Twelve.
2020 Words
Georgia stood in front of the massive intricately carved mahogany doors, trying to steady her breathing and ease the chaos she felt within.
She could already hear the soft chatters coming from the room, and to her dismay the sound of cutlery against ceramic. They hadn't even bothered to wait for her to join in before they started to eat. Which clearly showed their attitudes towards her that they tried to hide earlier.
Suddenly the apprehension she felt disappeared, and instead anger took root. Why? She wondered, would she allow her peace of mind to be disturbed by such people? She knew what they were like, so why did she bother so much? Whatever she did, they would never like or accept her, so she shouldn't let their actions affect her like this. With a deep breath, she pushed open the massive doors, her face a mask of confident allure.
The grand dining hall was as opulent as it had been when she saw it earlier, with its high ceilings and crystal chandeliers casting a soft, warm light over the long dining table. Her family was already seated, her grandmother, the matriarch, at the head of the table. As she entered, the room fell silent, and all eyes turned toward her.
"Georgia, darling," the matriarch said, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness. "You're finally here. We were about to start without you."
Georgia took a few seconds to look down at Isadora's plate which contained a half eaten mush she couldn't recognize, and the others who already had their meal plated and were evidently eating, before she simply gave Isadora a curt nod in response and walked to her designated seat, taking her place at the table, subtly noticing Anthony's absence.
Mariah, privy to Georgia's casual observance of their plates, couldn't help but speak up, "well don't mind us Georgia, it's just in this family, we value rules above anything. Dinner was 7 sharp, you certainly didn't expect us to wait while you had an emotional reunion with an old maid did you?"
Georgia paused, turning her sharp gaze towards Mariah, who looked at her with a provocative smirk that begged her to start a scene. She knew they had eyes and ears all over the villa, but it hadn't been more than a few minutes since she's left Martha, to think news had already reached their ears was shocking to say the least.
"Of course not, Aunt. As a guest, it was rude of me to have kept you waiting, please forgive me." Georgia smiled apologetically outward, while she grinned triumphantly inside.
Mariah gnashed her teeth as her smirk dropped, her expression dark she glowered at Georgia wondering when she had gotten so sly. With one sentence she had reminded them that she was the guest, and they had been extremely rude and against etiquette to have started to eat without her.
"Well..I wouldn't call you a guest Georgie..seeing as how, you hadn't exactly been invited.." Amelia quickly came to her mother's rescue, and said, feeling quite good about herself for coming up with the clever reply.
"Mariah, Amelia, enough of that." Isadora, seeing things begin to get out of control interjected, as she frowned hatefully at her foolish daughter and her stupid child.
"Sorry, Mother." Noticing her mother's displeasure, Mariah hurriedly apologized. She couldn't afford to be at her bad side at this critical time. Looking at her sons, she gripped her hand against the tableware and shot an apologetic smile towards Georgia.
Georgia watched silently, taking note of the silent communication between the matriarch and her aunt, and noticing her aunt's easy defeat. Mariah had always respected the matriarch and followed her rules, but not to this extent.
"Well shall we eat? Some of us have places to be." Henry spoke up, an annoyed look on his face uncaring of the matriarch's reaction. Which said plenty to Georgia that they hadn't realized.
"Let's." Isadora said and with that the dinner resumed.
Georgia looked down at her plate of lasagna and couldn't summon up an appetite for the delectable meal. But she still forced herself to pick up the fork, careful in choosing the right one and dug in. All the while, aware of her mother's steely gaze boring into her. She hadn't acknowledged either of her parents as she walked in, and quite frankly, she wasn't eager to do so. And again she noticed the absence of her “beloved” twin sister.
"Is Alexia not joining us?" Georgia against better judgement had asked, unable to contain her curiosity.
The mood immediately shifted at her words, and everybody's movements stopped. Seeing this, Georgia paused her movements too and turned to look around at the various shocked and angry faces around the table in confusion.
"Don't you dare speak of my daughter with your filthy mouth.." a silent voice hissed, and she was shocked to discover it had been her mother. The expression on her face one of extreme hatred and despair as she glared.
"W-what?" Georgia stuttered in genuine dismay. She knew it was only a matter of time before her mother blew, but she was still startled by the venom in her response.
The room was filled with a heavy, tense silence as all eyes remained fixed on her mother, who seemed on the verge of losing her composure. No she already had. Her father drew the shaking woman to his chest, embracing her silently as he too shot an accusing look at Georgia.
"Am sorry, but what the hell is going on? Is it so terrible to ask about my sister?" Georgia couldn't help but ask, recalling Amelia's reaction from earlier too.
Victoria's hands trembled as she clung to her husband, her anger and fear palpable. She seemed to struggle for words, her voice quivering as she finally spoke, "You have no right to mention her name. You don't belong here. Your presence is a stain upon this family."
Georgia was taken aback by the vehement response, and her mind raced with even more questions. She sat in stunned silence, trying to process the unexpected open hostility from her mother and the overwhelming tension in the room. It was evident that something significant had occurred in her absence, something that had deeply affected her family's dynamic.
“Georgia..” Isadora spoke up, her false adoring look she had worn earlier wiped off, as she looked at Georgia with a rigid expression, her sharp gaze trained on her.
“You’re a smart girl, am sure you’ve noticed..things have been..a bit out of sorts here..” Isadora continued, leaning back against her chair as if to further assert her dominance as she spoke condescendingly to Georgia.
“You see..the business, has been having some difficulties..” Isadora's tone was laden with vague implications, leaving Georgia to wonder what could possibly have gone so wrong with the family business.
The Valentino Corporation dealt primarily in real estate. They owned luxurious resorts, hotels, and private islands, which were often considered the epitome of wealth and prestige. They had a reputation for their wealth and their tight-knit, secretive family business operations.
Georgia listened intently, her curiosity piqued. "Difficulties with the business? What kind of difficulties?" She couldn't help but press for more information.
Isadora's lips curled into a sinister smile, “My dear, we have some bad debts, some unpaid dues that should have been collected a while ago... and the things, oh the things... we’ve had to do to protect this family.”
Troubles with the business? But why would that warrant the weird behavior to her? Or Anthony’s strangeness just earlier, or even his absence. Something wasn’t adding up. And frankly the failing business had little to do with her, as she wasn’t to inherit a penny from the Valentino name, it’s rise or fall wasn’t any of her business.
"So, what does this have to do with Alexia?" Georgia questions, looking purposefully at her mother as she said her sister’s name.
Victoria shot her another glare, as Georgia expected, before she was soothed by her husband before she could make a scene in front of everyone and have the matriarch reprimand her. This was a delicate time. They had to thread lightly.
“Oh you see..Alexia, oh poor darling alexia, was supposed to lift the family’s troubles completely..she was our only hope to save the Valentino House..oh how unfortunate..” This time Isadora hadn’t faked her distress as she mentioned Alexia, everything would’ve been perfect..if only that hadn’t happened.
Georgia almost barked out a laughter at that. Alexia saving the business? Of all people, it was Alexia that had the power to save the business? It was so f*****g laughable. The Alexia she had remembered hadn’t wanted any part in the making of the family wealth, all she knew was the spending part. So how could such a person be expected to save the business?
“Why is it unfortunate? And how exactly was she to save the business?” Georgia leaned back, taking note of the grim atmosphere in speculation. Did something terrible happened to Alexia? She tried not to let the slight joy she felt show.
“Donovan Giambelli.” Isadora spoke the name like sin. Practically hissing it out, her face turning extra sinister for just a second, her thin lips stretched wide in a creepy smile as she looked unblinkingly at Georgia.
A man? Oh now she knew how Alexia could save the business. Whoever this unfortunate man was, she mused he probably was to wed her sister, and probably with his fortune, save their doomed enterprise.
She almost laughed once again at the idea. Alexia Valentino in an arranged marriage. And she wondered who the poor sap willing to live the rest of his life with Alexia would be. She hadn’t for once entertained the idea that her sister could change. Someone so inherently wicked, could never.
“Congratulations to her then!” Georgia clapped her hands with a sarcastic grin on her face.
“Bitch..” A barely audible whisper came from the side, and she glanced to the direction of her cousins, knowing it had come from one of them. And from the disinterest look of the two and one heated one, she could guess who had said it.
“But you see Georgia..Alexia had met with an unfortunate accident earlier in the year and had been in a coma ever since.”
The words hung heavily in the air as Isadora delivered the shocking news. Georgia's eyes widened, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words. Alexia, in a coma? It was beyond her comprehension. She suddenly felt bad for the totally justified thought she had of her just earlier. But she couldn’t summon up any stronger feelings than that.
“That’s gotta suck. How come I didn’t know about this?” Georgia asks, she wasn’t going to pretend the news bothered her a great deal. Alexia was a terrible person, and she had been even worse to Georgia.
Victoria remained silent, but her clenched fists and trembling shoulders revealed her own anguish. Isadora continued with an eerie calm, "It was a private matter. It only concerned family."
Ha! There it is! Georgia chuckled, finally an acknowledgment. She was getting a bit creeped out by her false niceties. Like come on Grandma, you was the one that disowned your 16 year old grand daughter, why you acting like we were the best of friends?
“So how exactly is Alexia going to save the business if she’s in a coma?” Georgia c****d her head to ask, her manner uncaring as if she were talking about the weather.
“She’s not. But you are, Georgie.” The matriarch’s softly delivered word had Georgia looking at her as if she grew another head. Like hell, was the old lady going senile? Or had she been smoking something? She had no interest in saving a business she was no part of.
“You would save this family, Georgia. You shall marry Donovan Giambelli, in your sisters stead.”
- Writer
