DINNERTIME

Ariana’s pov~

Exactly ten minutes later, Silvio was leading me through the hotel lobby, I saw Aleid shoot me a confused look, but I couldn't tell her anything.

After all, I was just as confused too, then I saw her leave where she stood and walked towards us and stop us in our tracks.

She had a gentle smile as she waved at me.

 “Are you checking out ma'am? I already have everything ready for the trip you asked for, to see the locals” she mentioned, looking at me intently as she spoke.

 I smiled before looking at Silvio, searching for answers to this question.

“Let's see how it goes after tonight, excuse me” he replied, moving past her and walking out of the revolving door.

We got to the Mercedes Benz the valet had brought up front, I stopped just after he smiled and opened the car door.

“I'm not going Silvio if you and Mateo want to kill each other then go ahead and do so, but I don't want to be dragged into it, I want to stay at the hotel” I started, I watched his reaction, he clenched the door he held open for me tightly.

“Get in Ariana, it ends today” he declared, gesturing for me to get in, I didn't move, I stayed in the exact spot I stood, too scared for what the next few minutes or hours would look like.

Too scared to face my husband after frolicking with another man just to find out he wanted to kill his child.

I watched as Silvio’s eyes switched from the once soulful soft eyes to the murderous gaze he now looked at me with.

He grabbed my arm forcefully and squeezed it tightly,

 “you're hurting me! ” I cried in pain as I tried to free myself from his strong hands but it was of no use.

“I don't have time for this! Get in! Now!” he thundered, gently nudging me into the car.

My heart raced exponentially, this wasn't the man who kissed me, this wasn't the man I'd known these past few days.

This is the real Silvo Argento…..

I whimpered softly as I sat quietly at the back of the car, Silvio soon joined me and soon we were on our way to my uncertain future.

A parley… who will own me after this? 

Who will die tonight?

Half an hour later we got to a remote location, a private estate, it was well decorated and the landscape around it looked like the ones back home in Italy.

“Where are we?” I asked looking at Silvio, he didn't respond, he looked stoic and gave off this sense of unbothered.

It worried me, I thought of Mateo, how did he find me so fast?

But deep inside me I was glad he came, I felt this overwhelming shame overtake me as I reflected on my choices these past few days.

As we stopped in front of the porch of a beautifully painted exterior of a mansion, I saw a well-dressed lady come out, she wore a long gown that looked like a traditional English gown from ages ago. She had this permanent smile plastered on her face as she hurriedly approached us.

“Welcome! Welcome! Don Silvio” she exclaimed as she spread her arms.

Silvio helped me out of the car and I stood behind him.

“Duchess” he called out softly, I watched as she clung onto him and grabbed him tightly.

Then she turned to look at me, her grim widened and she pulled me in for a hug.

“And you must be the prize,” she started, she pulled my cheek lightly, and I pulled away from her immediately and shot her a warning look.

“No need to be feisty, miss, I'm Duchess, I'm going to be your host, welcome to my dukedom!” she grinned again waving her hand over the beautifully decorated landscape and Victorian-themed mansion that stood before us.

“Come in come in, let me take you to your rooms” She smiled, clapped her hand and three other men came bustling out from the mansion’s doors.

“Have the others arrived?” Silvio asked, he glanced at me before looking back at the Duchess.

“Nope, you are the first guests” she responded, 

One of the men led me and Silvio in and soon we were on our way to separate corners of the mansion.

“Dinner is by 8 pm, the maid will be by, with everything you will need to be in attendance” he said, he didn't wait for a reply before leaving me In this Victorian-themed room.

I was able to catch some sleep before the maid came in, with her she brought fresh clothes for me and a new packaged pair of shoes that were my exact size.

I soon got dressed wearing a long red off-shoulder gown with a slit that passed the knee, and headed for the dinner table where a surprise awaited me.

The servant led me through the stairs and we got to a wide open space decorated with gold.

 It also had a Victorian royalty theme, the table was long, almost reaching the other corner of the room.

Silvio was already there sitting at the end at the left side.

The servant pulled my seat out as I sat a few seats away opposite Silvio whose eyes didn't leave my body.

“You look ravishing” he started leaning into the dinner table,

 “After tonight I will own you” he finished, I gulped and swallowed hard.

My child would be dead by morning if Silvio wins this parley or whatever the hell it is.

“Not if I kill you first” I heard a voice call from behind me as footsteps followed me entering the dining hall, I turned to see my husband.

He wore a loose halfway buttoned shirt as usual, with a rolled-up sleeve, he didn't look different, rather he had this worried look on his face as he approached me.

He looked at me intently as walked up to me, he smiled softly as his eyes sought mine after he said,

“Are you okay bambino?, always running off aren't you” he managed a devious grin as he touched my belly lightly and looked at Silvio.

I was speechless, seeing Mateo here, sent shivers down my spine, too afraid that he would find out my sins 

“I know what you did Silvio, You tried to have my child killed!” he started, I looked at Silvio and waited for his reaction to this accusation.

He was uneasy in his seat but his face remained fixed and unchanged as he muttered

 “I don't know what you are talking about” he lied, I watched as his gaze averted mine.

Mateo was pissed, he whipped out his gun and Silvio sprung up and did the same.

“I paid you a billion dollars, I bought her fair and square, You have crossed the line Argento” Mateo started, his tone laced with pure murderous anger, reminding me that I was property to be claimed.

Property to fight over, but still I remained calm.

“You took what was mine! You fucked my woman, on the day of our engagement, YOU crossed the line!”  Silvio thundered angrily as he cocked his gun.

“Boys!” I heard the duchess call out in her soft soprano voice as she waltzed into the dining hall,

 “Now you know the rules of a parley, this is neutral grounds, No toys,” she said, grinning from ear to ear as she passed both men taking away their guns.

“How did this get past security?” she asked looking at both of them, they looked away and she rested her eyes on me.

“No touching the prize until the parley is over, surely Don Donatelli you know the rules” she stated, Mateo winked at me and walked towards where the duchess had pointed for him to sit.

“I believe we can begin, I would like to slice his head off and get it over with ” Silvio announced as he shot dagger eyes directly at Mateo whose eyes were fixed on him.

The duchess laughed heartily and clung to Silvio again.

 “Of course not silly!” she laughed again.

“We are waiting for one last person” she informed.

“The mediator” she finally said, just as she did the doorbell rang.

“Ohhh I think he just arrived!” she exclaimed happily, she skipped out of the hall like a skittish love-drunk teenager and soon we heard her laughing heartily with someone.

He sounded like a man, I was curious about this parley, I had never heard of such a tradition, I never knew it existed.

Who is this mediator?

I soon heard footsteps come in, my heart sank as I sprang up in shock, I couldn't move as I clenched the tablecloth.

My father walked in, he looked at me sternly with the usual disgust I'm his eyes.

“You always find ways to disgrace our family name don't you, daughter”