could sometimes be quite the snob and Amy was not what she would consider a 'society girl.'

Amy caught sight of Matteo as she walked out of her house. He looked so amazing. He was definitely the most handsomely bad looking man she had ever laid eyes on. Matteo leaned lazily against his car, smoking a cigar. He noticed her, knowing she looked quite pretty and actually even a bit impressed at how she cleaned up.

"Hi." he said, helping her into the car.

"Matteo." She said, reaching out for him. "Wait."

Matteo raised a brow.

"Listen, I know you didn't want to bring me, don't deny it. It's okay. I just wanted you to know I didn't plan this and I'm certainly not looking to try to hook you or get you into any romantic scenario. I understand what our position is but I've never been to a party like this and I don't think I'll get another chance to go. I'd like to have a good time, as friends, if you will let me." Amy said, blurting out the speech she had prepared. She didn't want Matteo to think she was trying to snatch him up.

Matteo suddenly felt ashamed, knowing his face must have given away what he was thinking. With a smile, he closed the car door and went over to his side, deciding he would make sure she had a good time.

----

Charlie stared at Viviana in amazement, unable to take his eyes off of her the entire drive to the event.

She was certainly spectacular, everything about her like a dream. He hair hung neat and loose around her face, pinned back slightly at one side and that dress... she looked amazing. He tried to remain composed, never before having felt such a strong desire to break with decorum and reach out towards a woman.

He was ashamed, of course, for his thoughts. Viviana was a very recently divorced woman who he had just met but no one could deny how beautiful she was. Tonight, with her lips painted a perfect shade of red, she was spectacular.

Viviana was nervous, smiling shyly at Charlie as the rode in silence. She couldn't help it- her heart was beating quite quickly in her chest. If everything went accordingly, tonight she would be face to face with Matteo and maybe, just maybe, they could be together again after such a long time apart. It had been absolute torture to not reach out for him at the jewelry store the other day- she'd dreamed about him non stop since.

Charlie brought the car to a stop as the valets opened their doors and helped them out. The attendants were trying to remain professional but it was obvious they were bowled over by Viviana who was a vision beyond words. When he'd seen her appear from within the building, he'd felt his heart beat in a way it had never done so before.

It had occurred to him, when she gave him his address, that she lived in a very expensive building, in a very expensive part of the city. He had wondered who she was- where she made her money from then it had hit him that she must have had quite a large divorce settlement. He'd felt bad wondering these things, but he couldn't help it. Everything about her made him overwhelmingly curious.

Viviana placed her hand on Charlie's arm as he held out his invitation at the door, looking at him as she did. He was handsome, very much actually but he had an almost child like look to him. She couldn't help but think that with that windswept blonde hair to the side, he looked so young. It was strange to see him, the most serious man in the world, smile at her with the look of a kid. Viviana chuckled to herself, trying not to let him see her enjoyment at that thought.

Viviana moved easily through the crowd on Charlie's arm, gracefully maneuvering the crowd. Like before, it occurred to him that Viviana had a very natural elegance and her every move was like a dance. She seemed quite at home in a setting like this, among the cream of the city's society. Again he wondered about her past and made a mental note to himself that he would learn more about her.

"Father." He said, pulling Viviana towards an older man who was the spitting image of Charlie. Viviana smiled, admiring how handsome the man looked in his decorated uniform.

"This is Viviana Aliotta. Viviana, this is my father, David Harris." Charlie said as Viviana extended her hand to the man.

David Harris' eyes widened, obviously impressed by Viviana.

"Nice to meet you." She said with a big toothy grin.

"The pleasure is all mine. My son didn't mention he'd have such a beautiful date." David said. Charlie seemed like he was about to correct him but Viviana laughed.

"You're flattering me." She said, putting her hand on Charlie's arm. "We both know Charlie is much too serious to discuss those types of matters." David laughed. He was amazed.

Firstly, his son had arrived with a beautiful and very elegant woman whom he had never heard of, secondly, she was absolutely charming. He quickly made a mental note- Charlie had to snatch her up before someone else did.

Viviana spoke politely and clearly, her voice unwavering, another detail that Charlie didn't fail to notice. She obviously had experience moving in social situations like these. He realized that in the week they'd known each other, all he really knew was that she was quite the opposite of what she appeared and that she was now a divorcee.

"Viviana, would you like to dance?" He asked, suddenly, wanting to get a chance to speak with her closely. Viviana smirked.

"Sure." She said, putting her hand gently on David's arm as a gesture of appreciation before turning away and letting Charlie lead Viviana out onto the dance floor.

Charlie danced surprisingly well, holding Viviana at arm's length in a very formal manner, looking in her eyes the entire time.

"You surprise me." She said, making him smile.

"I surprise you? You surprise me." He said.

"Me? Why do I surprise you?" She said.

"I'm afraid I've neglected to get more information out of you. You seem so at home in this setting, I imagine you've been to events like this before?" He asked. Viviana seemed to think about it.

"A few, while in school. I was one of those overly spoiled girls who went to one of those old fashioned prep schools and learned to be a lady." She said, recalling her boarding school before college.

"So you're a society girl?" He asked.

"Not anymore. Now, I'm just Viviana." She said.

"It would be hard to think of you as 'just Viviana'. But tell me, why do I surprise you?" He asked. Viviana smiled again.

"Well, I didn't think you would dance this well." She said, making him blush slightly. He was so amusing. She could spend hours teasing this poor man, it was too fun.

-----

Matteo entered the hotel lobby and guided Amy who was nervous and had no experience in situations like these.

She looked nice enough to blend in, and if she'd only stop wiggling around nervously, she'd look just as elegant as any of the other ladies here.

"Calm down. It's just a charity event." he said, putting her hand on his arm. She had obviously not realized it was what she should do.

"I'm nervous and excited. It's weird. Everyone and everything looks so grand." She said simply, looking around in awe.

Matteo led Amy towards the entrance of the hall the event was being held in, turning to face her just a moment before entering.

"Be calm, chin up, and relax. You look lovely and we are going to have a nice time." He said,turning her chin up with his fingers. He had made up his mind that he would try to show her a nice time as she might never be in a situation like this again. Still, he did find her jittery demeanor a bit annoying.

Viviana was smiling and letting charlie twirl her when her eyes reached the door. Her heart suddenly stopped and she missed a step.

"Are you okay?" Charlie said, noticing she had gone a bit pale. Viviana nodded.

"Yes, I just..." She was still, watching as Matteo brought his fingers to a girl's chin. Viviana watched for a second, speechless.

Charlie turned to the door and noted the man standing in the back.

Matteo squeezed Amy's hand lightly and then placed it back on his arm, turning into the room. He was still.

He could not move. He could only stare at her. It was her, it was Viviana. She was standing on the opposite end of the dance floor, her hand in another man's hand and she was staring right at him.

Their eyes locked- meeting for the first time in what seemed an eternity.