Chapter 1 - New Beginnings

New Beginnings

Graciously, I descended the stairs beside my fiancé, Clyde, into the grand ballroom of our family’s magnificent mansion.

Around fifty family members and business associates had gathered for a cocktail party to celebrate the recent acquisition of Mancini Global Estate. After months of negotiations, the other party eventually yielded to the influence of the Mancini’s and accepted their generous offer.

Tomorrow, Clyde and I would be relocating to the headquarters of this acquisition in Latin America, where we planned to live for several years. We were also excited about getting married there. So, all new beginnings.

My fiancé had my hand possessively in his as he looked down at our guests.

As a skilled businessman, Clyde had spearheaded this successful takeover. I supported him throughout the process as his assistant; yes, my fiancé and I worked together in his office. There had never been any tension or competition between us; our great understanding was the foundation of our strong relationship.

We took the final steps, my signature smile plastered on my face.

And that worked like a charm. Everyone relaxed and smiled, making the atmosphere much calmer than it had been just moments ago. I acted as a bridge between the formal, aristocratic family and their associates. People usually seemed intimidated or impressed by the Mancinis until I showed up with my angelic face, as Clyde once noted.

Clyde referred to me as the Queen of the Family.

He believed that the clan's reputation wouldn't be as stellar without our engagement. I often teased him, asking if that was the reason he loved me. But I was convinced of Clyde's genuine love for me; it ran as deep as my own feelings for him. Plenty of equally wealthy heiresses were potential choices for him, yet he had been solely focused on me since we first met two years ago. Now we were both so ready to take the next step in our relationship.

"My dear Queen Joanna, you look enchanting once more. Seeing you reminds me of how old I am," joked my mother-in-law Mariam as she kissed me on both cheeks. Yes, I got along wonderfully with my in-laws, who affectionately referred to me as the Queen just like Clyde did.

Funny actually, when you saw how great my mother-in-law and sister-in-law looked. They seemed just as young as I was; they didn't seem to age at all. I met Natali in college, and after we graduated, she introduced me to her brother. From that moment on, I was off the dating market. Clyde quickly claimed me for himself, always marking his territory by holding my hand in public. God, I was utterly in love with my fiancé; life without him would be unimaginable.

"Mariam, you know that’s not true. We could easily be mistaken for sisters. You, Natali, and me," I returned the compliment, which was definitely the truth. She then took me by the hand and introduced me to the female guests while Clyde focused on entertaining the men. That’s how these parties typically went; the men delved into conversations about business matters, annual reports, industry newcomers, and politics.

As their partners, we ensured that the profits from their hard work were reinvested into the economy by supporting other businesses with our massive purchases. Just kidding!

No, you wouldn't find any gold-diggers here; in fact, and unbelievably, it was quite the opposite. We all were decent and educated women, holding degrees from well-known universities where most of us graduated magna cum laude. But our husbands convinced us to be their best other half, so we often juggled roles as assistants or blended duties between mothering and assisting. And the rest of the time, we made sure we looked beautiful and presentable.

Mariam took me on a tour of familiar faces in the room, all elegantly dressed in the latest Paris haute couture. That's how our circle operated, stylish and ahead of trends. Mariam and I were known as trendsetters within this group. Here's a little secret, don't tell anyone, but we hadn't spent a penny on our clothes. Designers sent them to us for free, knowing that their cash register would ring pretty loud when we appeared in public in one of their creations. I wasn't quite sure how this worked since not many women saw us at the parties, but Mariam once assured me that the photos of us reaching all the social media platforms provided enough buzz to make it an effective marketing move.

"Are you ready to leave, Joanna? Are you certain about settling there and being grounded?" Sybille inquired. "It's a whole new culture and environment. Little socialite." She was a cousin of Clyde's with an ever-present smile but watchful eyes that never let their guard down. Although she seemed about my age, her timeless appearance was typical of her family, accentuated by striking fire-red hair that made her stand out effortlessly. The Mancini family disapproved of her extravagant lifestyle and lack of responsibility; the jet set life meant everything to Sybille, a little socialite through and through.

Even though she never explicitly said so, her manner of addressing me made it clear that she was not particularly fond of me. There was always something overbearing in their eyes when they were set on me. I came from a modest background, and it was Clyde who introduced me to their circle. Sybille evidently had someone else in mind for her cousin. Well, too bad, in a few months I would be promoted from fiancé to madam.

"Sybille," I acknowledged her presence and raised my glass in her direction. "The only thing I needed to adjust to was Clyde. When I was with him, everything felt right and nothing could go wrong. He was the center of my universe."

For a moment, her eyes appeared to shift in color. However, I was not paying attention to it; apparently, it was something that ran in the family. Their eye color shifted based on their emotions, ranging from bright blue to deep blue and even turning pitch black when they got into a heated discussion or were angry.

"Oh, how romantic! Have you already picked a date for the wedding? I'm definitely going to be there. I can't miss seeing my most eligible cousin finally tie the knot," she exclaimed.

"She's already reeled me in. The marriage is merely a formality, as Joanna has been the Queen for two years now." All eyes turned to Clyde standing behind me as he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close...