Loving a Mobster

It was just another day when everything became a jumble of things to sort out and all because of one person, Vidia. Her complete irresponsibility when it came to work got me into trouble once again.

She, Vidia Rui and Giulia Ghin, me, her best friend - and the only one capable of putting up with her instability - opened a fashion company three years ago. I came up with the idea, set up the entire company structure and also made all the stock. But Vidia came in with the most important part, the money.

I'm the CEO of our company, but she's the partner. And a partner should help the CEO put the company in order, which she doesn't do. And it all got even worse when she called me last week and said she was engaged, engaged to a man she'd known for less than a month.

What kind of person gets married after a month? Was she pregnant? Although that's no reason to get married. What really matters is that she left me alone again with a lot of things to do.

Who in their right mind would marry someone they barely know? After all, what century is this? That's why I didn't turn down her wedding invitation, I needed to make sure that my friend wasn't walking into a trap. I'd see if the guy was any good and if he wasn't worthy of her, I'd kick his ass and then lock her in a room until she came to her senses, the plan was perfect!

[***]

I stopped staring at the place with my mouth open, since I'd been standing like that long enough and if anyone was watching me they'd think I wasn't very normal. I'm really not, but I like to lie and pretend that I'm ordinary at the start of relationships.

I walked to the entrance of the place and rang the bell that seemed to be able to pay off all my debts, meaning I couldn't even pay for the door handle.

The door soon opened to reveal a lady with a lot of splay in her hair, which looked like a piruca. Her hairstyle was about 50 years out of date and her clothes were not far behind. The woman looked like Queen Elizabeth, only with a lot of plastic surgery and smelling of cigars. She looked me up and down and made a disgusted face, in short, the way rich people look at poor people.

"I don't want to buy anything. She said, turning her face away and trying to close the door.

"I'm not a saleswoman, I'm Vidia's friend". I explain, holding the door and stopping her from closing it.

The woman looks me up and down again, now with a debauched smile. She finally laughs sarcastically and rolls her eyes. "She couldn't roll her eyes any more if she didn't have them," I think.

"I'm not surprised you're her guest." She fakes a kind smile and my politeness forces me to fake it too. "Come in and welcome." The woman speaks automatically.

"Thank you!" I say, picking up my bags and going inside. "Where is..."

The old plastic bag was no longer there, it had evaporated into thin air and left me without a map. How would I find Vidia in that huge place? I couldn't just wander around and risk going where I didn't belong.

Then I saw a tall, very thin figure coming down the stairs. For a minute I was confused about what she looked like, but I soon realized that it was Vidia.

"Giulia!" She says politely, hugging me and giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"Vidia?" I looked at her as if she had been abducted.

Vidia wasn't delicate, let alone polite. She was the kind of person that everyone knew when she arrived at a place, laughed out loud and hugged like a bear. One of the things I love most about her was her spontaneity.

"You look beautiful in those shorts and blouse. Vidia said, giving me a forced smile.

What?

"I think I'm in the wrong house. I conclude, after all, it's the only logical explanation for the situation.

"Don't be silly, I'm your Vidia and you're my Giulia, my bridesmaid late bar". She gives me the friendliest smile.

"What happened to you? Are they torturing you?" I ask with a half-smile, making her smile too. "Did they tie you to a chair and tell you about Italian culture?"

"I'd forgotten how funny it is." She turns serious and heads up the stairs.

"You saw me less than a month ago." I say, following her.

"It's been a month and 14 days since I met Fernando". She says with a silly smile.

Vidia walked up the stairs in silence. She was wearing a gray dress that highlighted all the curves of her body, sensual but elegant. The dress must have cost more than my mortgage.

Vidia was also wearing high heels, even though she was an enemy of heels. She walked with her head held high and with a rather snobbish air. How much can a person change in a month and fourteen days?

"I was so happy when you told me you were coming, my wedding would only be complete with my friend and everyone I love at it. It's going to be a dream. He says as soon as he enters a room and sits down on the bed. "You're staying here for the next fifteen days". He says, proudly showing the room.

"What do you mean fifteen days?" I ask, my voice a little high.

"My wedding won't take place for another fortnight, silly, there's still a lot to do." He explains with a smile.

"Vidia, I can't stay that long and you know it. We're nearing the end of the month, do you know how much I have to do?" I ask in despair as Vidia looks at me with all the calm in the world. "Who's to say we'll have all the pieces without my support there? I thought your wedding was tomorrow or three days from now at the latest."

"Giulia, calm down. He says, touching my shoulders and looking me in the eye. "You've deserved a vacation for a long time and your store won't disappear without you there."

"Is it Vidia? Is it?" I ask ironically.

[***]

I was at the wedding reception dinner, where all the groomsmen and bridesmaids were. There was no one I knew there and I knew that Vidia didn't know those people. I sighed and concentrated on my food, as everyone seemed too involved in their own futile worlds.

Soon two large men entered the dining room and walked towards Fernando. I couldn't help but stare, but then I saw Fernando's face form into a grimace and he stood up startled.

Vidia gets up and they talk in whispers. Fernando soon leaves with the men and Vidia forces a smile. Fernando has just earned himself a negative point on my list: who leaves their own wedding reception?

"Friends." Vidia spoke while still standing, drawing everyone's attention. "Something's come up, so Fernando and I are going to be absent". She says a little awkwardly. "But please, enjoy the reception."

Vidia sends the waiters in with food and drink. Everyone seemed not to have noticed the whole situation. I followed, to see if anything had happened. Vidia passed through the kitchen and went straight into a "reception room". She stopped in a corner and started crying, and I made as little noise as possible. I watched her for a few moments and confirmed my theory that she wasn't well.

"Vidia?" I draw her attention.

Vidia quickly straightens her posture and wipes away her tears, turning to me with a fake smile.

"You're missing the reception." Her smile was wide and anyone who didn't know her would say it was real. "I just need a minute and I'll be better soon". She said, turning away again.

"What's the matter?" I ask carefully, afraid of her reaction.

"Everything's perfect, Giulia." She replies a little loudly, with arrogance. "Everything's perfect." He whispers this time.

I approach her, heartbroken to see her like that. The hardest thing of all was not knowing why. So I just hugged her, trying, somehow, to take some of her pain away. Vidia turned to face me and hugged me. As if she was desperate for that kind of affection.

I just squeezed her to me, feeling her need for comfort and silence. Soon, Vidia calmed down and wiped her tears again. She redid her posture again, as if she had become someone else.

"I don't think I can cope with so many emotions". She apologized and laughed. "I'm better."

I just stared at her, seeing how Vidia could win an Oscar with her performance. But I was sure there was something wrong with this story.

"I'm going to my room, I need to calm down". She said without humor, seeing me serious. "Come back and enjoy the reception."

Vidia says and simply leaves. I stood there, trying not to get angry with Fernando.