Fated to the Enemy.

| 6 | A reunion.

As we wait for the Verossi family, the room is charged with an unspoken tension. Uncle Sal, ever the cynic, scoffs, "No surprise they're late." He lets out, taking out a pack of cigars from his pocket and putting one in his mouth.

"They're not late; we are early. By 2 minutes," my father responds, glancing around the room with a subtle impatience just as my mother remains standing next to him, and she seems to be just as anxious as I feel to meet with the Verossies.

"Still, it's always better to arrive early for a meeting just so you're prepared," Uncle Sal continues, his gaze scanning our surroundings just as he brings a lighter to the tip of the cigar and lights it.

Cat, standing beside me, senses my nervousness, and steps in front of me, grabbing my attention.

"You okay?" she asks, genuine concern in her hazel eyes.

"I'm good, just nervous," I reply honestly, trying to maintain a calm exterior as I focus on how exactly I'm going to act during the meeting. No matter what I feel for the Verossies, I'll have to remain cordial and civil.

"I know. Everything will be okay," she reassures me, her words a comforting anchor just as Alessio nods as well. I then notice my mother step away from my father and instead make her way towards me

"Isabella," she says as soon as she reaches me, her tone a mix of instruction and expectation.

"Yes, Mom?" I respond, turning to face her just and Cat and Alessio step away to give the two of us some privacy. My mother watches as they walk away and that's when she focuses her attention back to me, beginning to fix my hair for me and examine me

"You need to showcase your elegance to the Verossi family. Make them see that you're a woman of class... and that you will make a magnificent bride for Angelo," she advises, her eyes holding a silent command. As she speaks I want to contest against her words. Is that all I am today, a bride to be handed over to our enemy? Still, regardless of my sentiments... I have a duty to my family...

I nod, understanding the gravity of her words and exhale slowly. The responsibility to make a lasting impression on the Verossi family weighs heavily on me. The seconds tick by, and the anticipation in the room grows. We are poised on the brink of a meeting that will shape the course of our lives...

The door remains closed, and my eyes drift to it, waiting for it to swing open and reveal the Verossi family. Each passing moment feels like an eternity as we stand in collective anticipation. The room is a canvas of emotions — nervous energy, silent conversations, and the unspoken hopes of two families converging on this momentous occasion.

My fingers fidget with the fabric of my dress as I take measured breaths, trying to steady my nerves, just as my mother returns to my father'/ side. The weight of expectations bears down on me, and I feel the eyes of my family on me, silently urging me to embody the grace and charm they believe I possess.

Suddenly, the door creaks open, and a hushed silence falls over the room. As our eyes land on the people that have opened the doors...

The people we have been waiting for all this time...

The Verossi family.

As the door swings open, a woman and a man stride into the room, and for a moment, they're just faces in the crowd. However, a flicker of recognition sparks in my mind. My father's discussions about the Verossi family come rushing back. The woman is Vittoria Moretti, the consigliera, and accompanying her is her husband, Vince Moretti. My memory aligns their presence with the stories I'd heard, painting a clearer picture of the Verossi figures before me.

Vittoria stands tall, her strength evident in every calculated step. She keeps her dark hair tightly secured in a high bun, her eyes brown and covered in dark eye makeup giving her a no-nonsense appearance. Her features are sharp and intense, reflecting the powerful role she plays in the Verossi family as the consigliera.

Vince Moretti, her husband, matches her intensity. His presence is equally imposing, with a stoic demeanor that mirrors Vittoria's no-frills attitude. He has short dark hair, his eyes also dark brown and his jawline cleanly shaven. Together, they form a commanding duo, exuding an air of authority that commands attention.

Behind them, the Verossi family's bodyguards file in, a strong presence in the room. Tension thickens as the moment everyone has been waiting for approaches.

Then, in walks the head of the Verossi family, Don Marco Verossi himself... my father's biggest rival...

His long black hair is neatly tied, and a thick beard frames his stern face. Donna Sophia Verossi, by his side, walks into the room elegantly with her tall stature and a serious gaze.

Both are dressed in a stark black-and-white color scheme, a visual representation of their family's signature colors and Donna Sophia's gray eyes contrast with Marco's piercing blue ones.

As they enter, I feel a surge of anxiety. Yet, I'm able to maintains my composure, standing close to my mother and father as the Verossi family takes their place.

Just when we think everyone has arrived... finally, one last person walks into the room...

The man I am fated to marry...

Angelo Verossi...

He enters the room, and this being the first time I am ever seeing him, I am immediately put into shock and awe. Into the room strides a tall and handsome man, carrying an air of quiet intensity. He is wearing an all black suit, his hair pitch black, just as dark as his mother's as well as bis light gray eyes. He has an aura of mystery around him that sends my heart racing and my anxiety deepening...

I didn't expect to feel this way when I meet him for the first time...

As Angelo walks into the room, his eyes dart to my direction and we lock eyes for a few moments, he slowly down his walking pace and carefully eyes me, just as he joins his parents at their positions at the designated table. Finally, after what seems like forever, we break eye contact, and once we do, I find myself blushing and looking down at the ground beneath me...

There's no way that's actually him... is it?

I finally brush off sudden attraction towards Angelo and bring my attention back to the rest of the people standing around us.

Don Marco, Donna Sophia, Angelo, Vitoria and Vance all stand together, their expressions cold and unreadable. The room becomes charged with animosity between our two families, but still we all remember why we have come here...

For peace.

In the silent exchange between the heads of the families, Don Marco finally breaks the silence, staring directly at my Father.

"So, Don Giovanni Romano, we finally meet again," he says, a subtle challenge in his tone as he eyes my father from head to toe, making his way over to him and his wife follows closely behind him.

My father responds evenly, "Yes, it seems." He lets out just as my father steps forward as well, my Mother remaining behind him.

"Don Verossi, thank you for agreeing to meet with us," My father tells him, his tone a mixture of courtesy and veiled tension.

"Of course," Don Marco's response is measured, his expression neutral as his stares back at my mother. I remain standing behind my parents, a few feet away from them as they converse with the Verossies, and thats when my curiosity gets the best of me, forcing me to look back at Angelo once again.

I find him staring right at me, and he seems mesmerised... continuing to stare back at be with his perfect lips slightly parted. I find myself blushing once again before turning mg attention back to my parents and their conversation, blinking rapidly as I try to relax my tense shoulders...