Chapter 2 Valentina

I stepped in dark private room nervously.

"Hello?" I called out in the darkness but got no response.

For a moment, my heart quivered in fear. What if I get pounced upon by some men? I turned back to the entrance to leave, I made to run out but the door got closed from the outside. NO!

I was a trembling mess, sweat poured out from my pores and I almost passed out in terror, I looked around me half squatting with my fists pushed forward in preparation to strike any of the supposed men down.

"Happy birthday!" Voices called out from the dark before the light came on and I almost sank into the floor but Bianca held me still.

"Your pose was funny." She giggled into my ear and my stomach churned in disgust.

"You know I have nyctophobia." I hissed through gritted teeth but she let go of me before eyeing me.

"Calm down, don't be dramatic. We were all here with you." She walked away.

"Happy birthday Babe." Matteo sang happily, bringing the cake towards me.

I looked around the faces of the invitees and bit my inner cheeks in sadness, they were all either Matteo friends or Bianca's, I had no friends.

"Go on, blow off the candle and make a wish." He smiled at me but I felt no desire to force a smile.

I did blow off the candle either way and made a wish that they both meet a terrible fate.

"What did you wish for?" Bianca stood before me with two glasses of red wine in hand, she had a large grin as she looked at me for answers.

"It wouldn't be a wish if I told you." The words forced themselves out of my throat as my eyes stared at the glasses in her hands.

"Right." Her smile irritated me as I stood awkwardly in the centre of the room, clenching my handbag like my life depended on it.

"Yes, this." She pushed the drink forward.

"Hey guys, let's make a toast to the birthday girl." She raised her voice and everyone stood with a glass in hand.

My heartbeat spiked, she was making it difficult for me to refuse her.

"Go on, take it." She pushed the glass forward towards me.

"I feel sick, I can't drink."

She looked back at Matteo who had a frown on his face.

"That's nonsense." She smiled before pushing the glass into my hand.

"A glass of wine won't kill you Valentina, we all know that."

I swear to the heavens, if she smiled one more time, I was going to let hell loose and smack her face.

"To the birthday girl!" She cheered and they all replied before downing their drink.

I stood frozen before forcing a cough, in a twinkle of an eye, I splashed the drink on her while doubling over in a fit of cough ignoring the gasps around me.

"Aah!" She shrieked and I coughed louder, hitting my chest while on my knees.

"Oh my God! Bianca. Are you okay?" Matteo rushed towards her instead while she fussed over the wet patch on her expensive cloth, ignoring me completely on the floor.

Soon enough, I felt his hand tighten itself around my arm before dragging me up.

"Ouch Matteo! You are hurting me!" I cried out but he ignored me, his eyes were thick with disgust.

"Apologize!" He demanded.

"What?" I glared at him.

"Apologize to her now!"

"I had a fit!" I declared stubbornly.

"That's no excuse..." His hand went tighter, his fingers digging into my flesh and my eyes stung.

"Oowww Matteo, it's alright for real, it's just a wet patch." Bianca purred before hurrying towards us like she wasn't just standing by and watching things unfold.

Effortlessly peeling Matteo's hand from my arm, she clung to me before whispering in my ear. "I told you earlier, you don't have to be dramatic."

I felt the poison in her tongue.

"Why can't I when it's my birthday today?" I asked her, meeting her gaze with a hard stare as she frowned.

"You want Matteo right?" I questioned in a whisper and her eyes widened.

"Nah, you already have him wrapped around your little dirty fingers right?" Her grip on me loosened, her face went red.

"You can have him." I turned to face her fully, her breath was loud enough for me to feel her terror and mine came in a hurry, showing my anger.

She broke the tension in the air with a snort, then a laugh before bending down to the table closeby to pick a drink for herself.

I squinted at her.

"Don't be silly." She waved her hand in the air.

"Do you love Matteo?" I stepped closer and she spilled the drink out of her mouth to my face, drawing everyone's attention to us.

"Is everything okay?" Came Matteo's concerned voice.

"We are fine." I responded, cleaning my face.

"I bet you enjoy his lips more than I did." I stepped even closer and suddenly, she gripped my clothes tightly, throwing herself backwards, forcing me to push her hand off my cloth by reflex and soon, she was on the floor with a loud thud followed by her shrill painful cry.