Ugly Ronney: mafia romance [English]

Chapter 18-5

It was past eight o'clock and we were, with Peter, the only employees still at Camilia's house. In this room where everything sparkled with white, every detail was thought to be following the current trends: the suede armchairs, the flowers, the frames, the thick carpet, and even the room fragrance. It was Peter's favorite room.

Camilia's assistant, sitting comfortably, was looking through a celebrity magazine, searching for articles about the Khan family.

"Can I get these pumps off my feet? This is torture for me."

With my hands on my hips, I waited for his answer, which never came. I had been walking across the room for more than half an hour with Peter barking at me whenever I lost my rhythm.

"You wanted to keep that horrible sweater, which makes my eyes bleed every time they land on it. Don't count on me to be merciful tonight."

I looked up at the ceiling.

"And what are you going to do? Make me stand all night? I have to go home to eat and sleep."

Peter answered me in a bored voice without looking up from his magazine.

"I'm waiting for a friend of mine, Zeus. He will tell me what is wrong with your walk. He's worked with some of the most famous models. You'll see, he's quite impressive. Just don't look him in the eye too long. Stress gives him hives."

I protested with indignation, "Are you serious? I'm not going to make a fool of myself in front of your friends. I'm not a fair animal!"

"Watch your language, young lady."

Peter finally raised his head and stood up to face me.

"If you made an effort, you'd already be home drinking your carton of soup! I've been working hard for three months to give you the grace of a woman of the world. You're hopeless."

"I'd rather scrub public toilets all day than wear these shoes to charity events."

Peter raised his finger in front of him.

"One day, Ronney, you'll thank me. Anyway, I'm not giving you a choice. It's either this, or you're keeping your braces for decades to come."

I was about to reply when I heard the bedroom door open.

"Zeus!" exclaimed Peter, overjoyed.

I squinted and shook my head to make sure I wasn't dreaming. A dwarf! Peter's friend Zeus was a dwarf. His stern features and slightly crooked nose made him seem unfriendly. He approached me, looking suspicious, as if I were the strangest person he had ever seen in his life. His auburn hair was tied back in a ponytail that went all the way down his back.

"Ah, yes, indeed," he whispered, turning to Peter.

"I warned you, Zeus."

"Well, the beast doesn't look mean."

The beast? The dwarf was treating me like an animal! I could feel my anger rising.

"There's a problem in the swing of her pelvis," Peter explained in a low voice.

Zeus wrinkled his forehead before examining me again and then made a first diagnosis.

"Many factors can be at the origin of this: a balance problem, lack of vitamins, even her chakras. Maybe she's just frigid. It wouldn't surprise me."

I couldn't believe it! I opened my mouth, but Peter cut me off.

"No, there's activity. She slept with the Khan son, the Y."

Zeus opened wide, scandalized eyes. His mouth formed a perfect circle. Unable to contain my anger any longer, I protested, "I'm right here, okay? Stop pretending I can't hear you! Who do you think you are?"

Zeus, with a worried look on his face, questioned Peter again in a low voice.

"Does the beast get angry often? Maybe that's where the problem is."

I snatched the newspaper from Peter's hands and threw it in his friend's face. He had just enough time to protect himself with his arms.

"Hey, dwarf, I'm Ronney!" I roared. "I'm a human being!"

I crossed my arms over my chest and turned my face away. Peter cleared his throat.

"Ronney, cut the diva attitude. Zeus is here to help and he has very little time for us. We need to get back to our group, which is meeting tonight at the gym for a Jack Off Party. Zeus hosts the event every week."

I turned to look at them.

"What's a Jack Off Party?"

Peter, uncomfortable, began to look away. Zeus straightened up and puffed his chest out, coughing to buy time. Their attitude aroused my curiosity. My eyes darted back and forth between them. There was no way I was going to let them get away with it. Not after all the crap they had thrown at me.

"It's for men," Zeus said, pulling up his jeans.

"A dating club for singles?" I insisted.

"It's a masturbation club," said Peter, frustrated.

I stopped breathing. It couldn't be. I must have heard wrong. Shocked, I tried to say a few words, but only managed to say, "Really?"

"Yes," said Peter. "We sit in a circle and masturbate our neighbor. It's a great relaxation and confidence-building exercise. It's a very beneficial activity."

I swallowed the saliva that had built up in my mouth before twisting my face in disgust. I chased away the images of Peter and his friend sitting in a circle doing this surreal practice.

"But can't you do it alone, at home, like everyone else?"

Peter rolled his eyes.

"Do you really think it would be the same? Don't be so offended. These kinds of clubs exist all over the United States. Jack Off Parties are a very common activity."

"Okay, I think I've heard enough for today." Shocked, I sat down on a chair and turned my eyes to Peter. "Can I go home? I really need to take a long shower and get the horrible image of you and... Doing... God!"

Peter gave in and said in a dragging voice, "We will resume training tomorrow, and I forbid you to come back with that sweater."

Zeus nodded in agreement and invited his friend to leave with him.

Before exiting the room, Peter gathered his things and said to Zeus, "Put my seat next to Orlando later. I've been dreaming about it for so long."

The words hung in the room for a moment after they left. I stood there for a while, trying to get my head around it. It would take days for the trauma to wear off. I had just had the strangest conversation of my life. Next to them, Cyliane was the most down-to-earth girl I knew.

Camilia had still not returned from her interview on a talk-show, which was broadcasted on a big national channel. I would speak with her tomorrow about the trip her daughters were preparing.