Helena's Plight

Chapter 3

Helena

The size of the Di Luca mansion was intimidating even from the outside, but I had never seen anything quite as beautiful. It was not like those huge and gaudy houses, this was crafted carefully and it was obvious the details where painstakingly selected, the thought that this was going to be my home from now was scary and slightly exciting.

As soon as we arrived, we were ushered into one of the many living rooms in the Mansion.

Patricia could not hide her glee at being inside, she had tried several ways but there was really no reason for her to come here. They never hosted any social engagements at the mansion, there had not been a lady of the house for a very long time.

Armando’s parents had died while he was little, and his grandmother had passed on not long after, so it had been a house for men. All the events they had, were all related to the business and so only few people ever had access to the mansion.

You could tell just by the way she moved around, she could not believe she was finally in and then her countenance changed as if she remembered, she was not here in the capacity she wanted and she went to sit next to Allegra.

As if on que, the double French doors opened and in walked the warmest and kindest looking gentleman I think I had ever seen.

The moment he walked in Carlos stood up and went to him. "Gerardo, so good to see, and thank you for having us in your lovely home."

I immediately realized this must be my future husband’s grandfather.

"Thank you for making this day a reality and giving my grandson a beautiful bride", he said and turned towards me, "let me look at you", he said.

I swear, he had the kindest eyes I had ever seen, it reminded me of my father and I felt the calmed, in a way I had not in a very long time.

"How are you my dear?" He asked.

"Very well, thank you sir." I responded.

"Please not Sir, call me Gerardo or grandfather if you feel okay with that."

I looked at him and I could feel tears at the back of my eyes as I responded, "yes grandfather."

A slight cough drew us out of our conversation and we both turned to find Patricia and Allegra, standing next to us.

"Hello Gerardo, she said giving him a hug, it’s been such a long time, you need to come out more." Have you met my daughter Allegra?"

Gerardo looked at Allegra half-heartedly and said, "it’s a pleasure to meet you miss." He dismissed them immediately.

He came back to me, ‘it’s a pleasure to welcome you into the family, Helena, and I have no doubt you and my grandson will make a perfect couple." Patricia snickered at that comment but no one paid her any mind.

"The ceremony will begin in ten minutes, why don’t we get seated." Gerardo said and everyone filed out.

Just as Carlos reached the door, Gerardo asked, "you won’t be walking her down the aisle?" The door was almost closed so I had to move forward to hear their conversation.

"No! She wanted to walk alone in memory of her father." Carlos said.

He may have been right on honoring my father’s memory, but he never even bothered to ask, I was sure Patricia insisted that he shouldn't walk me.

It didn’t matter anyway, it’s not like we had that type of relationship.

I went to the window to look at the sea of guests, all of whom I was sure I did not know. Just then music started playing and I knew it was time.

I turned towards the door and just as I put my hands out, the doors swung open, scaring me a little, I stumbled back and found Gerardo at the door, with his warmest smile.

"I'm sorry, I didn’t realize you were at the door." I whispered.

"No need to apologize my dear, I was thinking…..," he stopped to check my response.

"Yes?" I replied to reassure him.

"If you don’t mind, I would like to walk you down the aisle." He said.

My first reaction was that of shock and then I smiled and replied, "I would appreciate that Sir… I mean, grandfather." I said with a smile.

The garden doors opened and the wedding march began.

"Ready?" Gerardo smiled at me and I nodded yes as he led me out into the garden.

"Don’t worry darling you’re doing great". Gerardo whispered to me.

I was nervous and I was grateful to have someone to lean on, something even my family refused to provide me. As we got closer to the make shift altar, I could make out the priest and another man who I assumed was the best man, he was the most beautiful man I had ever seen, and he seemed to be smiling from under my veil.

My future husband was looking straight ahead so I could not see his face, but I could see his back and he looked both impressive and intimidating at the same time.

As we approached the front I noticed my family and I noticed how shocked they all seemed to find Gerardo with me. I looked away quickly, in a matter of minutes I would have a new family and if this preview was anything to go by, I would choose it over and over again.

We had reached the altar while I was lost in thought and Gerardo was just handing me over to my future husband, I took his hand and got lost in the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen, it was hard to describe their exact color, you could call them amber, but they reminded me of fire and the rest of the face? This was a face molded to perfection by God.

Beautiful was too tame a word to use in describing him, his hair was shiny black and full, eyes full of fire, there was a small scar just above his right eye, it was small you could almost miss it but it added to the air of danger around his face and then I never knew men could have lips full and pink as that, I could not help but imagine what those lips would feel like on mine.

"We are gathered here today to witness…." The priest’s voice brought me out of my lust filled thoughts.

I have no idea what was wrong with me, thoughts like this did not come to me, I had never really had any time or chance for boyfriends, plus I was always too shy to talk to boys, this must be what lust feels like, I shook my head as if to banish these thoughts out of my head and concentrated on what the priest was saying.

Before long the wedding was over and the priest was saying, "you may kiss the bride".

I didn’t know what to do but my now husband, turned me to face him, lifted my veil and planted a kiss directly on my lips.

I was stunned, I had never been kissed and that simple kiss was enough to unravel me, I felt things I did not understand and then it was over before it barely begun and guests were clapping and cheering.

Gerardo was the first to reach me and he enveloped me in a bear hug and said, "congratulations my dear and welcome to the family."

I smiled at him and muttered a thank you, he then went over to Armando and the men hugged tightly, I could have sworn I saw a tear in Gerardo’s eyes.

Just as we were about to turn around, Patricia and Allegra blocked our view, they completely ignored me and went straight for my husband.

"Welcome to the family, Patricia said with a bright smile and continued, I believe your remember Allegra my daughter." She pushed Allegra forward and for the first time today I noticed Allegra was wearing the sexiest dress I had ever seen on her.

It was a gold knee length dress that pushed her ample bosom out and cinched her waist, that dress would make any man swoon and it seemed my husband was no different as he peered down her dress and smiled.

"It’s lovely to see you again, Allegra, you’ve certainly changed since the last time I saw you." Allegra smiled coyly, saying thank you and walking away.

The party was much of a blur, the only people who bothered to talk to me were Gerardo, Victor; my husband's friend and Carmen, who I found out was the house keeper, she was warm.

My husband barely paid me any attention, except when it was time to cut the cake and give a toast.

It was getting dark and guests had started to leave, Carmen took one look at me and said, "you look like you haven’t had a proper night’s sleep in a long while."

I smiled at her, as she took my hand leading me into the house, I said my good byes to Carlo and Patricia as well as Gerardo and I was led upstairs.

My husband has not been around for a while now and I just assumed he was with his friends.

Carmen opened the doors to what would be my new bedroom and I audibly gasped, this was luxury beyond anything I could imagine. We walked into the private living room and there was a maid waiting just by another double door I assumed was the main bedroom.

"This is Mary, Carmen introduced, and she will be your personal maid." I stretched my hand and she looked at Carmen who nodded and she took my hand with a smile.

The bedroom was breathtaking , with a massive walk-in closet that I was sure I would never fill and the bathroom was as big as a small apartment.

I quickly got out of my wedding dress which Carmen left with, I assume to take to the cleaners. Mary helped me get ready for bed, I took a quick warm bath and slipped into the softest night wear I had ever owned.

"Would you like anything else tonight ma’am?" Mary asked,

"No, thank you, that would be all." I said and sat on the bed. She turned off the lights and left me in the room.

I had no idea what to expect, I did not know if my husband would come in to the bedroom to sleep, he had ignored me for most of the day.

I must have fallen asleep because when I woke up it had gotten very dark, I looked at the clock at my bedside and saw the time was one am, then I realized something had woken me up, a noise, the noise seemed to be coming through the door opposite my bedroom. What if it was an intruder?

But a house like this would have security, I moved closer to the doors and realized the sounds coming out sounded strange, it was then I realized they sounded like moans and I recognized one of the voices. I froze as I heard Allegra’s voice call out none other than my husband’s name.

"Yes Armando, yes, yes, oh my god! Armando darling please don’t stop." She was almost crying.

I wanted to run and hide myself under my bed, I should have, but it was as if another force had taken over my body and I pushed the doors open and saw them on an arm chair, both completely naked and sweating, I stood for about a minute before my husband looked up and stilled, he looked angry.

Allegra noticed the change in him and looked back, our eyes locked and she smiled. She had hit where she knew it would hurt the most, sleeping with my husband on my wedding night.

A cry escaped my throat and I fled the room and locked my doors, flung myself on my bed and cried. I had no idea why I was crying, I knew this was a strings-attached marriage, he did not love me and I did not love him either, but it hurt still.

I knew Allegra and her mother had planned this, to destroy me and they succeeded.

I cried myself to sleep and woke up again, this time at 5:05am, there was commotion that seemed to be coming from downstairs, I got up and went to the window, there were two cars and some maids were loading the cars with luggages, as I was about to turn around as I saw my husband come out the door and walked to the car, he looked up and our eyes met, I stepped back in fear and he entered the car and closed the door and both cars drove off.

This was the last time I saw my husband or even heard from him in six years.