Chapter 5 Prima Donna

Laura knocked on the door of her apartment. Deanna was not expecting her.

Classes had been canceled that day, and she took the opportunity to tidy up and do some cleaning; otherwise, she would not return until late in the afternoon. It was supposed to be her last year, and she would finish her degree along with Harry; she would have to wait a little longer.

"I am sorry to bother you today."

"Not at all, Laura, come in... It is a bit messy because I started cleaning a little."

"Thanks. I come with a mission."

"A mission?"

"Yes, my brother-in-law gave me his credit card, and today the two of us are going shopping."

"I imagine the family meeting is already planned."

"Yes."

"Good, I will do my best."

"Truly, Deanna, I do not know how to thank you for what you are doing. I know you did not get a good impression of Daniel the other night and that you will have to postpone your studies for us. But you do not know what it means to me," she said, placing both hands on her belly.

"I am more than happy to be able to help you, do not be silly. That little peanut growing inside you will have the best parents in the world and will grow up happy. That is all that matters."

"And she will have a wonderful aunt."

"Who is going to spoil him or her relentlessly."

"Let us go spend Daniel's money, we have to find the perfect outfit."

"Fine, let me change first."

In her life, Deanna had stepped into stores like those. The cheapest dress was equivalent to three months of her salary. Was there really people who spent so much on a single garment?

She felt reluctant to buy those things. Not only did she need new clothes, but also shoes, handbags, and a visit to the salon, according to Laura.

So that was how they were accustomed to living: Laura just swiped the credit card, and they left one store to enter another. And not only that, but they spent a lot of time trying on styles and choosing colors. Her head was starting to hurt. It was a totally strange world for her.

Her life had always been simple. Her mother and grandmother had raised her practically in the small restaurant they ran, among pots and seasonings.

She had a normal childhood, playing with her friends after school until late in the park. A common adolescence, between friends and going out to the movies.

She had worked in the restaurant since she was sixteen and had her first love at seventeen.

Suddenly, she was immersed in a totally new world and was not sure if she could enjoy it. None of those things that Laura was excited about caused her the slightest interest.

Her only passion was always singing, and all she wanted was to do it in a renowned theater until she could no longer speak.

She was not looking for fame or fortune either. When she sang, she felt an energy she could not describe. She was happy. She was free.

"I think this color goes very well with your hair tone."

"I have no idea what you are talking about, Laura, but you are the expert," Laura laughed.

"Well, then leave everything in my hands. Not even Harry will be able to recognize you."

Her professors were surprised when she showed up for the entrance exam audition. No one understood how, from that slender body, a voice of such power could emerge, capable of reaching the highest notes without losing warmth. She was definitely destined for a bright future.

Her presence on stage changed radically. She was not the usual, optimistic, and smiling Deanna. She transformed into a presence that captivated all eyes. Her demeanor mutated, and her face expressed a passion that reached everyone who was observing her. She put her whole soul into every performance.

"I look like my great-aunt with this on... and she is dead."

"You are exaggerating, it looks magnificent on you... but maybe it is not your style."

"Are we going to take much longer?"

"We cannot go back until you find the perfect outfit to impress everyone... Although I think you already impressed Daniel."

"Your brother-in-law is the most impassive man I know."

"He is a great person, just a little..."

"Dull?"

"Formal, I would say."

In reality, Deanna had not expected Daniel to be so attractive in person. She had gotten the idea that he would be a different kind of man, but he did not look his forty years. He did not seem younger either. It was as if he were at just the right point in life. He barely had some gray at his temples, and he expressed himself more with his eyes than with words. He had a formal appearance, as Laura said, but at the same time, he gave the impression of being totally approachable.

If it were not for that abrupt way he had of saying things and his attempts to impose his will, she might understand why he was considered a good match.

Deanna perceived something else, but she did not dare to mention it to Laura. Perhaps it was just her idea, but Daniel seemed to carry a very great sadness inside him. She knew his story from Harry. Surely that was why.

"Oh, yes! That is the right one for you."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course! How do you feel in it?"

"Like a Prima Donna."

"Then, this is it."

"Thank goodness! Can we leave now? I am hungry."

"Sure, we will go eat something and then we will look for the rest of the things."

Internally, Deanna swore she would kill Harry when she got her hands on him.

While they were shopping, Harry had gone to visit his brother at the office. He had to get Daniel to lower the intensity of his treatment toward Deanna a bit. He knew she would not back down, but he also did not want her to be the target of his brother's complicated character.

But, at that moment, Susan was with him, trying to find out if what her mother had told her was true. In the end, Harry decided to confess everything to her.

"I have two brothers who escaped from a lunatic asylum... They are crazy."

"Come on, Susan, you know we have no other option. All because of that family rule, and my friend was the only one who would say yes to us."

"She must love you very much to have agreed to this without asking for anything in return."

"She is just great. That is why I ask you, Daniel, please try to be less strict, okay?"

"That woman is combative and has an answer for everything. Why do you not ask her to be more docile?"

"Brother, we are putting her in a difficult situation, and she did not have to accept. She just wants to help us."

"He is right, Harry. Treat her well, Daniel."

"You make me feel like I am a heartless monster."

"Of course not... you are just a little distant sometimes and very, very, very disdainful when you set your mind to it."

"Of course not."

"Of course you are, Dan," Susan told him.

With Susan's support in this whole farce, they had a better chance of making it more believable.

Although she still could not understand how Daniel had agreed so easily.

She was sure that her older brother would never lend himself to something like this. But if he had a nephew on the way, everything clicked.

In any case, there had to be one more factor involved.

She would know when she finally met Deanna.