one

*Note: this book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events, and incidents are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Read at your own risk. Enjoy.

Stepping down from a white Bentley, I glanced up to a lovely white stone Victorian mansion that stood at the center of the vast isolated estate. The place was strongly guarded with a great number of men dressed in black scattering about the driveway, some of them easily took notice of my arrival and soon approached me.

Finding myself guided through the beautiful decorated double ceiling hallway, I attempted to ease my anxiety and nerves by focusing my gaze down toward a pair of crystal pumps I had on. I held my clutch closer to my dress and when I was alerted of the destination, I looked up nervously.

"Hey." I lightly smiled. My heart eventually slowed down and caught its normal pace upon seeing the familiar face of my dear best friend.

"London! You made it!" Giovanna cheered. Her loud voice made me flinched. Not that she was usually a soft-spoken person anyways but I could never get used to her enthusiasm. We had been friends for what felt like forever and not even once that her jolly personality failed to surprise me.

"Right." I pouted, "Unfortunately, I know."

Clicking her tongue in disapproval, Giovanna narrowed her glance, "What is it with you and all the fun parties? Tell me, how could you sleep at night knowing that everybody else is here at my place, partying and dancing their nights away?"

"It's no different. Me, being here or me staying at home." I jeered, "It is like going to a steak house and you are a vegetarian."

My reply caused a big laugh to erupt from Giovanna's throat and she linked her arm around mine before dragging me further inside the living room of her house.

"Your parents are here." Giovanna said suddenly as her eyes searched for the waitress. Probably, in need of a drink. An alcoholic one, to be specific.

"I know which is why I did not want to come in the first place." I sighed.

Taking a seat beside each other at the barstool, my eyes roamed around, studying the big crowd and almost everyone had a glass in their hands. Giovanna soon joined them as she was offered one from the waitress who happened to just walk past us.

Lowering the tray of drinks in her hand for both of us, I thinned my lips nervously and turned to look at Giovanna.

"None for her." She said automatically, knowing alcoholic beverage was one of the many things I was forbidden from having.

I thanked her quietly with my glance and a soft nod before we sat in comfortable silence for a while. Not so long after that, I found myself occupied in my boredom. It had not yet been an hour and I was bored to death, sitting there not knowing what or how exactly to behave.

Partying was not my thing. Social gathering was not either but as it went, I was what I hate. I grew up in a very, what could I say a widely known family. My father was among one of the most powerful and influential businessmen in the States or shall I say, in this world. He was intelligent, hard-working, and considered the best in his workforce.

And eventually, he was recognized.

By the side of Giovanna's father, my father worked as his right hand. An even bigger, and more powerful businessman, Mr. Luciano, or known to me as Giovanna's dear papa. That was probably one of the many reasons which drew us closer and maximized our friendship. With our parents being closed to one another and my father trusted hers with his life, my relationship with Giovanna was everything anyone would expect.

As different as we were in terms of a person, Giovanna was more of a fun one and I was the quiet one. Somehow, we fulfilled whatever that was lacking in the other and made one great duo.

I love her like a sister and so did she. Nothing could ever come in between us. Nothing could break us. When I was with her, I felt stronger than ever. At least more than I would usually feel being all by myself. She made me feel protected. So protected that I did not think I would need anyone else in my life apart from her, myself, and my family. I was seventeen, soon to be eighteen and unlike any other eighteen years old girl, I was not seeking for a significant someone to fill the void.

I had a great family, an amazing friend, what else could you possibly be asking for?

"Did you or did you not invite the whole New York City to come here tonight?" I asked up jokingly, referring to the number of people fit in that one living room alone. Not to mention another group of young teenagers I caught standing outside.

"I did not. My dearest mama however was in charge of the guest list this time around." Giovanna replied, adding a deep sigh, "But I should have known. She made me wrote down a list of all the kids from our class the other day. And also, she did invite some of my brothers' friends as well. You know how big of a people person they all are, Lo."

Being around a lot of people made me feel anxious. Especially the kind of people in Giovanna and I's circle. They were either the sons or daughters of important people, or a very successful young entrepreneur. Everyone there seemed to have their life put together, meanwhile, I and Giovanna were the only two there probably who were still being treated like a child.

Maybe it had something to do with the fact that we both had older brothers. And by brothers, I meant four for Giovanna and three for me. We were like the baby of the family and to make it worst, the only daughter our parents had. So you could imagine how protecting everyone else could be over us.

As I said I had three brothers. In age order from oldest to the youngest was Aden, Cairo, Romeo or preferably, just Rome and me, the youngest, London. We were all named after cities and people seem to find that very amusing and cool. Thank god to our papa and mama, and their creative ideas. Otherwise, I could not picture myself with a common name like Emma or Bella. Not that those weren't beautiful but I just would not suit them. They sounded like they belonged to someone so perfect and beautiful, and clearly, I was neither one of those.

"You girls look breath-taking tonight." A deep voice snapped me out of my thought and I looked up to the friendly face of Giovanna's eldest brother.

"Jack." Giovanna gruffed, "Thanks for the kind compliment. I really wish I could say the same to you but my sincerest apologies, you look absolutely horrid."

My eyes widened slightly at Giovanna's sarcastic remark and Jack burst into a peal of small laughter. The two siblings then rose their glasses and drank a full cup.

I could never get these two's silly relationship.

"I take it that you are upset with me?" Jack asked, mindfully.

"Indeed, I am." Giovanna replied before she turned toward me, "He forgot my birthday and remembered it after two months. I am sure Aden, Cairo, and Romeo would never do that to you. Am I right?"

Shaking my head, I threw in a small chuckle, "Oh, trust me they would not even bother. The only reason they are still buying me presents was only so that they could ask me for one too, once their birthday comes around."

"See!" Jack smirked, nodding along with my statement, "Finally, a sister who can be more understanding." He scoffed before he turned to say to me, "Thank god you are nothing like Giovanna and everything like your cousin."

"Whatever." Giovanna rolled her eyes dramatically and I laughed.

"Gi, you are so picky and whiney." Jack mocked, "Emma doesn't even give me as much trouble as you did when I forgot about her birthday and she is my wife."

"Well then, I guess senses and personalities do run in a family. My immaturity probably I get from you." Giovanna snorted.

"Speaking of Emma, where is she?" Out of nowhere, I decided to ask.

Emma, my closest cousin who had recently just got married to Jack. They had been engaged for almost a year before Jack finally figured things out with his business at home and the whole relocating his headquarter office, there came the official ceremony.

I was no doubt invited. I was her bridesmaid for the big day and I remembered exactly how grand and magnificent the wedding was. Emma was considered the lucky girl. Or so that was what my friends told me, heck she was married to one of the Luciano brothers. Even in my school, they were renounced for their good looks, and great accomplishments. They had all the young men among this generation looking up to them and young women thriving to better themselves so that they would be noticed. A bunch of girls in my class all had a crush on either one or all of Giovanna's brothers and thanked to that we were saved for many years from being bullied.

Because let me tell you that with my personality if Giovanna was not my best friend, I would probably, most likely be eating alone in the toilet during the lunch break.

"I heard my name?"

A quick smile etched across my face when my eyes met with a pair of dark blue orbs.

"Em!" I shrilled.

"Lolo, I've missed you!"

Throwing my arms around my cousin, I pulled her in a tight hug, and soon, we let go. She placed her head on the top of my head, brushing her fingers down slightly through my hair before she tucked it behind my ear like how my mama liked to do.

"So, what's up with you, beautiful?" She smirked, taking a seat beside me with her husband now standing to her side.

"I am good. A little busy with the graduation and also," London smiled while sparing a thought for her big day tomorrow, "My birthday dinner is next week. You and Jack will make it right?"

"Oh, please we wouldn't miss it for the world!" Emma cheered.

"Good."  I smiled.

As we continued to speak, I could not help it but noticed something off with my cousin. Hopefully, it had nothing to do with how touchy Jack was being with her. He constantly tapping his fingers on her thigh or sometimes even grasping it as if he was urging her to say something but Emma kept on pretending that she was unbothered. She told me about the new pets Jack bought for her on their anniversary. Two puppies and one cat. She even told me about how she was trying to convince him to get her a pony. Emma adored animals so much and it was no surprise, she naturally had a kind heart and a lively soul. Being at home full time now was probably boring her out and the only thing she could think of doing while her husband was out for work was probably to take care of her pets.

Out of a sudden, Emma began to trace her chapped lips with her finger. Her expression was clearly stating she was anxious about something. Given the topic of our discussion currently being a pony, I did not know what possibly could get her so nervous.

"Anyways, I am ranting far too much." She concluded, "I am actually here to tell you that your parents, they are asking for you."

The next thing I knew, the four of us went completely quiet. Jack and Giovanna sneakily stole a gaze at one another and then both of them looked at Emma and me.

"They send me down to get you so let's go." Emma rushed, "They are already waiting for you upstairs."

"Em, is everything alright?" I asked worriedly.

But instead of letting Emma answered my question, Giovanna had to step in.

"Nothing is wrong. I am sure." Giovanna quickly spoke, "Your parents probably just want to see you. Right, Emma?"

"But they just saw me at home before they left." I chuckled dryly, finding it weird how everyone was acting so abruptly.

"It is not a good idea to keep the adults waiting, London." Jack said. Immediately his tone changed. we were just talking nicely earlier and now all of the sudden, he looked at me with that dead serious eyes of his. His behavior was totally rising a red flag within me.

But as dumbfound and clueless as I was, I eventually found myself climbing up the stairs of Giovanna's home and headed toward wherever that Emma told me my parents were.

We soon reached the upper floor, and stopped right in front of the door which I recalled to be the entrance of the main study room.

Her hand grabbed the metal knob and she turned around one more time to ask me the weirdest question that could be asked at that single moment.

"Are you ready?"

I could feel my heart skip two beats at Emma's question but I nodded anyway. A tingling cold chill rushed down my spine when Emma twisted the knob and pushed the door open.

Observing the sight before me, I stood in the middle of the quiet room. And trust me, the word odd could not even cover it.