Chapter THIRTY-THREE
I wake up to a little knock on my door; I am sure it's mom here to tell me happy birthday. Today is my birthday; I am excited to be turning twenty-three today. I tell the person to come in once I sit up on my bed.
'Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, Dear Andrea, happy birthday to you," Mom and Abuela sing while walking into my room.
'Thank you," I say, smiling, pulling them into a hug.
'Are you excited to be turning twenty-three today?" Mom asks smiling once I release her from the hug.
'Yes, I am."
'That's wonderful, Dear, here comes your first present," Mom says, as the maid walks in with a breakfast tray. She places it in front of me and walks back out.
'Thank you, mom."
'Don't thank me, it's not from me."
'From whom then?"
'Who else," Abuela says, smiling.
'Stefano," I guess because of the smile on Abuela's face.
'Yes, we will see you once you have freshened up," Abuela says walking out with mom.
Once they leave, I look at the things on the breakfast tray, I can't help the smile that graces my face. It has my favorite breakfast; sausages with French toast, whole cream coffee, and my favorite flower in a small vase. I wonder how he knew orchids were my favorite. I see a small box; and I open it to reveal the most beautiful stud earrings. I can't believe Stefano got me these earrings. They are the most expensive earrings in the world. It's a mismatched pair of fancy colored diamond earrings. The Apollo Blue is a 14.54 pear-shaped carat, while the Artemis pink is a 16 pear-shaped carat. They cost $57 million; and I wonder how he got them. I can't imagine how much it cost him to get them, I can't believe he got them for me.
I quickly pick up my phone to call him and thank him, but he doesn't pick up. I try again, still no answer. I decided to try him again after I shower.
While I am dressing, to go downstairs, I hear Mom calling my name. I quickly put on my outfit and walk downstairs to answer her.
'Mom, what's wrong?" I say, running down the stairs. I don't find her; I walk into the living room but stop when someone speaks from the front door.
'Your second gift is here," A familiar voice says from the front door.
'Aurora," I say, walking up to hug my dear friend. 'What are you doing here?"
'Courtesy of Stefano."
'I don't understand," I say once I release her from the hug.
'Stefano knew I wouldn't miss your birthday for the world, so once I was done with work last night, he had his private jet waiting to fly me to Mexico. If he didn't send his private jet back to Sicily, I wouldn't have been able to make it today."
'Oh my God, I can't believe he did that. I am so happy you are here."
'Me too, I couldn't miss your birthday."
Stefano is going to make me cry tears of joy today. All these beautiful things he did are so amazing. I just wish I could tell him.
'Thank you for coming, have you heard from Stefano today? He hasn't been answering my calls."
'I have, he is the one who dropped me off. He told me to tell you he will call you back when he has time."
'When he has time?" I ask, a little shocked by her choice of words.
'Yes, he says he is swamped, but he will call you when he is free."
'It's my birthday today, what could be so important that he would not have time to answer my calls," I say, feeling a little hurt by Stefano's actions, but I am also confused because why would he give me such a fantastic present then ghost me.
'I don't know, but I am sure he will call you back."
'I hope he does."
'He will, how are things going between you guys? I hope everything is fine."
'Aurora, things are wonderful, but can we talk about you? I am feeling a little sad to talk about Stefano since he is ignoring me."
'He isn't ignoring you. What do you want to talk about?" Aurora says, as we walk to the living room, after I give a maid Aurora's bag, who takes it up to the guest room.
'We can talk about how things are going with your monster-to-be husband."
'Don't call him that, what if someone hears you and asks why you are calling him that?"
'I pray someone does! I am still against you sacrificing your happiness for a mafia war that might not happen if we kill him."
'I like the way you said might. You know very well that if we kill him, a war is going to start, and I don't want that"
'I can't just watch you throw your happiness away. There has to be something we can do?"
'I wish there was Andrea, there is nothing we can do, besides, it's only for a year. A year will pass by before you know it"
'What do you mean it's only for a year?"
'I forgot to tell you; he only wants to be married to me for a year."
'Why?"
'I don't know, but that's what he wants."
'That's good news, I feel like he must have a reason why he wants to be married to you for only a year."
'What exactly do you mean?"
'Think about it. First, he forces you to sign a marriage contract, then he makes it only for a year. If he is obsessed with you, he won't want to marry you for only a year. He would want to be married to you forever, but why did he force you into a marriage for only a year. It doesn't add up; we are missing something."
'I don't know why, but I am sure the reason isn't something serious."
'You are sure, or you wish it's nothing serious."
'I wish."
'Me too, but if he ever steps out of line, you know I am always a call away."
'I do," she says, smiling.
Later that night, I am having a wonderful time with my whole family and friends. All my cousins, uncles, aunties, and friends from Mexico are here. My dad and brother are also here. I am so happy everyone is here to celebrate with me, but I am still sad because one person is not here, and why he isn't here is still unknown to me. While eating a piece of chicken, Santiago walks over to me.
'How are you enjoying your night Sis?"
'It's going wonderful; I am so happy you and Dad were able to make it," I say, smiling with a mouth full of chicken.
'You know we wouldn't miss your birthday for the world."
'I know," I say with a soft smile. I just can't stop feeling sad about the fact that Stefano isn't here.
'Anyways, I wanted to ask you if you have spoken to Emily lately."
'I have, why are you asking. You have her number now; you can talk to her too."
'Not if she blocked me."
'I am not surprised."
'Why?"
'Because the last time we spoke, she kind of gave me the impression that she doesn't want you to have her number."
'Oh, did she tell you why."
'No, I am sure it has to do with the fact that she is still angry at you for whatever you did to cause you guys to break up."
'Yeah, I would be too if I were her."
'I could help you ask her for your forgiveness if you tell me what happened." I try to get him to tell me the reason for their breakup.
'Nice try, but I will pass."
'Okay, suit yourself. Have you heard from Stefano today," I ask even though Santiago and Stefano are not close, I am that desperate to know why he isn't here or hasn't called.
'Yes, I did earlier in the morning. Is something wrong?"
'How can you be asking me if something is wrong? He isn't here; of course, something is wrong," I say, getting angry, though feeling more sadness than anger with him not around.
'Oh, I know that but don't worry, he will be here soon," Santiago says, patting me on the back to cheer me up.
'I hope he has a good reason for why he is late and hasn't called me all day."
'Trust me, but he has, I need to make a call. See you later, Sis," Santiago says walking away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I can't come up with any reason why Stefano isn't here, it's making me sad that he would abandon me on my birthday. He gave me such a lovely gift just to leave me the whole day. I feel myself about to start crying but stop once I hear everyone singing Happy Birthday. I quickly wipe the tears that escaped my eyes while being careful not spoil my makeup before turning around to face everyone.
Once I turn around, I burst into tears. Stefano is here, not just here, he is here with my favorite cake. I can't believe that's why he is just arriving. A few days ago, I told him my favorite cake in the world is from a bakery here in Mexico, but the shop closed a few years ago, and I would do anything to have that cake on my birthday. I can't believe he got it for me, I wonder how.
'Stefano, oh my God!" I say, smiling, trying my best to hold in my tears.
'Happy birthday, Darling," Stefano says, placing the cake on the table beside me. 'Stop crying, Dear; you are going to ruin your makeup."
'How can you say that to me after you surprise me with the most amazing birthday present?"
'I am happy you like your gift."
'Gifts, you mean, thank you, Stefano, thank you for all the gifts today," I say, pulling him into a hug.
'You are welcome, I am happy you like all your gifts."
'Like, love you mean. You got me the most expensive earrings in the world, flew my best friend here so she wouldn't miss my birthday and then surprised me with a cake I thought I would never eat again in my life. Stefano, no one has ever done such amazing things for me; thank you," I say sealing my lips with his. I don't even care about the fact that my family is here. All I want to do is show Stefano how happy he has made me tonight. I even forgot I was crying over him a minute ago.
'I am glad," he says, releasing me from our kiss.
'No, kissing in front of me," Abuela says, causing us to laugh because we know she is joking.
'I was furious at you a minute ago. I thought you abandoned me on my birthday," I say, walking Stefano away from the crowd and music, so we can talk properly.
'How can I abandon such a beautiful lady on the most important day of her life?" Stefano asks as he takes my hands in his. 'My plan was never to ignore you or come late. I didn't want to mess up the surprise of the cake or say something about it when you called; that's why I didn't pick up your call or call back."
'How about why you came late."
'I am late because my car broke down while I was coming back with the cake."
'Oh,"
'I would never abandon you, Dear, never," Stefano says and kisses me.