It had been a long night. Due to not being allowed to work, I spent most of the time helping the other girls get ready. Makeup was never my strong suit, but at least I was busy. The buzzing off the club drifted through the doors, I could feel the excitement of it. Part of me missed performing... What started off as a way to make money became an empowering feminist move on my part. Knowing I could make them feel something, but none would get to touch me... not unless I wanted them to, of course...It was probably around 1am, when I was done for the night. All of the girls were already out there, and the only people using the room was for the odd lip gloss swish or perfume spray. I'd found comfort in the corner, being able to read in what surprisingly was a productive environment for me. "Earth to V" Carly snapped me out of my daze, waving her hands in my face "I'm done for the night" she spoke as she pulled a robe over her body. Throwing her hair up into a clip, she began taking her t
My room was my safe space. I locked the heavy door behind me, before sliding down it. Why was I so upset? I didn't actually like him did I? "Vanessa open the door" Carly said, knocking lightly "let me in, we can talk about it" "I...im not ready to.. I just... need to be alone... can we talk in the morning?" "okay" she said in protest. "I'm right next door if you need me" --When I woke up the next morning I had a plan. Screw him. I was going back to work whether he liked it or not. "are you sure about this? he's gonna be pretty mad.." Carly asked as we walked into the wardrobe ladies room. "yep. he doesn't own me..." I trailed off "well he does but I was hired to dance... so that's what I'll do.." "Vanessa I didn't expect to see you again... Boss said you were done..." Isobel appeared from behind the wracks of clothing. She was an ex dancer turned seamstress, and boy was she good at it. "well I changed my mind. I'm back in. I want something new. Green maybe" I spoke, my eyes la
2 weeks later"What are you doing?" Christiano stared at me sprawled out on the bed, head hanging over the edge."I'm thinking, sometimes people do that" I looked around, my hair swishing under me."Get changed" he pointed to my attire, a pair of pajama shorts and a tank top. "I don't want to, will you just leave me alone." I tried to sound as annoyed at possible."You either get changed now, or your going to be stuck in here for at least another month" "Why? I'll just ask Angelo to take me out" I turned over, staring at him"I found out about that, and I've told him if he takes you out again I'll fúcking kill him" my eyes widened slightly. would he seriously kill Angelo? his best friend?"you will not kill Angelo or I'll hurt you" he laughed, sarcasm covering his face."'don't make me laugh, you couldn't even bruise my pinky." he paused "get changed""fine. But only because you will not go away" I pushed myself off the bed, walking into my closet.I quickly grabbed my grey ripped j
"I'm sorry about them..." he laughed, opening the car door for me. "it's fine, your mother is sweet" I replied, sliding into the car."you think that now... but wait till you see her at Christmas... she is a mad woman" "Did you get her festive spirit?" I smirkedHis eye brows rose, before he turned smiling. We pulled up outside the club before walking in."Christiano!" Angelo ran down the hall, his face covered in worry."You look like you've seen a ghost my friend... what's up?" Christiano shoved his hands in his jean pockets"Damien is here" I turned to Christiano, rage dawned over his face, as the smile dropped off his face. "who's Damien?" "he's a very bad man" Christiano muttered. If he is calling him bad... then he must be a monster."what do you want me to do boss?" Angelo straightened his tie"I need to go and get changed... but we treat him like any other guest. We don't want him to think we're scared of him" Angelo nodded before hurrying off."What do you want me to do?"
"Baby?" I heard someone whisper through my sleep. The voice silenced, and I drifted down into a deeper sleep. "I'll give you 3 seconds baby" I woke up, keeping my eyes closed..."3...2..1" he mumbled before I felt his fingers began tickling at my sides. My eyes shot open, my body convulsing on the bed."Stop!" I grabbed at his hands, trying to pull them away... "so you were awake!" he lay back down on the bed, a smile on his face."what are you? the sleep police?" I turned my head to look at him. The sunlight bounced off his tanned skin and his hair was still as perfect as ever."How do you manage to look this perfect after being asleep for 10 hours?""I could ask you the same question!" he chuckled. His hand cupped my face, his thumb rubbing my cheek lightly. "Hey boss theres-" Angelo walked in, stopping suddenly as he looked up. "omg what did I just walk in on?" he hid his reddening face with his hand"don't worry Angelo it's PG" Christiano threw the covers back standing up in all
After that night, Damian never came round again. Christiano calmed down quickly soon after, going back to his normal self. I was allowed to dance occasionally, only if Christiano was around and only if I didn't do any private dances. Being with him, it felt normal, comfortable even. He was different with me, gentle.. calm... funny... It was an early night, and the club was quiet, so the doors shut early. Every time I'd come off stage Christiano would be waiting... he would take me straight off to either his office or his room, or sometimes we'd only make it to the bathroom. Our chemistry was insane, everything felt so right. We would spend the days in his bed, and the night with him watching me dance or taking breaks together when we could. Damian was dead. They told me a few days later that they'd killed him, before dumping his body in the canal. Is it wrong that I felt okay about it? He deserved it... ---"you did great out there Vanessa!" Carly launched herself at me as I ste
I woke up to the sound of hoovers wirling around outside my door. my eyes shot open, as one of the cleaning ladies banged loudly on the door. "Miss Diamond are you in there?" Anita called from outsideChristiano tossed beside me, grunting loudly as he rubbed his eyes."what's that?" he grunted"the cleaners" I whispered back "Miss Diamond?" She knocked again"No thank you Anita" I replied, just as Christiano reached out pulling me closer towards him. His body was boiling hot and this made it very uncomfortable. "okay Miss Diamond, I'll come back tomorrow" I heard her pick up her hoover before walking off down the corridor. "what time is it?" "11" I said carelessly, his eyes shot open as his body tensed."fúck. I'm late for a meeting" he jumped out of the bed, swiftly grabbing his clothes which were littered around the room."What will they say? the mafia boss turning up late" I propped myself up on my arms, watching as he ran around like a headless chicken."They won't say anythi
We woke up the next morning wrapped up in eachother. Christiano traced patterns across my bare skin, his head nuzzled into my neck. "your something else..." "an alien?" I asked, trying to hide the smile on my face "because I've tried to hide the green goo but it's hard..." "you know what I mean..." he mumbled. "are you happy?" "I am..." I trailed off "I don't know what's going to happen... for me... for you.. us... but I feel safe..." I turned to face him, "I feel at home" He smiled, capturing my lips with his. He was so slow, so gentle, the kiss held a thousand unsaid things... "I've never ... Im fall..""Boss! the Russians are back!" Dom raced into the office, gun in hand.Christiano stood me up, wrapping a blanket around me. Dom turned around as Christiano pulled on his trousers, and his shirt. "Dom take here to the safe room... and don't let her out... no matter what happens" he walked over to the dresser against the far wall, pulling out a machine gun."wait what we're you go
Today was it. The day I get to rewrite my own love story. In a strange way I feel lucky, loosing my memories meant I get to relive them all over again... I get to fall in love again.. I get to marry him again. Not alot of people can say they've done that! I studied myself in the mirror, smoothing down the skirt of my dress. Carly messed my hair, placing jewelled clips into the braided parts before placing the veil. She stepped back, a loving look on her face. "omg V... you look amazing..." "You look amazing" I replied, walking over to her side. She was dresses in a lavender dress, her blonde hair held in a high ponytail. "Now" she began, "Are you ready?" She asked, smiling at me expectantly"Yeah... I'm ready" I replied, before heading towards the door. ----"Where are we going?" I asked Carly, worried about how long we'd been in the car. "It's a suprise!" She said excitedly."Carly I don't do well with suprises!" I said, getting nervous. "Don't worry, you'll love it" she said,
That morning I'd woke up alone, Christiano had gone to work and I was in charge of the children. Luca was easy, he just needed a fully tummy and a cosy spot and he'd sit happily, snoozing occasionally... Rosie was the opposite, she was a cheeky soul who was up for challenging me at all times. She wanted to choose what she wore, her ideal outfit was a yellow dress with purple tights and orange boots. Clearly she got her fashion sense from somewhere else. Mid morning, Luca had gone down for a nap, his face content as he dosed in his moses basket. Rosie was playing with some play dough, creating a plate for her lunch."What do you want for lunch mummy?" she asked, rolling green dough to peas. "I'll have a burger please chef!" I laughed, before flicking through the photo album. My wedding... Christiano had told me we'd had to have a rushed wedding, but we looked so in love. The next few pictures were of when Rosie was born, one of me holding her just after, one of her dressed in a fusch
Christiano I pulled up outside the hospital as I always did. In the same space I always parked in. I walked the same way, I saw the same people. But today felt different.I couldn't tell if it was a good or bad different... I just knew it felt new. As I entered his ward, I saw nurses rushing past me, panicked looks on their faces. I didn't think anything of it for a second, I thought it may have been someone else... until I saw them run to Angelo's room. I picked up my pace, quickly approaching the door to where he was. Doctors and nurses crowded around him, too many for me to see what was happening. I pushed the door open, a few nurses heads turning to look at me. Noone said anything for a moment, making my heart sink. A doctor blocked my view, but I could tell something had happened. Something had changed. "Can we get him another 20mg of morphine please" the doctor instructed a nurse, before continuing what he was doing. The nurse returned, injecting the liquid into a tube which
The next few days were strange. Overwhelmingly bizarre. When Christiano finally brought Luca and Rosie home I felt evil for not knowing them... for not loving them. But that quickly changed. Despite loosing my memory, the love you feel for your children is overbearing. It felt right, it felt good. Rosie didn't really understand why I couldn't remember her. She thought I was just being silly, playing games with her. Everytime she would run up to me, asking me weird questions, she'd stop shortly after... questions clearly running through her mind. But then she'd smile, and I knew she couldn't care less that I didn't remember. She was just happy I was there.I couldn't believe she was mine... I mean looking at Christiano you could see why she was so pretty... but she was spunky and vibrant... how Christiano described me to be... And Luca...this tiny being with bright glistening eyes was so pure... he was so tiny still, his airy brown hair beginning to grow on his head. He smiled, his
"What?" He asked, looking at me strangley "I-I don't know you." I muttered"It's me-" He began, his face now full of concern."I said I don't know who you are. Please can you leave..." I said"Vanessa, it's me, Marco." He said astonished "I don't know a Marco" I replied. "You don't remember? Anything?" He asked.I searched my head, looking for an answer. The last thing I remember was leaving home."No" I said, tears filling my eyes "Why are you looking at me- like that?" I asked, my voice breaking "I-i need to go and make a call. You rest." Marco said, before quickly leaving the room. What was happening? I don't understand... he said I knew him? I'd never met a Marco..."It's good to see your awake Mrs Acerra" a young female doctor said, as she entered the room followed by a flock of nurses. "What? My names Vanessa Diamond..." I replied, pulling my blanket closer to meThe doctor looked at the nurses, before whispering to one "page Dr Newbury..."."What's happening? Noone is tell
Christiano "No!" I cried out, as he aimed the gun at her. He froze, his eyes darting to me. "You'll get your turn" He said, smirking wildly."Please..." I mumbled. Dario looked at me with shock, before dropping his arm."What was that?" He mocked"I said... I said please. Please don't kill her. Kill me, sure... but please let her live, our children need their mother... please" I pleaded, not caring about my pride anymore. All I cared about was her, It didn't matter if I died a laughing stock... as long as I knew she was still alive, she was there for our children. "My oh my" Dario said, holding onto his heart for extra affect. "That's sweet. Really, I mean it. It almost makes me want to change my mind... but... alas..." He paused, before turning back to Vanessa. She still lay lifeless, her body in an awkward position. "Please can I atleast see my bambino's first.... can we have time together as a family?" I pleaded, hoping he'd give me enough time to think of a plan. Dario seeme
Vanessa Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Being able to look back on a situation with new knowledge that could have changed it all... It allows you to say what if? What if I'd done that differently? What if if said something else? In retrospect my life could have been so different. If I would have conformed to my mother's wishes who would I be? Would I be 'normal'? Would I be happy? Sad? Alone? I wouldn't be here that's for sure... locked in this bare room waiting for what probably will be the day I finally die. If I hadn't had gone into the club that day... would I still have met him? Was he written in my stars? Or was it just a matter of chance? Of consequence?But looking back I don't regret a thing. Yes I'm locked in a room holding onto my terrified daughter waiting for something... anything to happen. But I'd do it all over again to have the chance to love him... to marry him... to have our two beautiful children. Looking back is great... we can ask what if? But why should w
VanessaI could feel nothing. My whole body was so numb I wasn't even sure where I was.... or what was happening.Nothing made sense. People walked before me, speaking words I couldn't comprehend. I knew it was English... I know I should be able to understand... but my head felt as though it was going through a never ending spin cycle. What had he given me? Why did I feel this way? Where are my children?I watched him pace back and forth, his face amused as I sat in complete silence. He opened his mouth, noise flooding out but I couldn't understand at all. It was as though he'd turned me back into a baby... I couldn't understand, I couldn't talk or really move... He moved towards me, his hand roughly grabbing all clump of my hair, pulling my face up to meet his. He leered down at me, a menacing look in his eyes. He stayed still for a moment, before roughly dropping the hair, my head falling down clumsily. He was laughing at me. Laughing at what he'd done to me. Laughing at my incomp
2 hours earlier"Rosie it's time for bed now" I said again, as I reached the top of the stairs. "Not until daddy comes home!" She squeeled before running back into her room."Daddy isn't coming home tonight, he's got stuff to do... he'll be here when you wake up" I said, wandering into her room. She stood expectantly, her arms crossed, a pout on her face. "You know that only works on daddy" "But..." She said, making her voice shake. "Your just like your dad, you know that.." I laughed, before grabbing her pajamas off the end of the bed. "Now bed time please. Be good or when daddy comes home I'll tell him you've been naughty""I don't care" she said, rolling her eyes. "Then he won't take you on your super special secret birthday suprise..." I said, before heading towards the door."Wait!" She squeeled "If I go to bed, you won't tell daddy?" "Pinky promise" I chuckled "Ugh fine" she sighed, exactly like Angelo would. I passed her the pajamas before pulling the door shut behind me.