Sophia

Its been two weeks since our wedding. I was sitting in the garden shack feeding the ducks and Caprice and I were talking. Caprice was the only one who now talks to me in this house apart from Don. Don too know that only he and Caprice talk to me but he do not interfere which is better only otherwise it will just turn into unnecessary arguments. But he take care of me a lot. He do small cheesy things to keep me happy. Like bringing me flowers, or my favorite chocolates every other day. He really showers me love sometimes but his anger comes to surface without warning like always.

Ricardo has made it pretty clear how much he hated me soon enough of my wedding when he threw the food that I cooked saying "You can keep your manipulating tactics to yourself Sister-in law. I am not fool enough to fall for some gold digger whore, like yourself", he spitted out in venom "B-But Sir I-" I tried to say but he cut me off "Oh, please cut the "Sir" crap Donna. And I am not a love struck fool like my brother that you can wrap around your little finger by faking innocence. I know your kind, you are not the first whore Marc brought in this house, mark my words if you ever hurt my brother I will become your worst nightmare Sister-in-law" He said each word lacing with anger. He avoided me from that day, he never spoke to me or ate my food, he never joke around with me anymore neither did he calls me Cinderella. It feels like he tries to forget that I live in the same house. I understand he is protective of his brother, I do not hate him, I would have done the same for my brother. I thought its best to give him time, so I try to avoid encounters with him as much as possible. I do started to care about him too, along with Caprice and Alysia, no matter he hated me yet he was my family too. I told the chefs to not mention outside that I still cook. Don still can recognize but he also didn't mention about it in front of Ricardo. I don't eat with him and Caprice too. I ate in my room accept when Don is present than both of us have to sit there for Don.

Alysia too was not speaking to me. She was tending Julio, he was still not back to work after Don has beaten him because I ran. Alysia was angry with me because I was the reason her Julio was injured. She was right on her part, if I hadn't ran he wouldn't be the victim of Don's wrath. She didn't say much but her coldness was enough to tell me that I have really burned that relationship. But I really wanted her forgiveness and that's why here I am with Caprice taking advice from her. She told me Alysia loved cheesecakes nothing could melt her like them. So I decided I will bake her cheesecake but I doubt if that would be enough.

"Sophia" I heard Don calling from behind and I got up. He handed me some papers, "Sign on them above your name" he told me, I took the pen from him and signed the papers supporting them at the shack pillar. He handed me a envelope and told me "These are your saving account opening papers. I have activated your account, this envelope has the your cards in it, you can use them whenever you want ." "Oh I-I didn't need it. You bring everything anyways" I told him wondering why he is doing this. "And I will, but this is yours for yourself, ok?" he said cupping my cheek. "Thanks" I said with a smile. my money, wow that's something I haven't heard since my Dad has gave me my last allowance when I was eleven. I never thought anyone will do a thing like this for me. Treat me with respect of a wife rather than a whore.

"Hey!! why not use it today, lets go shoppingggg" Caprice said getting up in excitement singing the word shopping. "I-I don't know" I said with a doubt, I do not want Don to think that I am splurging his money just the moment he gave me. "Oh c'mon you wanted Alysia to talk to you again ,why don't we buy her a gift too. Shopping is even better than cheesecake ,three of us hanging around, it will be the best. She wont be able to resist and hide more behind her already long drawn anger, trust me." Caprice said coercing me. I wanted Alysia to get over it, maybe shopping would work more than just the cheesecake. "She too needed to get out, you know. How about you get dressed and I will drag her out? "B-But I , I-I don't kn-know" I said thinking what if she doesn't want to go with me. "Please It will be fun and you were just saying you were missing us. Please say yes, Pretty Please" She said with puppy eyes, how much she loves going out. But I was hell nervous as I remembered last time I went to a shopping mall, I don't want that to repeat. I asked Don hesitantly "Ca-can I go?" He smiled and replied "Yes" Caprice almost jumped with excitement, just the mention of shopping make her so happy "yayyy, come come come" she said dragging me along. "Take Antonio with you, and come back soon" I heard Don from behind "Yes Don" Caprice screamed for him to hear.

We were at the mall, Caprice, was right, it did make Alysia loosen up a bit, she was laughing, even making fun of Caprice with me. We shop a bit, she bought a little something for Julio too. Caprice did a lot of shopping. I however, couldn't figure out one thing to buy.

I was looking at this white shirt, like the one Don wore the first day I saw him, same one on which I spilled the coffee last weekend at the breakfast. I was serving him coffee when I heard Enzo called him from behind I got startled and the kettle slipped my hand. Don put his palm over mine to save me from the burn but his shirt got spoiled "I-I am Sorry, I -" "Its ok, its ok" he said while getting up and wiping "Relax, its just a shirt, hmmm" he said calming me down. I nodded "I am sorry Sophia, I didn't mean to scare you" Enzo said "No its not your fault I will leave you two to business" Enzo as I got to know was Don's best or rather I should say only friend. He is a good person and has a great sense of humor, though I didn't talk to him much but he always made me laugh whenever he is around and I have seen Don too at ease around him. "Would you like to buy it Ma'am?" a salesgirl approached me. "I-I, yeah.." I said to her and she asked me to follow her to the billing counter.

As we reached to the billing counter I gave her that card. "Ma'am please enter your pin" she asked to me enter something called pin and I have no idea what the hell that is. I looked around to find Caprice or Alysia but I couldn't see any of them. Ma'am there must be a passcode of this card you need to enter that in the machine. "I-I don't know the passcode". I informed her. "This is your cards right?" she asked suspiciously "Yeah-yeah yes it is". I said trying to imply I haven't stolen it from someone. "Then you must have the pin. We need it the amount of your purchase is more than the 'without pin' transaction limit". She informed me. "Oh. I-I ok wait". I said to her and took out the phone to call Don. But I was embarrassed too and a bit scared I never called him before, what if he is busy and he lashes out on me for disturbing him. But he told me call if I needed something. My turmoil was broken when she said a bit irritated "Ma'am will you purchase this or not." "Yeah I am sorry just one minute." I gather my courage and called him. "Yes Sophia, What happened? You okay?" He picked up the call in one ring. "Yeah I-I am fine actually I-I hope I haven't disturbed you." I asked in a timid voice. "Ofcourse not Doll, you can never disturb me, you can call me whenever you want. Tell me, you need anything?" He replied in a rather softer voice than usual. "Yeah I-actually I was purchasing something from this card you gave" "uh-huh, and?" "They are asking for some passcode for the card I-I don't know what the pin is." I closed my eyes in embarrassment. He must think I am so dumb, but I have never used plastic money. "You have the envelope with you" he asked me. "Yes, yes I have". I told him searching it my purse, I found it almost immediately. "Good, there must be a folded paper with 'Tear off' sign on the right corner." Yeah " "Tear it from there and a four digit number will be written over there. That's you pin for the card. You found it? He explained me patiently. "Yes, Got it" "Good, now remember this for future transactions. Okay?" "Thank you Don" I said with a smile. I guess I was worried for nothing. He didn't made me feel embarrassed at all. I was grateful that he didn't ask any questions, I was so not in the mood to answer whys and hows right now. I turned to the counter and paid for the shirt. This was the first and the only purchase I made.

Then we went to this salon and spa to get our hair and nails done. Caprice has named our this trip to be my bachelorette which she missed because I married in a haste without giving her a chance to plan. I scoffed to myself her remark about marrying in a haste. It wasn't a marriage in a haste. It was a punishment.

But seeing her excitement I offered this as my treat. And this time I made sure I remembered the pin but they didn't ask. They said its within the limit of without pin transactions. How expensive was that shirt? I thought to myself and took it out to check it. How come that just one item was beyond limit? "woah!" I exclaimed seeing the price. "All ok?" Caprice asked, I guess it wasn't to myself. "Yup " I said and we entered.

This made Alysia super happy and I first time got to see things like these. It was such a lavish place, they have really good service. I didn't even know that there are so many shades of nail colors, Caprice had got her hair highlighted in a vibrant violet. It was suiting her so much, she wanted me too to try out a cut but I said no, I know how much Don loved my long hair, I don't want him getting all riled up over nothing.

We then went to a McDonald's because Alysia loves cheeseburgers . "Man, I am hungry. Now I am going to place our orders and you two get yourself sorted. I am tired of being the only one sensible" Caprice said to us and left us to be "sensible". "I-I am really sorry Alysia, I should not have ran. I know I acted on impulse without thinking how it will affect others. I really don't want to loose you" I said to Alysia holding her hand. I really meant that. This has though lighten her up but I needed to say this to her. To actually apologize, no shopping was enough without that. And I don't want to loose her friendship. It was the first time I had friends after Scott and I really cherish us. "No, I am not angry at you Donna, I understand you must have endured much more that you decided to run. I was angry initially but I understand now. We all act selfish sometimes or the other. It is selfish of Don to keep you here without your wish and it was selfish of me to blame you wishing your freedom. I love you Donna and you are my friend I to do not want to loose you either." She said hugging me and I felt so at ease ."That's better, now that my bitches are on track lets gobble on the cheeseburgers" Caprice said while placing the food tray in front of us and we all laughed. "It really did me good to come out, Thank you Signorina for literally dragging me out today " Alysia said to Caprice. We sat and chatted for so long. I really missed talking with them. It really ease of the tension.

We completely lost track of time and realized how late we were when we heard "I thought you guys lost your way home, so I guessed I had to come and pick you up" I looked shocked to se Don. "Good that you came, we have lot of bags to be carried" Caprice laughed at Don handling him her bags. I was looking at her with my jaw dropped as she and Don laughed. And to my surprise Don did carried our bags as we left for home.

I came out of the bathroom after freshening up, when I saw Don looking at the shirt I bought. He looked me and I blushed "I-I, D-Do you like it?" I asked him hesitantly. "You bought this for me, why?" he asked as he came closer. "This reminded me of the shirt you were wearing when I first met you, Kind of reminded me of you, so I bought it". I told him looking down my cheeks were beet red. He lifted my face up and kissed me lightly "I love it" and I smile and squeal as he lifted me in his arms and carried me to bed.