"Then let me handle it my way.Mia needs to know that I'm not bullshitting and that I will protect you."
"But he was out cold!"
"That's why I poured water on him."He pulls me to him, and my hand slides down into his pants pocket.As we walk, I feel his fucking muscle move up and down.He looks down at me.His face looks so serious and sincere."Siri, I'm correcting a mistake I made years ago.It seems harsh, but she's family, and I don't want to fire her either.I just need to rein her in.I let her have too much control over my business while I was preoccupied with serving my country and chasing too much tail.But Ann is right.I have to look after me and mine now too, and that's you.I got this.You have to trust me."
"I do.Everything you do has been carefully thought out.You're the most competent person I've ever met."
"Not everything, but I try to stay one step ahead."He hugs my head, and we walk the rest of the way in silence.
As we approach, the music seeps through the night.Suddenly my heart feels light and carefree.I'm about to take on the biggest adventure of my life, and I have the best man in the world by my side!I break away and skip ahead."The music is calling me.Come on."
He jogs up beside me, smiling."That's my Golden Dancer."
I grin at him."Life is good, Aurei Moore.I can't imagine it getting any better."
He chuckles."Stay tuned."
When we arrive, the lights under the tents have been dimmed."Free Ride" by Edgar Winter is the song playing as we snake through the maze, making our way back to our seats.When we squeeze through, everyone has smiles for us.Everyone, but Mia.I hear her screaming at Aurei on the phone, calling me a whore.Coming into the cabin uninvited to call me a whore again.And now sending someone to spy on us, probably to take pics of me being a whore.My hand twitches when I pass her.It would love to wipe that resting bitch look off her face, or snatch a hand full of her hair out.The thought of smashing her face on the table occurs to me, but I let them all go.Her icy glare tells me she received Aurei's message.
When we sit, we put our backs to her, and Aurei pulls my chair between his legs.He leans forward to tickle me.I squirm and kiss his cheek, then the first strands of "Love Story" floats out from the speakers, and the chatter goes quiet.I lean back into his strong arms, and he sings in my ear.His tone and the sweetness of this eternal love song warms my heart to bursting.
Thank you, Karma.I can't believe how lucky I am.
When the song ends, there is light applause as Zita makes her way to the platform stage set up for Karaoke.She steps up to the microphone and says."My heart is overflowing with joy.I can't wait any longer to share this announcement with my family."She smiles over at our table.
Aurei shifts, and I sit up straight.The excitement and tension in the air gets thick quick.I look at my man's handsome face.What a beautiful being.I lay my hand lightly on his thigh.You are going to make a fantastic CEO.I smile proudly on him.He stares confident at the stage.
Zita clears her throat, but when she speaks, her voice is thick with emotion."For many years, my lovely daughter has called Bee her significant other."There is a collective pause in the excited tension as her unexpected words surprise us.
As my eyes move toward Ann and Bee, who are sitting across the table from us, I notice Antonio and Gio sit side by side.Antonio's arm is draped over the back of Gio's chair.It's an intimate position, but they are very stiff, almost formal with each other.
My eyes move on to Quintus.He is leaning back in his chair, relaxed and completely at ease.When my eyes touch his, he smiles at me.I smile back, and he looks back at Zita.
I move on to Mia and Angelo.Angelo's posture is of someone who is alone.He looks comfortable in his skin.No tension.Then I look directly at Mia.Her eyes are narrowed, and they are honed in on me.For the first time, I have the opportunity to stare her down and get a feel for who she is.What I see actually surprises me.Instead of the hateful, childish girl I thought I would see, I find a cold, calculating businesswoman who runs a tight ship with an iron fist and plays a game of chess with the people around her as pawns in the game.She is cold, distant, mean, and bitchy, but she plays to win.Definitely, a force to be reckoned with, but I don't have to deal with her.She has to deal with me.I smile confidently at her, and her eyes narrow even more.
Then I turn my attention to Ann and Bee.They are smiling at each other, and the love between them is obvious to everyone.Zita continues, "The laws in the United States have recently changed.Ann and Bee have officially married.Bee is now my daughter-in-law."There is applause, and Zita beams at them.When the clapping dies away, she adds, "And Bee is expecting our first grandchild!We are so excited and can't wait to find out if it will be a boy or a girl!"More clapping and more smiles around.I look at Aurei, and he is grinning from ear to ear at them.
"You're going to be an Uncle!"I tell him."Congrats!"
"I know."He smiles.
I laugh at him."You and your fucking secrets!"
He winks, then looks past me and offers his hand to someone to shake.I sit there while some of his family come over to congratulate him while they wait for their turn to congratulate the newlyweds and soon-to-be parents.Mia rises from her chair and offers Ann a hug, and nods at Bee.Then she comes to us.She leans over and kisses Aurei on each cheek."Congratulations, Maximus, you will make a wonderful uncle."
"Thanks, Mia."He says as he studies her face.Someone leans between them to shake Aurei's hand, and she looks at me with eyes of steel."We haven't been introduced yet.I'm Mia."
"Yes, I know.It's nice to meet you.I'm Siri."She shocks the shit out of me when she leans down and offers to kiss my cheeks too.Then I hear her whisper in my ear."Your presence is damaging to his image.You should do us all a favor and leave."
My poker face locks down in a death grip, and I stare straight ahead, waiting to meet her bitch eyes with my own, cold, steely defiant stare.But when she stands, her head is turned away, and she smiles sweetly at everyone and no one, ignoring me dismissively.So, that's the way she is going to play.Making sure my eyes do not connect with Aurei's because I don't want to ruin his joy, I turn away from her too.
When Angelo arrives laughing, Mia drifts away into the crowd."Zio Maximus!Congratulations!"He shakes Aurei's hand, and they laugh together.
The first strands of the song, "Love Story," float to us.It's a good rendition of the original version by Andy Williams.Everyone becomes more subdued but not quiet.
"Is that Big Al singing?"I ask Aurei.
"Yes."He grins."We recorded him so he could still continue their love story after death because he knew love was eternal."
