Emily

"He can't be serious, right?" Stephanie asks me.

I stare off at nothing and don't know how to react. I just sit there. Marry? Mateo El Ricci? Next week? The only question that's spinning in my mind is: Was it meant to me too?

My uncle doesn't give a fuck about me. He did even bother to look after me when my parents died, so why I am here?

"Dad, you can't do that to us" Stephanie plead "Please, dad..."

"We don't have a choice, darling" he says with pleading eyes.

"But look on the other side..." My aunt says "Mateo El Ricci is a powerful man, has a lot money and in handsome. Or that's what I have heard anyway" she goes to Stephanie and kiss her on the head. Ugh...My aunt only things about money and looks. It wouldn't surprise me if she's with my uncle only for his money.

"Mom... Please... no... I don't want to-"

"-You don't have a choice!" my uncle yells through the room, making everyone silence. "Tomorrow will be a first meeting with Mateo El Ricci and his family, and you..." he points at me. "...You will meet him too-"

"-Not that you have a chance" my aunt says laughing.

I look down at myself. She's right; I don't make a chance at all, maybe I should call in sick.

"Now, go to your rooms and get some rest. You need to be perfect tomorrow!"

Stephanie and I make our way to my room but my aunt grasps my arm before I can reach the stairs. Pulling me inside one of the side rooms, she closes it, making sure nobody can hear us.

"Aunt?" I ask, arching a brow.

"Don't call me that, we aren't even blood related!" she responses.

"Sorry, I mean Mary"

"As you know we are going to meet Mateo tomorrow and I want you to STAY OUT OF HIS WAY!" she says loudly.

"Why?"

What does she mean by that? I know I won't make a chance against Stephanie so what's the problem?

"Why?" she says sarcastically arching an eyebrow "Because you can't ruin Stephanie' life, her life of success and happiness... you already ruined our life with just being here!" she tells me and strolls over to the door before opening it. "Not a word to anyone, and don't forget what I've said" BAM! And she's gone.

"Emily! I don't want to marry him! I love Ben!" Stephanie yells through my bedroom.

"Be quiet, otherwise your mom and dad will hear you" My aunt's words keep repeating in my head. You ruined our life.

I didn't really had a choice to be here... I hate it here! They just don't accept me and look at me like I'm garbage.

"You need to help me Emily! You need to marry him! Please... Please..." she begs.

"Stephanie, I can't do that... you know what your mom said, I don't make a chance... you are beautiful and you deserves someone like him..." I say, trying to convince her.

"But you don't understand, didn't you hear about him?" Huh? Is he famous or something?

"No, why?" I ask curious.

"YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW!!!" she screams.

"Not so loud" I say back.

"Sorry, but you really don't know?" I shake my head. I'm more curious now. Who is he? I don't really follow the news so no wonder I don't about him.

"He is one of the most dangerous men in New York. Do you know the El Ricci's?" El Ricci? I don't... WAIT! I have heard of them. EL RICCI. The mafia family that currently is living here in New York. "Yes, I know your thinking of something and you right"

"Omg!" I say, not knowing what to say. Last time I've hear of them, they took over Brooklyn and they are fighting against another Mafia for Manhattan.

"Please, Emily... don't you want to marry him? He's maybe the one you're looking for"

"I doubt that" I say laughing. Mateo is too... dangerous for me, and I'm too innocent for him. I properly will meet him and he will ignore me the rest of the night or better, he would think I'm a maid that works for the Magetta's. Now Stephanie begins to cry. The tears make my heart break. I go to her.

"Don't cry, please..." Hugging her tight, I think about my option.

"I don't want to marry him, I want to marry Ben!"

I don't know what to do... should I listen to aunt or should I help Stephanie? I sigh.

"Maybe I should just look how things go and maybe I can think about it" I say finally.

"Really! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" She says jumping around. "I really own you one!"

God, I hope I made the right decision.

The next day we are in Stephanie's room to see what dress we should wear.

"No, that to... much skin" I say, while Stephanie is holding the fifth dress. She sighs.

"What about this one? It's not too much skin"

"Right... a hole in a dress? Aren't my boobs supposed to be there? And I don't have those by the way" Stephanie rolls her eyes again.

"You know what? Look for yourself!" she simply replies. Okay then. I look through her stuff and find... handcuffs...

God, why do people have those? Isn't that just weird to be cuffed while having sex? But how would I know...It's not like I have experience.

Looking through all the dress, I find the one; a beautiful deep red dress. It's off shoulder, summery, even when it's September, and I kind of like it. I pick it up and show it to Stephanie.

"Can I try this?" I ask.

She turns and gasps. "You should try that! It would look so good on you!"

I smile in return and walk to the bathroom in the back to try the dress on. After I have it on, I look in the mirror and wow... I look beautiful. The dress fits perfectly and covers enough. Plus, my curves show a little but I'm fine with that. I like this dress.

I'm not used to this...to feel beautiful. I look some more and decide to go to Stephanie. She gasps when she sees me.

"OMG! Girl! You look fabulous! Mateo is going to love it" she says and puts her dress on now. She has a gorgeous body; every girl would be jealous if they see her...

Stephanie has chooses for a black dress that looks a little too small but who cares, Mateo would like it even more...It fits her perfectly too, but she can pull off anything and I mean everything.

"Now..." she smile wickedly "...Make-up time"

"You look beautiful, darling" my aunt says to Stephanie.We just arrived at the restaurant and are standing outside. Fuck... I wish I brought a jacket or anything because it's a little too cold.

"Thanks mom! Emily looks beautiful too, right?" My aunt looks like she just noticed me, but she says nothing; just giving me the dead stare I always get.

"Okay, girls... be kind and don't be rude! Please, don't make me-" he coughs "-us looks ridicules"

"Of course, Henk, we will be perfect tonight" Mary says giving me the eye.

As we make our way inside we hear some people talking but we can't quite make out what they're saying. It's beautiful in here. Stephanie told me this was a 5 star restaurant. It's so fancy that I feel like I should be the houseplant in the corner. This family must be really rich if they can afford something like this.

Finally, we stand before the door. I feel the nerves everywhere and I don't know why I'm stressed. I don't want to meet him... Right? But somehow I'm excited. Who is he and why would he marry us? My uncle opens the door.

Here goes nothing, I say to myself. When the doors are all the way open, I feel everyone staring at us. Shit, I feel everyone's present like I'm their meal.

I stand a little behind Stephanie because I want them to see Stephanie and not me but that isn't the case... I feel one pair of eye tracing my movement. Gazing through the room, I see him looking... straight at me.