Adriano

Chapter 4 - Escape Plans

Malaina POV

"Malaina hurry up, we have to prepare for the banquet that's happening tonight! We need to go shopping for dresses" I hear Bella yell through the bathroom door, while I was brushing my teeth. I quickly spit the toothpaste out and swing the bathroom door open.

"Wait? What?"

"Yeah. Our annual banquet is tonight, we have one every year. Our family is very well known, so everyone has to be there, including family friends" She says dragging me out the bathroom

"Well I don't see why I have to go... for one, I'm not family nor are we friends and two, I don't have any money to buy a dress for some stupid party." I bluntly state to her

"Well for one, we are friends, you have no choice in that and two, money isn't a problem. Just ask Adriano for some money. I'm sure he'd give you his card." She says shrugging

"Nope. Fuck that. Not happening. In case you haven't noticed, I don't like Adriano. He's an asshole. Plus I don't need a man to buy me stuff. I make my own money, I don't need a man to buy things for me when I can do it myself. I'll just ask him for my purse back. I know he still has it." I say walking over to the bed, grabbing the sheets to make the bed

"Ugh, please? Just do it? You can hate him later and I want to get to the mall before it gets too packed in there" She says falling onto my bed with a loud groan

"No. You go ask him. He's your brother and gets off my bed, I'm trying to fix the sheets." I said tugging on the sheets

"Hell no. I'm not going to talk to him." She says getting up. "He's been pissy all morning. I don't want to deal with it." She grabs the other side of the sheets and begins to help me make my bed

"So you send me instead?" I say raising my eyebrow at her

"Yep"

"Why?"

"He won't yell at you for bothering him. He'd probably ship me away somewhere. So you're the better option by default." She throws the last pillow on the bed and takes a seat in one of the many chairs placed in the room

"And why can't Sofia do it?" I say placing my hands on my hips in a sassy manner

"Because Sofia's on some expedition with her family in Peru. She left this morning." She says with annoyance laced in her voice

Well, that's interesting... I thought

"Why'd you say it that way?" I ask out of curiosity

"Because I wasn't invited! I would love a 2-week getaway! Adriano and his goons are so fastidioso, especially when their together." She says annoyed

Fastidioso? I really need to learn Italian... I thought to myself

"Well it is a family vacation," I tell her emphasizing on the word family

"Ugh don't remind me... Now go ask Adriano! I want to go to the mall asap woman!. "

"Fine! But I don't like it!" I yell out in frustration.

"Perfect! Now... off you go." She says grabbing me and pushing me out the door

"I hate you," I say as I walk down the hallway

"Bye Malaina," She says waving in the doorway of my bedroom. I flip her off and continue down the hallway.

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I finally get downstairs and walk towards Adriano's office. I wave towards Enzo and Luca as I walk past them into Adriano's office. I walk in to see him facing towards the window of his office screaming into his phone.