Chapter 2 The Golf Game

After being thrown into her room, Serena texted Ashley, telling her the mission was called off and the reason why. She spent the whole night locked in her room. She didn't want to come out anyways; she was furious, her blood boiling. She didn't want to see anyone because she didn't want to pour out the rage on an innocent person. Even when her mom went personally to call her for dinner, she refused to come out, she didn't even answer when her mom was talking to her through the door. Aside from the two guards standing beside her door, she had also locked it from inside, too.

She laid in her bed, twisting and turning, trying to sleep and get the day over with, but it was to no avail. Her heart was racing so fast that it made her uneasy; he mind kept replaying today like a movie. She couldn't imagine how much resentment she held for the man she once adored. She couldn't believe he sold her out to someone she didn't know and worse, he hit her, he hand never laid a finger on her, never, he is even keeping her prisoner in her own house. Despicable, how can love turn into hate within a second, she thought to herself. A thought came to her, to research on her 'soon to be family', She hated the way it sounded; it sent chills to her spine and turned her tummy the first time her dad said "soon to be family." She shrugged.

She reached for her laptop by her bed stand, turned it on and began to work. She started with Google, searching for the family, and there she found their family history, properties and how influential they were. She saw a family picture, where she saw the eldest son, "Adrian" she read out his name softly. He was handsome, perfect in fact, she thought, she scanned for more photos, finding one where she saw him his face was so smooth no single spot. And his sharp jaw, that could slice a paper cleaning, she could stop but fantasize about his cheek bones and his beautiful eyes. The thought of being his wife wasn't bad now that she knew what he looked like. She immediately sent a picture to Ashley, even though it was already one in the morning and she knew Ashley would be fast asleep. She continued her search this time on Instagram to find and know him personally, but she couldn't find an Instagram account that belonged to him.

With swollen eyes and a banding headache, Serena woke up to the sound of someone knocking on her door. She had dozed off while digging for information on her future husband. She mindlessly opened the door to see who it was and what they wanted. It was her mom, standing on the other side of the door, "I just came to tell you that we will be having a golf game with the DeLucas by 1 today before the dinner. And we will be going shopping to get some golf wear for you because I know you don't have any." He mom said casually, trying to force a smile on her face. "So go shower and get dressed. Ashley is waiting in the living room for you." She continued handing Serena one of her credit cards, "I assure you it is working." She said before leaving her.

Serena quickly raced inside, freshened up and got dressed, then hurried down the stairs to meet her friend. She dragged her friend and rushed out the door, completely ignoring her mother's plea for her to eat first. "Where did you park?" Serena asked her friend while using her eyes to search for her friend's car. "I didn't come with it; your drivers came to pick me up from my place," Ashley replied. "And he will be escorting you girls today." Serena's dad exclaimed as he was standing in front of the grand door. "Good morning, Mr. Moretti," Ashley greeted. Serena didn't even turn to look at him, she dragged her friend to the car where the driver and a guard were already waiting for them.

The two girls walked into the mall with the two guards walking closely behind them. "It's giving Rapunzel." Ashley joke." It's not funny, Ash." Serena said with not a little curve on her lips. "Let's go get what we came for and leave," Serena said firmly, looking straight ahead as they entered the store.

After they had finished shopping, Ashley and Serena headed to a nearby café for lunch. Ashley had a lot of questions for her friend but didn't know how to go about it. It was quite obvious that Serena was in a very bad mood and she didn't want to ignite the flames so she just sat still trying not to move too much, as if walking on glass, trying to avoid anything that would make her even madder. So the two girls enjoyed their meal in silence. Serena noticed the awkward tension that surrounded the table they were sitting on, but lost for words and with a lack of emotions, she decided not to say anything and just leave it at that.

The tension in the room was released when one of the guards alerted them that it was time to go. They first dropped Ashley home before heading back to the house. Serena got out of the car. She was walking into the house when she checked her phone for the time; it was 1:30 PM. She decided to walk slowly to waste more time and get everyone late, seeing they only had 30 more minutes to arrive at the golf course. As she was climbing up the porch, she saw her mom pacing back and forth near the front door with her phone in hand. "I know you're still angry at your dad, and I still don't support this, but which would you prefer, having a roof over your head or not?" he mom said to her, standing still as she watched her take her final step up the entrance. "So please get dressed and let us go." Her mom said, trying to be as calm as possible.

Serena got dressed, she wasn't fast but neither was she slow as she was getting ready. She went down to the car, where her mom and dad were already ready and waiting for her. It was just the three of them in the car and, of course, the driver, surrounded by awkward silence and tension. Serena and her mom sat in the rear seat while her father sat in the passenger seat, which she was grateful for; she couldn't imagine sitting beside him, in the middle of her parents. "I know this is not the kind of life you dreamed of, but there's no running from it. You have to embrace it and make the best out of it," her mom whispered to her as Serena was watching the city passing by. "Please try and behave yourself when we get there." He mom continued before fixing her gaze back on the road.

The ride to the golf course felt long-maybe it was the silence looming in the car. When they arrived, they were escorted to where the Deluca family was. "Ah, Julio!" Mr. Deluca exclaimed, calling out his friends. He was waving to them with one hand and taking a sip of champagne in the glass he was holding the other. "Good afternoon, everyone," Julio said, waving his hands to greet everyone.

"Ah, Serena, it's finally nice to meet you. I've heard so much about you," Mr. DeLuca said, extending his arms for a hug. "I hope they are all good things", Serena replied, reciprocating the jolly tone in Mr. DeLuca's voice. "She's a comedian just like her father," Mrs. DeLuca said, embracing Serena and chuckling as she returned the warm hug.

"Oh, come dear, let me introduce you to my family." Mr. Deluca said, dragging Serena away from her parents. Introduced her to his wife and two children who were a little bit younger than her but as jolly as their father, "Sorry, my oldest is running late, but he will soon be here." Mr. Deluca reassured her. "Oh really? That's no problem." Serena said, returning a smile to him. She already knew who he was, so she was in no hurry to meet him, and maybe because she is she too.

"Oh, there he is." Mr. DeLuca said, pointing to his eldest son, who was casually strolling up to them. "Sorry I'm late, everyone. had to clear one or two at the office." Adrian said as he paused to greet Serena's parent first, "Good Afternoon." He said as he shook each of their hands. He approached his family and gave his mother and father a kiss on the cheek as he greeted them, "And you must be Serena." He said as he gazed at her. She was flustered and at a loss for words. She had already started picking children's names. She nodded mindlessly as he kissed her on her wrist.

"Well, since we are all here, shall the games begin?" Adrian exclaimed, rallying everyone up to the main field. "But I don't know how to play," Serena said shyly, still flustered. "Then you can go sit down." Adrian joked rudely. Leaving Serena standing still and embarrassed, her heart sank in her chest as he said that and broke when he added, "Make sure you don't get hit in the head."