Chapter 3 Family Meeting

The meeting was to be held in Leo's family home. It was a tradition held once every six months to catch up on family members, discuss business progress and to show respect to the head of the family, Antonio Moretti, Leo's father.

My role in all of it was simple; sit still and look pretty, and I had always learned to excel at it. That morning too, Leo had called in a professional make up artist to doll me up. The dress my mother-in-law chose for me was perfect, a deep blue silk with the prettiest white flowers. Leo, being the jealous man he was, had always been against me wearing revealing outfits, so it went all the way to my heels and it had a long sleeve made of a lighter material.

Leo loved my long hair so it was always left flowing down my back. He also loved gold accessories, and I had grown to accept it. My neck, wrists and fingers were adorned with bright heavy jewelry to stand out as the wife of the first son- which I always did.

I sat next to Leo, my back straight and a practiced smile on my face. Not too wide that it looked stupid, and not too small that it looked fake. Just right. Just the way I always did.

"Leo, how have things been at the company?" Antonio asked, his deep voice filling the whole room.

"Very good sir."

Leo smiled so brightly that I couldn't test my eyes off his face. He explained how he had been getting new contracts and deals, his pride-filled smile never leaving his face.

It was moments like this I loved most, the times when he wasn't wearing the strains of our marriage on his face. When he could just smile as freely and as happily as he did when I fell in love with him. But even as he smiled, the light never reached me anymore.

"And Elysium Autos?"

For some reason, I became very attentive when I heard that name. My heart skipped a beat and I could feel my cheeks flush, either out of anger or embarrassment. I looked at Leo, as if his reply would provide me with the answers to my curiosity.

"Good news as well sir. The CEO will be flying into the country by month end and we should finalize the deal by then."

That wasn't what I wanted to hear, but there was nothing I could do. Asking him was clearly out of the option, and there was no way I could use my phone at such a moment.

At exactly two minutes past twelve, the formal meeting finally ended. I knew because I'd been watching the slow, deliberate ticking of the clock the entire time, counting down each second like it might somehow set me free.

Antonio retreated to the inner part of the living room, leaving the siblings and spouses to mingle.

"Leo, I haven't seen you in a while." Isabella, Leo's older sister walked up to him smiling brightly.

He matched her energy as he hugged her, lifted her and spun around. "I see you're doing well."

"Oh well, what can I say?"

They made small talk, laughing and playing around, and eventually left me seated there like a doll that had been turned off, waiting for its master's orders.

"Is that Leo's wife?"

I heard a woman say somewhere behind me, but I didn't recognize the voice. The masculine voice that replied however, was one I could never forget.

"She's hot, isn't she? Too bad that's the only thing she's good for." The hurtful comment was made by none other than Louis, Leo's younger brother. "She doesn't do anything other than to sit around all day and spend my brother's money." He added, intentionally trying to get under my skin.

"Why not just get a job?" The woman asked. Whether it was out of curiosity or mockery, I didn't know.

"Isn't it obvious? She's a gold digger!" The other part was said louder than was necessary for a conversation between two people.

Leo stopped his chat with Isabella and glanced at me. "Go and stay with mother." He said simply.

Grateful for having a reason to leave the room, I smiled and immediately went in, ignoring the continued mockery going on behind me.

"What are you doing mom?" I found her in the kitchen, humming to herself.

"Making tea for Antonio, help me."

We stayed quiet for the first few minutes, but then she suddenly spoke up. "Why do you let Caleb's babysitter attend all his school events? People will start to wonder if she's his mother."

I looked her in the eyes, confusion and something else filling mine. Anger?

"Doesn't Leo attend his school events?"

"No." Almost as if she realized something, she quickly added. "Don't worry about it too much. Leo cares about you a lot and just doesn't want any stress for you."

Even though I wanted to argue, to tell her she was wrong, and that I would want more than anything to be able to be there for my son when he needs me, the only response I could give was an uncertain nod.

She placed the ready tea in my hands and asked me to serve my father-in-law.

My mind had gone blank from what I had just heard but I still walked forward. I dropped to my knees and placed the tray on the table. I poured the right amount of tea into the tiny ceramic cup and handed it to him.

He took a tiny sip and exclaimed loudly. "Are you trying to kill me?!"

His reaction momentarily snapped me out of my thoughts. "What's wrong father -" before I could finish my sentence, the hot liquid in the cup had been splashed all over me, burning my face.

"How do you expect me to drink something so hot?" He complained. "What kind of wife doesn't know how to make tea? Is this how nonchalantly you're treating my son?!"

'But I didn't make the tea.'

That was what I should have said, instead I bowed my head. "I'm deeply sorry, father."

"Get this nonsense out of my sight." In one swift movement, the entire tray-tea and all- had been thrown to the ground.

The noise must have gotten the attention of the others, because Leo walked in, scanning the room for an explanation. When he found me on the floor, he sighed and walked back out.

As I stared at the perfectly broken porcelain, it felt like it mirrored something in me.

I didn't know why but holding back my tears proved to be impossible at that moment. To keep Antonio from seeing, I kept my head bowed as I cleaned up the mess.

I could hear him mutter angrily as he walked away. Only after he had left the room did Sharon allow herself to move towards me.

"Are you okay dear?" She held my shoulders, as if she could see the tremors in them. "Things like this happen, don't let it get to you."

I couldn't find any words to express myself so I just stared at her.

I couldn't tell if she understood my feelings or not, but she hugged me, patting my back.