BOUND TO THE MAFIA KING.

They all say everybody has a fear. That every one is truly afraid of something, and that you can't stop being afraid of something by pretending it doesn't exist. But I tried so hard to get all these thoughts out of my head. I thought that if I just pretended that it didn't exist, it would eventually go away, but that's not the case. The royal blue envelope sat on my tiny reading desk. A reminder that this was all real. A reminder that I'm not just playing dress up with Mom,but I'm actually going to a ball. “Bella,why aren't you ready yet?” My mother's sais, shaking her head from where she stood by the door of my small sized room. “I'm trying to, mother, but you know I don't want to do this. What if I get chosen?.” The fear lacing my words were so vivid. My mother gave a sad chuckle, walking up to me and patting down the uneven corners of my midnight black ball gown. Something mother spent a hefty amount of her savings on. Placing both her hands on each side of my face lovingly, she starts. “ If you get chosen, then you should be happy. I don't want you to be his keeper but I do want you to get chosen. Even if you don't become his keeper and future bride, as long as you were chosen you get the chance to go home with millions of dollars honey.” “ But I'm saving-”, I say but she cuts me off. “Money that will not be enough.” She says, sighing tiredly at my resistance to this entire thing, and moving her hands from my face. “I want to be able to leave here someday Bella and this is our chance.” I squinted my eyes shut, unwilling to say anything, because she was right. But even the money couldn't change my mind. “Just remember, don't tell anyone your real second name, no matter how close you and someone get.” I nod my head at her words, scrunching my nose when she brushes some powder on my face. “ I hope you realize just how important this ball is. Allessandro Moretti is finally willing to take a partner that suits his taste. We should be grateful Mr.s Everest is even letting us go, considering her daughter will be there too.” She brushes some more powder on my face. “And I hope you know that the exact same man I'm supposed to want to 'choose’ me is the man that cold heartedly murdered my father.” I snapped at her. If Allessandro Moretti hadn't done what he did fifteen years ago then I would have gladly hoped to be his chosen. But he did, and I hate him for it. I hate the entire Italian Mafia. But everybody else worships them like their gods. They all turn a blind eye to the countless lives that that man has ended, and the countless families he ruined. “Jigaya, please don't say that, you don't know what really happened that night.” My mother pleaded, dropping the powdered brush on my bed and picking up the hair brush. “I know half of it and I think that's enough reason to hold a grudge against the Italian Mafia.” “You don't know a single thing about what happened.” She murmurs, moving the brush through my black curly hair that stops just above my waist. “Well you never told me, so it's my right to make assumptions.” “You're not old enough. When you are, I'll tell you.” She whispers, dropping the brush on the brush on the bed. “When am I ever going to be, mother?. I'm eighteen and going to a ball where I have to willingly offer myself to a man, and you say I'm not old enough.” Tension hangs above us like a thick blanket, and I'm grateful for the noise, which comes in the form of a car honk, that reaches both our ears. “You should go. Eliane is waiting.” She says, her eyelids rimming with unshed tears as she steps out of my room. I wish I could feel bad for making her cry, but I can't. I feel just as bad as she does. The honking sound comes again, and I roll my eyes at Elaine's impatience. Picking up the black Versace clutch Elaine had gotten me last Christmas, I took one more look around my room, then stepped out and closed the door behind me. I Make my way to the back door of the manor located at the very end of the servant quarters and pull it open. Another car honk reaches my ears, causing me to rush through the parking lot littered with various expensive cars. I breathe out a sigh of relief when I spot the Tesla SUV that belonged to Eliane, my best friend. I pull open the shiny black door of the tesla and get into the car, lightly closing it behind me. “Ella,” my best friend squeals, scooting over me and pulling me into a hug. “You look so pretty!. You should dress up more often.” She exaggeratedly gasps. I don't know what she's talking about. The only thing I put on my face was mascara, lip gloss and eyeliner. But the Eliane I know will never tell me that I didn't dress well enough for the occasion. Especially knowing that I didn't want to go to this so-called 'choosing ball.’ “I should be at the Manor, doing my job right now, Eliane.” I gritted. “Oh don't be so fussy, It's just one night. Besides you work every day non-stop, take this as a one night vacation.” she chimed, nodding at the driver to get a move on. “Hhm '' I hum, finally taking in her look. Eliane's delicate facial features were complimented by the bold makeup she had on. The gold eyeshadow stood out against her dark skin, but still complimented it. Her hair was styled perfectly, and the blood red mermaid bodycon dress did wonders to her very curvy body. She was definitely going to be one of the most beautiful girls at the ball, if not the prettiest. “Would you stop looking at me like that?. I know the eyeshadow doesn't suit me much.” She rambles, worrying filling her eyes. “I told my mom I didn't-” “You look beautiful Elly, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.” I cut her off. “And if that man doesn't take notice of you then he's blind.” I added reassuringly. “Thanks Bella, I really needed that reassurance.” She breathed out a sigh of relief, her eyes twinkling as the gates of Allessandro Moretti's Manion were opened. “ You don't wanna know how many times I looked in the mirror and thought of changing.” “Well don't.” I replied, nervously holding up on to the door handle of the car, as the driver halted to a stop in the already filled up parking lot. Eliane giddily unlocked her side of the door and hurried out, too excited to wait for the driver to come help her down. Following her lead, I got out of the car, tightly gripping my clutch. Walking quietly behind Eliane, I take not of the mansions size which is far bigger than that if Eliane's, and the multiple bodyguards loitering around the place. “Invitations please.” The bodyguard standing on the right side of the double doors leading into the Manor, politely asked. We silently handed him the invitations, and after taking a quick sweep over them with his eyes, he nodded at the guard on the other side of the door, who wordlessly pushed the door open and let us in. “This is it, our dream is about to come true!.” Eliane giggled. “Your dream is about to come true.” I reaffirm, rolling my eyes at her childish like ways. “Whatever.” She mumbles, walking deeper into the ballroom. Taking a glass of wine from the tray carried by a passing butler, I gulped softly, staring at the unfamiliar faces of girls around me. I immediately felt a blush creep up on my face when I realized I was the least dressed person in the entire ballroom. “If you need me, I'll be by the buffet table. Wish you luck.” I said, gulping down the wine. “ You too.” She faintly replied. “I won't need it, I'm easily the most unattractive person here. He won't look twice at me.” I proudly say, already making my way to the buffet table. I'm not sure if it's the alcohol in the wine that's playing games with my mind, but I think I hear her faintly whisper, “I hope so.” I've almost reached my destination when I feel a hand snake around my elbow and bring my movements to a stop. My head whips around to see who had done it, and I instantly let out a sigh of relief when I turn to see who it was. “ Trevor!What are you doing here?” I exclaimed, smiling widely at the boy Eliane had dumped as soon as she got the invitation sent by Moretti Manor. I kinda feel sorry for him. “I came with my younger sister, Brielle, and spotted you. So I thought I'd say hi.” He says. “You look beautiful by the way.” “You don't look too bad yourself.” My response comes out stiffer than I planned for it to, but I don't think it's my fault. It's not every day your best Friend's immediate ex compliments you. “Hey, I was thinking we could, you know, dance?” He timidly asks, his cheeks gaining a red tint when I don't respond quickly. “Actually, I'm really hungry and-” “Ladies and gentlemen, Welcome.” A voice booms, and my body stiffens even more. We both turned our heads to the spiral staircase, and watched the very handsome younger man descend from it slowly. “ We're so happy that you could all make it to this special ceremony.” The guy announced, completely capturing the attention of everyone in the room. “That's Lorenzo, he's so cute.” A girl close to me not so quietly whispered to her friend. “I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting for so long, but can we just give a round of applause for the man we're all here to see.” I held my breath. “Allessandro Moretti!.” he declared. On cue, everyone started clapping, whispering and gasping as another man, more intimidating, made his way down the stairs. I almost choked on my whine at his name, my palms getting sweaty. Allessandro Morreti wore an armani suit tailored to perfection. His Greek god-like features and tattoos captured the attention of everyone as he confidently strided down the stairs. “See you later.” I don't register Trevor's words fast enough, because the next moment I'm being sorted into a vertical line, like every other young lady in the ballroom. Thankfully, I stood at the very bottom of the line, so I'm definitely going to go unnoticed. Allessandro Morreti, on the other hand, looked like he'd be anywhere other than here. “You.” he says, carelessly pointing at one of the girls at the top of the row. “This way.” He points to his side. “My name is-” “I don't care for your name.” He rudely cuts her off, moving to the next person as she hastily makes her way to his side. He does the same thing to three other girls, and unsurprisingly, Eliane falls into that category. I knew she'd be chosen. Sweat builds on my forehead as his eyes scan the row of girls. Just pick one and be done with it. Goosebumps rise on my arms when his eyes lock onto mine and he lifts his hand, cold blue eyes boring into my emerald ones. No, no,no, this can't be happening. It's not meant to. “You. Come here”. His words have my body freezing all over, and I remain in my spot. “Now!.” He adds impatiently. Anger rimming his tone. Slowly, but surely, my heart sinks.