Healed By Love

CHAPTER 4

AUDELIA'S POV

The beautiful golden and white venue glows in the dark night, illuminated by the lights placed around its perimeter. A beautiful marble driveway stretches from the gates, rounding up before nearing the entrance, going around the left side of the mesmerising fountain before going around the right side of the fountain which connects back to the main driveway leading to the gates.

The car stops at the entrance and a man opens the door for me. Thanking him, I take his hand and step out of the car, onto the red carpet that is laid out in front of me, leading to the double doors a few feet away.

I try not to squint my eyes as flashes go off from the photographers and journalist around. I continue walking down the carpet that is lined with stanchion ropes on each side along with bodyguards who keep the reports at bay.

Everybody attending this gala today is connected to the mafia but to the rest of the world, this is simply an annual business event where business owners would join to discuss business matters. In a way we are discussing business matters but they do not involve trade of goods and services. It is more about trade of lives and blood.

The press knows us due to our businesses around the world. It is just a coverup for us so that we are able to carry on with managing the mafias without giving rise to many suspicions. We run the American mafia while also managing a hotel business.

Initially, Ezra had gotten ownership of both the mafia and the business but he did not think it as fair. In the end, we decided on doing it together since managing a business on my own was not something I wanted to do.

Ignoring the various questions being thrown at me from the media, I continue walking until I reach the doors. The two guards open the door. Instead of entering the room like I had expected, I find myself in a hallway. Across from where I am standing is another set of double doors.

I can hear the music streaming through the doors as I near it. A large staircase is at the door, leading to the immense ballroom down. Standing at the top of the staircase, I let my eyes wander around, searching for Ezra or my father. I am still scanning the room when my eyes land on a man. I cannot see his defined features but there is something about him and his demeanor that make it difficult to look away from. Our eyes meet for a second as he looks at me and I feel a slight shiver pass through my body.

Ignoring the weird feeling, I move my eyes away from him and finally see someone I know. Standing straight, I descend the stairs. I can feel several pairs of eyes on me but I ignore them as I continue, taking a flute of champagne from a waiter as he walks past me at the bottom at the stairs.

Taking a sip, I advance towards the bar area where Valeria is waiting for me. She leans against the counter, a smirk on her face as she looks at me approaching her. "What?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at her.

"You look so hot." She says, grinning at me. I return her smile as I hug her.

"You look great too and I missed you so much." We pull away. Valeria's father is the second in command of out mafia and we first met each other when we were little kids. Ever since, we have been inseparable.

"You know, I actually find this really funny." She says, taking a sip of her own drink, her light brown eyes glowing with amusement. "You and Diana, in the same room, having to act civil."

"I never said I would act civil." I remind her. "If she tries something, her blood will be on the walls and her body will be hung up on that chandelier." I roll my eyes, tipping my champagne flute slightly, motioning to the massive chandelier hanging over us.