My Perfect Love Story

Chapter 19: The Arrangement

August 20, 2021

4:00 pm

Milan, Italy

Mateo parked the car in front of the family mansion. This mansion was built from the ground up in 1982. My ancestors were very wealthy people and it ascended to my grandparents and my immediate family. Mateo furiously exited the car and slammed the door, hinting that he is holding a grudge against me. No one told him to test my patience. He acts very emotionally in unnecessary situations. 

Mateo and I have fought endlessly as children, what is so about today?

I exited the car and made my way towards the entrance of the home. As I opened the door, I received a text message from Iris.

Sorry to interrupt your business, Mr. Romero, Madam Mariana has awakened and she is requesting your presence.

                                                                                                                                                                                Iris                                                                                                                                                                   Delivered @ 4:05 pm

Tell her to suppress her emotions, I will be back by dawn.

                                                                                                                                                                   Sent @ 4:08pm

With that, I walked into the house to see my entire family seated in the living room. All eyes were on me as I walked in, everyone had a stern look on their faces as if they were demanding something from me.

“Good afternoon, father, mother, Lyn,” I answered them bitterly since that seemed to be the mood that took over the environment. Refreshing.

I had a mocking smirk on my face as I looked at my mother, father, and older sister, Marilyn, who were furious about something. “Son, our family meeting was scheduled at 3:30 pm, it’s 10 minutes after 4!” My father vented, enraged at my lack of punctuality.

”You act as if I am the only one that’s late! Mateo came with me.” I tried to justify my lateness but my father hates excuses. He'll have to deal with them today.

”Mateo was the first one here, I told him to pick your irresponsible ass up! And what happened to your face, Mateo?!” Father's accent came out strongly and his face turned red.

”We had a scuffle at my house because Mateo wanted to overstep his boundaries.” 

”Shut up, you arrogant fool!” This caused silence in the house. Everyone, except father, was waiting for my next move. 

“You two can fight during your own time, you seem well accustomed to that! I have called this meeting to discuss you, Michael.” Father said sternly.

“What about me exactly needs to be discussed?” I was irritated that my name was being brought up because I knew it could only pertain to drama. Mateo gave me a hint during our fight earlier.

“You haven’t been home in months, Mikey!” Lyn said, she whined which would be annoying on any other day but this time it did something to me because I knew what she was saying was true.

“I’ve been busy, did you all forget I have been taking over the family business, continuing our legacy?” I emphasized. 

My father was the CEO of a huge manufacturing company that got passed down to me after he retired. The company sold fast-moving consumer goods, which put a lot of money in my pocket. 

Our business has to be very cautious about contraband and illegal goods being transported to our customers. A lot of paperwork has to be done and my time has been consumed by it, they shouldn't be fussing about me missing one family meeting. 

”Did you forget that I was in your shoes before you?! I know exactly what you're talking about but you have to make time for your family, ” Father stood, looking me directly in my eyes so I can see the fire in his eyes. “Stop making excuses and own up to your faults.” He advised me. As much as I didn't want to hear it, there was no way out of the situation that I've put myself in. 

”That's not even what I was trying to get at.” Oh boy! There's more? “Simone is in town.” My heart dropped to the floor. Usually, I don't ever sweat in conflicting situations but this one may jeopardize my relationship with Mariana, my queen. 

“What do you mean she's in town?!” I asked my parents as they were surprised at my outburst, “Is that why you were injecting yourself into my love life?” I asked Mateo. His leg shook as his elbows rested on his thighs. His index and middle fingers on each hand rested before his mouth as his eyes were wide open.

He looked zoned out.

“Earth to Mateo!” Lyn said, snapping her fingers in his face. 

“Continue father,” Mateo said in the calmest voice he could utter.

I wish I knew what was bothering him. It couldn’t be my relationship dilemma, it had to be something more personal. Something that actually carried meaning to him.

“As I was saying, Simone is back in town and she stopped by,” Before father continued, he looked at me to examine my facial expressions. When he saw that my face was stone cold, he continued, “She was very emotional as she shared that you have been absent in her presence. So tell me, son, what have you been so busy with, that makes you unavailable to everyone in your life?” I stood there nervously as I had to think of another excuse to give my father.

Before I could share a lie, mother says, “Michael, you are aware of the arrangement we have with Simine’s family. It is careless for you to neglect your fiancé.” My mother says gently, not wanting to trigger my anger.

Fiancé. 

I surely have a fiancé, but Simone is not her. Simone Bianchi was Victor Bianchi's eldest daughter. She was a beautiful signorina. She possessed fair, clear skin and long beautiful hair that I’ve only seen on one other woman. My woman. Simone is a polite girl but she isn’t Mariana. She didn’t have Mariana’s brown eyes, her curly brown hair, her tanned skin. I couldn’t help but think of her everywhere I go.

However, the Bianchi’s own their own manufacturing company in Italy that my family wants to partner up with. This partnership will expand our company and wealth. To seal the deal, my father and Victor Bianchi set Simone and me up in an arranged marriage to make the partnership look plausible. 

“MICHAEL!” Father shouted, gathering everyone’s attention in the room, including mine.

“Okay! I told you I’ve been busy with work, and I don’t have time for distractions. Plus, I don’t even want to wed Simone. There can be a partnership without marriage.” I tried reasoning with my parents, knowing they don’t care. Mateo still looks far in his mind.

“Are you calling off the engagement?” Father asks me, looking at Mateo, who was staring back at him.

“If it’s possible, yes,” I answered. My father may be the only intimidating guy in my life. His demeanor gives me chills, it makes me second guess my decisions.

"Very well then." My father said his eyes were still on Mateo, "Being that someone will have to wed Simone Bianchi," Father stopped what he was saying as Mateo stomped out of the room in vexation.

Father looked stressed, he was rubbing his face with both hands while shaking his head. Mateo was making his way out of the room, and purposely bumrush me on the way out.

I don't waste time following him outside after that. He seemed to be pissed off about something, but I doubt it's about what happened at my house. Something else had to be bothering.

Getting close enough to him, I roughly grabbed his shoulder and turned him around, facing me.

"What the hell is your problem?!" I shouted at him. I looked at his face and his body language and I've never seen my brother like this before.

We may fight and constantly read different pages of our lives, but he will forever be my brother and I hate seeing him in pain if it isn't coming from me, of course.

"Are you happy? You always get what you want and I'm stuck getting whatever's leftover!" Mateo breathed out. His face was as red as a tomato, he was heaving heavily and tears were rushing down his face.

"What are you talking about?" I immediately calmed down but my guard was still up as I realized his aggression was directed towards me.

"If you say you don't want to marry Simone, dad is completely fine with it. Now, I have to wed her and I don't even like her. I can't even have the opportunity to experience love." Mateo ranted.

"Dad never said anything about you marrying Simone." I tried to calm him down but he was far too gone.

He scoffed, "He doesn't have to, who else would've married her? He doesn't have two sons for no reason, Michael. Think!" 

"Listen, I understand you're frustrated but this isn't my fault!" I was tired of his tantrum, he needs to grow up and stop acting like we're back in middle school.

"It's never your fault!" Mateo yelled. If our house was in a suburban neighborhood, we would have had all eyes on us. "My life is ruined." Mateo wailed. 

"Mateo, you're overreacting, Your life isn't over." Mateo chuckled dryly as the tears continue to flow and he begins to pace. "Dude, can you calm down?"

"Do you want to know why I can't calm down?" Mateo said, lowly.  I didn't respond to him, waiting for his next statement.

"It's not about me liking Simone. It never was." Mateo said, looking down as he moved around a lot. He does this whenever he's nervous, he could never seem to get rid of that habit. 

"So what is it about?" I was starting to lose patience because I had things to do and people blowing up my phone, including Iris. Mariana must be misbehaving,

"I have sinned beyond compare. If I tell you, it'll just be another lost relationship to add to my list." Mateo ranted more to himself than to me.

"Mateo, what the hell are you talking about?" 

"I'm gay," Mateo said while looking me dead in my eyes.

"What?! Since when?" I am shocked! My brother never gave me signs of homosexuality. Why did he wait until now to tell me?

"It doesn't matter, just know that I am. And I'm dating someone." This was hitting me full force. I don't know what to do, I'd hate to sacrifice my brother's happiness for mine but Mariana is my love. "So now, I have to end my relationship, with the love of my life, and marry a woman for business purposes. Thank you!"

"Don't blame this on me!" 

"You know what, whatever. I don't even care anymore. This is all happening because you couldn't end your relationship with Simone or tell dad how you feel! You've always punked out of situations when it comes to dad but you want people to believe you're intimidating and you're someone to be scared of. You don't scare me," Mateo yelled out. 

"No matter how many times you beat my ass or you get first place in everything in the family, I am not scared of you. I know you will do what you want anyway and everything will be perfect as long as you get what you want. Just stay away from me."

Before I could get a word out, Mateo stormed off into his car and drove off. 

Was that how he thinks of me? My phone rang as soon as I wanted to follow him. It was Iris.

Great.

                                                                          ~My Perfect Love Story~