I would like to dedicate this chapter to a classy lady, MarilynAHepburn who has been a great friend since I arrived at Wattpad, she also reminds me of my character Marilyn ;)
6 WEEKS BEFORE
Marilyn Hasluck hurried through the bathroom door in the extravagant restaurant where she was having dinner. She leaned on the door for good measure as she let out a breath and closed her eyes. How could she have been so stupid?
She wasn't even thinking when she saw the pretty teenage girl standing all by herself. Shaking her head while still leaning on the door to make sure nobody had followed her, she wondered what on earth had possessed her. She walked right up to the poor girl and clung on to her, crying out "Victoria, my god, baby, look you haven't changed a bit!"
The poor kid had looked terrified, let out a shriek and ran away. Marilyn stayed long enough to see her almost crying as she reached her mother's arms. The stupidest part of all was Victoria wasn't a child anymore, she was a grown woman, she knew that!
Shaking it off Marilyn walked over to the bathroom counter top and steadied herself. She turned on the tap and watched as the water flowed elegantly out of the gold goose necked facet, even the bathroom water looked expensive in this place.
She sighed intently at her reflection, looking past her long lashes encasing lazy blue eyes, her trademark black mole, even her full shiny red pouting lips... she never paid attention to those things when she looked in the mirror. She saw things the way they really were, she saw a 40-something woman - lost, with no future and a past filled with regret and guilt....a past best left behind her.
Looking away she concluded that the last glass of Champagne had really gone to her head. Much more of that and she would find herself in need of a stretcher to cart her home -hardly fitting behavior for the girlfriend of the host.
"No more of that for you," she said looking back up at herself and wagging a finger at her reflection.
Despite feeling tipsy, she was determined to keep on having a great night out, in the company of her little Italian Stallion Gino Galliato. Who was as rich as he was powerful. Gino owned businesses galore, had money to burn and was adored, seemingly, by the masses. And the best part - she was the lucky girl on his arm.
Cupping her hands around the torrent of water still hissing into the basin. Marilyn let the tiny bubbles caress her skin and refresh her. Waiting until the water overflowed from the top of her cupped hands and spilled back into the basin. She raised her hands just about to splash the cool refreshing bubbly water over her face..
"Marilyn, oh there you are honey." cried a woman in a red velvet Chinese style dress. She wore her black hair piled elegantly atop her head with a Chinese dagger looking pin holding it all together. Marilyn recognized her as one of the guests who had been sitting a few seats down from her and Gino at their table.
Gino had introduced her and her husband at the beginning of the night. Now looking at her Marilyn grappled with her name, trying to remember what Gino had said. Amy, Amelia, no, Audrey, that was it, her name was Audrey.
Marilyn smiled as she watched Audrey approach. She seemed to be staggering a bit and steadied herself on the counter top, just the way Marilyn had done.
"The champagne is good hey," winked Marilyn. Audrey ignored her comment, further proving that she was most likely a little pickled, rather than tipsy.
"We have been looking for you everywhere," she said slapping Marilyn on her bare shoulder playfully. "Poor Gino is simply beside himself not knowing where you are, quick lets go he is waiting for you," then flapping her arms as though she may take flight Audrey sang excitedly, "he said he has a surprise...."
Marilyn looked down at the water she had collected in her hands, just in time to see the last few drops disappear into the basin merging with the hissing torrent still cascading from the tap.
Disappointed at the intrusion Marilyn instinctively began smoothing down her white halter neck dress with wet hands. Then groaning horrified at herself she whispered frantically, "Ok, I will be there in a minute, just let me....
"You don't need to check your hair, or your face your beautifuuul," said Audrey with a giggle as she turned off the tap then draped her arm over Marilyn's shoulders and dragged her out of the bathroom by the neck.
Outside in the dining room Audrey pushed Marilyn out in front of her as though she were some type of peace offering, then ushering her from behind she whispered for her to start walking towards their table.
There were hundreds of people, sitting, waiting, looking right at her; it was unnerving in a flattering celebrity kind of way. Most of the people in the room were strangers to Marilyn, but she did know they were her kind of people. Rich, affluent, high society, everything she had ever aspired to be.
But if she was impressed by anyone at the gathering that night it had to be Gino. Although it was a huge restaurant in a trendy area south of Adelaide City, Gino had booked the entire place for the night. In her books that was classy. He really knew how to throw a party, no wonder he was adored by all.
As she walked out two steps in front of Audrey and passed the sea of seated guests at their tables all eyes were on her. Some gawked at her adoringly, some enviously, many whispered behind their hands, but not one of them ever taking their eyes off of her.
As her heels clicked loudly on the shiny black marble floor that mirrored her own reflection, she felt daunted, and she didn't know where to look. Where should she be looking, at herself in the floors reflection or at the guests whispering behind their hands as she passed by each lavishly decorated glass table?
She compromised, focusing her attention on the single long stem red rose that sat just above the heads of every guest at every glass table. She would find the rose, and watch it until she was almost past it, then she would find the next. Red roses were her favorite.
Finally she reached the largest table of all at the very end of the room overlooking everyone. She hoped nobody knew how drunk she felt and thanked her lucky stars she hadn't fallen on her scrawny behind while doing the big walk of shame. Marilyn quickly took her place at the table, next to a short pudgy dark haired man. He wore white suit pants and a black shirt with the first two buttons undone to reveal a mass of curly dark black chest hair, that almost engulfed the thick heavy gold chain around his neck. Gino.
As she sat down Gino sprung from his chair and took a fork and crystal glass from the table and began clinking them together silencing the crowd.
"Here she is, ladies and gentleman, My Marilyn. The crowd began to clap, silencing them, Gino continued, "Thank you all for coming tonight to share in a momentous occasion....it was just two years ago the most beautiful woman I have ever seen walked into my life. The moment I saw her, standing there like a scene fresh out of Hollywood, waiting to audition for one of my adverts,"
The crowd murmured and Gino smiled proudly before pointing at them playfully, "Yes you all know the advert I'm talking about, so there she was looking like a vision out of one of my wildest dreams and I said to myself, Gino, I said, you better grab that one quick and marry her before someone else gets her first!"
The crowd laughed and Gino turned to Marilyn and produced a black velvet box. Opening it up he revealed a ring with the largest diamond she had ever seen in her life perched on top of it. Displaying it proudly for everyone to see before getting down on one knee, he loudly proclaimed, "Marilyn Hasluck, light of my life, please make me the happiest little Italian man in the history of the world... marry me."
The crowd cheered and clapped drowning out everything else in the room. Marilyn's first instinct had been to hide under the table, or to run away, which would be a ridiculous idea in the heels she was wearing. Her face burned red as she looked out over the sea of expectant faces, then at Gino, who was looking up at her expectantly too. What choice did she really have?
None, it seemed. Gino stood up and grabbed her hand slipping the huge diamond over her finger and then pulled her up out of her seat, kissing her passionately, he delighted the crowd even more.
Startled she looked at the massive diamond sparkling on her finger. It didn't whisper sweet nothings to her like she had always dreamed a diamond ring might, it was mocking her.
How was she going to get out of this one, he hadn't even asked her, warned her, Jesus she didn't even think they were that serious. She and Gino were just friends with occasional benefits, her way of showing him some gratitude for all of the lavish gifts he bestowed upon her . She thought they had an understanding - she was just there for show, the trophy on his arm at his swank gatherings.
Gino put his arm around her neck and drew her closer to him so she could smell his musky aftershave. Maybe he was sensing her surprise and maybe even her terror as he drew his lips to her ear and whispered, "I had to have you, and I knew you wouldn't say no in front of everyone."
Sweetly while showering the crowd with her best smile Marilyn took Gino's hand in hers and raised it. Showing everyone they were holding hands she said, "Thank you everyone for coming tonight to share our engagement, drinks are on us, so please drink up," then looking at Gino she winked, "my fiancé can afford it!"
Everyone clicked their glasses together and cried out merrily, "Cheers." As Marilyn sat down Gino grinned and squeezed her hand.
Marilyn smiled back at him lifting her glass. It wasn't exactly how she had planned things, but there were worse ways she could be spending her time. Besides, in the cold light of day she was alone and penniless. She sighed thinking of her newly lost freedom and said to herself," Marilyn think of the money honey!"
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