2024-11-30 06:30:26The fight
Lisa was making her way through the ballroom, her eyes darting around in search of Antonio. She needed him to handle some menial tasks. But Antonio was nowhere to be seen. With each passing moment, her irritation grew. “Where is he?” Lisa muttered under her breath, scanning the crowd. She moved through the elegantly dressed guests, her patience thinning with every step. Just then, she spotted Brandon near the bar, chatting with a few people. Lisa approached him quickly. “Brandon,” she called out as she neared him. Brandon turned, a lazy smile on his face. “Lisa, darling. What’s the rush?” “Have you seen Antonio? I need him to do something for me, but he’s vanished,” Lisa said, annoyance lacing her voice. Brandon raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. “Antonio? I think I saw him outside with some guy earlier. Looked like a serious conversation.” Lisa huffed, crossing her arms. “Great. He’s probably off getting himself into some mess. Typical.” Just then, Cherry, Lisa’s best friend, joined them, a glass of champagne in her hand. She overheard the conversation and gave Lisa a sly grin. “What did Antonio do now?” “Who knows,” Lisa replied dismissively. “He’s probably outside sulking, or worse, talking to some random guy about his pathetic life.” Brandon chuckled, swirling his drink in the glass. “He does have a talent for finding himself in odd situations, doesn’t he?” Cherry giggled. “You mean like that time he tripped over his own feet at the restaurant and ruined my shoes?” Lisa rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. “Exactly. It’s like he’s destined to make a fool of himself.” They all shared a laugh at Antonio’s expense, though none of them had any real idea what he was doing outside. As the conversation continued, the lights dimmed slightly, and the music shifted to something softer and more intimate. The crowd began to part, creating a space on the dance floor as the spotlight hit the center. “Looks like it’s time for the dance,” Cherry said, nudging Lisa with a grin. “You and Brandon should take the floor.” Before Lisa could reply, Brandon smoothly extended his hand to her. “Shall we?” he asked, his smile confident and charming. Lisa hesitated for a moment, glancing around as if she might spot Antonio. But when she didn’t, she shrugged and took Brandon’s hand. “Why not?” she said with a playful smile. They moved onto the dance floor together, the crowd watching as they began to sway to the music. Brandon pulled her closer, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back as they danced. Cherry watched from the sidelines, sipping her champagne with a smirk. Meanwhile, Antonio stepped back into the gala, his thoughts still swirling with confusion after his strange encounter with Edgar outside. The revelation about being the heir to the Matteo empire echoed in his mind, leaving him disoriented and unsure of what to believe. He barely noticed the music or the people around him as he made his way through the crowd, his focus entirely on the conversation he’d had. Antonio lingered near the edge of the ballroom. He was oblivious to the fact that Brandon and Lisa were now at the center of the room, drawing the attention of everyone around them. By the time the gala ended, he had made up his mind. He needed answers, and he was going to get them. The next morning, he would visit the location on Edgar’s business card. *** The next day, Antonio grabbed the business card from his pocket and slipped it into his jacket. Just as he was about to leave, Helena, appeared in the hallway. Her sharp eyes landed on him immediately, and her lips curled into a disdainful smile. “Where are you going?” Helena asked. Antonio hesitated, not wanting to tell her the truth. “I have somewhere important to be.” Helena raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with his response. “Important? You? Don’t make me laugh.” “It’s personal.” Antonio said. Helena’s smile widened as she stepped closer, blocking his path. “Personal, is it? And what could possibly be so personal for someone like you?” “I don’t have time for this,” Antonio muttered, stepping to the side to go around her. But before he could take more than a few steps, Helena reached out and grabbed his arm, yanking him back toward her. “You’re not going anywhere until I say so.” “Let go of me.” Antonio snarled. Helena’s eyes flashed with anger, but instead of retaliating physically, she smiled slyly. “Oh, you think you’re strong now? You think you can just walk out whenever you like?” Antonio’s heart pounded, but he stood . “I don’t have time for this,” he repeated, more firmly this time. Helena’s expression darkened. “If you think you can just leave without consequences, you’re even more foolish than I thought.” Before Antonio could respond, she raised her voice, calling for Lisa. “Lisa! Come here!” Within moments, Lisa appeared at the top of the stairs, her expression curious but quickly turning irritated when she saw the two of them. “What’s going on?” Lisa asked, her gaze flicking between her mother and Antonio. Helena’s lips curled up. “Your little boy toy here was trying to sneak out. I caught him just in time.” Lisa crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing at Antonio. “Where do you think you’re going, Antonio?” Antonio took a deep breath, knowing he had to keep calm. “I have something important to take care of.” Lisa’s expression hardened. “You don’t get to just leave whenever you want. You have responsibilities here.” Helena smirked, clearly enjoying the scene unfolding before her. “That’s right. You belong here, doing what we tell you.” Antonio ignored her; he was about to take another step forward when he felt a force drag him back. “Didn’t you hear me?” Helena’s voice picked up. Antonio took another step forward yanking her hand away, and the next thing that happened shook him to the core.
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