WHEN LOVE WORKS

Lia sat by the window sill in the bedroom. Franco had not hit her in a while however the pain that shot through her whole body made it difficult to forget their last fight. The word 'fight' almost made her laugh out. It wasn't exactly a fight. She was no match for Franco. He was about six feet four while she was just five feet six. The difference in their height was very glaring even when she wore her four inches heels.

Looking at the red marks which were gradually fading away made her happy. Her father's birthday would be coming up in two weeks and she did not want questioning stares following her everywhere.

She could easily give the excuse that she was not feeling too well but then that would be bringing up another story entirely as the family would now start to count the days they should be expecting her first child. Their first grandchild actually.

The truth was that though she got married two years ago she had not been able to conceive. She was not sure if there was a problem with her or her husband or if the pain and anxiety she experienced in their union was not helping to welcome any baby into her womb.

The love she had for Franco was nothing she could explain. He meant everything to her from the first day she set her eyes on him. She did not bother holding herself back a bit as she knew deep down that he was the one.

He was the one that she had kept herself for all these years and she worshipped the ground that he walked on.

Nothing he did ever seemed to change that. All the lies and excuses she had to come up with just to ensure people did not start to detest him for what he made her go through from the day they got married.

"I'm okay I missed a step and fell off the stairs."

"I can't take my sunglasses off. I think I'm coming down with some sort of allergy."

"I won't be able to attend your birthday party because Franco and I won't be around." Lia had once told her best friend because Franco her husband had refused her going for her best friend's birthday party. She had been forbidden from going to any party he won't be attending except that of her immediate family. She could not bring herself to tell Sofia the truth.

But today she would be leaving him a letter telling him that she can no longer be with him unless he is willing to change and seek help.

The letter had been written and dropped on their bedroom dressing table.

Lia looked at the table one more time. A beautiful gift from her mother-in-law presented to them on their wedding night. It was brown in colour and without being told it was not hard to see that it had been made from the finest wood.

In the past, she loved to sit there sometimes and talk to herself. Sometimes asking the image that appeared in the mirror questions that she knew only she could answer.

Today she had finally gotten the response and was not thinking of changing her mind.

As Lia continued to let her thoughts linger she got up from the window sill carried her already parked suitcase and walked out of the bedroom door closing it as gently as she could as she did whenever Franco was around and did not want to annoy him with her noise as he once said.

She had sometimes told herself that she will never leave him. This was her home now and she had to build it just as her mother had built hers. Her case was different though. Her father adored her mother.

She had tolerated all that Franco had done to her in the past but yesterday evening she had walked into their bedroom and had caught him stark naked with another lady on their matrimonial bed.

"Get out!" He had barked at her. And when they were finally through he had asked her to prepare dinner for him after seeing the lady off without any sign of remorse whatsoever.

She had obeyed every of his command but had resolved to leave before he got back from work the next day.

She needed some space from this abusive marriage that she found herself in. She needed some space from this place that had once meant everything to her. She was leaving Franco the only man that she had ever loved. But for how long? Maybe for a while. Maybe forever.

As she slipped into the backseat of the taxi already waiting for her outside their magnificent home her thought suddenly shifted to when she met Franco for the first time.

Lia had just entered the mall with her two best friends Serena and Sofia. They were sure having a good time as they always did together. They lacked nothing especially when it came to finances. They were all from wealthy families and had finished from the best schools.

They held each other's hands while going round the mall smiling and laughing. The fact that each had a bodyguard was not easily noticeable as they had instructed each of their security personnel to stay far off.

"I hate the fact that I have to go everywhere with someone watching my every move. It's embarrassing. I'm no longer a baby" Sofia had said curling her lips to show how much she detested it.

She had short black hair and a slender figure that could pass her for a model. Her grey eyes were always lively and looking for fun wherever she could get it.

"It seems to be chasing the guys away. That's what infuriates me the most." Serena chipped in looking through the windows in the shopping mall.

She was the shortest amongst them and the curviest. Her blonde long curly hair ran down her back to her waist. Her sea blue eyes, pointed nose and small lips which were never devoid of lipstick gave her that celebrity look. Indeed, Serena was beautiful.

Lia and Sofia busted out in laughter. Her statement did not come as a surprise to the two ladies. Serena was the most exciting and adventurous one amongst them and always made it clear that she loved two things the most in life. Men and shopping.

She had once confided in them that she was no longer a virgin and that she was gradually leaving them behind.

Till date Lia had wondered how she was able to do that since she went nowhere without one of her family's bodyguards.

The three of them were not allowed to step out of their family houses without an escort. Even the men in the families dared not go out without them.

They all understood why. They were all born into mafia families. The business dealings of the mafians always brought about either close ties with their business partners or enemies. Great enemies.

"Are you still searching?" Lia had finally spoken asking Serena. "I thought you said Antonio was sent to you from heaven. Antonio was the guy Serena had informed them she lost her virginity to. She had also informed them that she was madly in love with him.

Serena understood the question and had responded immediately. "I'm too young to be with only one man. You know? Raising her left hand to show her bare fingers Serena continued. "I'm willing to keep testing the waters until Antonio puts a ring on this finger.

This time only Sofia busted out in laughter.

"Lia did not find Serena's statement funny. She believed a lady should keep herself for the man she loved and since Serena had claimed she loved Antonio she could not understand why she would not stop at him.

Serena saw the expression on Lia's face and joined Sofia in the laughter. Seeing that Lia was not getting amused she stopped.

Taking the hands of her friends she led them into a shop where she had seen a bag she loved but that was not only what had caught her attention.

There was a very tall handsome young man in the shop also. He was well over six feet and Serena had winked at her friends to direct their attention to the very attractive young man standing in the shop with what looked like two bodyguards.

He was holding a beautiful green gown and two ladies were at the same time attending to him. He had not seen the three ladies walk in.

Lia noticed that the two ladies were not only trying to sell the gown to him but were also flirting with him. It was not surprising as asides his good looks everything about him spelt wealth.

Sofia and Serena both drifted away from her at the shoe section. They went off to go look for the latest bags. They both adored designers bags.

Just as Lia picked up a shoe that got her attention, she felt someone touch her shoulder.

"Hello. Please I need help choosing a gift for my mum." He said.

Lia had turned and looked into the eyes of the person that had touched her and had been blown away by his charm and good looks.

For a second she could not find the words to respond.

"By the way my name is Franco. Franco Bellagio." Franco said holding out his hand.

I... I... I'm Lia. Lia Fellano. Lia said reaching out for his outstretched hand.

Lia and Franco spent like twenty minutes going through some items. There were shoes, bags, gowns, jewelries but the green gown was what they both settled for.

Just as Franco was thanking and waving good bye to Lia, Sofia and Serena came around. They had been engrossed in their shopping that they had not realized that Lia had not caught up with them.

"Please meet my friends Sofia and Serena." Lia said when she saw her friends signaling her to introduce them to Franco. Serena had already started flirting with him with her eyes.

"Nice to meet you both. I am Franco." Franco had said without offering them his hands as he had done when introducing himself to Lia. He started to look uncomfortable. It was obvious that Serena's flirting eyes were doing this to him.

"Thanks once again for your help. I hope my mother likes what you chose for her." Franco had said and walked off briskly. His bodyguards had followed in his heels.

The three ladies watched as he walked off. He was so charismatic Lia thought to herself. So good looking too.

"Wow Lia. That guy actually spoke to you?" Sofia asked

"He's so handsome!" Serena said. Did you see how those two ladies attending to him were practically flirting with him?"

"Yes just like you were flirting with him just now." Lia said amused by Serena.

Serena looked Lia all over. "Surely you can't blame me for that. You left us to be with him yourself."

"No I didn't. He's the one who walked up to me asking for my assistance in choosing a gift for his mother." Lia shot back at Serena.

"Okay, Okay Let's not fight over him. By the way, it's high time you found yourself a boyfriend. You don't want to die a virgin or do you?" Serena asked trying to lighten the mood.

"That's true." Sofia had chipped in.

"What's stopping you from getting a boyfriend yourself?" Lia asked Sofia.

"I would have had a boyfriend if I hadn't caught that clown cheating, just a day after he came to me, asking me out."

"What was his name again?" Serena asked.

"Aldriano!" Sofia and Lia both screamed. They all busted into laughter and started off to the counter to pay for the items they all took.

As they walked out of the mall, Lia's mind went to Franco. Would she ever see his charming face again? And if she did how soon would that be? They both knew nothing about each other asides their names.

Lia was in their family house. A magnificent house in the middle of Algrios. She had been born here and knew no other home.

Hers was a loving wealthy Italian family. Her father went to work while her mother stayed back to care for the children and handle other family matters.

Lorenzo her elder brother had later joined their father in the family business. He had graduated from a University in America at the age of twenty-two and had been summoned home to come work in their family's business.

At first, he had complained and grumbled asking why he had to go to School to study Engineering just to be asked to come work for his father who was into exportation of goods.

"You are my only son Lorenzo. I took over this business from my father and my father took over from his own father. This business has witnessed four generations. Surely you do not expect me to let you break that chain, do you?" Papa had asked. It had become a family tradition.

"No Papa. But then maybe I should have just gone ahead to study Business Administration, Economics or Finance." Lorenzo has responded.

He was becoming a man now and his father had begun to accord him some level of respect. In the past he dare not question his father.

His mum who they referred to as 'Mama' was seated sipping tea. Whatever her husband said was what was good for the family. She and her clique of friends revered their husbands after all they lacked nothing.

He had looked at her direction for support but she only met his gaze and looked away.

"Mama say something." Lorenzo had begged.

"Your dad is right Lorenzo. We can't be the one to break that chain. You're the only son we have. The family business is also a flourishing business." Mama replied. At that moment Lorenzo knew he had been defeated. He excused himself and walked off to his bedroom.

Mr. Fellano was a very strict man. He made all the rules in the family and his wife and children were made to abide by those rules. But in all, he was a doting father and very loving husband. He ensured that they lacked nothing.

As long as Lia could remember, they had always had bodyguards and when "Papa" which she and her brother fondly called him went to work, it was always in a convoy. Three cars trooping out in the morning and three cars trooping in every evening.

First, Papa comes out of the house with Mama at his heels. He gives her a goodbye kiss and all the 'boys' as Papa calls them start falling out from everywhere. They were always on suits. Black suits. Sometimes only Papa wore white, grey or ash grey. One of them always opened the middle car's back seat door for Papa to get in and closed it once he was settled in. Each car had four men each by the time they drove off.

She loved watching the ritual and always went to her bedroom window to get a good undisturbed view. At first Lorenzo had joined her in the mornings when they both shared a room but he had quickly out grown it by the time he turned ten years old. His love for comic books and martial arts always seemed to amuse her. However, by the time he turned fourteen and started hanging out with other boys, he had found a new hobby. Girls.

At the age of eighteen, Lorenzo had come back home for Christmas. She had forgotten to close her door and he had walked in on her seating by the window and watching her dad leave for work as usual.

"Lia!" Don't tell me you still do this every day?" Lorenzo had asked wondering when she would outgrow it herself.

"You should always try to knock when entering my room. You startled me." Lia replied ignoring his question.

"I met the door open so I did not really think it necessary to knock. However, you're right next time I'll try to remember to knock still." Lorenzo had responded placing his hands on her head and giving it a bit of a ruffle. It had always been his favourite way of greeting his baby sister.

They had both watched the ritual that morning together.

"So you still do this every morning?" Lorenzo asked once more.

"Often." Lia responded.

"Hope there is no more to this Lia." Lorenzo said giving his sister a funny look. "Hope you are not falling for one of Papa's boys."

"What! That has never even crossed my mind." Lia said holding herself from screaming.

"I was just thinking the other day that I have not been introduced to your boyfriend yet."

"I don't have a boyfriend!" Lia had quickly shot at him.

"That's rather queer for a girl your age. Don't you think?" Lorenzo pressed on.

"Well that's my business. Can we discuss something else?" Lia demanded, hating where this conversation was leading to.

"Something like what?" Lorenzo asked seeing his sister was not in the mood but making it a point within himself to bring it up again.

"Like how was school and your studies? How is America?" Lia asked with relief.

He had gone on to tell her how the school session went and how many celebrities he was lucky to come across. He knew she loved hearing that. She was always awed that he had the opportunity to meet one celebrity or the other in person.

Just as Lorenzo was leaving the room, Lia's question came to him unexpectedly.

"Do you believe in love, Lorenzo? She asked

"Well yes." Lorenzo responded wondering what his sister was getting at. You just need to look at Papa and Mama to know that love actually exists.

Lia smiled. He was right. The bond between their parents couldn't be described.

"If it does exist then I haven't found it yet." Lia said turning back to look outside. Papa and his convoy by now had left. The driveway was empty and peaceful.

Lorenzo searched for what to say in response but found nothing. He had always thought his sister was quite queer. At eighteen, he hadn't heard her talk about any boy in her life. So unlike his friends' sisters.

He walked out of her bedroom hoping that it would happen soon.